Architecture Made Famous by Americas Presidents

Architecture Made Famous by Americas Presidents Remember the phrase George Washington slept here? Ever since the founding of the country, Presidents of the United States made otherwise ordinary places famous.   1. Presidents Homes All US Presidents are associated with the White House in Washington, DC. Even George Washington, who never lived there, oversaw its construction. In addition to this common residence, all US Presidents are associated with personal residences. George Washingtons Mount Vernon, Thomas Jeffersons Monticello, and Abraham Lincolns home in Springfield are all good examples. Then there are all the childhood homes and birthplaces of our presidents. Of course, nobody knows who will become president, so many of these early homes were torn down before they became part of history. Surprisingly, the first president to be born in a hospital, instead of a home, was President Jimmy Carter, our 39th president. 2. Presidential Retreats Have you ever noticed how the presidency ages the person in office? Its a stressful job, and the president must make time for rest and relaxation. Since 1942, the country has provided Camp David as a get-away for the presidents exclusive use. Located in the Maryland mountains, the compound was a 1930s project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a Depression-era New Deal program. But Camp David is not enough. Every president has had a retreat- some have had both summer and winter White Houses. Lincoln used the Cottage at the Soldiers Home, now known as Lincolns Cottage. President Kennedy always had the family compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. George Herbert Walker Bush went to Walkers Point in Kennebunkport, Maine. Nixon had a little concrete block ranch house in  Key Biscayne, Florida, and Truman set up shop at the Little White House in Key West, Florida. All presidents are welcome to use Sunnylands, once a private residence, in  Rancho Mirage, California. All too often, presidential retreats like Sunnylands and Camp David have also been used to meet with foreign leaders in a less formal setting. Remember the Camp David Accords of 1978? 3. Sites of Presidential Events All presidential events dont happen in Washington, DC.   Bretton Woods, a gorgeous hotel in the mountains of New Hampshire, was the site of an international agreement after World War II. Similarly, President Woodrow Wilson traveled to the Palace of Versailles outside of Paris, France, to sign the treaty that ended World War I. These two places are historic landmarks for what happened there. Todays presidents campaign, debate, and rally constituents all across the United States- in town halls and convention halls.   Presidential events are not DC-centric- even the site where George Washington took the oath of office in 1789 was in Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York City. 4. Monuments to Presidents Any community can memorialize a favorite son, but Washington, DC is the main setting for the nations monuments. The Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the Jefferson Memorial may be the most famous in DC, but Mount Rushmore in South Dakota may be the most iconic presidential tribute carved in stone. 5. Presidential Libraries and Museums Who owns a public servants papers? has been a question hotly debated- and legislated. Presidential Libraries did not come into existence until the 20th century, and today raw, archival information, along with the massaging of the presidential message, are combined in buildings like the Bush Library in College Station, Texas and the other Bush Library in Dallas. We take special note of these historic buildings, monuments, and research centers, and await the conflicts that will, no doubt, surround the next presidential library building. It seems to happen every time. A Sense of Place Most of us will never become president, but we all have a sense of place in our lives.  To find your special places, answering these five questions: HOME: Where were you born? Not only the city and state, but have you gone back to see the building? What does it look like? Describe your childhood home.RETREAT: Where do you go to relax and find peace? What is your favorite vacation place?EVENT: Where was your graduation ceremony? Where was your first kiss? Did you ever have to speak to a large group of people? Where were you when you won an important prize?MONUMENT: Do you have a trophy case? Will you have a gravestone? Have you ever built a monument to memorialize someone else? Should monuments even exist?ARCHIVES: Chances are that all of the papers in your life will not be kept forever, because there is no legal requirement to do so. But what about your digital trail? What have you left behind, and where is it?   Fun With Presidents Places George Washington Slept Here starring Jack Benny and Ann Sheridan, DVD, 1942 movie directed by William Keighley, based on a play by Moss Hart and George S. KaufmanLEGO Architecture Series: The White House

True History of the Kelly Gang essays

True History of the Kelly Gang essays Ned Kelly, the narrator of this fictional account of his life, was a real-life outlaw in the outback of Australia. He lived during the 19th century, and wreaked havoc with his gang, but captured popular attention. Many saw him as a modern-day Robin Hood, who tried to care for his poor relatives by stealing from the wealthy and powerful while evading the inept police for years. Some historians saw him as a brutal and violent man, but Carey's portrayal makes him seem more like a man who was part victim and part determined youth who hated the police, and thus sealed his fate. To make the book more realistic, Carey employs narration that is at times illiterate and yet imaginative. He attempts to portray Ned as what he was, a semi-educated man with the capacity to dream and look forward to the future. For example, Ned "writes" early in the book, "Tis not poverty I hate the most nor the eternal groveling but the insults which grow on it which not even leeches can cure" (Carey 8). His sentences are sometimes difficult to decipher until the reader gets into the rhythm of the book, but one the cadence becomes clear, the reader is caught up in the vivid descriptions of outback life, and the difficulties these settlers had to face. Carey portrays Ned as a kind man who is a victim of circumstance, prejudice against the Irish, and the British colonial rule of Australia at the time. He does not enjoy killing, but can certainly theorize why outside forces consistently influence his actions. When he kills Strahan at Stringybark Creek he says, "What choice did I have' This were the ripe fruit of Constable Alexander Fitzpatrick" (Carey. 250). Kelly is a national folk hero in Australia, and this book only enhances his image. Carey seems to idealize the man whose legend has never died down under, and this book is certainly sympathetic to Kelly and his notorious gang, using the langu...

Mirror for Man Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Mirror for Man - Essay Example These similarities result of human biology, rather than from the human training or their upbringing. The diverse culture of our species varies in several ways, from religion to eating habits. Also, the author has pointed out it is not the body that makes a man but their mind. How the mind gets nurtured and trained decides what the man becomes and his thought process. Mirror for Man, by Clyde Kluckhohn, suggests that a person’s cultural upbringing is responsible for their behaviour rather than their genetic makeup. Kluckhohns position that behaviour of people is based on the fact that, ‘they were brought up that way’ is precise; as the culture where a person gets raised is reflected in their attitudes, behaviour and values. Personally, I am in agreement with the author’s views. His passage turned out to be an interesting reading as his thoughts and expression brought my own personal experience of dealing with people from different countries and speakers of different language. Through Clyde Kluckhohns passage, we can interpret and comprehend the real meaning of culture through an anthropologist’s point of

Twin Deficits Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Twin Deficits - Research Paper Example If people consumes more than their income, they either borrow funds or sell off a few of their properties. The individuals end up defaulting in paying what they had borrowed and thus encounter bankruptcy hence lower living standards. This applies to any nation with similar trend of expenditure (Efremidze, 2009). However, it remains clearly known that people tend to portray different life-cycle spending patterns. The young generation consumes more than their income, those of middle age tend to exercise net saving, and retirees go back to net consumption after they cease employment. Thus, it is vital to balance earnings and consumption in every time. However, there are a few shortcomings to the amount one can borrow if they will have the ideal opportunity of evading financial deterioration. If a lender observes that, the debtors have a more spending habit than their potential to refund the money, then it remains a high possibility that the creditor will charge increased charges to refl ect the raised threat related with that debt. The same is correct for a nation (Mankiw, 2012). The US Twin Deficit Experience Beginning from the 1980s (during the era of Reagan Administration), the US had high trade and budget deficits. The budget deficit had remained about $50 to $75 billion during the end of 1970s and increased to more than $200 billion in 1983. The current account or trade deficit remained about zero throughout the start of 1980s, however, went past $100 billion in 1985. A few scholars had the notion the huge trade deficits and budget deficits of the start of 1980s could cause greater interest proportions. Walter Heller argued that deficits would â€Å"send interest proportions hiking† whereas output on 30 month Treasury Bills dropped from 7.29% during February 1986 to 5.75% during February 1987. Outputs on 30 annual Treasury Bonds dropped from 8.93% during February 1986 to 7.54% in February 1987 whereas the budget deficit stayed about the same size and th e trade deficit rose marginally. The US experience on the twin deficit clearly tells which area of the deficit should receive keen and thorough study in order to curb or solve this problem wholly. The budget deficit is the challenge to address for the US since the trade deficit in the US will happen due to budget deficit (Mankiw, 2012). The US Government Budget Deficit Policy Choices The following policies if well addressed will aid deal with the challenge of budget deficit precisely and thus improve the living standards of the people of US. The three policies include: a. Support economic development and creation of jobs- a quick developing economy provides the win-win results of a huge proverbial economical tart to share, with greater employment and tax incomes, reduced safety net consumption and a reduced debt-to-GDP ratio. The advantages of this policy is that economic development provides a â€Å"win –win† situation for greater creation of jobs, which raises tax in come however, lowering security net expenses for such matters as lack of jobs compensation and food tramples. Various deficit suggestions associated to expenditure or income appears to take funds or gains from one constituency and offer it to others. A â€Å"win=lose scenario. Democrats normally campaign for Keynesian economics, which deals

Explain the types of advantages highlighted by John Dunning in the Essay - 1

Explain the types of advantages highlighted by John Dunning in the Eclectic Paradigm. In what ways does this theory repersent an advance on those of earlier theorists - Essay Example The theory of electric paradigm seeks to provide a general perspective for determining the degree and pattern for both domestic and foreign-owned production companies. Dunning does not only consider organization structure as significant but also added three significant theoretical factors including ownership, location and internalization advantages. The major aim of introducing the OLI-model was to merge the international economic theories into one approach. Dunning also distinguishes different types of foreign direct investments; thus, the model takes into considerations the resources of the country, location advantages and ownership advantages. Thus, Dunning identifies ownership, location and internalization (OLI) advantages some of which offer the explanation to the chronological acts of domestic and foreign-owned production. Ownership-specific advantages are the competitive advantages of the companies seeking to connect in FDI (Foreign Direct Investment). Therefore, companies that highly engage in foreign production have high chances of achieving competitive advantages. The ownership advantages are connected to the size and market position of the specific firm and these ownership advantages are often referred as monopolistic or competitive advantages (Cantwell and Narula 2001, p.111). They are advantages to the specific firm because they are the main asset for the specific firm. They also offer the firm a market position or cost advantage over a certain firm; thus enabling the firm to achieve effective business performance. Therefore, it is vital to develop and protect the ownership advantages because competitors may attempt to infringe or copy them. These advantages are further divided into standard ownership advantages, benefits of being a multinational enterprise and benefits derived from belonging t o large industry. First, the standard ownership advantages are those advantages that an industry requires to compare with other rival industries in a

Marketing Analysis and Planning at HSBC

Marketing Analysis and Planning at HSBC This report highlights the market segmentation of the HSBC credit card in India. The organisation segments the market on the basis of geographic locations and in view of income, lifestyle and behavioural traits. The product has been majorly targeted to the existing customers of the bank and the shopaholics at the Westside store. The bank also emphasises on increasing credit card-spends and customer satisfaction by offering distinct product types and elite additional benefits unlike its industry rivals. The brand image and service excellence of the organisation has positioned its credit card at an elevation. The marketing mix strategy executed by the bank coils strength to the market position of its credit card. HSBC has designed its credit card to satisfy the needs of every individual in the respective market segment by offering six different card types. The demand for credit card is increasing in the country as more people prefer plastic money over hard cash. Hence, they are willing to pay the optimum price for the card usage. The massive presence of the entity gives an advantage over the competitors and provides convenience to the customers. The report also emphasises on the success of cobrand association with the Westside store and the effective marketing strategies implemented by HSBC. The consumer engages in complex buying behaviour due to numerous similar product options. The effective and efficient marketing mix implemented by the bank echoes positivity on the buyers behaviour towards the credit card. The product satisfies the consumer needs and wants, cost, convenience and communication aspect enhancing the buyers inclination towards the product. Finally, the report critiques the marketing strategy executed by the organisation. It also sketches the key marketing facts and suggests future marketing plans which might help in accelerating growth. 1.1 Description of the Organisation The HSBC group in India was founded in October 1853 when the Mercantile Bank of India, China and London was established in Mumbai. With the authorised capital of INR 5 million, the mercantile bank opened branches in Chennai, London, Colombo and Kandy. By 1855, the bank expanded operations in Kolkata, Canton, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai. The HSBC Group serves around 100 million customers worldwide through around 8,000 offices in 87 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of some USD 2,418 billion at 30 June 2010, HSBC is one of the worlds largest banking and financial services organisation. HSBC is marketed worldwide as the worlds local bank. (About us, www.hsbc.co.in) The HSBC Group is committed to the five core business principles of outstanding customer service: effective and efficient operations, strong capital and liquidity, prudent lending policy and strict expense discipline. 2. The market segment of HSBC credit card HSBC isolates the various broad segments within the market and follows segmented marketing. The company divides the market on the basis of creditability. It offers several card types to different market segment adopting clustered preferences. The chart below illustrates HSBCs bases for segmenting: C:UsersPrashantDesktopUntitledaa.jpg The consumer market has been classified on the grounds of different geographical units i.e. states, cities and regions. The main focus is to target urban and sub-urban markets needs and preferences. With the economic growth in the country, double income has become a common scenario in most families resulting in high spending power. HSBC divides the market on the basis of their income and the purchasing power, occupation and social class. Buyer under the common segment group may have different psychographic profiles bases personality and lifestyle. HSBC and Westside offer the cobranded card that is designed to supplement the lifestyle and is regarded as mark of prestige and recognition. The consumer market has further been segmented on the basis of the buyers attitude, knowledge, usage and response to the product. 2.1 Product Targeting HSBC targets the existing customers of the bank from Personal Banking, Assets and Investments and Personal Finance Services (PLB, AIQ PFS) through open market acquisition bases their creditability. HSBC amalgamates its customer base, while amplifying revenue from within the existing customers by majorly increasing their spending on the card instead of hunting for new prospects. The bank can afford new cards, but not at the expense of non-performing assets (NPA). The bank majorly engages in cleaning-up on credit card portfolio and emphasis on retained growth. The bank also considers the credit cards for upgradation to superior card types bases the income criteria. The chart below shows the income eligibility criteria (GBP) for its card types: Source- www.hsbc.co.in There is no income eligibility criterion for HSBC Premier credit card as the existing cards are upgraded to Premier bases card performance and creditability. Furthermore, HSBC targets the Westside store shoppers covering the entire age group in the market. With the acceleration in urbanisation, the rise in customer density area is evident thus enabling efficient utilisation of resources by reaching same number of consumers with minimum number of store outlets. The consumers are in the middle to high range income groups as the products in the store are moderately priced. HSBC Credit card operations, which keep a hawks eye on demographics, are swooping down on shopaholic consumers through the cobrand association with the Westside store. 2.2 Market Positioning and Major Competitors HSBC has a competitive advantage over its counterparts as it engages in offering better, cheaper and newer products and services. It incorporates the customer-benefit approach and product-class approach in order to position its product overcoming the industry rivals. Major Competitors: Citibank Credit Card Standard Chartered Credit Card SBI Credit Card ICICI Credit Card Axis Bank Credit Card HSBC differentiates its credit card from its competitors bases four dimensions: Product Differentiation The HSBC credit card provides special features like fuel surcharge waiver and exclusive rewards programme. The petrol fuel surcharge waiver is an elite feature on HSBC credit card which undermines the similar product offered by the market competitors. The rewards programme on HSBC credit card gives bonus points to the cardholder on every purchase that can be redeemed for annual fees, gifts, gift vouchers, charities and JPmiles (Jet Airways Jet privilege account). Along with these features, HSBC Westside Co-branded card is packed with benefits from both the HSBC and Westside. The card offers privileges and superior savings for a memorable shopping experience unlike its competitors. The HSBC credit card is globally accepted at over 18 million establishments worldwide and over 1 lakh establishments in India. The card has access to cash, round the clock, at over 700000 ATMs worldwide. HSBC endeavours password protected payment facility on the Internet at no additional cost. Moreover, the card comes with the zero lost card liability after the loss of card has been reported to the HSBC. Service Differentiation The cardholder is provided with the usage and service guide along with the credit card to safeguard consumer from any misuse of the product. Moreover, HSBCs international connectivity gives it competitive advantage over a similar product available in the market. The post-sale service is also an integral aspect that a consumer looks for before buying a product. HSBCs preamble is to ensure that the customer get the best of service. The cardholder may contact the customer service channels i.e. phone banking service, email or visit the nearest HSBC branch for any probes. The quality of service offered by HSBC provides a brink to its credit cards market position over the industry rivals in the market. Image Differentiation An established brand name is the result of HSBCs continuous identity building programs and service excellence. The logo of the bank signifies that the doors of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation are open for business. The symbol of hexagon representing the six quadrants has an instant recognition and bagged a distinct place in the target customers mind. The same has also worked into brand advertisements in conveying the company personality. At the same time, the banks focus is to create a professional and elegant unified ambience across establishments. There is an exclusive Premier Service desk in selected branches to ensure extra comfort and convenience for its valued customer. The organisation has always believed in playing an active role in the community it serves. At HSBC, corporate sustainability is not mere generosity. It takes its Corporate Sustainability (CS) role seriously and helps create an environment where business and nature can flourish hand in hand. Its MicroFinance lending initiative launched in April 2005 has already benefited almost 9000 poor households in Andhra Pradesh giving them the hope of a sustainable livelihood. (HSBC, www.superbrandsindia.com) Majorly, all the banks offer similar offers and features in the product though; it is HSBCs brand name that creates a difference. Personnel Differentiation HSBC has a strong competitive advantage through hiring and training the better individual that its competitors do. The market segment by HSBC is commendable and targeting market bases financial stability is opt for the industry type as there is huge risk involved. Since, the Indian economy to an extent has recovered from the recession; the bank can initiate offering credit cards to new customer bases. The New to Business (NTB) consumer group can be arbitrated bases their credit history and financial stability within formulated limitations using forecast based risk management. Otherwise, the bank ensures service excellence, local presence and strong market position that undermines its rivals. 3. Marketing Mix Developed by HSBC Supports Its Market Position for Credit Card HSBC devises marketing activities and instils the marketing-mix strategies to influence its business partners along with the prospect consumer. Marketing activities are aimed to create awareness, communication and deliver value to the consumer. 3.1 Product The bank offers different product types for every consumer with different needs and wants. The core product benefit of the credit card is the 52 days free credit period for repayment of purchases. The credit card also comes with the cash advance facility wherein the customer can withdraw cash within the specified cash credit limit. The HSBC credit card types currently in the market are as follows: HSBC Classic credit card HSBC Gold credit card HSBC Platinum credit card HSBC Premier credit card HSBC Westside Cobrand Classic credit card HSBC Westside Cobrand Gold credit card With the HSBC Credit Card the consumers can avail the Balance Transfer which allows them to transfer other credit card outstanding dues for repayment at lower interest rates. Furthermore, the HSBC credit card comes with the Loan on Phone facility to convert the purchase into easy instalments. The bank also has cobrand association with CPP Assistance Services Private Limited to safeguard the cardholders interest in event of card loss, theft and related fraud. The CPP (Card Protection Plan) shields the loss of important cards valuable documents including the other credit, debit, ATM, membership or loyalty cards. Furthermore, the role shoppers can also apply upto three additional credit cards for their spouse, parents, siblings and children. 3.2 Price The HSBC credit card has been priced high compared to the most of the competitors in the market. The consumer does not hesitate to opt for the card at offered price considering the brand name and the additional features of the product. The bank charges annual fee towards the card usage which is levied to the cardholders account in the anniversary month and a joining fee on some card types that is levied at point of sale. From time to time, the bank offer cards with no joining fee and cards free from annual fee for life to select customers. The bank may offer 50% discount on the fee bases the creditability of the prospect and the existing customer. 3.3 Place The enormous International presence of the bank ascertains to be a marketing advantage. It endeavours ease of access to bank services to the cardholder even on an international travel. The existing customers of the bank (PLB, AIQ, and PFS) can directly approach any of the branches for credit card application. However, the bank has also established various distribution channels across country i.e. Direct Selling Agents (DSAs) who generates business for the bank under a mutual agreement. Moreover, the banks cobrand association with Westside store has concentrated the target prospect of the bank and enriched its local presence. The consumer can apply for HSBC Westside credit card by visiting any of the Westside store in the region. The Westside store has an enormous presence in the country that ensures that prospect consumers are at ease to reach the product. 3.4 Promotion HSBC focuses on establishing sound communication with the consumer and implement Direct Marketing strategies. The bank advertises the credit card through various marketing means like Email Telemarketing, trade magazine advertising, hoardings, brochures and cobranding. The bank also attempts to create a positive image of the product to ensure word of mouth strategy works for the product. The Westside association has proved propitious for the bank in conquering the target market base. The card is being majorly marketed by cobranding with other business partners (e.g. pizza hut, movie theatres) in form of discounts and coupons to existing cardholders. From time to time, the bank launches the cash back scheme on card usage or on purchases with associated business partners to retain the existing cardholders and lure the prospect. E.g. the bank is offering 5% -10% cash back on purchase using HSBC credit card with the merchant MakeMyTrip (India) Pvt. Ltd. (Travel Agency). The strategy of offering different product types expands HSBCs market horizons and also ensures convenience and sound communication. HSBC views email marketing as a vital component of their overall marketing mix, enabling them to communicate with their customers in a highly targeted way.CPP insurance offered by the bank safeguards the consumer liability for misuse before reporting the card as lost. However, the bank can also offer a card type that requires a passcode on manual swipes like it offers secure pay for online purchases. This will enhance security and the bank would expand its customer base by attracting the consumer group who do not opt for credit card due to the risks involved. 4. Marketing Mix implemented by HSBC influences Buying Behaviour for its Credit Card As the product is one time buy and is long-term association, the consumer engages in complex buying behaviour. The studies show that similar social class exhibit similar buying behaviour. The banks strategy to offer different product types influences the buyers behaviour to opt for the respective product types. The basic core product is identical to the similar product being offered by the industry rivals. However, the distinct product type and additional exclusive features associated with HSBC credit card allures the esteem-seekers who look for class, brand and snootiness. CPP insurance on the credit card safeguards the buyer from the perceived financial risk. Also, the EMI facility towards purchase is more likely to generate magnetizing effect on the buyer. This is also a well-known fact that in spite of increased interest rate and annual fee levied, the demand for credit card is rising. In the last decade in India, the usage of plastic money encouraged the young middle class to defy the Hindi adage Dont stretch your feet beyond your sheet which is another way of saying, Live within your means. (The swipe and spend economy, p.4) Hence, the pricing strategy opted by HSBC has been quite successful to attract the target consumer who associate the product with prestige and reputation. The bank might fail to allure the consumers who look for cost benefit and whose interest is only in the cashless purchase and credit facility. However, the bank should offer a card type without any joining or annual fee with the core product benefit for full market coverage. Many people have a psychology to correlate the price of the product with its quality and brand name the costlier the better. Such consumers are likely to have positive approach while making a purchase decision. C:UsersPrashantDesktopaaa.jpg The 4 Cs associated with the 4 Ps As the HSBCs tagline goes the Worlds Local Bank the bank ensures the same substantiates to be true with its massive presence in the country and worldwide. The Marketing Mix variable Place has been designed by the bank as such it delivers customer benefit effectively. It provides ease of access to the consumers unlike any of the competitors in the Indian market. Hence, the contended comforters who ponder the convenience and service would consider the product over its substitutes. Thereafter, as the credit cardholders need continuous association and post-sale services, the self-actualizers would understand the benefit of massive presence of the entity. HSBC engages in personalized promotion through direct marketing that enhances effective communication with the consumer and develops loyalty and trust towards the brand. The Email and Telemarketing adopted by HSBC has been the wisest strategy to approach the existing customers of the bank. HSBC is a big brand name and a buyer will have a tendency to buy the HSBC credit card if the reference group or the influencer is currently using the same. The word of mouth strategy works well for these buyers. The family members or friends of the existing customers are likely to choose HSBC credit card over its rivals. The bank emphasises on associating with brands that is most popular by all in the target consumer group to expand its market horizon. There will be no market for product that everybody likes a little, only for products that somebody likes a lot. (Kotler.P, Marketing Management p.251) HSBCs association with popular brand develops a positive image for its product and the consumer having preference for the associated brand would develop positive image towards HSBC. 5. Conclusion HSBC credit cards are among the most popular and top-rated credit cards in India. The product has been designed as per the market requirement and caters to the needs and wants of every individual with different product attributes, brand image and additional benefits. Furthermore, the bank focuses on operational excellence, customer intimacy and product leadership to enhance its market position over its industry rivals. The product is moderately priced and ensures convenience to the buyer. HSBCs cobrand association with Westside and collaboration with strong business partners creates positive buyers approach towards the product.

Children of Heroes by Lyonel Trouillot Essay -- Literary Analysis

In today’s society, one’s gender is not necessarily a depiction of one’s sex, therefore performing one’s desired gender is highly pivotal. The idea of â€Å"performing† is very compelling since one has to routinely execute a series of acts designated to define a woman or a man. Interestingly and clearly enough, the â€Å"acts† attributed to identify a woman and her womanhood varies from those acts that identify a man and his manhood. Presently, men are always expected to perform and confirm their masculinity. Men seeking to prove themselves are sometimes forced to act on the expense of others and their feelings. Other men find the need to simply control others to again, demonstrate to society their manhood. In a novel titled Children of Heroes by Lyonel Trouillot, violent behaviors are significantly present, forcing some characters to be submissive and repressed all while the aggressor acts on emphasizing his position in the dominant gender group. Trouillot tells the story of a Haitian family and their troubles with the head of the household named Corazà ³n. Due to his own exposure to abuse and demasculination, Corazà ³n, by nature, desperately felt that as man he had to somehow reestablish his own masculinity by exerting violence against his wife and children. Corazà ³n’s relationship with his boss and with his mother Mam Yvonne, plus his lack of achieving his dreams, became the roots of Corazà ³n’s desperation. His wife Josà ©phine and his son Colin are characters Corazà ³n uses to be able to perform, enhance and redeem his masculinity. As a young boy Corazà ³n had big dreams of becoming a boxer, fighting opponents and reaching fame. However, â€Å"his father who had preferred to die as not to help him live his dream,† (Trouillot 144) and ... ...ough his personal shame. Corazà ³n did not display feelings or pity towards Josà ©phine or Colin simply because they were â€Å"weak† in his perspective, making them the perfect victims. These victims elevated Corazà ³n’s self-esteem, reinforced his control and power, and finally made him feel manly all over again. Works Cited Trouillot, Lyonel, and Linda Coverdale. Children of Heroes. Lincoln: University of Nebraska, 2008. Print. Schrock, Douglas, and Michael Schwalbe. "Men, Masculinity, and Manhood Acts." Annual Review of Sociology (2009): 284. Academic Search Complete. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. .

Deforestation Cause and Effects

â€Å"Scientist fear that 20 percent of the trees will be lost over the next two decades† (From â€Å"Last of the Amazon† by Scott Wallace). Deforestation can be caused by many things, natural or unnatural. The number one cause can be said to be illegal logging or erosion, but we all know that is not it. Deforestation in the world is caused by man and the effects are devastating to the environment and can also effect global warming. Man can cause deforestation because of his greediness to want everything.For example, loggers in the Amazon are illegally cutting down trees to either make space for crops and cattle, or to get the wood and sell it. Man can also show his greediness when it comes to money, well, to be exact gold. Back in the 1850’s when the gold rush started in California; people began to chop down redwood trees in order to build their homes and towns. Eventually, by the 1900’s most of the original old redwood forest was gone.As a result of man, the effects, such as deforestation, are devastating to the environment. In addition to all the illegal logging being done, erosion can affect the surrounding areas. Erosion washes away the soil that other trees or plants in the area need adding on to future deforestation. Furthermore, the mass logging being done can also disrupt the water cycle. By cutting down a large amount of trees, the rainfall in that area can decrease because the moisture released by the trees also decreased.As a matter of fact, this can then cause a drought and make things even worse. Global warming can also be elicited by deforestation. The cutting down of a large amount of trees can increase the amount of greenhouse gasses that can be released to the atmosphere. To illustrate, if trees are cut down, the amount of carbon dioxide that is taken by them decreases. As a result, the carbon dioxide that was not taken by the trees goes up to the atmosphere, trapping heat and creating global warming.Furthermore, tr ees are 50 percent carbon, meaning that when they have fallen or burned, the CO2 they store escapes back into the air. In summary, global warming and the devastation being done to the environment are all caused by deforestation taking place because man. In the end, the effects of man’s greediness have almost caused the extinction of the redwood tree and it is now affecting the whole world with global warming. In my opinion, there should be a law that makes loggers plant a new smaller tree after they cut down the big old one.

Mrsa Essays

Mrsa Essays Mrsa Essay Mrsa Essay MRSA: An evolving â€Å"super-bug† epidemic MRSA stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and is a bacterial infection that is highly resistant to some antibiotics. In short, antibiotics have been used since the 40s to stop the growth of bacteria. However, the more antibiotics are used, the quicker the bacteria become resistant to it while each year more types of bacteria adapt and become resistant to antibiotics. With MRSA being so resistant to many of the antibiotics, classifying it as a â€Å"super-bug†, it makes treatment of skin infections and invasive internal infections much more complicated. This leads to many yearly deaths. In fact, MRSA statistics show that more people die each year from MRSA infections than the AIDS virus. Etiology: MRSA is a strain of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which is also known as the staph infection. It is also medically known as S. aureus and is a common type of bacteria that normally live on the skin and sometimes in the nasal passages of healthy people. This S. aureus strain does not respond to some of the antibiotics used to treat staph infections. The bacteria can cause infection when they enter the body through a cut, sore, catheter, or breathing tube or simply when it comes into contact with the skin. The infection can be as minor as a cut or pimple or it can be more serious when it involves the heart or lungs. However, serious staph infections are more common in people with weak immune systems such as the elderly or those who are already sick and hospitalized. MRSA infections are grouped into two types based on their causative factors. In Healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) infections, people who are or have recently been in a hospital or health-care facility are affected. A large percentage of hospital-acquired staph infections are related to MRSA bacteria. On the other hand, Community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) infections occur in people who have not recently been in the hospital within the past year. This type of infection has occurred among athletes who share equipment or personal items and children in daycare facilities. Members of the military and those who get tattoos are also at risk. A friend of mine acquired MRSA from a hot tub at a hotel resort while on vacation. This is also why it is important to cover toilet seats while using a public restroom or clean the gym equipment before and after you use it. Page 2 Epidemiology: MRSA has become a growing concern. Research indicates that this violent bacteria is evolving rapidly and cases even outside healthcare facilities are increasing. As many as 1. 2 million U. S. hospital patients are infected with MRSA each year, which is almost 10 times more than previously estimated. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in the year 2005, MRSA was responsible for an estimated 94,000 invasive life-threatening infections and close to 19,000 deaths. In the US alone, there were an estimated12 million doctor or hospital visits for skin and soft tissue infections suspected to be caused by staph aureus in the year 2003. The most recent statistics show that 20% of bloodstream infections in hospitals are now caused by MRSA. The common cause for this growing disease is that hospital staff who do not follow proper sanitary procedures transfer the bacteria from patient to patient. Some hospitals screen for MRSA and isolate such patients, but most US hospitals do not yet do this. On the other hand, statistics show that as hospital related MRSA is declining to due to improved precautions, community related MRSA is on the rise. Until recently, hospitals were the most likely place that people would get MRSA, but now the biggest MRSA health risk is related to community acquired MRSA. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, CA-MRSA has become the most frequent cause of skin and soft tissue infections in the United States. The CDC reports that in 2007, 14% of people with MRSA infections had CA-MRSA. Pathogenesis: The most common symptoms of MRSA start with a red, swollen, and painful area on the skin. It is advised to recognize these signs and consult a doctor as soon as these symptoms arise. You should keep an eye on minor skin problems such as pimples, insect bites, cuts and scrapes (especially in children) and see a doctor if the wounds become infected. Other symptoms and signs that the infection is developing include drainage of pus or other fluids from the site, fever, skin abscesses, and warmth around the infected area. Symptoms of more serious MRSA cases that indicate the infection has spread include chest pain, chills, cough, fatigue, general ill feeling (malaise), headache, muscle aches, rash, and shortness of breath. The risk factors for the two different strains of MRSA differ. In the healthcare associated MRSA, the risk is obviously increased for elderly patients and those who are sick with weakened immune systems. The risk of MRSA is also higher among patients who have an invasive medical device inserted such as IVs and catheters. These provide a pathway for MRSA to get into the body. MRSA is also more prevalent in nursing homes. Carriers of MRSA have the ability to Page 3 spread it even if theyre not sick or show symptoms of infection. In terms of community acquired MRSA, those at higher risk include people who participate in contact sports since it spreads easily through cuts and abrasions and skin-to-skin contact. Also, are those living in crowded or unsanitary conditions. Outbreaks of MRSA have occurred in military training camps, child care centers, and jails. It is also said that homosexual men are at higher risk of developing MRSA infections. Diagnostic tools and techniques: After a doctor suspects MRSA, they will send a sample of tissue or a culture from the wound area and/or nasal secretion to a lab. The sample is placed in a dish of nutrients that encourage bacterial growth. It takes about 48 hours for the bacteria to grow in order to screen the results. However, newer tests still in research stages, can detect staph DNA in a matter of hours are now becoming more widely available. These new methods test for a gene that confers resistance to the antibiotics Methicillin, Oxacillin, Nafcillin, and Dicloxacillin and other similar antibiotics. Molecular tests for MRSA screening have the potential to detect nasal or wound carriage within hours instead of days required by culture, which then educes the risk of MRSA related complications. If either a culture or a molecular test is positive for MRSA, then the person is diagnosed with MRSA at the site that was tested. There are several conditions that can mimic MRSA before the area is tested for the bacteria. Some of the symptoms associated with MRSA are also associated with a yeast infection, diaper rash, acne, dermatitis, an ingrown hai r, and bed sores. Treatment: As stated by the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: First-line treatment for mild abscesses is incision and drainage. Doctors will drain the affected hair and/or cut out the skin area that is affected by MRSA. This prevents growth and spread. Fortunately, most MRSA still can also still be treated by certain antibiotics. The CDC also states: If antibiotic treatment is clinically indicated, it should be guided by the susceptibility profile of the organism. When the tests are run to determine that the Staph bacteria isolated from a given patient are Methicillin resistant, these tests also provide information about which antibiotics can successfully kill the bacteria (its susceptibility profile). Penicillin was once used as an effective antibiotic treatment against the staph bacteria, but after using it for just a Page 4 decade, half of the staph bacteria became resistant to the antibiotic. Now less than 10% of staph infections will respond t o the Penicillin. Today, doctors use Vancomycin, which is a much stronger and more toxic antibiotic. Most moderate to severe infections need to be treated by intravenous antibiotics, usually given in the hospital setting. Prognosis: Since the beginning of 2010, the average adult death rate was about 5% of MRSA infected patients. A study in 2009 shows that children under 18 years old are at less risk of dying from MRSA. Their mortality rate is currently about 1% of all infected patients. Community acquired MRSA has far less complications than hospital acquired as long as the patient adequately responds to treatment and does not require hospitalization. However, patients with complications generally are at greater risk for a far worse outcome. Complications of MRSA can occur in all organ systems and can lead to permanent organ damage or death. They include kidney or lung infection, heart disease, bone infection, tissue damage, and blood poisoning. Of course, early diagnosis and treatment usually results in better outcomes and the reduction of further complications. It could take up to several months to recover from MRSA depending how much of the body is infected, complications, and how antibiotics respond. People who are infected are tested until the lab tests come up negative. Preventive Methods: There are several ways to lower a persons risk of acquiring both hospital and community associated MRSA. In hospitals, people who are detected with MRSA bacteria are often placed in isolation. Visitors and healthcare workers in contact with people in isolation are required to wear protective garments and follow strict hygiene procedures. Contaminated materials are also disinfected. Hospitals are required to follow strict procedures to prevent MRSA from spreading. There are several preventative methods for community related MRSA. Washing hands with soap is a major factor in preventing infection. You should wash them several times a day, especially after using restrooms or touching public materials such as payphones, rails, money, and so on. It is also important to have hand sanitizer for when no soap or water is available. Another method is to keep cuts and sores covered by bandages. It will prevent MRSA from infecting a wound or prevents wounds already infected from spreading. Its also said to avoid sharing personal items such as towels, razors, sheets, athletic equipment, and more. Prevention also includes showering after athletic games and practices and to use soap Page 5 and water and not share towels. Finally, its important to sanitize linens. You should always wash athletic cloths in hot water after each use and regularly wash bed sheets and bath towels. There is currently no vaccine to guard against MRSA, but several public facilities offer educational materials to prevent it. Various school campuses, health facilities, athletic organizations, and so on offer classes, brochures, and other resources to guard against MRSA and reduce an outbreak. In conclusion, as this strain of staph related bacteria continues to evolve and become resistant to more and more antibiotics, the number of cases of those infected outside of hospitals is on the rise. This infectious disease known as MRSA has become an epidemic that has led to more deaths in recent years than the AIDS virus. Research for immunization is currently being conducted, but in the meantime, it is crucial to your health to be more aware of the preventative methods. References: Medicinenet- â€Å"MRSA Infections†(pgs1 to 6): www. medicinenet. com/mrsa_infection/article. htm Mayo Clinic- â€Å"MRSA Infection† (pgs 1 to 9): www. mayoclinic. com/health/mrsa/DS00735 Beers, M. H. Berkow, R. (Eds. ). (2005). The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy (17thed. ). Whitehouse Station, N. J. : Merck and Company.

Bid for the 2014 World Cup †Brazil

Bid for the 2014 World Cup – Brazil Introduction Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) world cup is an event of a global inclination. This is a major sporting event that has the highest number of spectators in the world. It is a football competition that is contested by national football teams of men (Wong, 2009).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Bid for the 2014 World Cup – Brazil specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The nations that participate in this event are members of FIFA. The World Cup is classified as one of the biggest events in the world (Clark, 2008). It is also one of the longest international events in the world whose magnitude has been growing with time from the time the event was incepted. The event has been taking place for 82 years since its inception back in the year 1930 (Lisi, 2011). FIFA is the overall organization that governs football in the world. The federation does the overall administration of the world cup socce r event. The first world cup was held in the year 1930. From then, the event was scheduled to be taking place after every four years. The event has been taking place except for two seasons that are the 1942 world cup and the 1946 event that did not take place due to the Second World War which was going on that time (Stroud and Hein, 2009). The number of participating teams has been increasing from the inception time. The number of teams that do participate in the sport has been standardized at 32. The 32 teams come from all the five continents of the globe. World cup football matches are held in different venues – stadiums within the hosting nation(s). The event takes duration of a month. However there are a lot of events that precede and come after the event. A total of 19 world events have taken place and hosted by different countries with a number of countries having hosted the event more than once (Stroud and Hein, 2010). The 2014 world cup final will be the twentieth wor ld cup since the inception of the event. The football matches will be played in different stadiums across different cities in Brazil. The cities include Brasilia and Cuiaba which lie in the central west region of the country, Manaus that is in the North region, Fortazela, Natal and Salvador that are found in the Northeast region of Brazil, Curitiba, Porto and Porto Alegre in the South region of the country and Belo Hoerizonte, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo that are found in the Northeast region of the country (Thorpe and Thorpe, 2010).Advertising Looking for report on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Generally, Brazil is a football loving nation. Brazil is the best performer in the world cup competition having won the world cup trophy 5 times which is the highest number of times that a country has won the trophy in the history of the tournament. The country is the only country to have qualified to and p articipated in all the world cup tournaments since the world cup event was initiated in 1930. Brazil is home to great football in the world. All good football and footballing skills are linked to the country. It has the best talents when it comes to football. Football us the most liked sport in Brazil with the highest number of fans in comparison to other sports (Woods, 2010). Majority of the most talented players come from Brazil. These players include Ronaldo Luà ­s Nazrio de Lima Comonly known as Ronaldo, Ronaldo de Assis Moreira commonly known as Ronaldinho Gaucho, Romario de Souza Faria commonly known as Romario among many others other talented players who are playing in different leading football leagues in the world. Brazil hosted the world cup event of 1950 (St, 2010). A number of cities that hosted the event are still among the potential cities to host the event in the year 2014. The 2014 event cannot in anyway compared to the 1950 world cup event because the 1950 event ha d less number of participating teams. The 1950 event had only thirteen participating teams and a total of twenty two games to be played in only six arenas. The 2014 world cup will have a total of 32 participating teams and a total of 64 football matches that will be played in a potential eleven locations. However from the time the country hosted the 1950 world cup, there are many economic developments which includes a lot of infrastructure development. This has raised the capacity of Brazil and put it in a better place to host the world cup event (St, 2010). Conception of the Bid The FIFA world cup is an event of a big magnitude that is held in different countries across the world. The countries that do host the event are supported by FIFA though most of the initiatives are done by the hosting nation. I am making a bid for Brazil to host the event in the year 2014. I am the leader of an event administration and organizing firm. The government has contracted my company to my company to make a bid for the country for hosting the event. Therefore the whole responsibility of researching and making an analysis of the country is done by my company in order to make a report (bid) for the country to host the world cup. The bid will then be presented to the government which will forward it to FIFA for assessment in comparison with other bids from different countries that have interests of hosting the event.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Bid for the 2014 World Cup – Brazil specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is a one month event which entails a lot of logistical issues because of the large attendance which is attracted by such an event as it was witnessed in the last world cup final event in South Africa where more than one million foreigners attended the event. Therefore the responsibility that is upon my company is carrying out a thorough assessment of Brazil as a country in terms of many aspects that include infrastructure which includes the transport infrastructure and the sporting infrastructure in terms of the sporting grounds and other sporting facilities, the security, the hospitality industry that is important because of the high number of guests among many other aspects. All the research that will be carried out will bring out the potential of the country in terms of the structure that is already in place and the ongoing infrastructural projects as to put the country in a better place to host the event. Therefore a comprehensive quantitative as well as the qualitative study will be done in the general country and more emphasis will be put on the cities that have the potential of hosting the event. A comprehensive report will then be compiled compile that will reflect the picture of the readiness of Brazil to host world cup event. Findings: The Political and Economic Factors of Brazil Political Factors of Brazil Brazil covers an area whose size is approximated to be 8.5 million square kilometers. The size of the country almost doubles the size occupied by European Union states. The country has a very large population. The population of the country is approximated to be 200 million people. It is the 11th most populated country in the world (Forest, 2012). Brazil has a democratic system of governance. The country has consolidated institutions of governance that have been behind sound administration and political stability. Brazil has good political relations with other countries. It has never involved itself in interstate war since the times of the Second World War (Organization for Economic Cooperation an., 2011). The country has a federal system of governance. It has 26 states that make the federation. Brazil has a president who is elected and whose mandate lasts for a period of four years. The country has a stable government and a good foreign policy that aims to increase its presence at the international stage. The foreign policy of Br azil bases on commercial collaboration principle. The country has set up embassies in seventy four countries in the world (Organization for Economic Cooperation an, 2011). Economic factors The country has vast portions of natural resources which include oil and iron ore. These form part of the basis of economic development of the country. The country has fertile lands for agricultural production which is averaged at over 300 million hectares. The country is safe in the sense that it is not prone to natural calamities and or hazards and disasters. This puts the economy of Brazil in a better position when it comes to competition in the global market (OECD, 2011).Advertising Looking for report on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The country has a positive outlook in terms of the growth of its economy. Brazil has attained a big growth in the economy more so from the year 2000 to date. Its real Gross Domestic Product has been rising; it has doubled from 724 billion US dollars to 1.5 trillion US dollars for the period ranging from the year 2002 to 2009. The country has had a constant economic growth from the year 2004. The country has the largest economy in the Latin America Region. When looked at in comparison to all the economies of the world, Brazil is classified at number ten in terms of the size of the economy globally. The United Nations Development Program has classified the country as having the highest human development index when compared to other industrializing nations (LoÃŒ pez-Claros, 2010). The country plays a big role in the global market in sectors like aerospace, mining, energy and agriculture. The domestic market of the country has been expanding. This has resulted from sound policies that relate to economic growth and the distribution of income. The household consumption has grown to reach 236 billion US dollars by the year 2009. The country has a promising economy which has enticed foreign Direct Investors. The foreign direct investment in the country has risen to more than double for the last five years – from 2005 to 2010. The country has good trade relations with other countries of the world. It has formed trade partnerships with different countries across all the continents. The major trade partners of Brazil include the larger Europe, China, United States, Japan and South America. This is according to the Brazil’s Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade (International Business Publications, 2005). In spite of having a business environment which is functioning well the country the study has indicated that the country has wide spread bribery and corruption which hinders business and development of the country. However, there are positive develop ments concerning corruption. The country has been cited for developing a strong legal base for mitigating corruption. Brazil is more often than not used as model for the development of legal anti-corruption frameworks by other developing states of the world. Brazil has anti-corruption frameworks that are generally well developed. President Lula who is the current president of the country has shown serious commitments of fighting the vice of corruption. The country is still working on other legislations of ensuring that there is the participation of citizens in ensuring that the government s accountable and in sealing the loopholes for corruption (Yadav, 2011). Brazil has a god communication network. The country has diverse means of communication across its different cities. Extensive means of communication that are used include landline phones, faxes, cell phones, the television and the radio. The use of computers in communication has been increasing. The use of internet and the soc ial network in Brazil has gained fame in the country (ACC and Abraham, 2011). Social Environment of Brazil Brazil as a country has a rich culture. The country has a racial mixture. The also has different ethnicities. This brings a lot of diversities. The races in Brazil have a very thin line between them because here have been a lot of intermarriages between the races thus facing off individual races. Brazilians are friendly people who like to interact with different people. Social classes in Brazil are determined by the economic status as well as the color of the skin. There are elements of racial discrimination in Brazil. The people with dark skin are the victims of discrimination and form majority of those who make up the low class in the country (Douglas, 2011). The general religion of the country is Roman Catholic and most of the civil laws of the country bases on the Roman – German traditions. The commitment of Brazil for hosting the event has been going on for quite a long time from the year 2003. All government sectors and departments are showing commitments of hosting the event. The citizens of the country are also showing lots of interests and commitments of having the event hosted in the country (Douglas, 2011). Brazil has high rates of criminal activities. Crime is the major problem to the security of the country more so in the big cities the capital being one of the cities that is mostly affected. A ray of criminal activities that are common in the country include murder, carjacking, kidnappings, burglary and armed assaults. The media and the media have reported increase in criminal incidences in the country. The nature of violence has shifted from gang-on-gang and criminal activities are targeting civilians. Organized crime is aggravated by drug barons and gungs who mostly operate in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Homicide in Brazil has been on decline in the recent times. Very violent crimes have dropped in recent times therefore the count ry is no longer classified as a very dangerous country in terms of crime (Human Rights Watch, 2011). Most of the cities that will potentially hold the world cup events do not have high rates of crime. Crime is only prevalent in two of the cities which are Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The government of Brazil has launched a security plan that is geared towards combating crime and increasing the general security of the country. The government has taken two approaches in tackling the security problem which are the increasing and deployment of security forces and the launching of preventive social programs. The government has launched a national security campaign and has planned to invest more than 3.3 million US dollars to bring down crime in the affected regions of the country. The plan is expected to have cut down crime in a big way by the end of the year 2012 (Conflict, security and development, 2011). Moreover, the country is putting in place enough security details in places like the stadiums, main hotels and media centers which will be hosting a big number of guests who attending the event (Conflict, security and development, 2011). Brazil as a country does not have terrorist activities. There are no terrorist groups that have been reported to be in the country. The country does not have alignment with enemies therefore this puts the country out of the dangers of being attacked and or terrorized by radical terrorist groups (Conflict, security and development, 2011). Infrastructure of Brazil Hosting cities have good infrastructure. The country has good air and land transport. The airports of the potential hosting cities are in a fairly good condition. This is a plus because the host cities have no proper hotel infrastructure in terms of the spacing and the quality to accommodate the anticipated large number of guests who will be attending the matches which will be played in the cities. In general, the country has put in place transport and logistical measur es to solve the anticipated transport problem which include the possibility of airlifting of fans to the cities as well as the transportation by road (United Nations Human Settlements Programme, 2010). Given that Brazil has a good football and footballing culture for both men and women, the country has numerous football training centers. These training centers are stadiums that belong to the local clubs in Brazil which are participating in the Brazilian league. The country has good football infrastructure. Brazil has eighteen football stadiums that have the potential of hosting the world cup football matches. Fourteen of the stadiums are old stadium which have been operating for quite a long time. There are other four stadiums that are still under construction. The old stadiums have been undergoing reconstruction to ensure that they are brought back to an excellent status in readiness for holding big events of the world cup caliber. The country lacks enough media facilities in the s tadiums that have the potential of hosting the world cup event. There are good projects that are ongoing to address media requirements. The country also has excellent football training facilities that have been in use for quite long. Some of these facilities have grown old and are being improved. Environment and Geography of Brazil The country has good geography and a good climate. The country has a varied topography which is inclusive of mountains, highlands, rivers, plains, savannas, grasslands and rainforests. It has a big coastal stretch which covers a distance of 7,367 kilometers. The country has a big rainforest – the amazon rainforest which covers most of the terrain of the country in the north region. Brazil has a total of five climatic regions. The climatic regions include tropical, equatorial, highland tropical, semi arid and the subtropical climatic regions. The different climatic regions have varying climatic conditions (Petersen, Sack and Gabler, 2012). Sustainab le Opportunities accruing from Hosting of the world cup event By the virtue of hosting the event, Brazil as a country could benefit a lot as in many developments will be brought about by the event. This can be looked at in relation to the development that has taken place in South Africa due to hosting the event in the year 2010. Brazil is a country which is in the transition stage as in relation to economic development. Brazil is a country that is developing at a relatively faster rate. South Africa is also a country that is in transition from a developing to a middle income economy. The infrastructural growth which is a vital component of economic growth was boosted in a very big way as in the preparation to hosting the world cup event in 2010. This includes the construction of world class stadiums, the transport infrastructure which includes the upgrading of the airports to international standards as well as the roads and railway networks. There was also tremendous development in the hotel industry which has boosted tourism in the country therefore increasing the earnings from tourism thence economic development. Social and Economic Impacts The study conducted indicates the world cup event when hosted in Brazil will produce a positive impact on investments inn the country. The result of the study shows that if the e vent is hosted in the country, the economy of Brazil will increase five folds in terms of the total amount of direct investment in the events that are related to the hosting of the world cup. This will result directly and indirectly impact on the development of other industries. Brazil will have to spend a total of R$ 22.6 billion in developing to ensure adequate infrastructure and the organization for the world cup. The event is estimated to bring to the Brazilian economy R$ 112.79 Billion. Also, another R$ 142.79 billion is projected to flow to the country as a result of the event. The flow of money in the economy will generate an approximate o f 3.6 million jobs per year. This will greatly aid in solving the unemployment crisis in the country. Furthermore an income of R$ 63.48 billion is expected from the event. This income for the population will impact positively on the consumer market at the domestic level. The amounts of tax collected by the local, state as well as the federal government is expected to rise by R$18.13 billion. The direct impact of hosting the event on the Gross Domestic Product of Brazil is estimated to reach R$ 64.5 billion. The sectors that will majorly benefit from the event include the construction sector, the hospitality sector which includes the food and beverages, the business services sector, the utilities sector that entail water, sanitation, gas and urban hygiene. The information services sector will also benefit from the event. The general output of these sectors will increase by R$ 50.18 billion. Analysis of finding and justification From the findings, it can be deduced that Brazil is a fo otball loving nation. The country has passionate football lovers. The history of Brazil cannot be complete without mentioning football. This is a positive point that perhaps explains why the country is the favorite in hosting this kind of an event. One of the most important factors of success for the world cup event is the number of people who buy tickets and or attends the event as the event aims at raising money for the football governing body. Therefore apart from foreign spectators, a big number of tickets will be bought by the Brazilians boosting the earnings from the event. Also being a footballing nation, Brazil has a well developed football league. The country has a fairly good football infrastructure. This includes the stadiums and other football training facilities. These facilities are a good basis for hosting the event. The stadiums that are owned by the Brazilian football clubs are being upgraded to standards that are required to host the event. This is a plus to Brazil when compared to other countries that do not have well developed local football where an overhaul of infrastructure will need to be undertaken. What is only needed and which the country is doing is the construction of ac few other stadiums. Drawing from the findings of the research, it has been noted that Brazil as a country has never been attacked and or targeted by extremist and terrorism groups. This is an important considering the fact that terrorism has become an issue of international concern and that terrorist groups do target places with big gatherings as will be during the world cup event. The country is mostly marked with internal criminal activities that are more prevalent in only two of the cities that will be hosting the world cup event. it has however been that the government of Brazil is investing a lot in issues to do with security and it has so far achieved remarkable success. Brazil has had stable politics for a long period of time. It has a stable government and good foreign relations with almost all countries of the world. The country has a good record of human rights with absence of civil wars and or conflicts. This makes the country to have a neutralist view by other countries of the world and thus an attracting factor to foreigners who do attend the event. Brazil has different climates owing to the different climatic regions that the country has. Moreover, the country has a long coastal stretch. All these are attraction factors for foreigners who will not only come as football spectators but also to explore the nature of the country. Federalism has helped the country to attain widespread development throughout the country. Therefore the country has god infrastructure. Brazil has good airports. The government is working on expansion of other airports across the potential world cup hosting cities across the country. The country also has good roads which are being improved. Generally the infrastructure of the country is fairly good and the weak pints in infrastructure are being worked onto bring them to good standards. The country has good hotels and restaurants. The hotels are however not well spread across the country. The transport infrastructure will aid in movement of spectators from stadiums to the hotels. Brazil is doing a lot in marketing the event both through the internet and other audio-visual media. Conclusion Brazil is a country whose development is accelerating at a faster pace. The country has a good economy and good infrastructure. The country has a stable government. The country has adopted and embraced modern technologies in development. When all these factors are coupled with the football culture of the country, it puts the country in a better place to host a successful world cup in 2014. Reference List ACC and Abraham, 2011, Advances in computing and communications: First international conference, ACC 2011, Kochi, India, July 22-24, 2011 : proceedings. Heidelberg: Springer. Clark, G., 2008, Local development benefits from staging global events. Paris: OECD. Conflict, security and development., 2011, Washington, DC: World Bank. Douglas, I., 2011, Global usability. London: Springer. Forest, C, 2012, Brazil. Edina, Minn: ABDO Pub. Co. Human Rights Watch., 2011, World Report 2011. Seven Stories Pr. International Business Publications., 2005, Brazil tax guide. Washington, D.C: International Business Publications.Lisi, C. A., 2011, A history of the World Cup, 1930-2010. Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press. LoÃŒ pez-Claros, A., 2010, The innovation for development report 2010-2011: Innovation as a driver of productivity and economic growth. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. OECD., 2011, OECD economic surveys: Brazil. Paris: OECD. Organization for Economic Cooperation an., 2011, Government at a Glance 2011. Organization for Economic. Petersen, J. F., Sack, D. I., and Gabler, R. E., 2012, Physical geography. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning. St, L. R., 2010, Brazil. Footscray, Vic: Lonely Planet. Stroud, J., and Hein, D., 2010, History of the FIFA World Cup. Scoresby, Vic: Five Mile Press. Stroud, J., and Hein, D., 2009, History of the FIFA World Cup. Stirling, SA (Australia: Murray Books. Thorpe, E., and Thorpe, S., 2010, The Pearson General Knowledge Manual. South Asia: Dorling Kindersley. United Nations Human Settlements Programme., 2010, The state of the worlds cities 2010/11: Cities for all: bridging the urban divide. London: Earthscan. Wong, G. M., 2009, The comprehensive guide to careers in sports. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Woods, S., 2010, World cup companion: The essential guide for all England fans 2010. Aylesbury: ShieldCrest. Yadav, V., 2011, Political parties, business groups, and corruption in developing countries. New York: Oxford University Press.

Storytelling, the Meaning of life and The Epic of Gilgamesh Research Paper

Storytelling, the Meaning of life and The Epic of Gilgamesh - Research Paper Example A., â€Å"Story Telling, the Meaning of Life, and the Epic of Gilgamesh†). The close inspection of these lines will lead the readers of Arthur. A. Brown to the life that is between realms of mortality and immortality. The switching of codes between the imagination and pragmatism is what we call life. This is the underlying vision of the author and so he focuses that any story can easily launch us to a world of imagination which can be termed as an escapade from the harsh realities of life but then it is always essential because it refreshes our mind, soul and body. According to the author here lies the greatness or importance of story telling and this code switching between the mortal and the immortal world is the true essence of life. According to Arthur, stories are informative and they inform us about life and death and sometimes life after death and with a commendable rhetorical description of the story of Gilgamesh, he describes this in his essay. To the narrator, the story of Gilgamesh is not merely an ancient story telling about the life of a king and people living in the land between Tigris and Euphrates, also it is not a parable of their lifestyle, myth and beliefs but much more. It is a story about something beyond our comprehension which author describes in his essay as â€Å"things we cannot fix†. These are the things which are beyond the day – to – day life of the people living in the second and third millennium BCE and worshiping a king called Gilgamesh, but by delving deep into the epic. One can find out, according to Arthur, the reconciliation between human and mortality. One must try to understand things beyond his perceptions and our reflections regarding story telling. Relat ing life with a story is the greatest work and to successfully fit into the scheme of a character’s action is the utmost transcendental phenomena in life, views Arthur. The title of the essay is aptly suitable for bearing the crown of being the

Smart Goals for Internship Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Smart Goals for Internship - Assignment Example During my time in the organization, I worked as a marketing research intern in the marketing department. The marketing department performed the task of conducting market research, advertising, website development, email marketing, blogging and public relations. As a marketing intern, my job involved a plethora of duties, such as conducting consumer, database and media research, participating in public relations, email marketing and product management. I was therefore responsible for communicating with potential clients, customer follow-up, responding to emails, studying the relevant demographic information regarding the customers amongst others. During my internship period in Aboutsla, I had three major goals. First, I purposed to understand how the organization advertises its products and services. This means that I would aid in product management and brand development. My second goal involved acquiring in-depth information based on the target market. The action taken to achieve this goal includes participating in consumer, and business to business market research in the company. My third goal involves acquiring the relevant skills for conducting both qualitative and quantitative market research. In order to achieve this goal, I would be required to actively participate in the departmental activities, for example, helping to compile and prioritize product features, conducting media research and participate in the formation of strategies geared at reaching the target consumers. â€Æ' The overall goal statement is to acquire the relevant skills and knowledge necessary to conduct market research, identify target consumers, product development and management of current consumers so as to achieve the organizations goals. As an intern, the achievement of the set goals will be determined by my proficiency in the carrying out of the responsibilities imparted on a market researcher. For example, when I am able to gather and analyse