Thursday, December 26, 2019

Teenage Girls and Body Image Essay - 1291 Words

Teenage girls are at an impressionable time in their lives. Mass Media is a key idea in one of the factors of socialization that become important to teenagers. Teenagers look to the media for a sense of entertainment. Whether it is movies, magazines, or even some aspects of social media, teenagers get a lot of influence from the media’s message. The problem with this is the media has a specific way of doing things and can be negative to a susceptible teenage girl. Media’s way of portraying a woman can be skewed and unrealistic way from what reality is. Teenage girls then have a desire for this look or way. In this essay the three ways I will describe as to why the media can negatively affect a teenage girls body image is by showing†¦show more content†¦In a study done of female beauty icons, two time frames were studied, 1959-1978 and 1979-1988. In the research, the women who were portrayed as beautiful, and the icons in the media, were observed and over half o f them had fit into the standards of having one of the eating disorders, anorexia nervosa (Vonderen Kinnally, 2012). Mass media can have an adverse effect teenage girls by showing body types that are unrealistic as the normal and desirable type of body to have. Young women look to the mass media to see the societal norms for beauty, and what they see can influence the way that they view themselves. By portraying women who possess a body type that is uncommon, it shows teenage girls that they need to change themselves to reflect the images they are shown. Portraying body types that emphasize thinness and exaggerated features, the mass media try to establish what is socially acceptable. Teenage girls who see this message feel pressured to become what they see, often not realizing that the body types portrayed in media are unrealistic. One reason mass media is so effective at portraying unrealistic body types as normal is because the mass media helps to set what is perceived as normal. In an article about the mass media’s role in body image disturbance and eating disorders, J. Kevin Thompson and Leslie Heinberg state, â€Å"A sociocultural model emphasizes that the current societal standard for thinness, as well as other difficult-to-achieve standards of beautyShow MoreRelatedTeenage Girls and Media Essay576 Words   |  3 PagesTeenage girls receive around 40 hours of media exposure every week. This is the most time that teens spend on an activity other than school and sleeping. Teenage girls are highly influenced by the ideal body image that they see on screen. Girls have a difficult time trying to attain the ideal body image and may diet or develop eating disorders to take control of their weight and body figure. When girls fail to do so, they can become depressed and have a lower self-esteem. However, most of the bodiesRead MoreWhy Advertisements Are Killing You Essay1078 Words   |  5 Pagesadvertisements of the perfect body image have been shown, which places a toll on certain teenagers. This exposure contributes drastically the desirable body types, to the use of weight-loss products and health and psychological issues. Society shapes the individual in many ways, more than one realizes. Advertisements highlight what a desirable body is and individuals unknowingly believe it to be true. â€Å"Advertisements emphasize thinness as a standard for female beauty, and the bodies idealized in the mediaRead MoreThe Influence Of Media Reporting On Society s Perception Of Beauty1730 Words   |  7 PagesIn the words of Emma Stone, â€Å"you’re a human being, you live once and life is wonderful, so eat the damn red velvet cupcake† ( 2010, page number). It is evident that over the last decade the media has created an image that is unrealistic and unattainable for teenage girls. As such, based upon a macro perspective, the societal roles, status and expectations of young women have been impacted negatively. This paper will analyze how the combination of media reporting, socioeconomics and socioculturalRead More The Medias Influence on Eating Disorders Essay example1100 Words   |  5 Pagesfacto rs including physical, psychological, interpersonal, and social issues. Media images help define cultural definitions of beauty and attractiveness and are often acknowledged as one of the factors that contribute to the rise of eating disorders (NEDA). The National Eating Disorders Associations website, The Effect of the Media on Body Satisfaction in Adolescent Girls, The Medias Influence on Body Image Disturbance and Eating Disorders, and Dieting Behaviors, Weight Perceptions, and LifeRead MoreThe Problem Of Teenage Girls1343 Words   |  6 Pagesfor teenage girls to live up to the standards presented to them. Seventy-four percent of teenage girls say there is a lot of pressure when it come to pleasing everyone (Girls Inc, The Supergirl Dilemma). That percentage is astronomically high. Females this young should not have to worry about things as superficial as looks at this age. Teenage years are supposed to be the best years of a person’s life and time should not be waste d on worrying about body image. The pressure imposed on teenage femalesRead MoreSocial Norms Of A Female s Beauty And Body Image1234 Words   |  5 Pagescupcake.† – Emma Stone. The world is rapidly changing in the world of women. Even over the last decade, the role and social norms of a female has changed substantially. With that said, societies standards of a women s beauty and body image has a direct effect on teenage girls, leading many to develop eating disorders such as anorexia. There are two main types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Both of these types are characterized as a major concern about one’s weight and shapeRead MoreAnnotated Bibliography on Self Image Essay examples520 Words   |  3 PagesBell, Amanda R. What Factors Affect Body Image In Teenage Girls. What Factors Affect Body Image 2013 The Autho,r goes on to describe how the media wheather telvesion, the movies or magazines play a big part in body image for teenage girls. She describles that it can be determental to their healt in so many ways. How young girls don’t get that much exercise and that can lead to wait gain. However sports can help to improve the body image of teenage girls. Also that even though caregivers andRead MoreEssay on The Influences of Media on Establishing Teenage Identities 1717 Words   |  7 PagesCULTURE IN A YOUNG TEENAGE GIRLS LIFE Introduction As teenage girls seek to establish a sense of self, teens may experiment with different roles, activities and behaviors. This is an important process of forming a strong identity and developing a sense of direction through life. Mass media plays an important role in shaping the youth culture. As we all know that in the current modern society, internet, television and magazines has become the inseparable elements of a teenage girl’s life. InternetRead MoreThe Dirty Technique Of The Call970 Words   |  4 Pagespromoting the objectification of women, because it has unnecessary underwear scenes, also they exploited a teenage girl and it contains images structured around a masculine viewer. The first reason why this film is objectifying a teenager girl is because she is unnecessarily in underwear. There is no reason to undress her, because the kidnapper is only interested in her hair, not in other part of her body. He eventually kidnaps them and surgically removes their hair. This hair was apparently used to reconstructRead MoreThe Is The Thief Of Joy1143 Words   |  5 Pages â€Å"Comparison is the thief of joy† (Roosevelt). Magazines show numerous images that teenage girls compare themselves too. When girls are exposed to these images, they are convinced that they must be a certain size or way. They start to come up with an idea of what the perfect girls should look and act like. It varies from one girl to other. When they construct this image, it can cause them to think they have to change their appearance. Once they think of what they have to change, it causes them to

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Juvenile Boot Camps - 1281 Words

Juvenile Boot Camps In this project I am going to talk about the problem that different states have in juvenile offenders and how they deal with them in regards to juvenile boot camps, also I am going to explain what is known about juvenile boot camps in the United States, the degree of success of these efforts, and a general summary of boot camps. With that in mind I am going to answer 4 different questions in order to gain a better understanding of this program. The questions I will answer are as follows: How have different jurisdictions dealt with delinquency problems, Which states have boot camps and why, When did these states start using them, and finally What types of offenders are associated with these boot camps. To start†¦show more content†¦They have set up 5 guidelines to juvenile boot camps and they are as follows: 1. Participation by nonviolent offenders only; 2. A residential phase of 6 months or less; 3. A regimented schedule stressing discipline and physical training; 4. Participation by inmates in appropriate education opportunities, job training, and substance abuse counseling or treatment; and 5. Provision of aftercare services that are coordinated with the program that is provided during the period of confinement In the beginning there were great achievements in boot camps for kids. First year boot camp completion rates were high, ranging from 80 percent to 94 percent. Youths improved in educational performance, physical fitness, and behavior. Ratings of youths in respect for authority, self-discipline, teamwork, and personal appearance also improved significantly. Youths who graduated from the 3 month boot camp and remained in aftercare for at least 5 months reported positive changes in attitudes and behavior. The main objectives of all juvenile boot camps and after care activities are pretty much the same, here are a few: o Serve as a cost-effective alternative to Institutionalization. o Promote discipline through physical conditioning And teamwork. o Instill moral values and a work ethic. o Promote literacyShow MoreRelatedJuvenile Boot Camps Essay1006 Words   |  5 PagesRunning Head: Juvenile Boot Camps Juvenile Boot Camps John Coale TESST College CM102 Professor Tuer September 4, 2010 Abstract This paper will discuss the history of the canine dog. This paper will also discuss the different breeds of the canine and its purposes. This paper focuses on the training, handling, and the overall care of the canine by the police or other agencies involving canines. Increased juvenile delinquency and engagement in crime has been an issue of concern to manyRead MoreEssay on Juvenile Boot Camps3738 Words   |  15 Pagesthat I plan to take on in this research proposal is rehabilitation for minors. I mainly want to focus on minors 16 years of age or younger. The question I wish to answer more specifically is, does boot camp benefit or harm a troubled minor? I also wish to learn the short and long term affects of these camps, do they just create a short term solution, or do they in fact shape minors into law abiding citizens that can contribute to society? I plan on answering these questions using past and present researchRead More Boot Camps and Juvenile Crime Essay1148 Words   |  5 PagesBoot Camps and Juvenile Crime Five years ago, responding to an increase in serious juvenile crime, the state of Maryland initiated one of the nations largest boot camp programs for teenage criminals. The program, called the Leadership Challenge, quickly became the model for other states. But last week, after reviewing a task force report that documented instances of physical abuse at their camps, Maryland officials appeared on the verge of conceding that the current initiative was a failure.Read MoreJuvenile Boot Camps Essay examples604 Words   |  3 PagesJuvenile Boot Camps Juvenile boot camps have been emerging more and more over the United States throughout the most recent years. At the rate they keep appearing, they seem as though they are here to stay. However, that might not be the truth quite yet. Several groups believe that they appear to be efficient and supportive to the youth at question. But Read MoreThe Total Effects Of Boot Camps That House Juveniles847 Words   |  4 PagesThe Total Effects of Boot Camps That House Juveniles: A Systematic Review of the Evidence. In the 1980s the first shock incarceration programs or boot camp was introduced for the adult’s correctional system. Since than it have rapidly grown, and widely adopted across the fields of corrections and juvenile justice. The attraction towards the shock incarceration program originated from the instinctive belief that military methods promote honorable behavior. However, for others, it is the effectRead MoreJuvenile Boot Camps : A Shock Incarceration Technique1894 Words   |  8 PagesJuvenile boot camps are what are known as a shock incarceration technique. The purpose of shock incarceration is to scare the convicted into changing their ways. Unlike most other shock incarceration techniques, the boot camp method is designed as a way to promote structure and discipline into the lives of the juveniles. They do this by having a highly structured routine that includes physical training, marching in formation, and professional development activities. The use of juvenile b oot campsRead More Juvenile Boot Camps Do Not Reduce Juvenile Delinquency Essay3001 Words   |  13 PagesIntroduction Juvenile delinquency is a relatively new phenomenon. For this reason, society’s reactions and solutions to the problem of delinquency are also modern developments. The United States developed the first youth court in 1899 and is now home to many new and formerly untested methods of juvenile rehabilitation and correction. One of many unique programs within the Juvenile Justice system, boot camps are institutions designed to keep delinquent juveniles out of traditional incarcerationRead MoreBoot Camps Essay961 Words   |  4 PagesBoot Camps The history and explanation of how these institutions are operated The increase in violent behavior amongst Americas youth has prompted the implementation of more effective rehabilitation methods. With the percentage of non-violent offenders on the rise, prison incarceration or juvenile detention doesnt seem to be the right solution for rehabilitation. In December 1983 a new idea emerged in Giorgia. This new idea was shock incarceration or boot camp. These temporaryRead MoreEvaluation Of The Boot Camps2381 Words   |  10 PagesIntroduction Boot camps became a force to be reckoned with in the 1980s. It was at first imagined as a powerful apparatus for settling behavioral issues of high schoolers. This approach was gotten from the military style of rectifying the conduct of blundering individuals from the military. Boot camps for young people have turned into a well known disciplinary alternative for guardians with juvenile kids. Regularly prescribed by instructors or by state equity frameworks as a contrasting option toRead MoreCorrectional Boot Camps - Shock Incarceration2187 Words   |  9 PagesCorrectional Boot Camps - Shock Incarceration Abstract While most criminal end up in general population, there are many other ways to do time. Boot camp is an option for petty offenders. Successfully completing the program, criminal offenders can bypass prison all together. Though it may be a safer choice, it is not as easy as it sounds. This paper evaluates the history of correctional boot camps, the eligibility of whom is accepted into the program, the graduation statics, and crime recidivism

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Joyce Chemical Case free essay sample

In this case I play the role of Edward Cummings, a senior credit representative of Joyce Chemical Company. My task in this case is to look into Eliot Manufacturing and to see if we should continue or terminate our relationship with them. If we were to continue, the choices would be to either have them in a program to reduce their accounts payable or to tolerate gradual increases in credit. After doing an analysis on Mr. Pound and the Eliot Manufacturing Company, I would recommend that Joyce Chemical Company should terminate their relationship with Eliot Manufacturing, which would imply that the company would go out of business. There are a few things that I noticed when looking into the company that cause concern for me. One reason that I believe this would be a wise choice is the management of the company. Currently, Mr. Pound is the only member of management with drive and experience in business and sales. We will write a custom essay sample on Joyce Chemical Case or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He is also the sole owner of the company, this along with an investigation that emphasized that little confidence in the new management team, could cause issues if Mr. Pound’s health deteriorates more. I would also have issues with the controller being in charge, if something were to happen to Mr. Pound, due to his lying about Mr. Pound being on a business trip. Joyce should not lend money to a company where the person in charge lies to the people who are giving them money. It raises the question about what else they could be lying about. The company’s accounts payable is also a concern. Its accounts payable has grown by 17. 94% per year on average, compared to its sales growth of 16. 96% per year on average. Their accounts payable turnover has increased from 67. 88 days and 70. 22 days from 2007 to 2011 respectively. (Appendix B, E) This allows them to make it seem like they have more cash than they actually do, because they should be using it to repay their debts. This is also vulnerable to change even more, because of the cyclical pattern of the clothing industry. Eliot Manufacturing Company’s accounts receivable have grown on average of 28. 30% per year from 2007- 2011. This is growing concern, due to the possibility of slowing payments. This is shown in the increase of 54. 80 days for accounts receivable turnover in 2007 to the turnover of 73. 59 days in 2011. (Appendix A, E) This is leading to less cash available for the company to use. The company also has had to use provisions for doubtful accounts in 2010 and 2011, which leads to them even less cash available. Another cause of concern for me is the growth of inventories for Eliot Manufacturing. Their inventory has increased by 33. 30% on average over the last 4 years. This is expected to increase in 2012 as well, due to an expected purchase of 5. 0 million pounds of resin, and expected sales of 4. 3 million pounds. Although their inventory turnover has decreased from 27. 77 days in 2007 to 23. 53 days in 2011, this is expected to increase for 2012, due to the greater increase of inventory than sales, 33. 30% vs. 16. 96% respectively. (Appendix A, B, E) This has played a part in their COGS increasing 80. 23% on average over the last 4 years. This can be a concern, especially if the garment business is in the slow part of the business cycle. When looking forward to try to predict the rest of the 2012 fiscal year, I created some projected income statement and balance sheet. (Appendix C, D). Using these projections, as well as ratios calculated, there are issues that Eliot Manufacturing faces. They have run a negative net profit margin and return on assets in 2011, helping show that the company is in need of a change of management. Their debt ratio has also risen above 1, so they have more liabilities than assets, which means that this company has high leverage and is a risk. The company also has consistently had a current ratio under 1, which shows its inability to pay off short-term loans. These factors, as well as the projections, help influence the decision to cut ties with this company. If the Eliot Manufacturing Company goes out of business, then Joyce Chemical Company can look to other manufacturers to continue their business in a more profitable way. If I were to consider continuing the relationship with Eliot Manufacturing, they must be willing to make some changes. They would need to hire more management that has experience in business and sales, is trustworthy and able to agree and maintain to firm understandings between the companies. The company should also look into selling stock, allowing for more owners as well as more equity in the company. The company would need to have more in terms of collateral, having better guarantee of the payables. The company should also using the funds provided as trade credit and not relying on proceeds from accounts receivables to keep the business going. Eliot Manufacturing should also look into using the resin in a more profitable way, looking into making more high-density polyethylene, which could make the company more profit from the materials they purchase.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Macbeth Theme Essays - Characters In Macbeth, English-language Films

Macbeth Theme "To Know My Deed, ?Twere Best Not Know Myself" How was it possible for such an admirable and noble man, so established in society, to fall so greatly into a dilemma, full of murderous plots and deceit? In William Shakespeare's Macbeth, the idea of one character becoming both victim and villain is introduced. Macbeth falls prey to others' deception, and is supplanted with greed and hate when he is tricked by three witches. When told that he is going to be King of Scotland, Macbeth does whatever he can to ensure his prophecy. In Macbeth's quest for power, he gains a flaw that ends in a deteriorated relationship with Lady Macbeth, and his eventual defeat. "All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter!" (I.iii.50) The three witches, with their"prophetic greeting" (I.iii.78) gear Macbeth's drive for power. They embody the supernatural element of this tragedy. With their imperfect predictions, they play on Macbeth's security and nourish the seed of his tragic flaw, which flourishes in their manipulative prophecies and drives him into becoming the King of Scotland. But the Scottish aristocracy comprises of King Duncan, his two princes Malcolm and Donalbain, and various other thanes and nobles, including Macbeth's friend, Banquo. His desire for position on the throne overrides his respect for the King and his own dignity, leading Macbeth to slaughter him, and murder all those who serve as obstacles in his treacherous pursuit of the throne. "Yet I do fear thy nature. It is too full o' the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great; art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it." (I.v.16-20) In the beginning, Lady Macbeth has a kind of power over Macbeth that she can only achieve through his devotion to her. She adds to his false sense of security, and Macbeth confides in her and lets her persuade him. As the murderous plots drag on, he loses his will to speak in confidence to her. As with Banquo, Macbeth no longer looks to him as an ally, but rather a hurdle that he must defeat in order to fulfill the divination that the witches have cast. Banquo is near enough to draw blood, and like a menacing swordsman, his mere presence threatens Macbeth's existence (III.i.115-117). Macbeth is not sufficiently cultivated in good or evil to gather poise for all occasions; thus he experiences difficulty in sleeping, he uses rhetoric inadequately in the presence of others when disturbed, and even resorts to improbability. "That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on the other..." (I.vii.25-28) Macbeth has a conscience that plagues him throughout the story, prohibiting him from forgetting all he knows that is right. But again, the words of his wife, Lady Macbeth, supplied with the warped foresights of the three witches, impels him to stay devoted to his utterly selfish ends. Macbeth's fall from grace into sheer misery is truly tragic in it's nature. Even his soliloquies, notable for magniloquence and marked by voluptuous word-painting, show more the stages of his corruption than its causes - the need for action to cover his lack of poise in awaiting developments and the need to stifle the moral imagination that enables him to foresee the consequences of his actions. Macbeth was simply a weak soul that had been unfairly hoaxed.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Ethan Frome man of duty essays

Ethan Frome man of duty essays Ethan Frome is lead by desire however controlled by duty. Ethan is a self-contradicting character. Ethan is firm and strong, however Ethan is also feeble and weak. Ethan desires Mattie however he is bound to his duty as a husband and tradition to Zeena. Ethan is strong in that he sticks to his duty, but Ethan shows his weakness when he is manipulated by Zeena. I find the season of winter to be a symbol for Ethan. A reference coming from the Dictionary of Symbols by Jack Tresidder defines the season of winter; "Winter may appear as an old man by a fire or a bare-headed woman in a winter landscape. It is linked with Hephaestus (Vulcan) or Boreas, the salamander or wild duck, and Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces." According to astrologers, Capricorns have responsible, disciplined, practical, methodical, cautious, serious, and sometimes pessimistic natures. According to astrologers, Aquariuses feel most comfortable in the world of ideas; they find situations that require emotional responses, such as personal relationships, to be difficult. Also, according to astrologers, Pisceans tend to be idealistic; sometimes the real world gets too harsh and ugly for them. To escape unpleasant realities, some Pisceans retreat into their own dreams and fantasies, and Pisceans can be delicate and vulnerable, especially when under emotional stress. Ethan most definitely falls under these categories. Ethan is emotionally weak, in that he allows Zeena to control him. Ethan was described, in the beginning of the book, as looking far older than he was in actuality. His work and torment made his physical appearance to match his inner suffering. Winter is typically seen as cold, dark, and lonely. These are reflective feelings succumbing Ethan. Love mostly suites those who remain oblivious to the harsh reality of our duty. Duty binds but love sets people free. Ethan realizes his duty, the duty of tradition, the duty to remain with Zeena. Ethan realizes this ...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

How Laszlo Biro Changed the History of Ballpoint Pens

How Laszlo Biro Changed the History of Ballpoint Pens No man was more foolish when he had not a pen in his hand, or more wise when he had. Samuel Johnson. A Hungarian journalist named Laszlo Biro invented the first ballpoint pen in 1938. Biro had noticed that the ink used in newspaper printing dried quickly, leaving the paper smudge-free, so he decided to create a pen using the same type of ink. But the thicker ink wouldnt flow from a regular pen nib. Biro had to devise a new type of point. He did so by fitting his pen with a tiny ball bearing in its tip. As the pen moved along the paper, the ball rotated, picking up ink from the ink cartridge and leaving it on the paper.   Biros Patents This principle of the ballpoint pen actually dates back to an 1888 patent owned by John Loud for a product designed to mark leather, but this patent was commercially unexploited. Biro first patented his pen in 1938 and he applied for another  patent in June 1943 in Argentina after he and his brother emigrated there in 1940.   The British government bought the licensing rights to Biro’s patent during World War II. The British Royal Air Force needed a new pen that would not leak at higher altitudes in fighter planes the way fountain pens did. The ballpoint’s successful performance for the Air Force brought Biro’s pens into the limelight. Unfortunately, Biro had never gotten a U.S. patent for his pen, so another battle was just beginning even as World War II ended.   The Battle of the Ballpoint Pens   A lot of improvements were made to pens in general over the years, leading to a battle over the rights to Biros invention.  The newly-formed Eterpen Company in Argentina commercialized the Biro pen after the Biro brothers received their patents there. The press hailed the success of  their writing tool because it could write for a year without refilling. Then, in May 1945,  Eversharp Company teamed up with Eberhard-Faber to acquire exclusive rights to Biro Pens of Argentina. The pen was rebranded as the â€Å"Eversharp CA,† which stood for â€Å"capillary action.† It was released to the press months in advance of public sales. Less than a month after Eversharp/Eberhard closed the deal with Eterpen, a Chicago businessman, Milton Reynolds, visited Buenos Aires in June 1945.  He noticed the Biro pen while he was in a store and recognized the pen’s sales potential. He bought a few as samples and returned to America to launch the Reynolds International Pen Company, ignoring Eversharp’s patent rights. Reynolds copied the Biro pen within four months and began to sell his product by the end of October 1945. He called it Reynolds Rocket and made it available at Gimbel’s department store in New York City. Reynolds’ imitation beat Eversharp to market and it was immediately successful. Priced at $12.50 each, $100,000 worth of pens sold their first day on the market. Britain was not far behind. The Miles-Martin Pen Company sold the first ballpoint pens to the public there at Christmas 1945.   The Ballpoint Pen Becomes a Fad Ballpoint pens were guaranteed to write for two years without refilling and sellers claimed they were smear-proof. Reynolds advertised his pen as one that could write under water. Then Eversharp sued Reynolds for copying the design that Eversharp had acquired legally. The 1888 patent by John Loud would have invalidated everyones claims, but no one knew that at the time. Sales skyrocketed for both competitors, but Reynolds’ pen tended to leak and skip. It  often failed to write. Eversharp’s pen did not live up to its own advertisements either. A very high volume of pen returns occurred for both Eversharp and Reynolds. The ballpoint pen fad ended due to consumer unhappiness.  Frequent price wars, poor quality products, and heavy advertising costs hurt both companies by 1948. Sales nosedived.  The original $12.50 asking price dropped to less than 50 cents per pen. The Jotter   Meanwhile, fountain pens experienced a resurgence of their old popularity as Reynolds’ company folded. Then  Parker Pens introduced its first ballpoint pen, the Jotter, in January 1954. The Jotter wrote five times longer than the Eversharp or Reynolds pens. It had a variety of point sizes, a rotating cartridge, and large-capacity ink refills. Best of all, it worked. Parker sold 3.5 million Jotters at prices from $2.95 to $8.75 in less than a year. The Ballpoint Pen Battle Is Won   By 1957,  Parker had  introduced the tungsten carbide  textured ball bearing in their ballpoint pens. Eversharp was in deep financial trouble and tried to switch back to selling fountain pens. The company sold its pen division to Parker Pens and Eversharp finally liquidated its assets in the 1960s. Then Came Bic   The French Baron Bich dropped the ‘H’ from his name and began selling pens called BICs in 1950. By the late fifties,  BIC  held 70 percent of the European market.   BIC bought 60 percent of the New York-based Waterman Pens in 1958, and it owned  100 percent of Waterman Pens by 1960. The company sold ballpoint pens in the U.S. for 29 cents up to 69 cents. Ballpoint Pens Today   BIC  dominates the market in the 21st century. Parker, Sheaffer, and Waterman capture smaller upscale markets of fountain pens and expensive ballpoints.  The highly popular modern version of Laszlo Biros pen, the BIC Crystal, has a daily worldwide sales figure of 14 million pieces. Biro is still the generic name used for the ballpoint pen used  in most of the world.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Current Macroeconomic Situation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Current Macroeconomic Situation - Research Paper Example A problem that the global recession created which the U.S economy has not been able to manage well is an explosion in the unemployment rate. The unemployment rate in the U.S. traditionally used to be under 5%. The unemployment rate reached double figures in 2010 for the first time in decades. During the last few months the U.S. has gone down a bit which is a positive sign. The creation of jobs is very important for the economy because it provides much needed income to many American families. The graph below shows the movement in the U.S. unemployment rate during the past nine months. The United States population has not had any problems with inflation in recent history. Economies that suffer from inflation are problematic because inflation diminishes the purchasing power of money. A rise in inflation is also bad because it increases the cost of acquiring money from banks and lending institutions. Investors are not attracted by economies that suffer from inflationary tendencies. During 2009 and 2010 the inflation rate in the United States was a very low 0.92% and 1% (Countrywatch, 2012). A problem the U.S economy faces which affects the long term well being of its entire population is its overall deficit. The deficit of the Unites States is growing every year due to three factors. The three factors that are increasing the total debt of America are budget deficits, trade deficit, and a lack of savings. During the past 40 years the U.S has only been able to achieve a budgetary surplus five times. The deficits keep accumulating themselves year after year. The U.S also has the largest trade deficit in the world. In January 2012 the U.S economy generated $180.6 billion in exports and $233.4 billion in imports (Tradeeconomics, 2012). The end result was that the U.S. started the year by accumulating a trade deficit of $52.3 billion in January 2012. The United States fiscal policy should focus on expansionary policies. The

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Using accelerometer and EMG signals to estimate arm motion Dissertation

Using accelerometer and EMG signals to estimate arm motion - Dissertation Example Using accelerometer and EMG signals to estimate arm motion This study investigates a means to overcome this degradation through use of EMG signals combined with accelerometer signals to measure the upper arm static and dynamic acceleration. Both EMG signal and accelerometer inputs are fed into an artificial neural network. The artificial neural network continuously predicts arm movement trajectories. An offline time-delay Artificial Neural network (TDANN) is employed to predict the movement trajectories of the arm. The accuracy of prediction was judged by using a set of goniometer readings which provides the changes in the angles of the upper limb. All data was processed in the Matlab environment. The TDANN deployed was developed in the neural network toolbox present within the Matlab environment. The developed neural network was optimized and trained with different sets of inputs, and the results for each of the trails was noted. The results obtained clearly demonstrated that accelerometers are able to enhance pattern recognition and thus p rovide better prosthesis control. Neural Network Optimization and Prediction Performance The neural network structure used for the study is the TDANN. TDANN is a neural network architecture whose primary purpose is to function on continuous data. The major advantage of using TDANN on continuous data is its ability to adapt the network’s weights and activation function online by use of back propagation error method. (Fougner, et al., 2011). The networks can be visualized as a feed forward neural network which is trained for time series prediction. The architecture has continuous inputs that are delayed and sent into the network. In this study, the inputs to this neural network architecture were delayed time series; that is the previous values of 10 channels for 4 for EMG and 6 channels for accelerometers. The measured goniometer signals served as desired output of the TDANN and also as the present state of the time series. The usage of one- layer time delay artificial neural n etwork which is a feed forward structure allow us to predict continuous trajectories which is advantageous for a coordinated and simultaneous control of multiple degrees of freedom in a natural manner. The use of delayed input signals enabled the neural network to capture dynamic input-output properties and account for the delay between the onset of the muscle activity and mechanical arm movement (the activation of the hardware motors in the prosthesis) (Fougner, et al., 2011). TDANN have also an advantage of rapid training time when compared to the dynamic neural networks with recurrent connections. We investigated using a TDANN to predict the elbow flexion degrees, wrist flexion degrees, wrist deviation degrees and forearm rotation degrees based on EMG information from the available intact muscles in transhumeral amputation patients. The EMG information was combined with the accelerometer information about the upper arm and the upper trunk orientations. A one layer time-delay arti ficial neural network (TDANN) was created using Matlab’s neural network toolbox; this network was used to capture the time-series data (EMG and accelerometer signals as an input with the goniometers and torsiometer signals as output). The size of the hidden layer was set by default to be 10 neurons and the network was trained then the hidden layer size was increased to 25 then to 35 and the performance of the network was monitored. TDANN with 35 neuron hidden layer size was then chosen. The network used 2 input delays to allow building a dynamic network, which has memory so

Sunday, November 17, 2019

The Road to Disappearance Essay Example for Free

The Road to Disappearance Essay The Road to Disappearance: A history of the Creek Indians was written by Angie Debo, a native of Oklahoma. She had curiosity of the life and history of the â€Å"creek Indians’ which is also known as the ‘Muskigees’. These people are later on named as ‘Creek Indians’ because they thrive on the Creek areas or besides rivers and canals. This book was written in 1941, a part of many books about Creek Indians that was written by the author as she was teaching history in the University of Oklahoma. Basically, the book gives the reader the story of the ‘Creek history’. It covers the years from 1725 up until 1906. It tackles the experiences of the Creeks as a nation and their interaction and relationship with the Washington government as well as with the states that they occupy namely, Alabama, Georgia and Kansas. Throughout the book, the author kept on presenting data and facts that serves as evidence of her arguments regarding the fast paced obliteration of the ‘Creek Nation’. She also cited accounts of the attempts and struggles made by the Creeks as the State and Federal government draft laws that somehow keep these people marginalized and controlled. The first chapters in the book cover the discussion of the Creek Nation’s history, which, as Debo pronounced was ‘lost in legend’. There are those which talks about coming from the ‘huge mountains†¦a migration toward sunrise†¦ the crossing of a great and muddy river and the occupation and conquest of their eastern home’. These chapters also talks about the Creeks relation with other Indians and some of their customs, beliefs and practices. The third chapter offers the beginning of the destruction of the ‘Nation’ that was followed by conquers and the war with these conquerors. Chapter VI shows that after devastation, the ‘Creeks forms a nation again’, nonetheless the proceeding chapters shows and discuss rivalries and conflicts inside the ‘Nation’ itself. In chapter IX there was a moment of peace, nonetheless it does not stand for long as what Debo believes to be happening right now is the ending of the tribe. The book was well written and provides a good overview of the history of Indian Americans in general and Creek Nation in particular. It helps the readers understand what was the life that these people has to endure and the history that they have along with their distinct culture, beliefs and traditions that were slowly being eroded by modernization and ethno racism. The book was obviously in favor and in support of helping the Creek Indians get the rights, respect and recognition that they properly deserved. The author has successfully point out the different period in history that the Creeks have been oppressed and how the government policies are hurting and demeaning the Indian population. The author has successfully laid the foundation and evidence that will make the reader question the legitimacy of the laws and policies that the government has made in the past and today. It somehow expands the horizon of what I know about American Indians. Moreover it helps me understand their situation. The author made me feel how wrongly the Creek Indians are treated. Along with illustrations, the book successfully captures sympathy and understanding from its readers. This I think is the main purpose of the book aside from being informative. There are a lot of things that I have learned from the book aside from the different Indian tribes and the way they live. I also found about how they are treated and what their history in connection to my own is. Understanding the difference between us (the Creek Indians and me) and the fact that we are living in the same country, give me a higher regards and respect for their abilities and their being the real owners of the lands in which we (Americans) thrive. To further understand the book and to find the topics more easily, there an index at the end that can make reading easier especially when looking back and looking for terms in relation to other topics in the book. The book also contains maps aside from illustrations. These maps are important to help the reader’s picture in their mind the length and area that the Creek’s covers. There is also a page that contains other works created by Angie Debo which are also related to the ‘Creek Indians’. I definitely recommend this book for people who would like to know about the Creek’s life. It is thorough and it refers to the problems of the Creek in a straightforward manner. Although it is somehow bias, it delivers a good stance in regards to the life and the rights of the Creek people. The readers would enjoy the way the book is written eventhough it talks about history. The author has the ability to look at the subject matter in an inclusive perspective, such that the reader will feel as though they are pat of the history that they are reading. This is a must read for enthusiast and non enthusiast alike and I recommend it for a deeper understanding of the culture and the people that once been the sole owners and cultivators of the American land. Work Cited: Debo, A. The Road to Disappearance: A History of the Creek Indians. Norman. 1941, 1967.

Friday, November 15, 2019

OXFAMs Global Reach :: Essays Papers

OXFAM's Global Reach "Consequences of the New Economy" was the theme for St. Olaf College's Globalization and Social Responsibility conference. The conference explored the social and economic effects of the globalization of capitalism. One of the speakers for this event was Raymond Offenheiser, a leader in international development and philanthropy, and president of OXFAM America. OXFAM America, an international nonprofit agency, is recognized for its human rights and national public education program on issues of hunger and injustice throughout the world. Offenheiser's lecture, OXFAM's Global Reach , addressed the increasing interdependence in global markets and its effects on agriculture, coffee, and fair trade. World trade has the potential to reduce poverty, if poor people could sell their products at a reasonable price. However, the injustices of the world trade system are stopping them. Unfair trade agreements and agricultural subsides hinder efforts to reduce poverty in poor countries. In particular, farm and trade policies in the United States and the European Union are creating adversities for family farmers worldwide. The world's wealthy countries provide a substantial amount of money to support agriculture, enabling corporate and large-scale farmers in these countries to grow more than is needed. The access is dumped on international markets, where it is sold for less than it costs to grow. This dumping drives down prices and destroys the livelihood of farmers in countries that do not subsidize farmers and are forced to open their markets to foreign commodities. Unfair trade and farm policies that allow dumping are a major cause of poverty, since many poor communities rely on agriculture as a major source of income. If farmers can't sell their crops for a fair price, they must leave their lands, their families, and migrate in search of jobs. American cotton subsidies are a prime example of how US agriculture and trade policies worsen poverty in Africa. These American subsides have greatly reduced world cotton prices, generating losses to African producers. Although West African cotton farmers are more efficient, low-cost producers they cannot compete with the US producers' access to huge subsidies. Consequently, the cotton price crisis is contributing to the poverty for millions of African farmers. Unfortunately, farm and trade policies do not help most small farmers in the United States either. Low world prices are quickly forcing US family farmers out of business, while large-scale, corporate agriculture benefits from government payments. The global coffee crisis is also creating hardships for families around the world.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Psychology and Social Support Essay

Marriage these days does not seem to last very long. Two months after his wedding, your friend Tom confides in you that he’s unhappy in his marriage. He tells you that he and his wife seem to be fighting all the time, and nothing seems to get resolved. He tends to be very high-strung anyway(His friends call him â€Å"Type-A Tom†) and now he feels like the stress of the constant bickering is affecting every aspect of his life, including his health. Since you’re in a Psychology class, he asks you for your thoughts on the chances of his marriage surviving and your advice about what he can do about his stress. Based on what you’ve read (either in the assigned readings in this module or your own Internet research), you answer his questions by addressing 10 factors that may be related to his situation. Briefly discuss each of these factors (and how it may relate to Tom’s predicament) in a 5-7 page essay. The Factors are: Predictability of the stressor. In psychology, stress is a feeling of strain and pressure. Symptoms may include a sense of being overwhelmed, feelings of anxiety, overall irritability, insecurity, nervousness, social withdrawal, loss of appetite, depression, panic attacks, exhaustion, high or low blood pressure, skin eruptions or rashes, insomnia, lack of sexual desire (sexual dysfunction), migraine, gastrointestinal difficulties (constipation or diarrhea), and for women, menstrual symptoms. It may also cause more serious conditions such as heart problems. Also, experimental research which has been performed on animals, also displayed results relating to stress and negative effects on the body. It has been shown that stress contributes to the initiation and development of specific tumors within the body. A stressor is any event, experience, or environmental stimulus that causes stress in an individual.[22] These events or experiences are perceived as threats or challenges to the individual and can be either physical or psychological. Researchers have found that stressors can make individuals more prone to both physical and psychological problems, including heart disease and anxiety.[23] Stressors are more likely to affect an individual’s health when they are â€Å"chronic, highly disruptive, or perceived as uncontrollable†.[23] In psychology, researchers generally classify the different types of stressors into four categories: 1) crises/catastrophes, 2) major life events, 3) daily hassles/microstressors, and 4) ambient stressors. Social support (human relationships) Social support is the perception and actuality that one is cared for, has assistance available from other people, and that one is part of a supportive social network. These supportive resources can be emotional (e.g., nurturance), tangible (e.g., financial assistance), informational (e.g., advice), or companionship (e.g., sense of belonging). Social support can be measured as the perception that one has assistance available, the actual received assistance, or the degree to which a person is integrated in a social network. Support can come from many sources, such as family, friends, pets, organizations, coworkers, etc. Government provided social support is often referred to as Public aid.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Everest report Essay

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the two Everest Simulations conducted by Group 10 of MGMT1001 Thursday Tutorial. This task required students to form teams consisting of five to six members whose goals were to summit Mount Everest. While it provided us with a rich experience in team dynamics and collaboration, it also enabled us to explore key managerial concepts taught in the course, consisting of: †¢Communication †¢Groups and Teams †¢Leadership In this report, we examine the effectiveness of Face to Face Communication (FTFC) versus Computer Mediated Communication (CMC), and the problems encountered through the utilisation of the virtual medium including efficiency of the feedback system, loss of personal focus and other emergent issues. It includes personal reflections on attitudes and perceptions, as well as group performance and strategies adopted in the second Simulation in order to create a more positive team experience. Theories which relate to interpersonal communication have also been integrated in the report to illustrate its relation to certain situations encountered during the Simulation. Additionally, we provide a multifaceted analysis on the notion of team cohesiveness and how it attributes to better performance outcomes. An overview on the different intragroup conflicts encountered in the Simulation has been included, examining the positive and negative impact that conflict had on team experience and performance, and how mutual agreements were reached through the compromising of personal and team goals. Finally, we conclude the report with an analysis of the different leadership styles including directive and empowerment. In our case, a consensus system was agreed upon, which granted equal authority for decision-making. The report also includes a copy of the team contract which briefly outlines our approach to problems and policies for decision-making.

Friday, November 8, 2019

How Graduate Admission Committees Evaluate Applications

How Graduate Admission Committees Evaluate Applications Graduate programs receive dozens or even hundreds of applications and many are from students with stellar qualifications. Can admissions committees and departments really draw distinctions among hundreds of applicants? A competitive program that receives a large number of applications, such as a doctoral program in clinical  psychology, may receive up to 500 applications. Admissions committees for competitive graduate programs break the review process into several steps. First Step: Screening Does the applicant meet the minimum requirements? Standardized test scores? GPA? Relevant experience? Is the application complete, including admissions essays and recommendation letters? The purpose of this initial review is to ruthlessly weed out applicants. Second Step: First Pass Graduate programs vary, but many competitive programs send batches of applications to faculty for an initial review. Each faculty member may review a set of applications and identify those with promise. Third Step: Batch Review In the next step batches of applications are sent to two to three faculty. At this stage, applications are evaluated with regard to motivation, experience, documentation (essays, letters), and overall promise. Depending on the size of the program and applicant pool the resulting set of applicants is reviewed by a larger set of faculty, or interviewed, or accepted (some programs do not conduct interviews). Fourth Step: Interview Interviews may be conducted by phone or in-person. Applicants are evaluated with regard to their academic promise, thinking and problem-solving skills, and social competence. Both faculty and graduate students evaluate applicants. Final Step: Post Interview and Decision Faculty meet, gather evaluations, and make admissions decisions. The specific process varies depending on the size of the program and number of applicants. Whats the takeaway message? Make sure that your application is complete. If youre missing a recommendation letter, essay, or transcript, your application will not make it through the initial screening.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Biography of Samuel Morse, Inventor of the Telegraph

Biography of Samuel Morse, Inventor of the Telegraph Samuel Finley Breese Morse (April 27, 1791–April 2, 1872) is famous as the inventor of the telegraph and Morse Code, but what he really wanted to do was paint. He was a well-established artist when his youthful interest in electronics resurfaced, leading to the communications invention that changed humanity until it was overshadowed by the telephone, radio, television, and, finally, the internet. Fast Facts: Samuel F.B. Morse Known For: Inventor of the telegraphBorn: April 27, 1791 in Charlestown, MassachusettsParents: Jedidiah Morse, Elizabeth Ann Finley BreeseDied: April 2, 1872 in New York, New YorkEducation: Yale College (now Yale University)Spouse(s): Lucretia Pickering Walker, Sarah Elizabeth GriswoldChildren: Susan, Charles, James, Samuel, Cornelia, William, EdwardNotable Quote: What hath God wrought? Early Life and Education Samuel F.B. Morse was born on April 27, 1791, in Charlestown, Massachusetts, the first child of noted geographer and Congregational minister Jedidiah Morse and Elizabeth Ann Finley Breese. His parents were committed to his schooling and the Calvinist faith. His early education at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, was undistinguished, except for his interest in art. He next enrolled in Yale College (now Yale University) at age 14, where he focused on art but found a new interest in the little-studied subject of electricity. He earned money by painting small portraits of friends, classmates, and teachers before graduating in 1810 with Phi Beta Kappa honors. He returned to Charlestown after college. Despite his wishes to be a painter and encouragement from famed American painter Washington Allston, Morses parents wanted him to be a booksellers apprentice. He became a clerk for Daniel Mallory, his fathers Boston book publisher. Trip to England A year later, Morses parents relented and let him sail to England with Allston. He attended the Royal Academy of Arts in London and received instruction from Pennsylvania-born painter Benjamin West. Morse became friends with poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, several accomplished painters, and American actor John Howard Payne. He adopted a â€Å"romantic† painting style featuring heroic characters and epic events.  In 1812, his plaster statuette The Dying Hercules won a gold medal at the Adelphi Society of Arts exhibition in London, and his painting of the same subject received critical acclaim at the Royal Academy. Family Morse returned to the U.S. in 1815 and opened an art studio in Boston. The next year, seeking portrait commissions to earn a living, he traveled to New Hampshire and met Lucretia Pickering Walker, 16, in Concord. They soon became engaged. Morse painted some of his most notable work at this time, including portraits of military leader  Marquis de Lafayette  and President  George Washington.   On Sept. 29, 1818, Lucretia Walker and Morse were married in Concord. Morse spent the winter in Charleston, South Carolina, and received many portrait commissions there. The couple spent the rest of the year painting in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. A year later, Morses first child was born. While living with his family in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1821, Morse painted more distinguished individuals, including cotton gin inventor Eli Whitney and dictionary compiler Noah Webster. Morses second child was born in 1823 and his third child arrived two years later, but tragedy followed. One month after the birth of his third child, Lucretia Morse died suddenly at age 25 and was buried in New Haven before he could return. Interest in Electricity Resurfaces In 1827, Columbia College Professor James Freeman Dana presented a series of lectures on electricity and electromagnetism at the New York Athenaeum, where Morse also lectured. Through their friendship, Morse became more familiar with the properties of his earlier interest. In November 1829, leaving his children in the care of relatives, Morse left for a three-year tour of Europe, where he visited friends Lafayette and novelist James Fenimore Cooper, studied art collections, and painted. While raising his family, painting, lecturing on art, and viewing works by the old masters, Morses fascination with electronics and inventions never disappeared. In 1817, he and his brother Sidney patented a human-powered water pump for fire engines that worked but was a commercial failure. Five years later, Morse invented a marble-cutting machine that could carve three-dimensional sculptures, but it couldnt be patented because it infringed on an earlier design. Meanwhile, advances in electronics had been moving the world closer to a device that could send messages over vast distances. In 1825, British physicist and inventor William Sturgeon invented the electromagnet, which would be a key component of the telegraph. Six years later, American scientist Joseph Henry developed a more powerful electromagnet and demonstrated how it could send electric signals over long distances, suggesting the possibility of a device such as the telegraph. In 1832, on his voyage home from Europe, Morse conceived the idea of an electromagnetic telegraph during conversations with another passenger, a doctor who described to Morse European experiments with electromagnetism. Inspired, Morse wrote in his sketchbook ideas for a prototype of an electromagnetic recording telegraph and a dot-and-dash code system that would bear his name. Later that year, Morse was appointed professor of painting and sculpture at the University of the City of New York (now New York University), but he continued to work on the telegraph. Developing the Telegraph In the fall of 1835, Morse built a recording telegraph with a moving paper ribbon and demonstrated it to friends and acquaintances. The next year he demonstrated his prototype to a professor of science at the university. Over the next several years, Morse demonstrated his invention to friends, professors, a House of Representatives committee, President Martin Van Buren, and his cabinet. He took on several partners who helped with the science and financing, but his work also began to attract competitors. On Sept. 28, 1837, Morse began the patent process for the telegraph. By November he was able to send a message through 10 miles of wire arranged on reels in a university lecture room. The next month, after completing the paintings he was working on, Morse set aside his art to devote his full attention to the telegraph. At this point, other men- including the doctor on Morses 1832 return voyage from Europe and several European inventors- were claiming credit for the telegraph. The claims were resolved and in 1840 Morse was granted a U.S. patent for his device. Lines were strung between many cities, and on May 24, 1844, Morse sent his famous message- What hath God wrought?- from the Supreme Court chamber in Washington, D.C., to the B O Railroad Depot in Baltimore, Maryland. By 1849, an estimated 12,000 miles of telegraph lines were being run by 20 American companies in the United States. In 1854, the Supreme Court upheld Morses patent claims, meaning that all U.S. companies using his system had to pay him royalties. On Oct. 24, 1861, Western Union completed the first transcontinental telegraph line to California. After several breaks, a permanent undersea Atlantic Cable was finally laid in 1866. New Family Back in 1847 Morse, already a wealthy man, had bought Locust Grove, an estate overlooking the Hudson River near Poughkeepsie, New York. The next year he married Sarah Elizabeth Griswold, a second cousin 26 years his junior. The couple had four children together. In the 1850s, he built an Italian villa-style mansion on the Locust Grove property and spent his summers there with his large family of children and grandchildren, returning each winter to his brownstone in New York. Death On April 2, 1872, Samuel Morse died in New York. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn. Legacy Morses invention changed the world, as it was used by the military during engagements, newspaper reporters filing stories from the field, far-flung businesses, and others. After his death, his fame as the inventor of the telegraph was obscured by other communication devices- the telephone, radio,  television, and the  internet- while his reputation as an artist grew. At one time he didnt want to be remembered as a portrait painter, but his powerful, sensitive portraits have been exhibited throughout the United States. His 1837 telegraph instrument is in the  Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History in Washington,  D.C. His Locust Grove estate is a national historic landmark. Sources Samuel F.B. Morse: American Artist and Inventor. Encyclopedia Britannica.Samuel F.B. Morse: Inventor. Biography.com.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Mu2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Mu2 - Essay Example They should be taught how to deal with panicky situations, how to deal with emergency and to how to address their safety in such undesirable circumstances. Life safety is very important and given the context, it means trying to curb down un-necessary exposure to the harmful products due to combustion. There are three basic directions that need to be followed. The first one is to try stopping ignition, the second one is to control the outbreak of fire and the third one is to keep the humans safe from the byproducts of combustion. This can be done keeping in mind the concepts of either of the three of time, distance and shielding. The smoke and heat don’t develop instantaneously. They develop over time to create a harmful hazardous environment. There are a lot of variables involved and each of these variables varies in different circumstances so the rate at which this happens can’t be exactly predicted. The fire starts of as small and slowly gradually intensifies thus invoking a very hazardous environment in the process. The fire can be detected by either of the 2, through automatic means or by personnel detection. The real focus should be on what stage after ignition and heat buildup has the fire been discovered. It is that stage which will have a major impact on the life safety measures that would be taken up. It is not necessary that all the occupants at the site of the fire will react to it in the same way. The reaction of two different people will vary. The reaction of a single individual can also vary in different time frames, in different settings. It is not necessary that someone who reacts in a particular way at one point in time will react in exactly the same way three days from now. By reaction, it is meant, how humans react to smoke build up, to the flame, to the burns, to the hue and cry etc. There are some factors that help determine how humans react to fire situations typically. These factors are: Where age is concerned, the

Friday, November 1, 2019

The Story of Arthur Wergs Mitchell Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Story of Arthur Wergs Mitchell - Essay Example Arthur Wergs Mitchell was born on December 22 1883, at Roanoke, Alabama and was the son of former slaves Taylor and Ammar Mitchell. His father has worked as a modest farmer to raise his family. Mitchell studied in public schools and has financed his college education at the Tuskegee Institute by working as a university assistant and farm laborer. After a year at the Tuskegee Institute, Mitchell transferred to Snow Hill Institute, where he was mentored by a Washington protà ©gà © in the person of Professor William J. Edwards. Mitchell’s beliefs toward his own teaching skills and capabilities have later on led him to putting up a vocational elementary school, the West Alabama Normal and Industrial Institute that was exclusive for African American children. These milestones have also brought difficulties to the life of Mitchell. He was accused of deceiving the poor blacks to working for cheap labor and was even charged of defrauding them to obtain their land titles. He was sued by the black farmers, but has managed to avoid prosecution. Nonetheless, the charges filed against Mitchell did not hinder him to moving toward his goal of becoming a lawyer. Eventually, Mitchell has left Alabama and moved to Washington. Then, he went to Chicago to pursue law. On 1919, he has moved to Washington D.C., where he has tried to familiarize himself with the law and has gone to real estate by establishing the Mutual Housing Company of Washington D.C (Asseln 1995). In spite of his lack of formal law education, Mitchell passed the bar in Chicago, Illinois in 1927 (Asseln 1995). He has later on ventured into the practice of law by opening a law office that has paved the way for him to creating a connection with the Republican Party (Asseln 1995). This then marked the beginning of his political career as the first African American democrat in the country. Mitchell has worked for the Republican Party and has managed the campaign of the Republican presidential bet Herbert Hoover (Nordin 2007). This responsibility has made him inspired to entering the arena of politics. Upon joining politics, Mitchell left the Republican Party and became a Democrat. As a democrat, he had the advantage of representing the black community, for he was seen by the party leader as one who will not intrude in the plans of the white political leaders that may be unfavorable for the black constituents (Nordin 2007). Arthur Mitchell replaced Harry Brooke as candidate of the Democratic Party for Congress Representative due to his sudden death (Arthur Wergs Mitchell 2013). Mitchell rivaled with fellow African American Oscar De Priest, but Mitchell managed to defeat Brooke, thereby, electing him as the very first African American Democrat to represent a state in the American Congress in November 7, 1934 (Arthur Wergs Mitchell 2013). Mitchell expressed his support to â€Å"President Roosevelt and the New Deal† during his tenure in Congress (Arthur Wergs Mitchell 2013). On the one hand, Mitchell got involved in a controversy that prompted him to file charges against the Illinois Central and Rock Island Railroads. The

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Software Process Improvement Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Software Process Improvement - Assignment Example This paper will look at the software that can be used in managing the process. Process management is important in that it will bring into optimizing the software that is already in place. It is important to know the times that the software needs to be optimized. To have this process rightly in place and working effectively, there should be an automated way in which can be undertaken. This paper will suggest the software that can be designed to help in assessing the various information systems and suggest process improvement of the software. Log management software One software that can be put in place is that of managing the various logs that are found in a given information system. Logs are the small transactions and details that usually take place in an information system. There is a need to undertake a management process where the logs are managed. This will help to know the requirements that should be improved in case there needs to be some improvement. Before a process is improv ed, there is a need to understand the internal workings of the software that should be improved. The log management software will manage, among other things, the frequency of use of some transactions in the software, the bugs that are common with the use of certain transactions. There is a need to record the logs and the requirements to improve and work on a solution to eradicate these errors. Another issue that should be looked into automatically is the processes that keep on clashing in the system. He internal working of the process in an information system should be looked into and improved on. These are the functions that the information system will work to improve. Error logging software Important software that should be developed to help with process improvement procedure with the various information systems is that of error logging software. This software will help to check for the errors that are normally frequent. It is also important to understand the errors that are commo n in particular processes and the ones that interact with other processes. This software will be used, together with the logging software, to analyze the cause of the errors that are commonly met while working on the various software in the system. This will help have detailed facts about the errors that are experienced which will help the process improvement developers to understand what they are to improve and the way in which this can be achieved. With the various errors being experienced in software, the improvement and eradication of these errors is normally built on detailed understanding of eh software that is causing the errors. It is important to have the right information about these errors (Haug, Olsen, Bergman, 2001). Process optimization software This software will be used in suggesting the best ways in which the software will be optimized. As the software is used every day, there will come a time where the processes will be optimized. What the software will do is monit or the interaction of the various modules and processes that are running in the software and generate a report about the software which interacts most often. It will also look at the tasks that will be undertaken and processed by more than one process. This information will be used by the developers while they are on the quest to improve on the working on the various processes (Oktaba, 2008). After the developers get this information, they will be in a position to have a way forward into working on the interaction of the software processes so that they can work effectively on the various tasks that require multiple processes. This will help in optimizing the software process. Instead of have autonomous software processes

Monday, October 28, 2019

Public Health And Health Promotion

Public Health And Health Promotion In this research paper I discussed the role of Public Relations in communicating health and delivering healthy messages to the public or community. It is more or less the same working with other ministries but Ministry of Health (MOH) are more focused on educating and promoting healthy lifestyle. There are five strategic SMART objectives that as a PR need to be focused and improved on:- Strategic Objective: Establish Strengthen Health in All Policies (HiAP) Strategic Objective: Develop Effective, Quality And Innovative Health Promotion Programmes to reduce Obesity, Unhealthy Diet, Physical Inactivity And Tobacco Use Strategic Objective: Enhance Inter-Sectoral Collaboration And Partnership Strategic Objective: Develop Health Promotion Skills Competencies Strategic Objective: Strengthen Health Promotion Centre Infrastructure and resources The challenges and constraints of Health Promotion Centre (HPC) are to be discussed further more in this research paper. As a conclusion of this paper, I also includes the benefits and expected outcomes for the strategies. Role of Public Relation in Health Communication in Brunei Darussalam INTRODUCTION Brunei Darussalam is a moderate Islamic country with multi ethnic racial where understanding diversity management and cultural values may increase the productivity of an organisation and also create harmonization among the three main races in Brunei; Malay, Chinese and Indian (Brunei Tourism website, 2010). Diversity management is unique in Brunei Darussalam through symmetrical approaches to public relations. Understanding cultural diversity and multiculturalism is very important to articulate a sensitive and multi aspect approach to excellent public relations, especially in rapidly developing country like Brunei Darussalam. There is need for professional aid to understand the dominant religious such as Islam, and minority of Christianity and Hinduism as they want to invest to the country. In fact cultural diversity seen as universal concept, as every country has a different religious and tribal groups. Globalisation has given new meaning that should be practiced according to various ethnic groups with different religion and backgrounds. Public Relation is about maintaining a good relationship between an organization and public through communications in order to pursue its goals and objectives. The role of public relations can influence the main structure of an organization have practiced. The main responsibility for public relations is to gain publicity from the public using media releases such as newspaper, magazines and sometimes appears as spokesperson for that company or organization. The other responsibility for public relations is to find solutions for supplementary problems as well as a decision makers and policy formation. There are theoretical approaches in public relations. Theories applied in different ways because different theories, different assumptions due to different backgrounds such as culture and influence. According to Grunig and Hunt (1984) the best theory of public relation is the four model which explain the development of public relations. The first model is press agency. This is the easiest way to spread propaganda in other to get public attention for their events or products. It is a one way flow of info. Second model is Public information which runs by the government to inform the public on behalf of the organization about its development. Third model is the two ways asymmetric which by all means the power in organization and not to public. Forth model is two ways symmetric where the organizations events or products get feedback from the public. Nevertheless Grunig and White(1984) agreed that public relation is best described in asymmetric ways rather than symmetric ways. Somecritics of symmetrical worldview- both practitioners and theorists- claimed that the approach is unrealistic or idealistic. They argue that organizations hire public relations people as advocates to advance their interests and not as do-gooders who give in to outsiders with an agenda different from that of the organization. In short organizations would not hire a public relations person which not practices asymmetrically. (Grunig and White 1992:46) LEtang(1996) also argues that symmetry in public relations is inconsistent. He argued: There isà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦a problem in the attempt which some make to maintain the idea of symmetry alongside the role of public relations as advocate. Surely symmetry and advocacy are in opposition. The only way round this tension is to argue that public relations ensure that all world views are held, i.e that the playing field is level. Whether this sort of pandering to the liberal conscience and justifiable is a matter for debate: a debate which has yet to take place within public relations. (LEtang 1996:96-97) The theories then divided into two parts; Rhetorical Theory and Critical Theory. Rhetorical theory is a convincing dialogue about public relations role. It is suggested as dialogue relationship which allows deliberation of written text or language use and their ethics. According to Heath, Rhetoric is symmetrical because each idea placed in the marketplace or public policy arena stands on its own merit. (Heath 2001:49) Critical theory is the power which influences communication. It is about social critiques, political and corporate structures as well as institutional. The theory tries to search for social changes-postmodernism which includes political, cultural, social and economic views. According to Holtzh` ausen, she revisits the concept of the public relation practitioner as keeper of the corporate conscience. She argues that the responsibility for keeping organization abreast of postmodern thinking importantly resides in public relations department. She stated that: Postmodern theories urge public relations practitioners to acknowledgeable the political nature of their activities and to be aware of the power relations inherent in everyday practice. Public relations is about to change or resistance to change, these political acts are manifest in the everyday use of organizational language and symbolism and are influenced by the organizations cultural and social environment. This redefines the boundary spanning role. Instead of claiming objectivity, practitioners are forced to choose which side they are on. (Holtzhausen 2000:110) Public relations required skillful practitioners. Certain skills that needed in these areas are strong analytical skills and communication skills in other to catch the attention of public. Great interpersonal skills, self confidence, self and priority management skills, knowledgeable in financial industry and update with current issues will complete the criteria to be a Public relation practitioners. Integrity and commitment to ethical practice, equity and diversity will also help to gain public attention and expectations on the benefits from the products or events that we are promoting. In communicating health messages to the public is very hard because, we need to do survey about the community at first rather than approaching them directly. Most medical officers do not have the skills or knowledge on how to approach the community creatively. This is when Public Relations practitioners came forward to help them communicating with the public from explaining medical matter great in de tails and too wordy transformed into simple and creative which is easy to understand by the public. WHAT IS PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH PROMOTION? Public Health is a science of protecting and improving the health of communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles and research for disease and injury prevention (www.whatispublichealth.org). Public health or societal health refers to the link between health and the way a society structured which includes the basic infrastructure necessary or health- shelter, peace, food and income; and the degree of integration or division within society( Naidoo J. Willis J, 2000,p.7). Not only that, in public health it also includes Environmental Health referring to the physical environment in which people live. Health promotion was defined in the Ottawa charter (WHO 1986) as being centrally concernedwith empowering people to take greater control over their health and thus includesa range of strategies to strengthen communities, develop supportive environments and inform and educate about health issues.Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (WHO 1986) can be defined into 5 action areas, namely: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Building healthy public policies à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Creating supportive environments à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Strengthening community action à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Developing personal skills à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Reorienting health services towards prevention 1.2 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PUBLIC HEALTH, HEALTH PROMOTION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS. Public Health and Health promotion professions embody and tolerate conflicting ideas of why and how health should and could be approved. The meaning of public health and health promotion are contested and open to misunderstandings such as the explaining the methods for reducing health and promoting well being and fundamentally in the motivation for such interventions. Whereas Public Relations is a person who represent the agency as a spokesperson or a guide on how to communicate health messages to the public or target audience by implementing tactics and strategies as well as evaluating the success of the program. RESEARCH 2.1 HEALTH PROMOTION CENTRE (HPC). Health Promotion Centre (HPC) is a centre that serves the needs of public by providing health information, camps and other recreational developmental activities for the public. HPC also supports and encourages the growth and development of healthy lifestyles among the community through their health messages, gallery, workshop, youth camps and health screening. The roles of HPC:- Educational role: Impart Knowledge and increase awareness of public on various aspects of health Change agent: facilitate behaviour change amongst clients/target groups through the empowerment (knowledge and skills) and advocacy. Instill value: inculcate the practice of healthy lifestyle in the population and also caring attitude towards health among children and youth. Attraction site: a place to visit for a family outing and for tourists. Its main objective is to develop and focus on national health promotion programmes in the country and to ensure that health promotion and chronic disease prevention activities are carried out systematically and effectively. The vision is to realize Ministry of Health (MOH) vision 2035  ´Together Towards a Healthy Nation. The mission statement is Empowering People towards Healthy Living through Effective Health Promotion. (Personal Interview with Senior Medical Officer, 2010) 2.2 ROLES OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MEDIA AT HPC The role of Public Relations practitioner in this centre is to communicate health messages or practicing health communication. Health communication is a notion of awareness raising and education about risk and protective factors linked to chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The use of mass and multimedia and other technological innovations to disseminate useful health information to the public, increase awareness of specific aspects of individual and collective health as well as importance of health in development (WHO, 1996). Health promoters need communication skills and strategies to inform, educate, enable, mediate, advocate, persuade, negotiate and facilitate. In order to have this health promoters need a range of functional communication skills in their professional toolkit (Murphy B, 2006). Functional communication skill sets tend to be anchored now, while strategic communication is more future focused. It also a process of hitting right target with the right level of information that suits and resonates with the market as well as engaging the participants in a process so that it is shared activity rather than one-way sharing information. In order to strengthen the links within and beyond the health sector, health promoters must develop and practise ways to strategically communicate our ideas in a language that the intended audience can understand and embrace for example using common language that understood by others (Murphy B, 2006). For example the use of Facebook and Twitter. These two social networking are the best way to commuincate and ideas with the intended audience nowadays. Facebook is a social networking site that enables users to share photos and videos. It also has a status update tab where people can post information (Facebook, 2010). Facebook is available for both personal and business use. Businesses can set up a Facebook fan page so Facebook users can become a fan and follow the organisations updates. Faceboo k is efficient for businesses as it enables users to send invitations virtually and those who have been invited can chose to send a RSVP or decline the invitation on the spot. Whereas Twitter is a real-time information network powered by people all around the world, which lets you, share and discover whats happening now.Twitter asks, Whats happening? and spreads the answer across the globe to millions, immediately (Twitter, 2010).Twitter is a social networking site that uses a system similar to the short messages system or SMS, where people can share information from all over the world. The SMS has a 140-character limit, and the messages sent through are called Tweets. Other people can forward these Tweets; this is called Retweets. People who follow other peoples tweets are called Followers. Twitter is not only limited to personal use. Businesses can also sign up to this networking site to start networking with other Twitter users that might be interested in their business. HPC curr ently has a Twitter account . Facebook and Twitter are FREE communication tools which allow two-way interaction between interested parties and the communicator, a beneficial addition to an organisations website which is mostly one-way communication. Fans and followers are made from a pre-qualified audience who have already identified that they are interested in a concept, and therefore are more likely to react to promotions and positive communication. Facebook and Twitter also act as a platform to answer questions and launch promotions instantaneously with nil or limited material cost. Another example of effective way of communicating and sharing information with the audience is via A strong and informative website and regular e-newsletter communication are beneficial assets for any organisation, as they represent a cost-effective, fast method for one-way communication with current and potential members.The target audience is pre-qualified, having made a choice to visit the HPCs website, or sign up for the e-news letter. Health promotion is directed towards improving the health status of individuals and population. During this modern era, it was transmitted by the mass and multimedia which has positive and negative implications for health. Communication underpins virtually all health promotion action. With this in mind, a broad range of functional communication skills need to be developed and practised by those seeking to work in the health promotion field. Good communicators have the ability to convey complex concepts in a language that speaks to the intended audience. They use metaphors and analogies to make sense of the ideas. As health promotion seeks to strengthen its links within and beyond the health sector, we must develop and practise ways to strategically communicate our ideas in a language our audience understands and embraces. Theres a needs to understand the social model of health as well as the determinants of health and their impacts on population. It also includes planning and evaluat ing strategies on approaching a diverse group with multicultural background with respects. Appropriate health promotion strategies are especially effective to combat the current rapid rise of chronic diseases which represents a major challenge to global development. Chronic diseases include heart disease and stroke (cardiovascular disease), cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases which claim 35 million lives every year. Together they are the leading cause of death worldwide and have overtaken the number of deaths due to infectious diseases. This represents 60% of all deaths globally, with 80% of deaths due to NCDs occurring in low- and middle-income countries, and about 16 million deaths involving people under 70 years of age. These diseases also undermine the economic development in many countries leading to a worsening of poverty and illnesses. The global burden of these non-communicable diseases (NCDs) continues to grow. Tackling it is one of the major challenges for development in the 21st century. Unless addressed, the mortality and disease burden from these health problems will continue to increase. WHO estimated that without action, total deaths from chronic diseases will increase by 17% between 2005 and 2015. For those with chronic disease, it can affect every aspects of their life and over time can cause further complications that can further lead to deterioration of their quality of life, participation in activities and even their work performance. There will also be the increasing burden to the costs of health care as well as the psychological and socio-economic impacts to the families and carers. However proven cost-effective strategies exist to prevent and control this growing burden. The causes (risk factors) of chronic diseases are well established and well known, ie, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use. These risk factors, which are the same for males and females are largely modifiable. If uncontrolled, they will lead to intermediate risk factors such as raised blood pressure, raised blood sugar levels, abnor mal blood lipids, overweight and obesity. The major modifiable risk factors, in conjunction with the non-modifiable risk factors of age and heredity, explain the majority of new events of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases and some important cancers. The relationship between the major modifiable risk factors and the main chronic diseases is similar in all regions of the world. There are also other risk factors for chronic diseases but they account for a smaller proportion of these diseases. These include harmful alcohol use and some infectious agents that are responsible for cervical and liver cancers. Preventing or delaying illness and death from chronic diseases is possible. At least 80% of all cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes and over 40% of cancers could be avoided through healthy diet, regular physical activity and avoidance of tobacco use. Although death is inevitable, it does not need to be slow, painful or premature. Most chronic diseases cause the sufferers to become progressively ill and debilitated, especially if their illness is not managed correctly. Chronic disease prevention and control helps people to live longer and healthier lives. In addition, due to public health successes, populations are aging and increasingly, people are living with one or more chronic conditions for decades, thus worsening the burden of chronic diseases. This places new, long-term demands on health care systems. Not only are chronic conditions projected to be the leading cause of disability throughout the world by the year 2020 but if not successfully prevented and managed, they w ill become the most expensive problems face by our health care systems. In Brunei Darussalam, the situation of chronic diseases is following the global trend. The Ministry of Health reported in 2009 that cancer is the top leading cause of death with 24.6 deaths per 100,000 population whereas heart disease and diabetes mellitus comes second and third accounting for 23.9 and 18.4 deaths per 100,000 population respectively. In addition, this data is further supported by the preliminary findings of the Ministry of Healths Integrated Health Screening and Health Promotion Programme for Civil Servants which was launched in 2007. Early findings showed that: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ 64.3% of the subjects screened were either overweight or obese à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ 55.2% has high blood cholesterol à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ 14.7% has hypertensio à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ 14.2% has high blood sugar. The above data shows an increase in the proportion of subjects with are overweight or obese when compared to the data obtained by the National Nutritional Status Survey 1997 which showed only 44.5% of the subjects then were either overweight or obese. Therefore, preventive strategies in Brunei Darussalam need to focus on comprehensive, integrated,multi-level, multi-intervention approaches aimed at reducing the negative impact and consequences of chronic non-communicable diseases. Simultaneously, the management of NCDs requires well-coordinated and integrated services at primary, secondary and tertiary levels which focus on curative, preventive, promotive and rehabilitative aspects holistically. Therefore,there are five strategic SMART objectives that as a PR need to be focused and improved on:- Strategic Objective 1: Establish Strengthen Health in All Policies (HiAP) Strategic Objective 2: Develop Effective, Quality And Innovative Health Promotion Programmes to reduce Obesity, Unhealthy Diet, Physical Inactivity And Tobacco Use Strategic Objective 3: Enhance Inter-Sectoral Collaboration And Partnership Strategic Objective 4: Develop Health Promotion Skills Competencies Strategic Objective 5: Strengthen Health Promotion Centre Infrastructure and resources 2.3 CHALLENGES CONSTRAINTS OF THE HEALTH PROMOTION CENTRE (SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS) One of the biggest challenges faced by HPC is the lack of awareness amongst the general and target public as well as lack of media promotions on spreading health messages which includes misunderstanding about the concept of health promotion, competing priority areas, manpower, budget, unconducive environment, behaviour and others. This has proven to be the main hindrance for the centre in reaching their target audience. SWOT Analysis Strengths Financial support from government (MOH) Social network such as facebook and twitter containing information about their organisation. Access to MOH supports, financial and activities. Weaknesses Lack of financial resources to invest in media activities and others Need more sponsorship General public unaware of HPCs existence No official website Private partners Building maintenance Opportunities International presence Government collaboration Increasing the skill set of staff to other field such as communication-media, public relations and etc. Threats Lack of support Lack of workforce Unconducive environment Misunderstanding about the concept of health promotion Competing priority areas Culture. Local evidence has shown that, there is a huge burden of NCDs especially cancer,cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, in Brunei Darussalam. Without definitive action to address these diseases, they will continue to grow exponentially and lead to more people living with poor quality of life and dying prematurely. This, in turn, will have a negative social and economic impact on families, communities and the country as a whole. Being the lead organization that has been entrusted to initiate and coordinate the actions, HPC, from the very start, has several challengesand constraints to deal with. To be able to manage the situation effectively and efficiently, HPC has to convince all relevant stakeholders and partners that only a comprehensive, integrated approach has the best chance of success in the prevention and control of these NCDs. Comprehensive action requires combining population-wide approaches that seek toreduce the risks throughout the entire population with strategies that target individuals at high risk or with established disease and also addressing the social and economic determinants that would affect their health directly or indirectly. The National Health Promotion Blueprint 2011-2015 will be launched on March 2011 aims to use such an approach. Before adopting such a strategy, many factors that will affect the outcome of this approach have to be considered. Some of these factors are: The needs of the target population and individuals as well as the requirements ofthe stakeholders and partners. The resources e.g. human capital, financial, technical, physical and other infrastructure etc, and their management, that are needed for HPC to carry out their tasks effectively. The process of planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the initiatives and programmes. However to ardently follow the strategic framework, HPC will encounter many challenges and constraints. Strategies need to be developed to overcome or reduce these barriers which may impede the successful implementation of this Action Plan. These include: 1. Misconception about health promotion Health promotion is defined as the process of enabling people to increase controlover and improve their health and is also defined as any combination of educationaland environmental supports for actions and conditions of living conducive to healthwhere these processes have been clearly explained in several key health promotion documents. As such health promotion is not just educational and provision of information. It is a continuing process that involves action at every level of society andnot just a series of ad hoc educational activities. One of the challenges is to change the mindset of all stakeholders to convince them that everyone has an important role to play in promoting health from policy-makers and leaders, in Government, organized medical and health services, non-government and private organizations and communities, to individuals. This role will not only be educational in nature but also supportive and enabling for people to practice healthy lifestyles. HPCs role is to l ead, support, facilitate and empower communities and individuals to practise healthy living but it cannot do it alone. All stakeholders have a shared responsibility for health. Hence for HPC to fulfill its role effectively, it must be given a clear mandate and extent of authority from the rele- vant authorities to expediently carry out its designated functions in health promotion in general and particularly in the execution of this strategy. 2. Low priority towards the role of health promotion in the management of NCDs Traditionally organized medical and health services have implemented a range of services to tackle NCDs e.g. Hospital- or clinic-based nutritional programmes, tobacco control programmes etc. However due to diverse needs and priorities, most of the resources for these interventions are directed towards attending to acute problems and urgent needs of patients with NCDs. Less priority is given to the incorporation of preventive health care into the overall management of these patients. As pointed out earlier, a collaborative management approach, with preventivecomponents in the care of the patients with NCDs that involves the patients, their families and health care partners, is more cost-effective than the traditional approach and achieves better health outcomes.Therefore, one of HPCs functions here is to help facilitate the routine incorporation of preventive and promotive care into curative services especially in the management of chronic diseases. This strategic framework includes the reorientation of the health care services for a more holistic approach in the effective prevention and management of chronic conditions. It calls for a partnership among patients and families, health care teams and community supporters. This approach will work best if each patient is informed, motivated and prepared to manage their health and able to work with the other partners. This partnership should be influenced and supported by the Ministry of Health and other health organizations, the broader community and the policy environment to ensure a sustainable positive health outcome. 3. Lack of skilled manpower There is a lack of human capital in HPC, both in numbers and skills. This willundoubtedly impact the performance of HPC with its many roles and functions to fulfill. Besides the current health professionals to carry out the day-to-day operations of HPC, there is a dire need for more specialized personnel who have the professional and technical skills and expertise to enable HPC to perform its many functions including overseeing and coordinating health promotion programmes and activities in general and in particular, initiatives identified. These personnel include: I. Public Health Professionals and / or Allied Health Professionals who are trained in Health Promotion, Programme Management, Epidemiology, Biostatistics including Research Methodology and other similar fields. Such human capital are needed to ensure a more effective and efficient planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all relevant health promotion programmes and initiatives in the country. They will also form the core group will drive the development of a supportive surveillance system and promote a research culture in HPC as part of its strategies to produce scientific evidence to support and rationalise policies, strategies and approaches relating to healthy lifestyle and particularly, NCD prevention and control II. Sociologists and Psychologists As health promotion, in a large part, deals with individuals and their families and the larger communities, HPC needs personnel who are well trained in the principles of Social Science. Social determinants have a great impact on health in any society including the creation of inequities in health. This type of expertise is essential to assist HPC in advocating and framing evidence-based policies and programmes, across the whole of society, that can influence the social determinants of health and improve health equity. On the other end of the scale is the understanding and influencing of human behavior.Psychologists are needed in the formulation of programmes which directly impacts on human behavior such as healthy eating, increasing physical activity and losing weight. They are critical in motivating individuals to change for better health outcomes. III. Public Relation / Communication / Media personnel To carry out effective health promotion, information must be effectively disseminated through traditional and new media. Social marketing is a recognized strategy to educate the public generally. Personnel who are trained to deal with and communicate with individuals, communities and the media, are definitely an asset to this type of work. IV. IT and technical personnel An important part of HPCs function is the creation, production, dissemination and display of various health-related information using different formats, styles and materials, in an interesting and appealing manner that would capture the attention of the audience. HPC needs innovative, artistic and creative personnel who are skilled in IT and the use of pertinent software. 4. Training and capacity building for HPC staff At present, there are less than 50 staff members who are as