Skateboarding Essays (598 words) - Skateboarding Tricks,

Skateboarding Throughout the eighties and even still into the nineties skateboarders have been stereotyped, fined, arrested, and kicked out of places for simply having fun. To many people this doesn't sound that bad since skateboarders are a bunch of punks and cause trouble all the time. They smoke pot and get high and do nothing with their lives. These last two statements could be seen as false since they could be disproven in many ways. Tony Hawk is a pro skater who has achieved many goals in his life. Many people won't know him but for the people that followed his career as a skateboarder they would know that is the "Michael Jordan" of skateboarding. Tony started his career in the eighties and at that time skateboarding was not too popular with the authorities. He has dealt with the hardships of being discriminated and rose to the top. He was in the movies Gleaming the Cube and Police Academy four. He also came up with his own company which is Birdhouse, and has invented many of the tricks for vert skating, such as the Madonna and the Bennihaha. This past year in the X-games he landed the impossible, the 900. This trick involves two and a half rotations. I don't think Tony Hawk is a trouble maker and a punk for skateboarding. I think he is a great role model to many of the other skaters out there working hard to do well at the sport. Ed Tempelton is a pro skater for Toy Machine. He has run in with the law for skating plenty of times. On the Toy Machine Video, Jump off a Building, Ed Tempelton is shown getting kicked out of some place. Most of the graphics on the bottom of the Toy Machine decks are painted by Ed as a way to show his artistic ability. He said that he got into painting because he liked it even though he said his first paintings were crapy. He said it was better than getting into drugs and that he really doesn't drink. Ed Tempelton is just another skater that doesn't fit the stereotype of skaters. If you heard of Andy MacDonald it was probably from the latest commercial Where Andy speaks about skateboarding and his version of getting high. This was one of those Drug awareness commercials telling kids not to do drugs. Andy is 27 and has chosen skateboarding other than drugs and hanging out getting into trouble. He has also accomplished many things in life. He has been a pro for about 7 years and he now does commercials and is on TV on such Stations as Espn, Fox sports net and Msg. He has helped in Board Aid which is an event where snowboarders and skateboarders have a big demo and people pay to listen to music, watch the sports, and the main reason is to raise money for Aids awareness, and also for drugs. To talk from experience, I have been kicked out of school property, the mall, the parking lot of Betz Funeral home and the police have shown up to my door also. In each of these incidents neither my friends or I were not doing anything wrong except skateboard. I got kicked out of the Middle School parking lot with my friend because the lady said that we were going to sue the school or something. In contrast if my friend and I were riding a bike or on rollerblades doing jumps we would have never even gotten hassled. Skateboarding has progressed but some of the problems that skaters have faced in the past are still here in the present. For instince in Albany the police can take your board and in many places in California theres signs saying no skateboarding or the authorities just love to hassle us skaters still.

My Greatest Source of Motivation and Inspiration Essays

My Greatest Source of Motivation and Inspiration Essays My Greatest Source of Motivation and Inspiration Essay My Greatest Source of Motivation and Inspiration Essay My mom has always been my flexure to look up to. She has Inspired me to be the person I truly want to be. My mom is a strong, kind-hearted, and successful woman who has always been there for me. She gives me her strength and love during everything. She is my idol, a woman who has taught me to stay true to myself and become the adult I want to become. Back when I was in grade 6, I was one of those kids who didnt really care about school and never really bothered to do homework. I thought to myself What was the mint in learning things like the history of Canada if we are never going to apply it in real life? Why was I learning about art if Im not planning to be an artist? But then my mom taught me an unforgettable and valuable lesson. She taught me that even though we might not use all the knowledge we learn from school in real life, education is still important. I need to have a good education to be successful in the future. If I do well In school and get Into an honorable university I can learn the things I enjoy and have my choice of work. I would be able support my family and be happy with my Job. She always tells me that I am considered lucky to be even able to have an education because kids elsewhere who yearn to have an education wont be able to get one as they are unable to afford one. I shouldnt think that school is boring and useless and instead think of it as a rare opportunity to learn. Whenever Im not doing well In school, my mom would always motivate me to keep working hard and trying my best for my future. She said that I may not enjoy school but in the end I would regret not learning more. One Sunday evening, a conversion, one that I vividly remembered occurred during inner. We were at home and it was Just my mom, my sister, my dad, and l. We had dinner and there were some of my sisters favorite dishes. Our topic of discussion was what we planned to do for our future. In my family, I have always been the one that doesnt know what to do for my future. My sister already knew what her plans were; she wants to become a pharmacist. L, on the other hand. Didnt know what I wanted. Sure I had a general idea; something in computers, engineering, or mechanics. So not very narrow, but at least an idea. At this time I hated this line of discussion. My sister could say something, but I had nothing to bring to the table. I wanted to make sure the career I chose would be one that I would be comfortable about. This one night before I went into my comforting bed, my mom came in my room and for the first time I told her that I wanted to go Into computer science. She was glad and proud that I finally found something that I want to do. She supported and agreed with my preferred line of work as long as I am happy about it. She encouraged me to continue to work hard and accomplish as much as I can in school so I can go to a amendable multiversity Ana nave my cream career. Nee also toll me auto near past during her education. My mom was also like me when I was a child. She didnt try her best and in result she didnt do really well in school. After she graduated high school she was only able to go to a satisfactory college. After a year in college, she made one of the biggest decisions that she regretted in her lifetime. She quit college be cause she thought it was too difficult and she hated it. This made it really hard for her to find an adequate Job which also made her life a lot harder. My mom has always shed if she could go back in time and remake her decision so she could learn more and may have been more successful. Through the years, my mom has shown me a glimpse of how to be successful, prosperous and to be capable to support my family in the future. School may have been harsh and boring to me when I was a child. But through my moms teachings I have learnt how meaningful a good education is. She is my hero, my guide, who taught me how to stay strong and become what I want to be. She is my inspiration and her strength allows me to continue to do my absolute best in school.

Criteria For Leadership And Its Importance For The Firm's Success Essay - 1

Criteria For Leadership And Its Importance For The Firm's Success - Essay Example The presentation of the project to Paul’s boss, Larry, did not have the expected effect. The position of CEO would be offered to another colleague of Paul, probably George since Larry believes that Paul is not tough enough in order to become the firm’s leader. The disappointment of Paul, as noted in the case study, can be explained by referring to the criteria on which the relevant judgment – regarding the ability of Paul – to become a leader was based. The events described in the case study are related to a series of issues, which have been extensively examined in the academic literature. Particular emphasis seems to be given to a) the concept of leadership, which has been related to specific qualities; in accordance with Daft et al. (2010) the leadership can be characterized as ‘a process by which a person exerts influence over other people and inspires, motivates and directs their activities to help achieve group of organizational goals’ (Daft et al. 2010). The above definition makes clear that leadership is not a position; rather it is a process, which has specific phases/ parts. The specific definition helps to understand the decision of Larry regarding the inappropriateness of Paul for the specific role; b) the concept of management, as being differentiated from leadership; the former focuses on practical aspects of the organizational activities; the latter focuses on the promotion of the firm’s vision and spirit; it is at this point that manager is differentiated from the leader; a successful leader needs to be able to promote the organization’s vision without being restricted by personal thoughts or the views of his environment (Millmore 2007), c) also, through the case study, the need of management theory for understanding the firm’s strategic priorities is revealed – reference is made especially to the theory of Kirkpatrick & Locke (1991) who set 6 criteria for identifying the ability of a  person to become a successful leader: ‘ambition and energy, desire to lead, honesty and integrity, self confidence, intelligence and job relevant knowledge’ (Kirkpatrick & Locke, 1991).

William Faulkner's Barn Burning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

William Faulkner's Barn Burning - Essay Example Faulkner has used the plot, and the interactions between the characters, to explain the concept of mental and emotional slavery in man. However, what strikes most in Faulkner’s story is the use of symbolism. Through different symbols in the story, the author has described the internal conflict that a human being experiences before he succeeds in getting freedom. Hence, it is a story of spirit of freedom in human beings. In the short story, Faulkner has also explained how slavery is not just situational in nature, but also psychological. The author has made an excellent use of symbolism to explain the nature of freedom in people’s lives. According to Faulkner, the strongest obstacles in achieving freedom in life is not the external circumstances, but the internal demons of emotional and psychological attachment to destructive and negative people in life, and hence, the only way for human beings to get freedom in life is to win over the internal demons, because they are m ore dangerous than the external circumstances of slavery. Symbolism The story ‘Barn Burning’ is an excellent work by William Faulkner, where he has used symbolism to explain the purpose of his story. Symbolism is a method of describing the essence of a story ‘indirectly’ through objects, events and actions of the characters in the story. In case of the short story ‘Barn Burning’, the author William Faulkner has used interesting symbols to describe the conflict, spirit of freedom, rebellion, and courage in human beings. Right from the first paragraph of the story, the readers sense the use of symbols in the story. The author has used symbolism not only through objects but also through the actions of the characters. The symbols that he has used are blood, Sartoris’s actions and peculiar behavior patterns of characters in the story. Blood Right from the beginning of the story, the author grips the attention of the reader by introducing him to the complex idea of smell and its associations in life. Human beings have a tendency of developing mental associations with things related to sensory objects. For example, if a person listens to a song that was his favorite in the childhood, then the memories of childhood floods to his mind and he relives the good and bad experiences associated with that song. Faulkner has used the ‘sense of smell’ as a symbol of conflict in the mind of Sartoris Snopes, a ten year old protagonist of the story. The story begins with the description of the court proceedings against Sartoris’s father, who is accused of burning the barn of his owner. The proceedings take place in a store where the tins of cheese are kept. The boy is shown going through an internal conflict through the sensation of smells. Sarty (Sartoris) is found torn between the smell of cheese and the smell of ‘blood’. Sarty is sure that he smelt cheese even though he is unable to read the letters on the tin cans. The smell is pleasant and he likes it. However, he is unable to enjoy the smell of cheese as it is polluted with the smell of ‘blood’. Here, the author has used ‘blood’ as symbol of ‘loyalty and duty towards the family’. The smell of blood is not ‘real’ but is a psychological symbol of ‘family’. Interestingly, the smell of blood that Sarty senses is also joined by the sense of fear. It reminds Sarty of the despair and grief that he has experienced. Sadly, the smell of cheese that he senses is momentary and comes intermittently. However, the smell of blood is permanent and consistent in his mind. The words ‘fierce pull of blood’ shows that Sarty is somehow being forced to be loyal to his family, and particularly, towards his father. The word ‘

Understanding the Concepts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Understanding the Concepts - Essay Example Concept of NPV/Payback Rule: The concept of NPV or Net Present Value of a particular investment represents the difference in its market value and its actual cost. The value of NPV is determined by estimating the present value of those cash flows that shall take place in the future. The cost is then deducted from the resultant to obtain the value of the NPV. According to the payback rule, a particular cutoff is selected and if the payback period is less than that cutoff, the project proves to be good to undertake. A payback period represents the time period when the cost of the project becomes equal to the total sum of the investments made on the project (Ross, Westerfield & Jordan, 2008, p.290). Thus, these two concepts can be utilized in the business in order to determine whether the investments made on the project and the costs being incurred are on a right track to provide the owner with sufficient returns. Advantages and Disadvantages of Debt Financing and Issue of Stocks over Bonds: The first advantage of debt financing is that a business only requires repayment of the borrowed amount but it is the owners who are accrued for any rise in the firm’s value. Secondly, debt is less costly in comparison to equity and carries lesser amounts of risk. Thirdly, the availability of debt financing is more frequent and easy than equity financing. The disadvantages of debt financing lie with the fact that debts have to be cleared even if the firm has undergone any losses in its finances. Secondly, in debt financing the assets of a firm are required to be used a guarantee that limits the further borrowing of the firm. Thirdly, several restrictions might be presented by the lenders in the process of debt financing. Lastly, personal guarantee might also be required in some cases (Seidman, 2005, pp.32-33). An organization would choose to issue stocks than bonds since firstly a stock represents the share of the owners of the firm, while a bond is a debt instrument. Secondly, a stock does not have a maturity period unlike bonds that have a fixed maturity period. Thirdly, dividends are gained over stocks while bonds borne fixed rates of interests (Brown, 2011). Risk-Returns Relationship: Financial risks are considered to be any such uncertainty that might affect the positive outcomes of a firm. Such risks might be associated with the market which is external to a firm. On the other hand, internal problems might also give rise to risks. The primary relationship between financial returns and risk arise based on the fact that investors always prefer higher returns and lesser risks. Thus it can be understood in this context that if financial risks are higher in case of an investment, the investor would have expectations for higher returns. This reflects on a trade-off that exists between the risks and the returns. Such a trade-off enables determination of the added amount of ret urn that an investor would receive if he considers a higher level of risk in his investment measure (Brigham & Houston, 2012, p.258). Thus depending on the level of risks that an investor can consider in his investment, the financial returns vary and this throws light on the relationship that exists between financial returns and risks. Beta and its Use: The concept of beta has been used for the measurement of systematic

Strategy Development IKEA

Strategy Development IKEA Introduction This report describes the vision of IKEA, the main internal and external factors affecting its strategy development based on the articles and information published in press affecting the socio-economic activities of organisations. The first part of the report is about the history of IKEA and the idea behind IKEA Group then we will discuss the companys social responsibility programmes and how it strives to take advantage of public relations. Afterward, we will move on the affects of internal and external factors influencing the companys strategy development and finally how IKEA has performed since 2005. The external factors show political, economical and social analysis affecting the IKEA Group. It helps readers easily see what the main factors that IKEA should consider in its strategy development are. The history of IKEA Mr. Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA has been in his own business since he was five. At age of five, he bought matches in bulk cheaply in Stockholm and re-sold them to his neighbours at a lower-price but he was still making profit. Thereafter, he expended his business to selling flowers and greeting card, Christmas tree decorations and also pencils and ball-point pens. In 1961, IKEA starts its first quality test on the products using Swedish testing standards. Since then the company has been engaging innovating, producing and creating quality products with the lowest prices. The idea IKEA, as it says on its website, has a simple but challenging idea â€Å"To create a better every day life for the many people.† The group tries to support this idea, vision, by offering a wide range of stylish home furnishing products at prices so low that everyone will be able to afford them. Developing and creating quality products at low prices is not an easy task. To meet this strategy, high quality at the lowest price, the company involves with diverse aspects of management, production process and also innovation. However, the group does not scarify everything to meet its targets, keeping prices low but not at any price. IKEA works in an industry where there are many rivals and stakeholders, new competitors come in to the market with diverse products and target customers. In such a market environment, it is not easy yet focal to monitor changes and predict what your competitors next step would be. We will discuss the factors that have an impact on IKEA later in the report. â€Å"We shall offer a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at process so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them.† THE IKEA Business Idea Strategy Development Factors Furniture retail industry is a huge industry with numerous competitors. Hence, to achieve a considerable market share having innovative products based on customers needs and wants is crucial. Moreover, innovation should be based on a cost effective mind in order to keep the manufacturing process cost as low as possible. The External Factors There are internal and external factors (forces) influencing the development process on every manufacturer. External factors mainly known as political, legal, social/green, economic and competitive and technological forces are often seen by managers as forced factors, nevertheless they plan their strategies based on based forces. These external factors could restrict some industries while open new opportunity windows for others. Currently, there are two external forces that should be more considered in strategy development than others. These factors are social/green forces and economic forces. In recent years, countries and people are more conscious about the environment because of global warming problem. This indicates that companies should become more environmentally friendly and employ new green technologies to reduce their negative impacts on the environment. Going green helps organisations to show their public how responsible they are to the environment. IKEA has published some documents and reports on its official website to reflect its green activities. â€Å"Social and environmental responsibility is a prerequisite for doing good business. IKEA ´s sustainability direction is that â€Å"IKEA`s business shall have an overall positive impact on people and the environment†. The IKEA vision and business idea encourage the work with social and environmental responsibility.† Anders Dahlvig, President and CEO, IKEA Group It is important for firms to convince their customers about their activities and behaviour against different aspects of their activities such as sources of raw materials, production process and standards, etc. all these needs are forces by external forces through new legislations and campaigns. Therefore, IKEA like any other market player should consider reasonable response to such factors. In addition, Economic forces are other external factor affecting companies sales, profits and turnovers. Currently, the world economy is suffering huge problems and difficulties due to US credit crises and international credit crunch. The recent credit crises in the US has cause a recession in the US market where is the second main market place of IKEA1 in other words, due to the economic difficulties, the US customers are not willing to purchase new goods as same as before as they do not have enough money to afford it. Hence, the group should consider new strategies for the US market to not only keep its market share, also avoid any profit loss. Furniture retail industry like other industries needs innovation to survive and compete in perfect markets. Innovation is the key to design and produce new products at competitive prices. However, about 50% of new products are not successful and are failed for different reasons. A company like IKEA with powerful presence in international markets should always recognise new product and opportunities to produce new innovated successful products. The Internal Factors The internal factors that should be considered in strategy development are more focused on factors that are controllable and can be predicted. E.g. customer services, product promotion, etc. The group is planning to double its size and build 20 new factories in the next five years according to the group. This new expansion requires considerable strategies and plans to the groups targets. However, building new facilities do not guarantee the success of the business. The idea behind IKEA is to produce quality products at low prices that appeal to the most people as possible. To hit this target, the group needs innovation to produce competitive products in one hand; on the other hand, it should exploit new technologies to make the production lines more efficient. A report published by Jeanette Martens son there are serious problems concerning the store project cost follow ups. Moreover, he argues that the store project cost follow up is too inflexible and a deliberate deviation from the specifications has to be done in order to study costs for different items specifically. In addition to cost management, marketing strategies and advertising programmes are internal factors that should be planned and considered in the strategy development plan. 1- IKEA financial fiscal report published on the Internet IKEA since 2005 IKEA Group is a multinational company possessing 231 stores expanded 24 countries. The group has developed 45 trading service offices in 31 countries, together with31 distribution centres and 11 customer distribution centres in 16 countries. According to the financial figures published by the group, there is a steady rise in the sales figures, increased by 1.34% from 2005 to 2007, hit a new record of 19.8 billion euros in 2007. As the official figures illustrates, IKEAs main market places are Europe, North America with 82% and 15% respectively. Asia and Australia had only 3% of sales contribution in the same financial period. Nevertheless, China with 22% and Poland with 16% are the countries with higher purchasing figures. Italy with 8%, and Sweden and Germany both with 8% are other countries where customers were more interested in the products of the group. Apart from financial statistics, IKEA has business relationship with 1,350 suppliers in 50 countries. Moreover, the group has e mployed 96,300 people in Europe, 16,450 workers in North America and also 5,250 employees in Asia and Australia. Apart from the published financial data, the group has been trying to increase its corporate social responsibilities and become more environmentally friendly by become greener and also employing new technologies with the lowest negative impact on the environment. Furthermore, the company is concerned about sources of raw materials used in the production lines. IKEA code of conduct IWAY Showing responsibility for people and the environment is a prerequisite for doing good business. Thats why IKEA requires suppliers to comply with the companys code of conduct, â€Å"The IKEA Way on Purchasing Home Furnishing Products† (IWAY). IWAY defines in detail criteria relating to working conditions, minimum wages, overtime payments, the right to belong to a trade union, emissions to water and air, waste and chemical management, and bans on child labour and discrimination in the workplace. Conclusion In conclusion, planning a strategic development plan requires numerous considerations and aspects. Every strategy development plan includes two main factors, internal factors and external factors. The external factors are those factors that are not controlled by companies whereas the internal factors are controlled by companies. Furniture retail industry is a huge industry with its especial potentials. However, there are some factors in retail industries that have direct impact on sales and also future success of each member of retail industries. Economic influences are part of these motivations. IKEA Group, as a multi-national group should consider the current economic recession in the US as North America is its second major market place. Recent mortgage crises, credit crunch and economic recession have caused financial difficulties for US economy; hence, customers are not willing to buy new products as they cannot afford it. IKEA is considered as a dominant furniture retail market player in Europe and it is recognised as a serious competitor in North America market; nonetheless, IKEA is not recognised as a major market player in Asia and Australia according the groups official annual report. Therefore, theses markets should be targeted in the future development and marketing plans if IKEA looks for new customers from these regions and also higher turnover.

Images and Imagery in Macbeth Essay -- Macbeth essays

Imagery in Macbeth    The Bard of Avon considers imagery one of many elements in his tragedy Macbeth which give underpinning to the theme of the drama. The imagery might be said to be not a goal in itself but a means to an end. In Fools of Time: Studies in Shakespearean Tragedy, Northrop Frye shows how the playwright uses imagery to reinforce the theme: This theme is at its clearest where we are most in sympathy with the nemesis. Thus at the end of Macbeth, after the proclamation "the time is free," and of promises to make reparations of Macbeth's tyranny "Which would be planted newly with the time," there will be a renewal not only of time but of the whole rhythm of nature symbolized by the word "measure," which includes both the music of the spheres and the dispensing of human justice [. . .]. (94-95) In his book, On the Design of Shakespearean Tragedy, H. S. Wilson interprets the imagery of Macbeth: Macbeth is a play in which the poetic atmosphere is very important; so important, indeed, that some recent commentators give the impression that this atmosphere, as created by the imagery of the play, is its determining quality. For those who pay most attention to these powerful atmospheric suggestions, this is doubtless true. Mr. Kenneth Muir, in his introduction to the play - which does not, by the way, interpret it simply from this point of view - aptly describes the cumulative effect of the imagery: "The contrast between light and darkness is part of a general antithesis between good and evil, devils and angels, evil and grace, hell and heaven . . . and the disease images of IV, iii and in the last act clearly reflect both the evil which is a disease, and Macbeth himself who is the disease from which his country suffe... ...e's Tragic Heroes: Slaves of Passion. New York: Barnes and Noble, 1970. Frye, Northrop. Fools of Time: Studies in Shakespearean Tragedy. Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press, 1967. Kermode, Frank. "Macbeth." The Riverside Shakespeare. Ed. G. Blakemore Evans. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1972. Knights, L.C. "Macbeth." Shakespeare: The Tragedies. A Collectiion of Critical Essays. Alfred Harbage, ed. Englewwod Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1964. Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Macbeth. http://chemicool.com/Shakespeare/macbeth/full.html, no lin. Warren, Roger. Shakespeare Survey 30.   N.p.: n.p., 1977. Pp. 177-78. Rpt. in Shakespeare in the Theatre: An Anthology of Criticism. Stanley Wells, ed. England: Oxford University Press, 2000. Wilson, H. S. On the Design of Shakespearean Tragedy. Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press, 1957.

Conflict Family

Ordinary People by Judith Guest is the story of a dysfunctional family who relate to one another through a series of extensive defense mechanisms, i. e. an unconscious process whereby reality is distorted to reduce or prevent anxiety. The book opens with seventeen year old Conrad, son of upper middle-class Beth and Calvin Jarrett, home after eight months in a psychiatric hospital, there because he had attempted suicide by slashing his wrists. His mother is a meticulously orderly person who, Jared, through projection, feels despises him. She does all the right things; attending to Jared's physical needs, keeping a spotless home, plays golf and bridge with other women in her social circle, but, in her own words â€Å"is an emotional cripple†. Jared's father, raised in an orphanage, seems anxious to please everyone, a commonplace reaction of individuals who, as children, experienced parental indifference or inconsistency. Though a successful tax attorney, he is jumpy around Conrad, and! , according to his wife, drinks too many martinis. Conrad seems consumed with despair. A return to normalcy, school and home-life, appear to be more than Conrad can handle. Chalk-faced, hair-hacked Conrad seems bent on perpetuating the family myth that all is well in the world. His family, after all, â€Å"are people of good taste. They do not discuss a problem in the face of the problem. And, besides, there is no problem. † Yet, there is not one problem in this family but two – Conrad's suicide and the death by drowning of Conrad's older brother, Buck. Conrad eventually contacts a psychiatrist, Dr. Berger, because he feels the â€Å"air is full of flying glass† and wants to feel in control. Their initial sessions together frustrate the psychiatrist because of Conrad's inability to express his feelings. Berger cajoles him into expressing his emotions by saying, â€Å"That's what happens when you bury this junk, kiddo. It keeps resurfacing. Won't leave you alone. † Conrad's slow but steady journey towards healing seems partially the result of cathartic revelations which purge guilt feelings regarding his brother's death and his family's denial of that death, plus the â€Å"love of a good woman. Jeannine, who sings soprano to Conrad's tenor†¦ † There is no doubt that Conrad is consumed with guilt, â€Å"the feeling one has when one acts contrary to a role he has assumed while interacting with a significant person in his life,† This guilt engenders in Conrad feelings of low self esteem. Survivors of horrible tragedies, such as the Holocaust, frequently express similar feelings of worthlessness. In his book, â€Å"Against All Odds†, William Helmreich relates how one survivor articulates a feeling of abandonment. â€Å"Did I abandon them, or did they abandon me? † Conrad expresses a similar thought in remembering the sequence of events when the sailboat they were on turned over. Buck soothes Conrad saying, â€Å"Okay, okay. They'll be looking now, for sure, just hang on, don't get tired, promise? In an imagined conversation with his dead brother, Conrad asks, â€Å"‘Man, why'd you let go? ‘ ‘Because I got tired. ‘ ‘The hell! You never get tired, not before me, you don't! You tell me not to get tired, you tell me to hang on, and then you let go! ‘ ‘! I couldn't help it. Well, screw you, then! ‘† Conrad feels terrible anger with his brother, but cannot comfortably express that anger. His psychiatrist, after needling Conrad, asks, â€Å"Are you mad? When Conrad responds that he is not mad, the psychiatrist says, â€Å"Now that is a lie. You are mad as hell. † Conrad asserts that, â€Å"When you let yourself feel, all you feel is lousy. † When his psychiatrist questions him about his relationship with his mother, Calvin says, â€Å"My mother and I do not connect. Why should it bother me? My mother is a very private person. † This sort of response is called, in psychological literature, â€Å"rationalization†. We see Conrad's anger and aggression is displaced, i. e. vented on another, as when he physically attacked a schoolmate. Yet, he also turns his anger on himself and expresses in extreme and dangerous depression and guilt. â€Å"Guilt is a normal emotion felt by most people, but among survivors it takes on special meaning. Most feel guilty about the death of loved ones whom they feel they could have, or should have, saved. Some feel guilty about situations in which they behaved selfishly (Conrad held on to the boat even after his brother let go), even if there was no other way to survive. In answer to a query from his psychiatrist on when he last got really mad, Conrad responds, â€Å"When it comes, there's always too much of it. I don't know how to handle it. † When Conrad is finally able to express his anger, Berger, the psychiatrist says to Calvin, â€Å"Razoring is anger; self-mutilation is anger. So this is a good sign; turning his anger outward at last. † Because his family, and especially his mother, frowns upon public displays of emotion, Conrad keeps his feelings bottled up, which further contributes to depression. Encyclopedia Britannica, in explicating the dynamics of depression states, â€Å"Upon close study, the attacks on the self are revealed to be unconscious expressions of disappointment and anger toward another person, or even a circumstance†¦ deflected from their real direction onto the self. The aggression, therefore, directed toward the outside world is turned against the self. † The article further asserts that, â€Å"There are three cardinal psychodynamic considerations in depression: (1) a deep sense of loss of what is loved or valued, which may be a person, a thing or even liberty; (2) a conflict of mixed feelings of love and hatred toward what is loved or highly valued; (3) a heightened overcritical concern with the self. † Conrad's parents are also busily engaged in the business of denial. Calvin, Conrad's father, says, â€Å"Don't worry. Everything is all right. By his own admission, he drinks too much, â€Å"because drinking helps†¦ , deadening the pain†. Calvin cannot tolerate conflict. Things must go smoothly. â€Å"Everything is jello and pudding with you, Dad. † Calvin, the orphan says, â€Å"Grief is ugly. It is something to be afraid of, to get rid of†. â€Å"Safety and order. Definitely the priorities of his life. He constantly questions himself as to whether or not he is a good father. â€Å"What is fatherhood, anyway? † Beth, Conrad's mother, is very self-possessed. She appears to have a highly developed super-ego, that part of an individual's personality which is â€Å"moralistic†¦ , meeting the demands of social convention, which can be irrational in requiring certain behaviors in spite of reason, convenience and common sense†. She is furthermore, a perfectionist. â€Å"Everything had to be perfect, never mind the impossible hardship it worked on her, on them all. † Conrad is not unlike his mother. He is an overachiever, an â€Å"A† student, on the swim team and a list-maker. His father tells the psychiatrist, â€Å"I see her not being able to forgive him. For surviving, maybe. No, that's not it, for being too much like her. † A psychoanalyst might call her anal retentive. Someone who is â€Å"fixated symbolically in orderliness and a tendency toward perfectionism†. â€Å"Excessive self-control, not expressing feelings, guards against anxiety by controlling any expression of emotion and denying emotional investment in a t! hing or person. â€Å"She had not cried at the funeral†¦. She and Conrad had been strong and calm throughout. The message of the book is contained in Berger's glib saying that, â€Å"People who keep stiff upper lips find that it's damn hard to smile†. We see Conrad moving toward recovery and the successful management of his stage of development, as articulated by Erikson, â€Å"intimacy vs. isolation†. At story end, his father is more open with Conrad, moving closer to him, while his mother goes off on her own to work out her issues. Both trying to realize congruence in their development stage (Erikson), â€Å"ego integrity vs. despair†.

A passion for practicing medicine in Developing Country

A life with purpose is a life without misery. While yet many choose purpose out of a mere likeness, I have chosen mine out of interest, vision and passion. To live beyond a committed life in the world of medicine is my focal point. Yes, an opportunity to live a noble future that reflects constantly on the healing assignment, making people appreciate the privilege of breath.Of more interest of course, is the agendum to study medicine.A worthwhile career to contribute to life, making the world a better place to live. Health is wealth, so says a common saying. The study of health hence is the study of wealth. I am quite positive that my interest dwells in the study of medicine not only for a mere need to able to treat the ill ones, but a mission to spread the awareness of the need of good living and good health to all and sundry.Awareness that many of human ways bring about many diseases. Very few is aware that there are many more lethal diseases than AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Sy ndrome).Diseases like Bird flu, Cancer, Leukemia, SARS, to mention but few, are relatively unaddressed by many.Another issue that needs attention is the nutritional intake of human. Good nutrient does not only strengthen the body system, it also allows the body to resist some diseases. In the developed world, many eat and overfeed yet without taking the necessary nutrient. While in the developing countries, the case is more severe.The reason is not unconnected to the fact that they have shortage of food, hence shortage of nutrient necessary for good health. If only there could be more seminars, campaigns, and other media of awareness creation, many could have been saved from many diseases.I will like to join the presently available campaign teams across the world. Bodies like WHO (World Health Organization), USAID and lot more are doing a great job in sensitizing the entire globe on several health issues. Better still, if given all I require, I will like to create a new body that wi ll focus on the developing countries. The Old and the young in the developing countries go through so much concerning their health.Unaware of repercussions of many of their ways, hence leading to many diseases.They are locked up in a vicious circle of ill-health simply because of their poverty which does not afford them good health care. Countries like Somalia, Angola, Nigeria, to mention only but few among others, they need face lift in their attitudes towards their health schemes. Many children die of malaria or typhoid and yet many crippled by polio. These are diseases that could be cured or prevented with just a vaccination or some other simple drugs as the case may be.Of more focus is the old, weak and fragile both physically and emotionally. They suffer dissertation and low appetite. Their psychological status is assumed defective; they feel an aura of rejection. The chewing skill is increased but without enhancement, for their teeth become weak like cotton.Of more concern to me are the aged ones in the developing country, where the government of the masses cares less for the aged ones. Retired with little or no pension, living a practical vicious circle of no income, no health. I wish I could grow up in skill and knowledge in medicine vastly to help these people crying out everyday.For long, I have watched mentors making things happen in the world of health; it is high time I joined the train and contributed my own quota, lest it will be late.

The History of TV Dinners and Inventor Gerry Thomas

The History of TV Dinners and Inventor Gerry Thomas Gerry Thomas, a salesman with the Swanson food company, claims credit for inventing the Swanson TV Dinner in 1954. Swanson TV Dinners fulfilled two post-war trends: the lure of time-saving modern appliancesthe fascination with a growing innovation, the television Swanson TV dinners were the first commercially successful frozen meal. More than 10 million TV dinners were sold during the first year of Swansons national distribution. For $.98 per dinner, customers were able to choose among Salisbury steak, meatloaf, fried chicken, or turkey, served with potatoes and bright green peas; special desserts were added later.  The food groups in a TV dinner were displayed neatly in a divided metal tray and heated up in a conventional oven.   Goodbye TV Dinner, Hello Microwave Swanson removed the name TV Dinner, from the packaging in the 1960s.  The Campbell Soup Company replaced the aluminum trays of Swanson frozen TV dinners with plastic, microwave-safe trays in 1986. Today frozen dinners are offered by a variety of brands, including Stouffers, Marie Callenders, and Healthy Choice. Going Down in History In 1987 the original  TV Dinner tray was placed in the  Smithsonian Institution  to commemorate the trays impact on American culture, sealing TV Dinners place in American cultural history. Celebrity figures from Howdy Doody to President Eisenhower touted the dinners.  In 1999, Swanson received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Pinnacle Foods Corporation, the current owners of Swanson products since 2001, recently celebrated fifty years of TV Dinners, and Swanson TV Dinners still remain in the public conscience as the dinner phenomenon of the 50s that grew up with television.

Crash by Paul Haggis Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Crash by Paul Haggis - Movie Review Example From this study it is clear that the movie has proved to be quite interesting; it is quickly enough understood that who the characters are and how they live, but we wonder about their behaviour to each accident they face throughout the whole movie. Mostly for variations people watch movies which enact rituals. "Crash" on the other is a movie that shows free will, and that there are vast possibilities for anything to occur. The movie plays its vital part in wrapping the viewers and getting them involved because as we go on, we develop a sense of care for the characters.This paper highlights that Officer Hansen in the movie, in my opinion proves to be a very fascinating character. He is a white male who seemingly lived in a typical neighbourhood and fairly has the same normal views of an individual who comes from similar social background. Officer Hansen is a considerate young man who doesn’t care about people’s social indifference. He is completely dissimilar to his part ner Officer Ryan who doesn’t treat people of different race equally.  In the late beginning of the movie he encounters a conflict between his partner and a black couple where his partner took advantage of his position and tried to vulgarly abuse the black man’s wife just because of the racial difference which was highly disliked by Officer Hansen.  Officer Hansen is shown to be a common white man with a typical background.

Macro essay question Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Macro essay question - Assignment Example The theories of Economic Growth are used to formulate functional relationships in separate economic models. Money, balance of payment, goods and credit functions are made through these theories. According to the theory, demand=supply, when an economy will be in equilibrium producing the optimal level of output. When the economy produces potential output, with the given state of labor, capital and technology resource, then it generates full employment. However, it should be noted that even in the full employment level, an economy can experience a natural unemployment rate of utmost 4.2%. Any changes in the equilibrium are automatically rectified through price and quantity adjustments. Business Cycle and Economic Growth Theories are important because it helps to forecast the AD and potential production level of an economy. The direction of prices and employment opportunities are determined by AD. On the other hand, the long run economic prosperity of a nation is analyzed through its potential production level. However, AD and potential output of an economy experiences a directly proportional relationship with each other. This is because when AD increases, the economic agents of a market invests more in capital, labor and technology and hence reaches the potential production level. During an economic recession, the AD is less than AS of a market. If the interest rates are lowered then the cost of borrowing money will fall. This will enhance the investment opportunities in the market and expand the scopes of foreign trade. The gross employment opportunities will rise with increase in investment expenditure. With devaluation of exchange rates, the exports of the country will become cheaper than the imports. Finally it will generate a higher demand for domestically manufactured relatively inexpensive goods of the economy and hence increase the AD. The market will be out of recession with rise in AD. The consumers’ loyalty towards a