Monday, September 30, 2019

Acer Case Transnational Management Essay

1. When Multitech was starting up, Stan Shih preached frugality in the form of not spending more money then necessary and not being wasteful with the resources the money spent provided. Shih went as far as creating a campaign that focused on turning lights off, using both sides of paper, and traveling economy class. This is vastly different then the philosophy of other startup companies that spend more money then they have available and quickly go bankrupt. Secondly, Multitech made employment very attractive through delegated responsibility. Most companies have a top-down management approach where all decisions are made at the top and employees need to do what they’re told and keep their ideas to themselves. With Multitech, there was a sense of freedom, which led to the recruitment of bright young engineers. That type of creative freedom, as long as it’s for the betterment of the company, breeds increased productivity. Third, to compensate for offering no more then a modest salary, Multitech offered key employees equity in the form of ownership in subsidiary companies. Can you imagine just coming out of college and being offered ownership in a company? I would take a little less per hour for that opportunity. Imagine if any of us had such an opportunity with Apple or Facebook. Wow! Lastly, joint ventures allowed Multitech to expand its sales into new territories without the risk of hiring more people or raising more capital. In other words, Multitech increased their market share without taking on additional expenses or putting in more money. To sum up, keeping spending under control, hiring the best minds and keeping them happy, and expanding for â€Å"free† leads to an impressive startup. 2. Leonard Liu added value to Acer by making employees responsible for their actions. Liu did this by introducing productivity and performance evaluations. Before Leonard Liu came on board, employees did not have a profit and loss responsibility and as we know, the difference between a successful company and an unsuccessful company is profit. Now, if an employee wanted freedom to make his own decisions, that employee had to make sure his freedom produced a profit. Before Liu, there was a lack of structure within the company. Liu brought a professional management structure to Acer by establishing standards for intra-company communications to make sure everyone was on the same page. Most importantly, Liu created structure within the company by creating RBU’s and SBU’s. With this change, organizations, subsidiaries, and marketing companies under the Acer umbrella all had specific responsibilities instead of doing a little bit of everything. Unfortunately, some of the changes Liu implemented seemed to do more damage then good, which eventually led to employees questioning his judgment and implementing his directives half-heartedly. The supportive family approach was gone having been replaced with an iron-fisted form of management. Employees were not responding. The change was too drastic. Something in between Shih’s approach and Liu’s approach would have probably been more productive. Also, frugality was replaced with lavish spending on accounting and law firms and full acquisitions of companies instead of joint ventures, which put all the financial responsibility on Acer. If the goal was profit, Liu was losing just as much, if not more money. 3. In regards to development of the Aspire, I believe a local-for-local model was used. The Aspire was the first product designed and developed by an RBU, in response to a locally sensed market opportunity. Acer America and other RBU’s felt that Acer’s Taiwan-based SBU’s were too distant to develop product configurations that would appeal to diverse consumer and competitive situations around the globe. The second aspect of the local-for-local model requires that subsidiaries use their own resources to develop products. With that criteria, Mike Culver, AAC’s Director of Product Management, commissioned a series of local focus groups to explore opportunities in home computing. After the focus groups showed a potential for a consumer PC, Culver hired Frog Design to create a prototype for the Aspire. By using focus groups and hiring Frog Design, a company independent from Acer, Culver was using resources available to him outside of the Taiwan home base. From start to finish, the development of the Aspire happened in the US as a product initially for the US market. 4. Shih should allow the development of the Aspire to continue as long as implementation is transferred back to the SBU’s in Taiwan. If all of the company’s engineering and production expertise is located in Taiwan, those with the most expertise should handle the launch of such an expensive product into a highly saturated and competitive market. Shih would also need to make sure that the design of the Aspire stays as-is to achieve economies of scale on production. As far as marketing, I see no problem with different markets customizing the marketing plan for the Aspire. Companies all over the world implement different marketing strategies for a product depending on the market. For example, Diet Pepsi is marketed as Pepsi Light in some countries outside of the US. What may be an important feature of the Aspire in the US market might not be as important in a different market.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Comparison of Clt and Tblt

Task-based language teaching (TBLT) and Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) are both communicative approaches to language learning and teaching. TBLT has grown out of CLT; however, they share and differ in some advantages and disadvantages. First of all, both of them are among â€Å"current communicative approaches†. That’s why, the classes those are instructed with CLT or TBLT are student centred and teachers are facilitator. That can be seen as the good side of these approaches.On the contrary to the traditional classes, students are actively involved in learning process and this motivates them more. Because they are motivated, they learn more, and it turns to be an advantage. As it is a pedagogical fact, it is also true for Turkish learners. Both CLT and TBLT emphasise communication, they give the opportunity to talk more, as opposed to traditional methods, which is a big advantage for language learning. CLT emphasises that language should be as close as in real li fe, and TBLT shares this principle.It means both put emphasis on authenticity. This is important because today many researches prove that language should be taught in real life situations or with authentic materials. As the language is a living thing, it cannot be parted from real life. This is how it should be not only in Turkish context but everywhere in the world. However, there are some limitations in Turkish context of learning for these two communicative approaches. First of all, Turkey is a country where English is not spoken officially.And, almost all of our English teachers are non-native. And this is one of the main constraints for TBLT and CLT classes. Although the teacher is a facilitator, it can be too demanding for non-native teachers to teach in such communicative classes. And also, the size of classes in Turkey is not perfectly suitable for both CLT and TBLT. Both are communicative approaches, and language activities / tasks should be carried out in groups or in pair s. Nevertheless, it is almost impossible to do it in crowded classes.A communicative activity or a task cannot be carried out in such too crowded classes. The teacher faces the problems dividing the class into groups or pairs and if she can achieve dividing, there comes the time limit. She cannot practice the activities in her lesson in those crowded classes On the other hand, it’s difficult for the teacher to walk around and monitor all the students at the time of communicative activities. Nonetheless, CLT and TBLT have some differences also.In CLT classes, although activities are real-life situations and enable learners to interact, they can be perceived as too abstract by learners. In spite of the teachers’ efforts, classroom activities are not real life. That’s because Turkish learners of English cannot hear the language except for the classroom and they just ‘pretend’ to be real life. On the other hand, TBLT has an advantage over CLT in this ca se. Tasks have immediate outcome, and that can motivate the Turkish learners more.It can also be said that CLT doesn’t meet the needs of the different types of learners, but again TBLT has an advantage over it, as tasks can be adapted for different learning styles or for different cultures. To practice CLT in Turkish context, the first phase should be developing a syllabus that’s compatible with CLT. However, in Turkey, we generally prepare a syllabus, and then, we choose our methods or our course books. Since TBLT is more instructional, those specially designed instructional tasks can be the basis of learning situations, in Turkish context TBLT has another advantage.To sum up, I think both the two methods achieve communicative purposes and real use of language as they are important aspects in language learning & teaching. They should be combined also with other methods concerning every factor that influence teaching. Each method has its advantages as well as its limit ations. A method is effective only when it is appropriate to the teaching context. The best thing to do is to develop one’s own teaching methods based on the context of where one teaches and integrates the merits of different methodologies to fulfill their own teaching objectives.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Do The Right Thing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Do The Right Thing - Essay Example However, the younger son of the Pizzeria owner, Vito, is different, because he is friend with Mookie (Lee, 1989). Everybody in the neighborhood is going about their business, on a hot and sunny day. The conflict in the movie revolves around the Sal’s Pizzeria, where he refuses to include any pictures of a black man in his list of the wall of fame. Buggin' Out is the character who sparks off the conflict about the wall of fame, by demanding that Sal should include some blacks, since he sells Pizza in a black neighborhood to the black people (Lee, 1989). However, Sal refuses and asserts that he is proud to be an Italian-American, and thus his wall of fame should only consist of the Italians. This argument degenerates into a confrontation, with Sal threatening to bash Buggin' Out, who has no support, except that of Raheem and Smiley. The whole activities of the day degenerates into chaos with the involvement of the police, with Buggin' Out starting a fight with a white man, while Mookie and Pino stages an argument regarding which race is better between the blacks and the Italians, which involves a lot of racist insults. However, the greatest of the fight occurs between Radio Raheem and Sal, who fights physically, and their fight spills into the street, which attracts all in the neighborhood, the police inclusive (Lee, 1989). The police appear and apprehend Radio Raheem, with one officer killing him, while Buggin' Out is arrested. Even after Radio Raheem is dead, the police continue to beat him up, demanding that he stop pretending. When the crowd of onlookers realizes that the police had killed Radio Raheem, they turn against them, and the police run away. Their anger is then turned against Sal’s property, which is then destroyed by the black community. The riot breaks in the whole neighborhood with the residents fighting against the police and the firefighters. Eventually, Smiley, who had set Sal’s Pizzeria on fire then creeps into the remain s of the burning building and hangs a picture of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr., on the remains of the wall of fame. Nevertheless, in the first scene, both Mookie and Sal, who are the major representatives of Races end-up reconciling (Lee, 1989). Discussion Racism rears its ugly head through the expression of the discontent regarding the wall of fame. Despite the fact that there were other racist sentiments amongst the characters such as Pino in the previous scenes, the actual reality of the racisms breakout with the demand by Buggin' Out, that Sal should include pictures of blacks who were considered as heroes in his wall of fame, considering that he was running a Pizzeria in a black neighborhood, and selling the Pizzas to the blacks (Lee, 1989). This demand activates the racism in Sal, who responds by saying he is an Italian and is proud of that, and thus should only include the pictures of the Italians in the wall of fame. Sal threatens to bash Buggin' Out with a baseball bat, which then attracts both Radio Raheem and Smiley to support Buggin' Out (Lee, 1989). The whole issue degenerates into a major confrontation, which spills over the streets, and becomes the subject of the property destructions in the neighborhood. Mookie is another character who is a racist, and he

Human Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 1

Human Resource Management - Essay Example This essay discusses that the development of effective HR policies has been a critical issue for organizations in different industries. In fact, a well-planned HR policy can significantly help towards the standardization and the development of organizational performance, either in the short or the long term. However, the value of HR, as an organizational sector, is often underestimated. This problem has been made clear in the case of Home Care Housing. The organization has managed to achieve a rapid growth; however, due to the lack of an integrate HR plan, the firm’s managers have failed to respond to the needs of workers in regard especially to the level of payment and the hours of work. Moreover, the low communication within the organization has set obstacles in the identification of appropriate solutions for improving employee satisfaction and employee performance. Since its establishment, about 12 years ago, Home Care Housing has managed to achieve a significant level of g rowth. The success of the organization is reflected in the radical expansion of its activities; when entering the market, the organization managed just two housing developments. Today, Home Care Housing manages 20 units and employs about 600 people. The development of the organization has been mostly related to its support from volunteers and the community. However, the current status of its HR framework can be characterized as rather disappointing. A series of problems appear daily across the organization, a fact indicating the emergent need for the development of an effective HR plan. ... This fact is reflected in the lack of an integrated HR plan. As a result, the terms and conditions of employment are not consistent. More specifically, the compensation of each employee is not standard. Rather variations can be identified in salaries, both in terms of the amount paid as also of the date of the payment. In most units of the organization significant delays are reported in the payment of salary; only workers in the maintenance sector of the organization are paid on time. Also, the hours of work of employees are not based on certain rules; instead, workers are likely to work from 37 to 42 hours per week. A same problem exists in regard to the number of days available as holidays. The period of holidays for workers in the firm’s units varies from 20 to 27 days, with no clear criteria or rules on which the days granted to each worker for holidays are estimated. A significant problem seems also to exist in regard to the level of rewarding; the problem is clearer in t he case of managers who are fairly rewarded, meaning that there is no balance between the performance of managers and their rewards. The lack of an effective plan for arranging the payment, the holidays and the hours of work of employees has led to severe problems across the organization; the problem seems to be severe especially for the employees working in the firm’s Head Office. These employees face difficulties in covering the expenses of their travel for working; they also face difficulties in responding to the schedule of work which is not standardized. Those employees who have transferred from the organization’s units to its Head Office have reported that the working arrangements in the Head

Thursday, September 26, 2019

How Do We Use Stories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

How Do We Use Stories - Essay Example Stories are also powerful. They enchant, delight, recall, touch, teach, motivate, inspire and challenge us. They help us understand certain things by creating pictures in our minds. Our lives revolve around stories, and as such, they move us and make us feel alive. Our appetite for stories is a demonstration of our insatiable desire to understand life patterns, an understanding that in addition to providing an ideal intellectual exercise also provides a personal emotional experience. Thus stories offers a platform through which we can reach out to people, and connect with them emotionally. It is therefore imperative that we understand the various forms and occasions that we use stories, the objectives we want to achieve, and the means we employ in our quest for achieving the said objective. The primary motive of a story is to capture a moment or event and then immortalize it. This is how information regarding various cultures and occurrences that took place way before the advent of writing passed down through generations, until this day we are able to either read them in books, or listen to people narrate them. These stories, whether we hear them or read them, have several aspects that tend to remain unchanged over time. For instance, a good number of stories we hear or read focus on human beings, the people. Be it ancient tales or modern stories delivered in a setting such as in an organization, or a story focusing on the environment or of the times before humans came to be, the central focus remains the people, in the form of characters at play, and by extension, the audience. All stories maintain this focus on the people in order to remain relevant, attract the listener or the readers’ attention, and thus pass the information, which as aforementioned, could b e to educate, or just to preserve facts and ideas about the community. Stories also stir up emotions. The preservation of an event or occurrence

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Investor Protection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Investor Protection - Essay Example When there is strong investor protection, there is low insider expropriation, which in turn leads to lower profits appropriation, lower tunnelling of assets as well as reduced dilutions (DeFond & Hung, 2007); in return, minority and external shareholders enjoy lower agency costs, thereby reinforcing investor’s confidence. Better investor confidence eventually culminates in many benefits including higher profitability, lower costs of debt and equity, higher access to capital, higher valuation and liquidity. Moreover, better investor confidence leads to increased savings, productive investment of savings, and enhanced capital accumulation. Investor protection can be achieved through the legal approach to corporate governance, which provides laws and regulations for the protection of external investors (Spindler, 2011). Investors often feel safer to invest in countries where their rights are protected under the law, because they understand their vulnerability to expropriation. Unlike employees or suppliers who are less likely to be mistreated by firms due to their continued usefulness to the firms’ operations and sustainability, external investors must rely on the law for protection in an unfamiliar environment. Legal protection of external investors undermines expropriation technologies and mechanisms, while in an environment with no legal protection the so-called insiders (managers and controlling stockholders) can easily steal a company’s profits (La Porta et al., 2000). In that respect, investor protection renders the diversion techniques ineffective so that the insiders expropriate less, thereby crea ting a positive reputation for their organizations and obtaining external financing on better terms than when expropriation is high. The legal framework provides laws and regulations that mandate certain rights or powers belonging to

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Constitution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Constitution - Essay Example The English dictionary sees the meaning of the phrase to fall within the periphery of all those statutory protocol and social efforts that have concern to the matters of public. As such, health is just one of the aspects that fall within the phrase. Individuals such as James Madison also note that the limits of the phrase also seems infinite, considering the congress has the same authority but in a different capacity which is taxation by the federal government and the spending of the same. In the case Ferrocarril Central Argentino c/Provincia de Santa Fe, 569 held in Argentina, the court noted that the existence of the term in the US constitution is an affirmation of the authority that accrues to the federal government through its taxation and spending. In the case of a state such as Alaska, the existence of the phrase not only does imply public health, but it goes further to note that the phrase implies promoting and protecting public

Monday, September 23, 2019

The dialog between jonathan cullers essay and to the light house

The dialog between jonathan cullers and to the light house - Essay Example Stream of consciousness is the technique used by Woolf to explore the thought processes of the characters. However, Woolf does not employ it in the fragmented prose form that is identified with James Joyce. Instead she brings order within the disorderly working of individual consciousness by making her prose lyrical. Through apt and vivid imagery, Woolf is able to knit together the disjointed thoughts of several of the novel’s characters into a unifying whole. What emerge through this exercise are themes of human loneliness, insecurity, loss, anguish and longing. But the overall experience of the novel is far from tragic. To the contrary, the reader is taken on an intimate journey into the most personal and most inaccessible reaches of the character’s inner churnings. A successful cathartic effect is experienced by the reader through the linguistic virtuosity of Woolf. â€Å"Literariness is often said to lie above all in the organization of language that makes literature distinguishable from language used for other purposes. Literature is language that ‘foregrounds’ language itself: makes it strange, thrusts it at you – ‘Look I’m language!’ – so you can’t forget that you are dealing with language shaped in odd ways.† (p.28) Woolf’s prose style is exemplary in achieving this form of foregrounding. She accomplishes this through various stylistic and thematic features. Through lyrical exposition of inner monologues, Woolf deliberates on subjects as profound as ‘the meaning of life. The foregrounding of language in general and English in particular is evident from how it is made the only possible medium of communication. Moreover, one can see how the literary form of the novel itself is foreground even if not intended by the author. For example, the following is an illustration of a stream of consciousness which only works on

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Violence in the office Essay Example for Free

Violence in the office Essay Review This assignment required me to find an article on violence in the office and write a brief overview of the article using the university library. I will discuss different types of violence that lead to office violence. I will then discuss ways in which a company can control the influences that incite office violence. After reviewing a few different articles I have decided on an article from the university library called† Out of the Shadows,† by Dori Meinert. This article talks about 2 different stories that both deal with physical and mental violence. The stories were not actually based in an office setting, but were based in a home setting (Meinert, 2011). Though once the violence in the home setting was bad enough it spilled into the work place and eventually put the other employees in danger. The article also discussed the role human resources played and discusses how important this department is in any company. It goes into how human resources resolve problems such as domestic violence, and how they can be a great resource in these kinds situation. Human resources have the training, skill set, and ability to keep issue private that helps in instances where there is violence in the work place (Meinert, 2011). With avoidance programs, employee training sessions, and employee assistance programs these will help train and coach employees through and also help them avoid issues such as office violence. Forms of Bullying in the Workplace When it comes to offices violence that could result in bullying there are many different types. In an office setting violence might include a group or person against a peer or someone who reports to another. The violence can be continuous or just conduct that is unreasonable. The majority of the documented instances were management or the administration who perpetrated a number of offenses. The major types of violence include: nonverbal, verbal, embarrassment, physical, and psychological abuse. Examples of verbal abuse  would be name-calling which happens more often than not. A simple phrase calling someone out of there name and cursing are the quickest way to verbally abuse someone and not realize it (Meinert, 2011). In the second story told in the article a women who is abused in her home life seeks refuge at work and tells her co-workers. She felt like she needed to tell someone to get assistance, which in some cases can help. It can actually backfire in some cases. Telling someone your personal business can lead to peers discussing your personal business behind your back spreading rumors, criticizing, or gossiping about your business. Ways to avoid violence in the work place Training employees on office like conduct, creating avoidance plan, and having a zero tolerance policy in place are the main methods to control, avoid, and protect employees against violence in the work place. Keeping the workers trained on up to date procedures and processes is very important. Also making sure managers and human resources are trained on effective communication is also very important. An employee has to trust their manager and if not their manager, than human resources to feel comfortable to talk about issues like violence. Making sure the employees understand that there is an open door policy and that any kind of violence in the work place in not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Most importantly there needs to be an immediate response and rapid results to create a secure environment for all employees.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Nazi Germany in the 1930s Essay Example for Free

Nazi Germany in the 1930s Essay Jews faced several problems that made life very difficult and strenuous during the mid-1930s. People who were Jewish were often persecuted and treated as the worst class of people when it comes to social hierarchy. Throughout this time, there were many things happening to Germany that were of and related to government, which destroyed the ability for a Jewish citizen to have a positive life. There were several hardships and problems faced by Jews regarding emigration out of Europe. Also, Jewish people during this time period suffered from government and social ridicule, losing many rights and necessities that should be given to every human being upon birth. During the mid-1930s, Germany tried to persecute Jews by forcing their emigration from the country. This was caused by the anti-Semitic legislation in Germany. Jews were not allowed to take with them any more than $4 and very few belongings. Along with that, trying to get to another country was nearly impossible. With the terrible great depression that was occurring, other countries were afraid that immigrants would threaten local job opportunities, thus emigration out of Germany was very difficult for Jews (Obstacles to Immigration). All the documents required to leave the country were also nearly impossible to obtain. Jews often called these â€Å"Bureaucratic Hurdles†. These were up to 15 documents that could include 5 visa applications, 2 local citizen sponsorships, tax and financial documents, police conduct documents and evaluations, a physical, and proof of a booked passage to the new country(Documents Required to Obtain a Visa). According to Ann Jacobson , when she emigrated out of Austria, when it became part of the Reich, her father was only allowed to take $80 and they had extreme difficulty finding all the documents required to move (â€Å"Flight From the Reich†). This was extremely fortunate for her to be able to get the opportunity to move, because for most Jews, obtaining such documents was nearly impossible. Overall, trying to emigrate out of a Nazi occupied territory in the mid-1930s was almost impossible, due to the legal and social restrictions posed by people and the government. Jewish lifestyle was often full of being discriminated against and mistreatment by non-Jewish citizens and government affiliated people during this time period. Many Jewish people lost their jobs and children were taken from schools (â€Å"Flight from the Reich†). With the little things available for Jews to take with them due to confiscation and newfound poverty, Jews were figuratively chased out of Germany by Nazis (â€Å"1938 Propaganda Poster†). Poverty is caused by lack of work, and Jews definitely were forced into poverty. An example of somebody being forced out of their job was Elisabeth Abegg. She was a teacher who was forced out of the position in 1933 for being of the Jewish religion (Rescue and Resistance 1). With no money, jobs, or hope for help from others, anybody would have struggled for shear survival. That is what these Jews were being denied during this time. They were forced out of a normal lifestyle, and constantly had to be looking over their shoulders for the government. A citizen in any country should never feel threatened or attacked by their own government. For the Jews trying to survive in this time period, the case was practically opposite. The government was brutal, and forcibly making Jewish people evacuate the country, yet made immigration to other countries nearly impossible. This is what made life so difficult for Jews during this time period. Eventually there was an establishing of the Nuremburg Laws, which caused Jews to lose citizen rights in Germany (â€Å"Jews in Nazi Germany† 1). Some people tried to resist the movement, but were quickly dealt with. In 1933, Karl Barth opposed pro-Nazis and based his opposition on his biblical theology (Rescue and Resistance 11). He was expelled from Germany for his â€Å"unruly behavior† in 1935. When people got on boats to sail to new countries, the exit of Europe did not always guarantee complete freedom from the Reich. If Jews were to get on a Germany controlled ship, they were technically on German land wherever they were. It was best to get on an American controlled ship, so that Germans had no control over what happened to it or its passengers while in operation (â€Å"Flight from the Reich†). If an emigrant was on a German controlled ship, like the St. Louis, problems could have occurred. This boat consisted to 900 or more people trying to go to Cuba. The government in Germany knew that Cuba had changed its mind about accepting these people yet they did not inform the passengers. When the boat got to Cuba, it was turned around with only 28 people admitted onto the island . The rest were sent back to Europe. Only half of those people sent back ended up surviving through the Holocaust (Voyage of the St. Louis). With the difficulty posed by the inability to obtain documents, and the process it actually took to get to a new country, emigration for Germans during this time period was seemingly impossible. Altogether, this time period was probably the most difficult time for a certain persecuted group of people to live. They were treated with utmost disrespect and extremely persecuted. Even though I am not a Jew myself, I feel extreme remorse for the Jews during this time period. Being able to relate to what these people went through is nearly impossible for anybody who would ever try to give themselves the task. These people are an example of how little wrong one must do in society to be treated in the most malicious of ways. The human race itself will always be the leading factor in the prevention of development, and this time period demonstrates this more than most others. When humans do and think like the Nazis did in the mid-1930s is when our race will reach ultimate failure. People do not deserve to be persecuted or mistreated, unless it is an earned treatment for negative behavior or acts. These Jews did nothing wrong, yet were treated worse by the Reich than any other people on the planet at the time. When looking for something to take away from this, one could take away the knowledge to know how destructive a simple persecution could become. It is not wise to single out any one group of people in any social context, due to the harmful global impacts made when this happened to the Jews. Humans are all born equally, and unfortunately are unable to treat each other as such. People should always be treated and given the title and rights they were born with. That title is a human being.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Procedure of Performing Ankle Brachial Pressure Index

Procedure of Performing Ankle Brachial Pressure Index Description I accompanied the District Nursing Team on placement to a Doppler Clinic for patients referred by their GPs to be assessed for compression bandages. I was talked through the procedure of performing Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI), which required the following equipments: Hand-held Doppler ultrasound machine; 8 MHz probe (5 MHz probe if required for large or oedematous limbs); ultrasound transducer gel; sphygmomanometer and cuff and cling film/vapour-permeable film dressing or equivalent. I was then asked to carry out the task with another nurse. I washed my hands, put on my gloves and apron. I raised the bed to my level so I could reach him. Seeking her consent, I asked the patient to remove any tight articles of clothing, which may cause pressure on the blood vessels proximal to the site where the blood pressure is being measured. I measured the brachial systolic blood pressure by selecting a sphygmomanometer cuff of an appropriate size and wrapped it around the patients upper arm just above the elbow. I palpated the brachial pulse and applied ultrasound gel. I angled the Doppler probe at 45 degrees to the direction of the blood flow (towards the heart) and adjusted the position to locate the best signal. The Doppler emitted an audible signal and inflated the sphygmomanometer cuff until the signal disappeared. I then deflated the cuff slowly and recorded the pressure at which the signal returned. I repeated this procedure using the patients other arm. I continued this procedure in measuring the ankle systolic pressure by palpating the posterior tibial artery and that of either the anterior tibial or peroneal artery. I then used the higher of these two readings to calculate the ABPI using the following equation: ABPI = highest ankle systolic pressure/highest brachial systolic pressure. I then recorded and explained the results to the patients. I thanked the patient for her cooperation. Feelings Due to the fact that I had never completed a Doppler observation before, I felt extremely anxious and uneasy. These feelings were made greater as I became more aware of being judged; not only by my mentor and other nurses but also by the patients most of whom came with their spouses. I felt the pressure more as there were other patients waiting to be seen and taking up too much time may delay them. In spite of these, I preserved and completed the task. Evaluation Throughout this procedure I really concentrated and made sure no interruptions took place as I can miss the sphygmomanometer sounds. I actually couldnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t get the first sphygmomanometer sounds on my first attempt so I explained to the patient and gained permission again to take the recording to which she agreed, I felt self-conscious and nervous as I had missed the first sphygmomanometer sounds but very pleased when I did manage to get the recording a second time. I feel I have gained a learning skill. The more Doppler recordings I took made me soon realised that no two patients were the same. I also learned that different factors can affect blood pressure, from the patient rushing in late for his appointment which can lead to elevated blood pressure. It has also given me a lot of confidence in myself as I improved my communication skills. Analysis An ABPI is a simple non-invasive method of identifying arterial insufficiency within a limb. It compares the ankle and brachial systolic blood pressures. A slight drop in the blood pressure in the legs can be an indicator of peripheral vascular disease. Peripheral vascular disease refers to blockage of arteries. Basically, as compared to the arms, low blood pressure in the lower part of legs can be an indicator of a serious health. In the management of leg ulcers, the ABPI forms a fundamental part of the assessment. Accurate assessment is necessary to determine the correct aetiology of the ulcer and exclude those patients with arterial disease for whom compression is dangerous (Stacey et al, 2002). In normal circumstances, the blood pressure in the lower leg area is a bit more than that at the elbow. Where an ABPI is greater than 0.9, it is supposed to be normal and holds no risk of peripheral vascular disease. If the ABPI value is more than 1.3, it is an indicator of severe peripheral vascular disease. If the patient is unable to lie flat, the legs will be elevated to the level of the heart. By elevating the legs, the hydrostatic pressure to the legs is reduced. In order to prevent cross-infection the Doppler probe should be cleaned twice with an alcohol impregnated wipe prior to its use (Kibria et al, 2002). It should be noted that the ABPI should not be undertaken in isolation, but should be used in conjunction with a holistic assessment, and a medical and clinical examination of the limb. Conclusion There is controversy about the circumstances in which an ABPI should not be performed, so more research is required. It has been suggested that an ABPI should not be performed if the patient has a suspected deep vein thrombosis, because there is a risk of emboli; or the patient has cellulitis; or because the procedure would be too painful; or the patient has severe ischemia; or because there is a risk of further tissue damage. Action Plan As an inexperienced learner, I hope to read more about Doppler and ABPI. I believe having an underpinning knowledge in the procedure for taking Doppler blood pressure helps to understand the theory behind the practice. I aim to do more at any given opportunity in terms of, patient anxiety; incorrect positioning of the patient; incorrect size of sphygmomanometer cuff; putting excessive pressure on the blood vessel during the procedure; releasing the sphygmomanometer cuff from the patient too quickly; prolonging inflation of the sphygmomanometer cuff or repeated inflation; and moving the Doppler probe during the procedure.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Sleep Observations Related to Potential Errors at Work Report :: essays research papers

Sleep Observations Related to Potential Errors at Work Report   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ladies and Gentlemen better known as board members. This study was conducted to find if there is any correlation between sleep and errors made throughout the day. I took the privilege of making this report because we are in the business of saving lives. Everyone in this medical center wants to help all of our patients to the best of our ability. Over time we have overlooked the responsibility we have to the patients that enter our doors for care. We focus on having our best staff on duty whenever we can, the question I have is†¦ Are we asking our staff to do too much? I know how we all love our job and we feel we can take care of our clients, but the data I have collected and will discuss in this report will show what can happen if we do not get enough sleep.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This is a sample of the data collected from willing participants for this experiment. The participants are college students from a night class at Eastern Michigan University. The students were told to record their sleeping habits on at least five different occasions. The students recorded; the time they got in bed, the amount of time it took them to get to sleep, and how long they slept. The second type of data collected was reactions the next day. When I say reactions, I am talking about their emotional and physical feelings. The students were asked to try to observe their mental errors the next day. The emotional and physical feelings were rated on the scale being –1 as feeling below normal, 0 being normal, and 1 being above normal. Below are some charts to show the distribution of the ratings for the entire class. The graphs show the frequency in which each emotional and physical feeling ratings were observed. The test also recorded days the students observed, their class level, and their gender. The data above is just to get you familiar with exactly what was done in the experiment and the type of data that was collected. The next chart is a comparison of the males versus the females in regards to their average sleep time per night. The chart above shows that on average females get about one more hour of sleep than males do. Who knows why this set of data shows this difference, males might do more partying than the females.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Essay -- Sir Gawain Green Knight Essay

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight In this passage taken from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Lines 1623-1718, the reader sees how Sir Gawain is the hero of the poem, through the tests of the host. Sir Gawain is speaking to the host of the castle where he is staying for a few days before journeying on to the Green Chapel. The host has just returned from hunting and killing some boar. While the host is out hunting for the boar, we learn that Sir Gawain is developing a love interest in a special lady friend, the wife of the host, who makes several attempts to seduce him. Before this hunt, Gawain and the host make a promise to each other that they will exchange whatever they may win that day for the other's winnings. The host gives Sir Gawain the boar in exchange for two kisses. Then the host says to Sir Gawain "Now we are even" (Norton, 236, line 1641.) There is a vivid description of the meal that follows, as well as the singing of Christmas songs. Then Gawain tells the host that he should be on his way to the Green Ch apel to face the Green Knight. The host comments on the fact that he has tested Gawain twice and is quite impressed with his performance. The host then tells Gawain about the third test. In the test, the winner will take all, and the loser takes nothing. Gawain thinks this is all just a game and doesn't realize that it is actually a test. Sir Gawain later decides that he will stay, after learning from the host that the Green Chapel is not too far away from the castle. He has some more drinks with the host. After this, he goes to bed and gets the best night's rest, and is up early the next morning. That morning, the host hunts for some fox as Gawain lies in bed. The passage ends with a description of how the host an... ...n suffers a wound to his neck. But, that does not stop him. He points out to the Green Knight that he is not immortal as the Green Knight is. The wound in his neck shows this. Unlike the Green Knight, Sir Gawain cannot just put his head back on his head. This also shows that he is a hero. He is not a "superman" like the Green Knight appears to be. He can die, and he still risks his life in fighting the Green Knight. In conclusion, this passage taken from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight shows the reader how brave Sir Gawain really is. Here, the reader sees that Gawain is ready and able to face any challenge and obstacle that cross his path. Rather, he approaches these challenges and obstacles with the utmost bravery that a true hero can have. Works Cited: Abrams, M. H. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1993. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Essay -- Sir Gawain Green Knight Essay Sir Gawain and the Green Knight In this passage taken from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Lines 1623-1718, the reader sees how Sir Gawain is the hero of the poem, through the tests of the host. Sir Gawain is speaking to the host of the castle where he is staying for a few days before journeying on to the Green Chapel. The host has just returned from hunting and killing some boar. While the host is out hunting for the boar, we learn that Sir Gawain is developing a love interest in a special lady friend, the wife of the host, who makes several attempts to seduce him. Before this hunt, Gawain and the host make a promise to each other that they will exchange whatever they may win that day for the other's winnings. The host gives Sir Gawain the boar in exchange for two kisses. Then the host says to Sir Gawain "Now we are even" (Norton, 236, line 1641.) There is a vivid description of the meal that follows, as well as the singing of Christmas songs. Then Gawain tells the host that he should be on his way to the Green Ch apel to face the Green Knight. The host comments on the fact that he has tested Gawain twice and is quite impressed with his performance. The host then tells Gawain about the third test. In the test, the winner will take all, and the loser takes nothing. Gawain thinks this is all just a game and doesn't realize that it is actually a test. Sir Gawain later decides that he will stay, after learning from the host that the Green Chapel is not too far away from the castle. He has some more drinks with the host. After this, he goes to bed and gets the best night's rest, and is up early the next morning. That morning, the host hunts for some fox as Gawain lies in bed. The passage ends with a description of how the host an... ...n suffers a wound to his neck. But, that does not stop him. He points out to the Green Knight that he is not immortal as the Green Knight is. The wound in his neck shows this. Unlike the Green Knight, Sir Gawain cannot just put his head back on his head. This also shows that he is a hero. He is not a "superman" like the Green Knight appears to be. He can die, and he still risks his life in fighting the Green Knight. In conclusion, this passage taken from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight shows the reader how brave Sir Gawain really is. Here, the reader sees that Gawain is ready and able to face any challenge and obstacle that cross his path. Rather, he approaches these challenges and obstacles with the utmost bravery that a true hero can have. Works Cited: Abrams, M. H. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1993.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Porter

Michael five forces model Rivalry among competing Firms: this is usually the most powerful of the five competitive forces. The strategies pursued by one firm can be successful only to the extent that they provide competitive advantage over the strategies of other firms (Grobler 2009) ? Due to China’s incredibly high FDI rate, more and more companies are investing into Chinese businesses and strengthening them in both their domestic markets and also on the global front. With the ever increasing growth of their domestic markets it will only be a short while before they become the dominant market leader, if in this span of 30 years they could rise from nothing to 4th largest in the world then it shows what impact they really had and still have on the global economy. Potential entry of new competitors: whenever new firms can easily enter a particular industry, the intensity of competitiveness among firm’s increases. ?When new firms become strengthened through investments, they become direct competitors of the leaders in that industry. . g. A new Chinese innovation in the television industry grows rapidly, they will be direct competitors against any television firms based in China, for example LG and Sony Bargaining power of consumers: when consumers are concentrated, large or buy in volume their bargaining power represents a major force affecting intensity of competition in an industry (Grobler 2009) ? This goes for actual customers(public) and b2b businesses, because those that buy the larger quantities would get the cheaper rates no doubt, however in China how will that be decided? Will it be their size, market share, sales or Return on capital employed. Potential development of substitute products: in many industries firms are in close competition with producers of substitute products in other industries. ?As mentioned throughout this article, the Chinese have the ability to imitate anything, this factor will never disappear especially if Chinese firms enter European or American markets, how those manufacturers would react to the Chinese developments are unimaginable. Bargaining power of suppliers: the bargaining power of suppliers affects the intensity of completion in an industry, especially when there are large number of suppliers, when there are only a few good substitutes’ raw materials or when cost of switching materials is especially costly (Grobler 2009) Porter’s five forces will only be effective if it is done in a stable environment, it is done to see how attractive the industry is and if it is worth starting a new venture in that environment. Porter’s generic strategies †¢Cost leadership †¢Differentiation †¢Focus Cost leadership: Cost leadership means having the lowest per-unit (i. . , average) cost in the industry that is, lowest cost relative to your rivals. This could mean having the lowest per unit cost among rivals in highly competitive industries, in which case returns or profits will be low but however higher than competitors Or, this could mean having lowest cost among a few rivals where each firm enjoys pricing power and high profits Notice that cost leadership is defined independently of market structure. Differentiation: Differentiating the product offering of a firm means creating something that is perceived industry wide as being unique. It is a means of creating your own market to some extent. There are several approaches to differentiation: †¢Different design †¢Brand image †¢Number of features †¢New technology A differentiation strategy may mean differentiating along 2 or more of these dimensions. Focus: Here we focus on a particular buyer group, product segment, or geographical market. while low cost and differentiation are aimed at achieving their objectives industry wide, the focus or niche strategy is built on serving a particular target (customer, product, or location) very well. Note, however, hat a focus strategy means achieving either a low cost advantage or differentiation in a narrow part of the market. For reasons discussed above, this creates a defendable position within that part of the market. Risks of doing generic strategies Cost leadership †¢Requires continual capital investment because newer innovations cause older creations to become obsolete. †¢When focusing solely on making affordable low cost products, it can cause firms to be blinded to product changes that are needed. Ie. Quantity over quality †¢When costs do begin to increase it narrows the differences between competitors and advantage is ultimately lost For China, the main risk that would affect them the most is when focusing solely on quantity, especially because of their expertise in manufacturing they could lose sight of changes that need to be done to better sales. However, China does have the leading number of R&D departments, even though they might not be as innovative as the Japanese or South Koreans, they have the ability to imitate anything they produce which is why they play a major role in globalization, they can imitate anything except fresh air as they say. Differentiation Customer loyalty becomes too large to hold because of the cost differentiation between low cost firms and differentiating firms. †¢The consumer or buyer’s need to differentiate falls away because of price increases. †¢Imitation decreases perceived differentiation This area is where China are dominant, because they have the influence of causing differentiation to fail, because if the product looks the same, and does the same thing, the n why would they ever go for the more expensive, and thus Chinese markets prosper because economies of scale have brought their price down dramatically. This is also when manufacturers have to start looking for alternative suppliers because they now have to compete with China which is not an easy task, and in doing so, it almost definitely forces them to go global. Focus †¢When companies market to niches only they already take the risk of not completely satisfying a demographic segment and with other companies finding alternatives ways to better their market share eg. FDI or R&D labs, they face the risk of dissolving. On its own focus strategy’s should not be attempted by almost any kind of company, its main purpose is to satisfy a small group of consumers at a time, and if this is not the aim of the business then they are going to fall extremely short on their company vision. Books Grobler, W. (2009) Business strategy, CTI Education Group, Johannesburg. Johnson, G. scholes, K. Whittington, R. (2008) Exploring corporate strategy, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Client paper Essay

As social service professionals we will come across many clients from all walks of life that unfortunately are facing so many problems. Many people experience hardship and they just simply need help. As a professional in this field our work is to help our clients with whatever needs they may have at that time. The ultimate and main goal is to help the client become self-sufficient. Help them learn new skills as well as provide referrals to resources when needed. The job is to help provide the clients with alternatives to what they are going thru at that time. Nothing is easy but the result is for the client to be better off from before they enter the door. Human service workers support such a diverse population of clients no matter the age group. The elderly clients are only in need of someone to help them to live independently hopefully in their own homes. For those who are unable to live on their own, the social service professional will ensure that placement is being sought out in a nursing home and/or other residential care facilities. Another client would be a homeless client which are those who the social service worker will help to meet their basic needs of everyday life. For the homeless clients it is valuable to have a variety of resources providers that offer, temporary and /or permanent housing. As well as organizations that serve hot meals, who also provide daily essentials such as a place to take a bath, brush your teeth etc. A good place that offers these service is the Salvation Army, the client will also need a work center facility that can help them in developing new skills as well as obtaining gainful employment. A different client is people who suffer with mental illness. These clients depending on the severity of their problem the social service worker main goal is to help this client become self-sufficient and to re ceive the proper care they need. If you are not certified to deal with mental illness a referral to the proper organization would suffice. Veterans, for some is so hard to adjust to civilian life after military life. Therefore as a social service worker you would support them by adapting the skills they learned in the military to civilian’s jobs. In certain cases, they will need help obtaining housing, on a more severe level they will also need help with some mental issues they may have experience due to the circumstances that have occurred to them while in the military. Another client would be a disable veteran, these clients require more in depth help therefore referrals can be done. Another problem facing  social service clients is people with disabilities. Helping clients with disabilities focus on helping them live independently, in other words help them care for themselves. Becoming self-sufficient. Sometimes depending on the disability the client may have you can refer the client to a rehabilitation center that will help the client adapt to their disability. For the disabled clients that cannot by any means take care of themselves the social service worker can help locate a great residential facility. Another problem that clients face is abuse. Abuse can be verbal, physical, emotional and mental. The clients facing this problem sometimes do not see a problem until it is too late. When helping these clients one must take into consideration the frame of mind the client may be in. Many of these clients are damage mentally and may refuse help, therefore earning their trust is eminent. Clients in this state of mind need in depth counseling, many are broken, in distress and many physically hurt. Therefore knowing how to help them and what resources are available to them is necessary. There are specific skills needed that can be used to help the clients in need. Communication skills are required, in this skill you have to be able to be a great and active listener, listening to the words, body language and gestures. Ask questions, as well as provide positive feedback and information that may be needed. When communicating you have to demonstrate understanding and be able to read what is said as well as what is not said. Many clients just need someone that can listen to their problems. A social service worker has to be compassionate, attentive, possess problem solving skills. Be a critical thinker which is used for assessment and decision making. Having character disposition such as honesty, integrity and empathy are crucial skills needed to help the clients face the problems they are having in today’s world. In conclusion, in the world that we live today many people are struggling to survive, people are homeless, being abuse and are facing more and more problems each and every day. A social service worker job is to help those around them the best way possible. To also educate themselves in order to provide the knowledge and resources available to the clients. Neil Headman assistant professor of human services at the University of Illinois at Springfield stated â€Å"It does not matter who your client is,† he says. â€Å"Everyone needs help.† (25)

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Breakfast at Tiffany(TM)s Essay

Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a romantic comedy that was released in America in the year 1961. Breakfast at Tiffany’s was based on the novella by Truman capote. It introduces a young woman, played by Audrey Hepburn whose profession is a high class male’s escort, prostitute. When studying the film in more depth, I queried how and why a â€Å"high class prostitute† film could be so popular. In my article I will address and find out how and why the film is still so popular today. The film is a total of 110 minutes in length which is consequently 20 minutes longer than an average romantic comedy of today. The first scene is one of the main reasons why Breakfast at Tiffany’s is so popular today. When making a film the opening scene is extremely important and needs to include certain things for the film to be popular and well selling. The opening scene of any film should set the scene and introduce the audience to the surroundings and setting of the film. When we see the character, protagonist, for the first time we are automatically drawn in by her as she is in the foreground and the only thing moving in the scene, our eyes are focused on her. The audience feels connected with her and has an opportunity to be a part of her life. The audience is then introduced to one of the main themes throughout the film of â€Å"Tiffany’s† Tiffany’s after this film became more popular and some members and shoppers of Tiffany’s say that consequently Tiffany’s was made by the link of the film and the well known jewellers. As the scene progresses the camera follows her from the side as she walks. Then the camera changes to behind her with the use of an over the shoulder shot to increase the already gained intimacy. The fact that she is an ordinary woman on an average day and she has nothing special makes the audience almost feel they could be her. Another reason why it is still so popular today is that it fits in with the romantic comedy criteria. Every girl or most girls love romantic comedies. The comedy can be identified in many of the scenes. For instance at the part scenes where lots of comedic techniques and ideas are used such as the cigarette burning a woman’s purple headdress and Holly checking the time on a man’s watch consequently pouring a drink on the woman’s headdress. Also the cat jumping on everybody as they walked through the door. The comedy is basic and not to detailed as to not over power the romantic aspect of the film and this is why the film is still so popular. The soundtrack of the film is based around the song â€Å"Moon River† lyrics by Johnny Mercer, Music by Henry Mancini. The song is a total of 2 minutes 44 seconds and won an Oscar for the best original song. The music can be identified in many of the scenes, if carefully looked for. For instance in the party scene the song â€Å"Moon River† is played in the background but has been edited to create a more up-tempo version. The lyrics of â€Å"Moon River† are totally associated to the life of Holly Golightly. As the actress, Audrey Hepburn was no singer the song was very simple an only sung in one octave which almost makes the performance of the song more believable and the audience can relate to the lyrics more. The soundtrack can still be bought today from amazon and because it is still so widely available that helps the film stay so popular. Due to the advertising of the film, the film was made more popular. The poster that was widely used was the image of Audrey Hepburn on a white background with a border of blue, red and yellow. The poster has many hidden meanings in the images and colours used, for example, the border colours used, when added together, make the background colour of white. The yellow also used could mean wealth and link to jewellery from Tiffany’s. Audrey Hepburn’s name is in capitals and black lettering as the film sold off her name. The picture of the protagonist takes up half of the poster as people aspire to be like her. The title of the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s is in a red colour to represent Romance. In the background a shot of the end scene is added to show the setting of the film and to reveal the ending. All these things together make the film still so popular by creating a picture and selection of images which stick in the audiences mind for years to come. This poster can also still be bought in shops and on the internet. On Tuesday 5th December 2006 the Givenchy dress used in the 1961 film, was sold for 1.2 Million dollars which keeps Breakfast at Tiffany’s constantly in today’s society so the popularity of it is still withheld. Fashion of the 60’s is still popular today whether that is because of the film or not, people still dress in 60’s clothes and Audrey Hepburn is still kept as an admired icon. The novella that was used to base the film around had a different ending to the film. The ending of the novella resulted in Holly travelling to Brazil and sending Paul a postcard, Holly never wrote to him again. The director made the choice to change the ending for a variety of reasons. The way the novella ended was on a cliff hanger with loose ends which wouldn’t make the film popular, so the director of Breakfast at Tiffany’s decided to make the ending in to a typical happy, clichà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½d ending that ties up all loose endings as more people prefer happy endings and they stay popular after time. The way the ending of the film now ends is that the audience can walk away from the film feeling happy and uplifted full of aspiration to be like her. Sinse the ending was changed i believe that it has helped the film to be influential to our culture and stay popular after 50 years due to the film still being a part of today’s present society. Breakfast at Tiffany’s is still so popular today due to the hard work and important techniques used when making the film, the film was created to achieve all the necessary aspects of a romantic comedy which hasn’t changed in the last 50 years consequently making the film still a big hit today.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Online safety

Online safety is an important activity that is a must for every small, medium and multinational company. There are many web tools available that screen the net hackers and bad guys. Below every web site there is a privacy statement which authenticates that the visitor must comply with the terms and conditions of web site that it will not be used for any illegal purposes. Similarly there is a possibility of fraudulent transactions by entering fraud credit and debit card numbers which creates chaos and revenue for online businesses. For preventing all these unforeseen hurdles, online companies delivery goods only after the credit /debit card payment is received which is safe and secured transaction. Google Hack Honeypot (GHH) is a web tool for tracking net hackers that is launched by Google company. Google being a billion dollar multinational company, and the web site google. com is used by millions of internet users who seek information and in the year 2005, Google recorded 8 billion pages and from the view point of Google company, tracking of net hackers with malicious intentions is essential in order to counterattack. Similarly for the online safety of consumer, U. S Government has also passed several policies that individual companies must issue formulas to ensure customer privacy online and customer information must be kept confidential and should not be easily accessed by any other company web sites. Conclusion Good use of technology, breeds good results whereas illegal works have to be tracked as damage is caused to the public as well to businesses. Therefore, authentication and SSL have to be served at every level for ensuring safety and security of information of companies.

Friday, September 13, 2019

A Response to a Historical Essay Based on the US Civil War Essay Example for Free

A Response to a Historical Essay Based on the US Civil War Essay ? The war as people have known and understood it, has inculcated nothing but violence. Over the history, the remnants of different wars became distinct because of the horrors that it caused and imbibed within the innocent lives of people not involved with it. In addition, those who have actually participated in wars, battleworn and inflicted with such violence can only remember the dreadful effects that it left. However, recent studies and approaches to war histories suggest otherwise. Indeed, there have been numerous horrors inflicted by the war towards innocent victims – women, children, elderly, and the soldiers themselves. But on a different light, the article by Drew Gilpin Faust shows that these wars, although violent and bloody, have brought numerous lessons that only the battlefield can best teach the people. In contrast to the usual and common notion perceiving war as evil and violent, some historians view the war as an enlightening period in the history. Francis Parkman believed that the Americans, who have for so long been vilified by their pursuit for success, will be purified and strengthened after a season of war wherein they shall call out for new ideals and they shall learn to appreciate emotions and sentiments relevant for them to destroy selfishness and greed (Faust, 2004, pp. 369-370). In a distinct manner, the Americans have been dominating the international arena due to their indespensable strength and the supremacy that they hold before less developed and weaker countries. And as such, this rendered the Americans the incapability to become keen of other nations’ sentiments towards their leadership. And with this, the outcomes of the war can be the only way to bring about worthy realizations towards the Americans. Although no one can deny that in reality, the wars that people have bravely fought caused numerous of lives gone to waste. However, despite the horrors of losing loved ones, comrades and brothers became a necessary sacrifice in order to purify a nation that has been subjected to ill doings and a means to cleanse the people out of their sins committed against their own nation and other nations. It may seem morbid to other people, but more civilians became largely interested in understanding the experiences of the fighters firsthand. Civilians became more willing to feel the sensation because for them, these experiences will render them the ability to become more humane – feeling different sensations and privilege of having emotions for them to grasp (Faust, 2004, p. 372). Those who served the military to cure the wounded became immensely satisfied of their tasks. For them, the patients that they attended to and the wounds that they had to cure introduced them to richer and new insights. And though these may have connoted a great level of violence, nonetheless these experiences explored a great deal out of their humanity. And for those who have endured the battle themselves as soldiers, a number treated such experience with rejoice despite the destruction and chaos that it caused them (Faust, 2004, p. 372). With all these perceptions about wars, Civil War in particular, most of the historians developed greater interests in tackling the horrors and lessons that come with it. The fondness of most of Americans in the wars that they have fought became distinct that most of the historians have dedicated a large amount of their time and career to discover the truth behind the Civil War and the lessons that it has ought to teach the people. As such, over the history, numerous books and studies have been developed that were dedicated to the Civil War. James McPherson’s book entitled â€Å"Battle Cry of Freedom† was one of the most celebrated composition and a direct beneficiary of the Civil War’s fame. It turned out to become one of the most respected and famous books that tackled the experiences behind the war. Consequently, the â€Å"Journal of Southern History† also became one of the best compositions that broadly represented the different aspects of the conflicts during the Civil War. Given the significant increase of people’s interest in the war, it is logical to wonder what has triggered the people’s desire to study more about it. Ken Burn explained that the issues confronted during the Civil War era is continously reflecting the contemporary issues that Americans still face today (Faust, 2004, pp. 374-375). In addition to Burn’s explanation, several writers have also come to the conclusion that people are still interested with the cause and outcome of the Civil War because it has shaped modern America’s society and culture. They believe that the horrors and lessons behind the war, though they are considerably dreaded, are keys to discover America’s roots and origin. The whole point of the article really does make sense. The turnout and effects of the war that it bestowed upon the country, the fighters involved in it, and the greater number of innocent lives who had to bear with the war experiences created a huge impact that is impossible to forget in a lifetime. The different aspects and different angles given to the study of Civil War offered a great amount of help in understanding the fruits and losses behind the incident. As such, such wars and battles mirror the history of America. During the present era, the war that America has fought and is still fighting presents the same outcome – numerous lives lost and land and property devastation. Same with America’s previous war engagement, they invented the war â€Å"in order to control violence† (Faust, 2004, p. 381). Equipped with weak evidences behind America’s attack against Iraq, America has acted in order to create for their country a â€Å"sense of meaning, intention and goal-directedness† (Faust, 2004, p. 381). Again, America was pushed into a war in order to regain superiority and control. Indeed, the wars that America has fought came with distinct lessons despite the unwanted memories and experiences that the wars have unleashed. But despite these horrors, the American government still pushed their nations onto a different battle regardless of what the world has to say about it. It is true, the Civil War taught Americans a great deal of lessons which were learned the hardest and most painful way. But now, they stand the war again – and numerous studies about the wars may not have helped at all. War, from the dawn of the history until the present generation, is still yet a battle that has not been won. Reference Faust, D. G. (2004). We Should Grow Too Fond of It: Why We Love the Civil War. Civil War History. (pp. 368-383). The Kent State University Press. A Response to a Historical Essay Based on the US Civil War. (2016, Aug 26).

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Heroes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Heroes - Essay Example Nicholus (pp. 347-348) believes that the word Hero has been overused and actually abused in the American public. Klinkenborg (Para 1) also looks at the issue of heroism in America and also points to the fact that it has been used. He looks at the issue of the American soldiers who have greatly suffered in the war and wonders whether the cause for which they suffered was worthy. Nicholus (pp. 347-348) points to the fact that people have become so obsessed with the idea of heroism that they use it wherever and whenever they can. He also argues that this overuse and misuse of heroism is not good because it has caused an illusion in the understanding of heroism and what it should mean as well as the purpose it serves. He points out to the fact that heroism has been used to refer to people who have faithfully served in their duty such as those who faithfully served in the September 11 incidence. He points to the fact that victims have been referred to as heroes and thus losing the mea ning of the term hero because heroes are supposed to be role models, something a victim cannot be. Klinkenborg (Para 2) also seems to have the same sentiments about heroism. He addresses the issue of American soldiers who have served and suffered in the Middle East war and shows how they have really suffered while serving. However, his big question is whether the purpose for which they suffered was worthy and therefore if that makes them heroes. Nicholus engages his audience in this topic by using evidence-based argument. For instance, he refers to the etymology of the word hero and looks at what the word hero originally meant in the Greek language. He even gives examples of some Greek heroes and the deeds they did in order to acquire their status as heroes. Most importantly, Nicholas looks at the conditions which are necessary for a hero status to be assigned to an individual. He lists a number of four conditions which an individual should meet in order to be called a hero and thes e include ingenuity, courage, a noble purpose and finally, success. This final condition, he argues that it is crucial in determining whether a person is a hero or not since even in cases where the individual has the first three conditions, failing to succeed robs him or her the status of a hero. At the same time he argues that assigning hero status to those who have failed or in particular victims of heinous acts such as the September 11th attack makes heroism look bad and make heroes to be diminished in their purpose. Nicholus (pp. 347-348) also tried to distinguish a hero from an ordinary person doing their job. However, he seemed to have noticed that he was tackling a sensitive matter in regard to the status of the people who suffered in the September 11th attacks and first addresses this issue by clearing the fact the he acknowledges that these people need to not only be appreciated but also that they should be grieved accordingly. Klinkenborg (Para 1), also seems to have the s ame concerns about heroism in the American public. Like Nicholus, he also points to the September 11th attack and how it led to the American people going into a frenzy of heroism. Just like Nicholus also, he realises the sensitive nature of the topic and therefore treads carefully around the issue. In the second paragraph for instance, he says that no one should have the right to argue that

Would the Diemaco C8 be a true consideration as a firearm within the Essay

Would the Diemaco C8 be a true consideration as a firearm within the application of modern policing in the UK - Essay Example In this paper we will study the Diemaco C8 carbine rifle in detail, understanding its accuracy, range, efficiency and usability as a powerful firearm, while also comparing it with the firearms and weaponry of terrorist groups and organizations. The different models of C8 are also discusses, enabling us to understand the features of the rifle. Terrorist weaponry capabilities are discussed in detail and compared to the Diemaco C8 carbine rifle, which will help us conclude if the rifle is a good choice for the UK police. The C8 was developed by Diemaco and consists of a buttstock with a telescope. This rifle is short barreled and comparatively more convenient than long barreled rifles. There are variations to the C7 and C8 models, developed by Diemaco. Some rifles are produced with flat tops for improved handling ease. The rail is seen to be pica tinny styled instead of the integral handle. It is usually manufactured with detachable handle which includes the diopter sights or sometimes the Elcan optical sights. The C8 carbine is the carbine member of the C7 family, and in outwards appearance very similar to the Colt 653. (en.academic.ru). However, it holds close resemblance to the Colt 653 in terms of its mechanics and aesthetics. The C8 was first manufactured for Canadian forces as the model Colt 725. The features of the C8 are more refined and unique when compared to other Colt models. It has an A1 profile barrel that is 14.5 inches or 368 mm in length. This feature is similar to the Colt model 653 M16A1 carbine. The difference is that it has a 1/7 rifling twist which is better suited for the C77 cartridge. The design improvements are seen to have been derived from the C7 model rifles. There are versions of the C8 which are improved and designed for better range and handling. The improved version, the Diemaco C8FT has most of

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Nikolay Gogols The Overcoat. The Conclusion Essay

Nikolay Gogols The Overcoat. The Conclusion - Essay Example In fact, the supernatural addition to the story gives it more power as we digest the entire meaning of the story. Without the supernatural ending, we are left with the notion that world is a bleak place to live. With the inclusion of Akaky's ghost exacting revenge upon the Person of Consequence, we see that there is justice in the world and that the world is guided by forces that lurk beyond the human realm. Gogol's fantastic ending is surprising and delightful and this adds to the depth of the story because it offers hope. "The Overcoat" makes more sense when it is considered in the way it is presented - a tale of truth. The story is often discarded when readers reach the conclusion because they feel that it remove any substantial meaning. The way to read the story, however, is to take it at face value. Gogol wanted this ending to his rather realistic tale for a reason. He wanted readers to stop and consider supernatural occurrences in this tangible world in which we live. Victor Peppard observes that there are two ways that the story can be interpreted and maintains that "The Overcoat" has a "definite and tremendously significant relationship to the genre of the supernatural tale, particularly those tales about corpses and ghosts who have, or seem to have, returned from the dead" (Peppard). He believes that the story is meant to be "instructive" (Peppard) because of Gogol's literary predecessors. He also adds that it is "helpful to establish to what extent Gogol models his story on the generic require ments of the supernatural tale and to what extent he modifies them for his own purposes" (Peppard). Either way, "The Overcoat" plays out to be a supernatural story with a very moral message. This interpretation allows the ghost that appears at the end of the to be "even more persuasive than the guilty conscience of the significant personage" (Peppard). It must also be noted that the guilty conscious of the Person of Consequence is secondary to his conversion at the conclusion of the story. When we consider the ghost as a real character, the story not only makes sense, but it serves a real purpose. The supernatural ending of the story is also intended to make the reader relate to Akaky's experience and rejoice with him that he did receive justice in the end. This is the only way that the story can end without the tale being a complete tale of travesty for the "little guy." Akaky is, in fact, the Person of Consequence's victim for a very long time. Gogol has spent much of the story allowing us to see Akaky's life and how he lives it. There can be no doubt that he is a simple man living a simple life. There can also be no doubt that he is a bit quirky and, as such, is the butt of many jokes. It is also important to notice that Akaky lives his life quiet peacefully. He does not impose upon anyone else and it appears that his only sin is the lust he develops for the new overcoat. From this perspective, we can determine that Akaky needs the supernatural ending as much as anybody does because that is the only way that he will see justice. We are forewarned of this when the narrator s tates that no one could have "imagined that this was not there was to tell" (Gogol 245) about Akaky. Then we are told that the story does have a "fantastic ending" (245). From this we can gather that Gogol wanted us to believe in the supernatural aspects of this tale and not only believe but take issues to heart. In short, there is justice in the world. In addition, the conclusion of "The Overcoat" is significant because it is unique when it is examined against the rest of the tale. The supernatural ending to the story is actually the only fantastical element in "The Overcoat." Because the rest of the story is realistic,

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Direct Analysis Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Direct Analysis - Coursework Example 3. Pertaining the research method, the authors use a primary and a secondary review of literature. In the primary literature review, the authors begin by examining 18 bibliographic search training articles, where they find that search training is effective for residents and medical students and that the effects of training were robust with time (Goodman, Gary, & Wood, 2014, p. 336). However, due to lack of actionable recommendations from the primary review, the authors embark on a secondary review where they examine 2 articles and a pilot study they conducted. The second review reveals the types of training that improve bibliographic search skills hence recommendations for bibliographic search training (Goodman, Gary, & Wood, 2014, p. 342). The method is effective in producing data to answer the research question identified in question 1. The primary review of literature shows that the training is valid though with a room for improvement, while the second review shows the specific me asures by which the training could be improved. Macedo-Rouet, M., Rouet, J. F., Ros, C., & Vibert, N. (2012}. How do scientists select articles in the PubMed database? An empirical study of criteria and strategies. European Review of Applied Psychology, 62, 63-72. 5. The three thorough search strings that I would use to search the relationship between telework success and an organizations leadership style are: telework success AND organization’s leadership; (telework AND success) AND (organization AND leadership); and (telework OR communication) AND (success OR achievement) AND (organization OR company OR business) AND (leadership OR management). 6. The symbol represents the mean of a number of values. In this instance, it is used to represent the mean of the ages of the participants. The implication is that members of one participant group had about 11.8 years’ extensive experience performing general bibliographic search engines on

Monday, September 9, 2019

How has the use of ICT has enhanced the quality of learning and Essay

How has the use of ICT has enhanced the quality of learning and teaching across the curriculum at Key Stage3 - Essay Example The UK is hardly alone in asking these questions. Other countries such as Singapore and the United States have had similar government-led initiatives for investing in hardware, software, connectivity, content, and teacher training. Singapore’s Masterplan for Information Technology (IT) in Education was launched in 1997 with the aim to â€Å"continually anticipate the future needs of society and work towards fulfilling those needs† (SeokHoon, 2003, p.283). IT-based teaching and learning was envisioned as a means to â€Å"facilitate such development, and open possibilities for designing new curricula and methods of assessment to meet educational objectives† (SeokHoon, 2003, p.283). IT was also seen as a key enabler for â€Å"more effective education administration and support for communication and collaboration among schools and the community† (SeokHoon, 2003, p.283). The first Masterplan covered four key â€Å"dimesions† in achieving these objectives: (1) curriculum and assessment; (2) learning resources; (3) teacher development; and (4) physical and technological infrastructure (SeokHoon, 2003, p.284). After a five-year investment of two billion Singapore dollars by the Singapore government from 1997 to 2002, and strategic partnering with key industry players for hardware and content development, Singapore’s Masterplan was considered a phenomenal success. A second Masterplan has thus been created with the following goals: (1) Children will use IT for active learning; (2) IT will enhance the connections among curriculum, instruction, and assessment methods; (3) Teachers will use IT effectively for professional and personal growth; (4) Schools will have greater capacity and autonomy in the use of IT for school improvement; (5) An active research program in IT in education will be developed; and (6) A dependable and flexible infrastructure will promote widespread, effective use of multimedia resources

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Should Convicted Felons Have The Right to Vote Assignment

Should Convicted Felons Have The Right to Vote - Assignment Example It is the duty of the society to halt the downward march to destruction and inspire one to the upward march of moral elevation to make one a worthy individual and citizen. The conclusion is obvious. The convicted felons need to be given the right to vote. Most of the crimes are generally committed at the spur of the moment, when one loses the balance of mind. He suffers through the period of conviction and the prison has never been a pleasant place for any individual, notwithstanding the amenities provided. â€Å"The legal authority of a State to revoke an inmate’s voting rights is based upon the Fourteenth Amendment. State laws on allowing convicted felons to participate in elections vary widely. Forty-eight states deny the vote to at least some felons; only Vermont and Maine let felons vote. Thirty-three states withhold the right to vote from those on parole. Eight deny felons the vote for life, unless they petition to have their rights restored, such as Alabama and Florida. New Jersey and Connecticut allow former felons to vote once they have completed parole. Nationally, about 4.2 million convicted felons cannot vote.†(Stukes, 2010) A straightforward answer cannot be provided to the question whether the convicted felons need to be given the right to vote. The immediate reaction is what sort of a felon? All felons are not alike and the gravity of their crimes is not alike. The 14th amendment specifically permits states to disfranchise citizens convicted of participation in rebellion, or other crime. How an enemy of the country be given the right to vote? Legally, the federal government may not infringe upon the authority of the state to give and not to give the voting rights to prison inmates and former felons. The spirit of the American Constitution is, it swears by democracy. But party politics has engulfed the issue to a great extent. This appeals to the Democrats because a large number of felons are African-Americans, the

Saturday, September 7, 2019

American Government Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

American Government - Coursework Example The problem becomes the Federal Law of racial profiling. It is illegal to racial profile. The illegal immigrants that Arizona are targeting come from south of the border. The illegal immigrants are Hispanic looking. In order for the police to do their jobs they would have to racial profile under the state law, or ignoring the state law. The Federal law should rule on this subject. Since the Civil War Federal law has overrode state law. If we do not have a unified code of law than each state might as well be a country by itself. Secondly, racial profiling is wrong. If Arizona profiles Hispanics, the south would be able to profile blacks. Finally Federal law should prevail because every state, including Arizona, had representation when the Civil Rights Movement and racial profiling laws were passed. Majority rules in the United States. Federal law should rule over state law due to history and representation. Since the Civil War, Federal law has superseded state law. Every state sends representation to Congress, thus laws created are made by all states. In order to have a whole country, states must work together. Federal law should take precedent over state law in this case. If states want to have singular law, succession is another

Friday, September 6, 2019

Applications of Biochemistry Essay Example for Free

Applications of Biochemistry Essay Blood is one of the most important fluids in the human body. It helps carry nutrients such as oxygen to the cells in the body and transports out wastes like carbon dioxide and other metabolites from these cells. Since blood is the medium through which the different organs and tissues in our body communicates, keeping a close eye on the constituents of a blood sample would provide a good indication of the functioning of the human body. Blood gas tests are ordered for patients who might have symptoms of pH imbalance, extreme levels of oxygen/ carbon dioxide, or in order to evaluate the functioning of organs such as the kidneys and the presence of disorders such as diabetes. The latter tests are measured through the analysis of electrolytes and metabolites in the blood. Patients who are on a â€Å"ventilator† in a hospital may have their treatment procedures also monitored using a blood gas analysis test. In the Core Laboratory of University Hospital in London, Ontario, the Gem Premiere 3000 Blood Gas Analyzer is used in order to perform tests on patients. There are two analyzers present in this laboratory. Both machines can run tests for levels of pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, partial pressure of oxygen, Na+, K+, Ca++, and hematocrit (Hct). One of the machines however, is also capable of running glucose and lactate tests as well. One other final blood constituent that is also analyzed in this analyzer is for carboxyhemoglobin. If a sample is to be tested for carboxyhemoglobin, the sample must be injected from the syringe into the GEM cuvette. The cuvette is then inserted into another analyzer in order to test carboxyhemoglobin levels. The samples collected for blood gas analysis tests can be arterial, venous, or capillary blood. Reference Range values of measurements in the â€Å"normal range† using the Gem Premiere 3000 (UCSF Medical Center, 2011). All samples are delivered to the laboratory in syringes or capillaries from the bedside of the patient in the hospital. A sample that arrives from the Operation Room can only be stored for and has to be analyzed within 15-20 minutes. Samples that are delivered to the laboratory on ice can be stored for one hour while all other samples must be analyzed within half an hour. Unlike other samples that are analyzed in the lab, these samples are not archived after analysis. All samples must also be warmed between the hands before being analyzed in order to mix the contents thoroughly. All syringes with samples contain a coating of heparin sulfate in order to avoid the clotting of blood samples. Once the source of blood sample (arterial, venous, capillary) has been selected on the display screen of the analyzer, the sample is checked for clots. This is done by testing a drop or two onto a gauze pad. The barcode on the sample syringe is then scanned in order to read the patient ID and store the results. A message then appears on the screen of the analyzer that reads â€Å"Present sample now†. The tip of the syringe can then be inserted at an angle, into the needle that protrudes from the Analyzer. The results will then appear on the screen and be saved on the patient’s profile according to their ID that was scanned. The maintenance conducted on the Gem Premiere 3000 is very minimal. The Gem Premiere 3000 contains a cartridge that has electrodes with all the calibration measurements for the machine. The analyzer is checked daily for printer paper. Every week, quality control tests are run in order to ensure the accurate working of the Gem Premiere 3000. The two control tests administered are the ‘Critical Care QC ContrIL9’ and the ‘GEM critCheck’. The first control tests for the proper analysis of of pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, partial pressure of oxygen, Na+, K+ and Ca++, while the second control tests for hematocrit low and normal levels (UCSF Medical Center, 2011). The cartilage with electrodes for calibration measurements expires every three weeks. However, if there is a power cut or an issue with the analyzer, the cartridge must be changed immediately before any other tests are conducted. Once the cartridge has been replaced, it takes half an hour for the cartridge to warm up after the CVP control has been run and before tests can be run again. Once all the tests are run, they are saved on the patient’s profile and are available for access by all physicians and hospital staff throughout the hospital.

Thursday, September 5, 2019

Congressional District of Texas Campaign Plan

Congressional District of Texas Campaign Plan Khizer Zamani The 23rd Congressional District of Texas is an interesting congressional district. It is a district that shows how the demographics of Texas, and of the United States more generally, are changing. The district is a predominantly Latino one and until the 2014 election, had a Democratic representative; however, the 2014 election caused Republican Bill Hurd to win, unseating Democratic representative Pete Gallego (Ballotpedia, 2014b). As is often the case in politics, it is important to look ahead to the next opportunity. For 2016, how can someone defeat Bill Hurd? One important aspect is, naturally, campaigning. The role of money in politics is increasingly strong, yet it is also important to spend money on media that reaches the target demographic. The 23rd Congressional district is an important one for politics: â€Å"Texas 23rd Congressional District was a battleground district in 2014 due to the fact that the seat was held by a Democrat, but the district had a slight Republican lean and was won by the Republican presidential candidate in both 2008 and 2012† (Ballotpedia, 2014a). The district is more than 70% Hispanic (Ballotpedia, 2014a) and has a 70% high school graduation rate (Ballotpedia, 2014a), a median household income of approximately $46,000 (Ballotpedia, 2014a), and a college graduation rate of about 21% (Ballotpedia, 2014a). The unemployment rate is 6.5% (Ballotpedia, 2014a), and the population is just over 650,000 (Ballotpedia, 2014a). The area is largely rural: â€Å"About the closest thing to a swing district would be freshman Rep. Quico Canseco’s (R-Texas) big and rural 23rd district, running from San Antonio to El Paso† (Blake, 2011). All of these factors indicate that this â€Å"swing† district is winnable by the opposition if they consider how this type of voter works. Marketing segmentation will help here (Weaver, 2013). Dividing up the potential voters on the basis of identity categories will help identify key issues and approaches to meet voters in order to achieve victory. Marketing segmentation is closely related to analyses of voting turnout (Nagler, 2013, p. 27). The typical voter in the 23rd Congressional District in Texas is a relatively lower middle class individual. He or she is likely to be a high school, but not college, graduate. He or she is likely Latino and a hard worker with aspirations for a better life. He or she is likely relatively concerned about their personal economy and is slightly more socially conservative than Texans in other districts, but likely advocates for gay rights. He or she is likely a nominal Catholic or grew up in a culturally Catholic home that informs their ideas about life (Kemp, 2005). This means that the voter may have certain ideas about gender roles, which in turn could influence their votes. The younger median age in this congressional district means that the voters are likely far more digitally connected than the older generation, and they tend to get their news from less traditional sources such as Facebook and even The Daily Show (Baumgartner, 2006). This means that they are actually rather well informed, but have an expectation for immediate responses and irreverence. Despite the problematic aspects of these trends (Popkin, 2006), it is still important to respond to them if victory is the most important thing. Therefore, the hypothetical, proposed campaign – which will be discussed below – will be digital, yet tailored to the demographics of this specific district. Therefore, the ideal candidate for 2016 will be a male of Latino heritage who can appeal to the working class, ideally because he exemplifies the American dream and has worked his way up from humble circumstances. The ideal candidate would be the owner of a blue-collar business and whose personal narrative goes something like he came to the United States at a young age, overcame poverty due to a strong family relationship, went to trade school and now owns a successful, but relatable, business in a blue collar field such as plumbing or HVAC. This would ensure that the candidate is relatable to the economic and cultural dynamics of the congressional district. This does not mean that the path to a democratic victory involves simply dragging out an average Joe or Juan and convincing him to run. It will be a difficult campaign, partly because â€Å"The traditional view in electoral research holds that Congressional election campaigns are principally aimed at highlighting the virtues of the individual candidates† (Kim Leveck, 2013, p. 492). Further, incumbents have a distinct advantage, because they are more experienced at campaigning, because voters often go for that which they already know (Kim Leveck, 2013, p. 492), and because they tend to be higher quality candidates (Kim Leveck, 2013, p. 492). Redistricting has changed the 23rd district in a way that arguably made it more susceptible to voting Republican (Blake, 2011). This means that the incumbent candidate will find it easier to campaign, too, because the voters there are already well matched to his outreach programs know (Kim Leveck, 2013, p. 492). This means that the proposed challenger will have to engage in a campaign that reflects several different aspects. One of these will have to be funding. Money matters in politics, and money changes votes. The individual will have to have much of his own money and will have to obtain support from many powerful people. In terms of the campaign itself, the candidate will likely find success by focusing on the economy and on the Republicans’ distaste for Latinos. Playing up the opponent’s Tea Party ties, if any, could be a useful strategy given that the Republicans in the 23rd district tend to be more moderate and have rebuked the Tea Party in this district (Martin, 2012). The campaign should therefore be heavily focused on digital engagement that dismantles arguments by the incumbent, plays up the hyper-conservative, Tea Party nature of Republicans and their vicious disapproval of Obama’s amnesty policies for undocumented workers. The campaign should still focus on the candidate’s relatability, particularly in terms of his personal narrative and economic success (Coleman Manna, 2000). The campaign should have manifold opportunities for younger people to interact digitally. This could include official social media accounts, contests, and opportunities within the geographically large district for people of all ages to interact with the candidate in person. The gerrymandering that has been undertaken in Texas may have redrawn the district maps, but it has not changed the increasing tide of changes in the state’s demographics. It has not changed overall social trends towards a growing Latino population, increasing economic uncertainty, a more tenuous existence for the middle class, and skepticism regarding rigid belief systems such as homophobia. At the same time, it still means that the district has a large population of conservatives, although they are moving towards a more economically conservative and socially moderate viewpoint. It is possible to flip the 23rd district back in 2016, but it will require planning beginning now. It will require a strong candidate who has an impeccable personal record, yet is still relatable enough for the humble lifestyle of this region. It will also require someone who is capable of traveling across the vast geographic expanse of this district in order to make an impact with constituents and potential voters and to meaningfully campaign in person. This is all doable, but it is important that the right candidate be found immediately and that the campaign launch as soon as possible after the candidate is vetted. Works Cited Ballotpedia. (2014a). Texas’ 23rd Congressional District Ballotpedia. Ballotpedia.org. Retrieved December 15, 2014, from http://ballotpedia.org/Texas’_23rd_Congressional_District Ballotpedia. (2014b). Texas’ 23rd Congressional District elections, 2014 Ballotpedia. Ballotpedia.org. Retrieved December 15, 2014, from http://ballotpedia.org/Texas’_23rd_Congressional_District_elections,_2014 Baumgartner, J. (2006). The Daily Show Effect: Candidate Evaluations, Efficacy, and American Youth. American Politics Research, 34(3), 341–367. doi:10.1177/1532673X05280074 Blake, A. (2011). The GOP’s big Texas gerrymander. Washington Post. Retrieved December 15, 2014, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/the-gops-strong-texas-gerrymander/2011/06/02/AGP56VHH_blog.html Coleman, J. J., Manna, P. F. (2000). Congressional Campaign Spending and the Quality of Democracy. The Journal of Politics. doi:10.1111/0022-3816.00032 Kemp, C. (2005). Hispanic Health. bearspace.baylor.edu. Retrieved September 19, 2014, from https://bearspace.baylor.edu/Charles_Kemp/www/hispanic_health.htm Kim, H. a., Leveck, B. L. (2013). Money, Reputation, and Incumbency in U.S. House Elections, or Why Marginals Have Become More Expensive. American Political Science Review, 107(03), 492–504. doi:10.1017/S0003055413000245 Martin, G. (2012). Canseco concedes to Gallego in District 23 San Antonio Express-News. MySanAntonio.com. Retrieved December 15, 2014, from http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Canseco-concedes-to-Gallego-in-District-23-4023778.php Nagler, J. (2013). Who Votes Now? Demographics, Issues, Inequality, and Turnout in the United States. Demographics, Issues, Inequality, and Turnout in the United States. Princeton. Popkin, S. L. (2006). Changing media, changing politics. Perspectives on Politics, 4(02), 327–341. Weaver, J. (2013). Market Segmentation. Bournemouth University Foundation Degree Southwest. Retrieved November 26, 2014, from http://media3.bournemouth.ac.uk/marketing/07segmentation/04strategies.html