Female Circumcision Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Female Circumcision - Research Paper Example e statistics are very important because they show the prevalence of FGM worldwide; they reveal that the fight against FGM must be waged more fiercely because it is far from over. In Kenya, for example, 38% of women have been subjected to some kind of FGM; in some parts of the country (like Kisii) this figure rises to 97% (Wangila 27). Female circumcision and the removal of female genitalia are thought to be almost 2,000 years old (Female genital mutilation: report of a WHO Technical Working Group, Geneva, 17-19 July 1995 103). In fact, some scholars speculate that it may even be older than Islam. Its exact beginnings have not been properly documented, but there is no dispute that it has been around for centuries. FGM basically involves the intentional alteration or causal of injury to parts of the female genitalia out of reasons that have no medical basis whatsoever. In the Islamic world, female circumcision is less prevalent (compared to Africa) and is limited to certain communities that try to justify it by employing the Quran. Among Jews, it has only been documented as practiced by Ethiopian Jews (Falasha), but currently it is also limited among them (Gruenbaum 93). Currently, there are few (if any) known religious sects that advocate for female circumcision anywhere in the world. This involves the forceful reduction in size (or narrowing) of the vaginal opening by creating some kind of seal to cover it (Female genital mutilation 1). This seal is created by excising and adjusting the position of the outer, or inner, labia, with or without necessarily removing the clitoris. Apart from these three procedures, there are others that are not usually classified as circumcision but also involve alteration or causal of injury to female genitalia. These include (but are not limited to) piercing, cauterizing, scraping, pricking and incising the genital area. Female circumcision can leave a girl scarred for life. The procedure is often carried out without sedation and

The 140 Marketing terms you must know Essay Example for Free

The 140 Marketing terms you must know Essay The most visible part of a communication program for the end consumer. Uses mass media channels such as press, bill boards, radio, TV and cinema. See also Below the line. Advertiser A company that uses advertising as a strategic tool to build its business. The advertiser most often works with an Advertising Agency. Advertising Agency The advertisers first communication partner. Designs campaigns that run in press, TV, billboards, radio, cinema and online. 2 Key departments are Strategic Planning, Account Management, Creative and Production. Account Director The client contact at the advertising agency: briefs the right agency resources sells the agency work oversees the account profitability Adaptation work All translations, modifications and specific implementation ideas that will make a global campaign work locally to full effect. Agency Briet The crucial meeting (and document) in which the Advertiser communicates its business and communication objectives to the agency. 3 App A simple piece of software designed for a specific use and purpose for the end user. Mainly for mobile digital devices (smart phones and tablets). Art Buyer The person who finds the third party talents ho will design the final print and TV ads (photographer, film director, illustrator ). She also negociates all the production quotes and royalties. Art Director The eye of the creative team. In particular is in charge for the look ; feel of the campaign. (see also Copy Writer) 4 Below the line The less visible part of a communication program for the end consumer. Uses more targeted channels such as trade publications, direct mail, emailing or even in store activities. See also Above the line. Benchmarking The learning process that goes through the study of the best practices from the past or rom the brands competitors. 5 Benefit The essence of what the brand promises to its consumers that can change their lives in a positive way. See also Brand Promise Big Idea An outstanding creative idea never seen betore, that connects witn consumers and is true to the brand. Body copy The small type text in a press ad that explains in more detail the attributes and benefits of the product or service advertised. See also Headline. Bottom up Any user generated communication piece that will have an impact on the brand perception (e. g. blogs, forums, word of mouth). See also Top down. 6 Brand Awareness The percentage of the population who know the brand by name and can associate it with the right product category. Brand Book The brand Bible. The document that sums up the brand: its vision, pyramid, and its visual and creative guidelines. The purpose is to ensure that every future communication piece respects the values and the formal identity of the brand. Brand Character Describes the brand personality and the type of relationship it has with its consumers as if it were a person. 7 Brand Equity The differential effect that brand knowledge has on customer response to brand marketing activity. Brand Generated Content Content that is 100% generated by the brand Marketing department or by the agency, as opposed to User Generated Content. Brand Premium The price difference consumers are prepared to pay for a branded product vs a very similar product unbranded or from another brand. Brand Promise The rational or emotional benefit the brand stands for. Should always be consistent with the brand vision. 8 Brand Vision The brands ultimate ambition and why it is irreplaceable. The vision explains and Justifies the brands present and future initiatives. BTB Communication Any communication piece that addresses a business constituency of the brand, eg a ustomer, a supplier or a partner. BTBTC Communication Any communication piece intended for both to the business partner and the end-consumer that will facilitate the selling protocol (e. g. window displays, demonstration kits, etc.. ). BTC Communication Any communication piece directly addressed to the end-consumer. 9 Budget (Production/ Media) The financial provisions made by the advertiser to support the costs of its marketing and advertising campaigns. Buzz Literally a murmur. An intriguing communication piece that generates a word of mouth. The goal is to turn consumers into a free media for the brand. Also called Viral Marketing. 10 c Call to action Any communication piece that generates a positive change in the consumers behaviour (e. g. visit the web site, make an inquiry, visit a store, Campaign The implementation program that will make the creative idea come to life through all the relevant touch points with the consumers (offline, online, POP ). Challenge (in the brief) Explains what behavior or mindset change the advertiser wants to create on consumers through the new communication program. 11 Challenger Brand A brand with a strong and relevant point of difference yet without the stature, nowledge, and e steem of a Powerbrand. Claim An advertising statement that sums up the product performance or benefit. Competitive analysis/Copy review The analysis of the past advertising and results of a brand vs its competitors. Concept A short paragraph describing how the brand wishes to present itself through its products or services to appeal to consumers. Connect The brands ability to get closer emotionally to each and every consumer. 12 Copy Strategy See Creative Brief Copy Writer The pen of the creative team more specifically in charge of the headlines, signature and body copy. (see also Artistic Director) Cost controller Independent expert appointed by the advertiser to check the quotes and optimize production budgets. Creative Awards Yearly prize giving ceremony that distinguishes the most creative campaigns and agencies. The best known and prestigious Awards are the Cannes Lions. (See also Effie Awards) 13 Creative Brief Also called Copy Strategy. The contract that articulates what is expected from the creative campaign, what it must communicate (benefit, reason why), and to whom (core target). Creative Director Head of the agency creative department. Accountable for the quality of the work and he creative reputation of the agency. Creative Journey The total creative process from the initial concept writing to the local implementation of the campaign. Usually takes approximately 10 months. 4 Creative Presentation The meeting in which the advertising agency presents its different creative proposals for the future campaign. All decision makers on the agency and client side should be present. Creative Selection Always the clients call. When the decision is taken to go forward with one idea among the different creative proposals presented by the agency. Creative Team In general a Copy Writer and an Artis tic Director. Together they come up with the creative idea that answers best the creative brief. Their work is approved by the Creative Director. 5 Ditterence (brand) Any ownable attribute that makes a brand unique. The #1 of the four building blocks ofa Powerbrand. Digital Media The various platforms and channels (websites or Social Media) a Brand uses on the Internet Disruption Advertising method originally created by JeanMarie Dru of TBWA. Its core belief is that the strongest brands have established themselves 16 by breaking all pre-existing conventions on their market. DOS DONTS Formal guidelines of what should always and lso what should never happen in any piece of advertising developed for the brand (e. g. fonts, colors, logo placement, . Part of the Brand Book. 17 Effie Awards distinguishes the top business building campaigns and agencies. (see also Creative Awards). Endorsement A third party explicit support that improves the brands credibility (eg a celebrity, an expert, a group of consumers.. ) Esteem (Brand) Measures to which degree consumers are proud of buying and of using the brand. The #4 of the four building blocks of a 18 Fee (agency) The financial compensation paid by the advertiser to its advertising agency. Negociated by contract most often on a yearly basis. Also based on an agreed Scope of Work (SOW). EMOT (or ZMOT) First (Zero) Moment Of Truth P;G concept. The very short lapse of time in which a shopper in a store makes up his/her mind about a product or a brand. 19 Gatekeeper Someone from the advertiser organization with the power to approve or stop the process at any given stage of the development of the creative campaign. Generic Anything can be claimed by any player in a given category. Cannot be owned by any brand. GRP Media measurement unit on a given target audience that combines the average reach 20 nd the number of occasions to be exposed to an advertisement (reach x frequency). Gut feeling The initial reaction a Marketeer should always have when first exposed to an ad. The more spontaneous, the better. 21 Headline The line at the head ofa press or poster ad that it supposed to catch the attention of the viewer. See also Body Copy. Hemisphere right/left Refers to how our brain works. The right Hemisphere is the most intuitive one, the left Hemisphere is the most analytical. Ag campaign should speak to both hemispheres. Impact A metric of the ability for an ad or a campaign to get noticed and remembered immediately y the target audience. Incentive (agency) Any reward that generates the motivation to go the extra mile. Money is one. Recognition is another. Insight A consumer related truth. It should always be the starting point to develop new products or to conceive an effective communication strategy. The Strategic Planner can help brands to identify untapped insights. Judgment (Creative) There are 7 criteria to Judge a creative campaign: 1. Is ita big idea? 2. Is it on equity? 3. Does it communicate the benefit? 4. Is it simple? 5. Does it connect? 6. Is it distinctive and recognizable? 7. Is it easy to implement? 24 Kit (communication) The different creative pieces of a campaign put together for the local markets to adapt according to their specific needs and requirements. Knowledge (Brand) The consumers clear understanding of what the brand stands tor. Intimate Knowledge is the #3 of the four building blocks of a 25 KOL Key Opinion Leader. Has the credibility, expertise or fame to be a decisive influencer on a group of consumers. Key Performance Indicators. Pre-selected criteria to help assess and monitor the results ofa campaign. 26 Layout In advertising a piece of creative presentation material in the form of a drawing on a board. Has the same meaning as Mock up. Lead Agency The agency in charge of the strategy and central work on behalf on an international client. Its role is also to coordinate the work of the local agencies and monitor the account profitability for the network. 27 Mandatories Defined in the Agency Brief. For eg media selection, formats, cultural traps, graphic guidelines, different languages Indispensable before the creative team start working on the brief.

Essay --

With a topic as frequently discussed as racial discrimination within our criminal justice system, there are many opinions and theories as to why our correctional facilities are populated with the type of inmates that are housed within. Fortunately, it has not been proven true that our criminal justice system is run in a racially discriminating manner, rather debated and analyzed in many lights. Discrimination is prohibited, as a matter of constitutional and statutory law, in a wide range of settings (Banks, Eberhardt & Ross, 2006). Who is it that teaches us who to be afraid of within society? Who are the â€Å"bad guys† that we should avoid? How many times do our parents tell us during our childhood to avoid certain people and places? Examples being a stranger with a van, neighborhoods to avoid late at night and other precautions that shape the way we think and believe as we grow of the dangers within our society. These same precautions that we are accustomed to during our ch ildhood become embedded into our minds throughout adolescence and leading into adulthood. How do our parents determine who the â€Å"bad guys† are that we ought to avoid? If our own parents are raising us to distinguish between individuals, are they possibly raising us in a racially discriminating way? If that were the case, then who are we to criticize our criminal justice system for possibly doing the same? Criminologists generally agree that young people are more likely to commit crime than old people, men more than women, city dwellers more than country folk, the poor more than the rich, and the minorities more than whites (Cole, 1999). Logically, there is no one criteria of who can be immediately classified as the â€Å"type† of person that would commit crimes and the... ...e to look for and apprehend individuals. As Cole (1999) explained, police departments must be willing to disclose to the public the demographics of their enforcement tactics. If society is not aware of why the police is going after the individuals they are, society is left to assume their own reasons which more often than not leads to the thought of racial discrimination. Racial discrimination is not a just way to run a criminal justice system nor any other aspect of our free communities. As a country, the United States has come a long way and as a nation has given us the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Until there is concrete proof that the criminal justice system is being run on a racial basis, it would behoove us to trust those in charge and continue following the laws in place to make the best possible example for others within our society.

Daphnia Ecotoxicology Lab Report Essay

Introduction Ecosystems have a way of maintaining themselves under ordinary conditions but when a new factor is added that will most likely threaten the environment action needs to be put forth. Our environment is affected by many pollutants on a daily bases forming a threat to natural stability. For example some of the most polluted parts of the environment are bodies of water like that explained in our lab. Once pollution occurs animals can be affected in many ways even to the brink of death. In the lab the stream is getting pumped with salty potassium filled water that can kill daphnia, habitants of the stream, if the concentration gets too high. To prevent this a real-time assay can be performed. This is a short timed test that we use to measure the effect of pollutant on organism by finding the smallest concentration possible that could still be a bother. This is a valuable tool because we can get direct results from a living organism by detecting stress signals all in a short period of time allowing us o fix the problem quicker. Using an organism for the assay is the best choice because there are many variables that can be used to identify stress on the subject because of a specific input. Materials and Methods Everything is kept the same in every experiment except when concentration differences need to be changed. Meaning all lighting, heating, vibration daphnia numbers will not change to make sure there are minimal changes and differences in the experiments. The sizes of the daphnia are also better to be kept around the same. Daphnia are really quick so picking something to measure in a two-hour interval made it easier to narrow it down to heart rate. Since we can control their space, meaning less area of movement we can see their heart better. This also meant it wouldn’t allow us to measure other things that require a larger area of movement which were the majority of the variables. Chasing down the critters is very hard. Week one was the period of observation where all materials were used while looking at the daphnia so that the variables to be measured are chosen and the methods in how they will be measured are ruled out. Before the lab a handout with information on daphnia should be read to familiarize oneself with the little organisms. For observation we are given a regular microscope, to use with it regular shallow white well plates and a dissecting scope, to use with it a see through 24-well plate. A small amount of water should be added to the both the white wells and about three or four of the clear wells. Now that everything is ready for the daphnia they are to be transferred to the wells be using a pipet that has had its tip cut of to a diameter of about 2-3 mm so the critters aren’t damaged. Write down any observations you see such as variables and movements and any ideas for a possible assay. Week two an assay system will be created using the variable that is chosen versus the concentration of KCl. The concentration we started with, was given, a 1:1 ratio of KCl to pond water meaning that half of the mixture is KCl and half is pond water. To perform this experiment we also need a control that would be 100% pond water. Two regular microscopes are used with the three well white trays. In one tray pond water is added to the three wells, half of the group will look at these and in the other the mixture of 1:1 KCl : pond water is added, the other half of the group will look at these. Daphnia are then transferred using a transfer pipet that has the tip cut to a diameter of 2-3 mm. The experiment needs to start after a 15-minute exposure period maybe shorter because they may start reacting to the different concentrations. Once the slides are in focus view the daphnia to see if there are any changes in the variable if so one partner should start counting while the other is keeping time and writing down results. Every once in a while to keep thing consistent switch who counts and switch around the wells. After the observation period make sure the lights are off so the daphnia aren’t heated and they have enough water, and make sure they don’t get moved around too much. Once the experiment is compare results of KCl concentration versus the control. If something did occur to the daphnia do the KCl concentration experiment but half it, If nothing happened double the concentration. Once you are done take our results and plot them using a T-Test in excel. Week three the daphnia are tested under different concentrations of an herb to see if the herb causes any types of stress on the variable. All of the same methods are done as in week one and two except in preparing the herbal solutions. To prepare the herbal solution the herb needs to be grinded mixed with methanol and left to sit for a few minutes so it can react and separate the important contents of the herb out. In large clear wells the mixture is measured in microliters of 500, 50 and 5, we also measure out 500 of methanol and all of these are left to dry out. Then 5ml of water is added to 5 wells the four including the substances and one without. The methanol only and water only wells are our controls once this is finished the variables are measured like in the previous experiments. Results (on graphs and tables) Discussion Daphnia are very easily affected by even the smallest amount of KCl slowing down their heart rate compared to our controls. Our 1:4 ratio of KCl still slightly affected the heart rate of our daphnia. The daphnia give a clear and quick report on the environmental condition this is why they are good to experiment on.

Learning approach Essay

The essay examines the comparison of surface approach and deep approach used in university students. As a fact, many first year students, regardless of majors, adopt surface approaches to learning. However, universities encourage students to accept a deep approach to learn rather than surface approach. Therefore, many first year students face a challenge to use which approach to achieve high academic grades. The essay presents the two opposite arguments about the learning approaches, and then raises opinion that deep approach is a much feasible method. The surface approach to learning mentions students just recite study content rather than acknowledge the true meaning. Many first year students nowadays, regardless of their area of study, adopt surface approaches to learning. Actually, such surface learning approach is not quite effective. This is because such approach is stemmed from students’ previous learning knowledge, while the knowledge is not related with positive absorption. The knowledge is owned by students’ tutors rather than students themselves (Masters & Donnison, 2010). Students treat the learning courses as routine  memorizing process or requirement. They tend to focus much more energy on the surface requirements like reciting words or sentences, pursuit surface meaning of the tasks or courses without their own deep thoughts. Such learning approach makes students seldom timely respond learning strategies, lack learning enthusiasm and driving forces (Entwistle & Peterson, 2004). They will often feel pressure about study task, which will impact their confidence from a long run. Furthermore, due to these features, surface approach is usually thought as lack of understanding. Facts have proved that  surface approaches to learning are often related with poor academic performance over the first semester of study (Entwistle & Peterson, 2004). However, some researchers think it is not correct to think surface approaches to learning are always inefficient or ineffective, for example, as to some courses such as foreign languages study, basic mathematics and etc. , the capability of memory is regarded as necessary, because it builds up the base for deeper learning in such courses (Masters & Donnison, 2010). It is well known that advanced study contains learning process which makes  students become competent learner who fully understand the academic knowledge and restructure knowledge systems from his own perspective of view. Actually, this explanation reflects the essence of deep approach to learning. A deep approach to learning is defined as a complicated process of individual development which generates the fundamental change of learning habits and perspectives (Rawson, 2000). It is also required students to set up meaningful tasks objectives for engagement, put efforts on understanding deep context meanings and main principles, and utilize academic knowledge  into actual practice. Some researchers argue that the deep approach to learning is a kind of innovations in university course, but however it has none business with first year students (Masters & Donnison, 2010). The reason is that first year students have limited experiences in campus living and the priority thing for them is get quick familiar with the new surroundings. And what is more, they think it is difficult for first year students to go beyond basic understanding of the learning courses as most of them just start live and study independently (Entwistle & Peterson, 2004). Students in first year fail to present the all characteristics related to deep learning such as dedication in specific tasks continuously and persistently (Entwistle & Peterson, 2004). But the essay holds on the opinion that deep learning approach is not necessarily impracticable for first year students. The reason is because some first year students have used the deep approach to learning when they are studying in high school. Good learning habits or method is not directly limited by students existing experience and incapacity to merge various kinds of  basic knowledge (Donnison & Penn-Edwards,2012). Besides the above argument, for first year students, it is important to use strategic approach and put efforts into organized study since study is a process with a specific learning intention to fulfill all kind of assessment (Burton, Taylor, Dowling, & Lawrence, 2009). The said organized study contains effective time management and learning behaviors management which mean students need to learn to monitor the effectiveness of their study outcomes. From this point of view, therefore, a deep learning is preferable. At the first year stage, it is suggested that there is a need for students to change students learning habits from surface approaches to deep learning since one of the ultimate objectives of undergraduate education is to establish and develop students’ correct lifelong learning habits and thinking skills, which can benefit their whole life (Burton, Taylor, Dowling, & Lawrence, 2009). The learning approaches are much more important and meaningful than academic grades. Many educators argue that the first year in university should be assigned to build up a mature  methodology which could consistently help students take advanced learning, and assist them to change learning behaviors to become adaptive with higher education (Entwistle & Peterson, 2004). Additionally, deep approach to learning can make many students achieve good academic assessment from a long run. Students engage in learning just because of academic assessment demands, therefore using the appropriate assessment would seem much meaningful. Nowadays, university begins to take the comprehensive assessment system to evaluate students’ achievement rather than just use course scores before. Such changes of assessment practice will also push students to move from initial surface learner to deep learner. Students are encouraged to focus on soft aspects instead of hard scores. It is argued that it is necessary for first year students to make their learning processes transparent. And what is more, it is important to come into being the understanding (Burton, Taylor, Dowling, & Lawrence, 2009). In conclusion, some researchers have different arguments or indication for first year students to use a surface approach or a deep approach to learning. Researchers argue that some surface approaches of learning is important for first year students because the skills of memorization can be used to deepen and develop understanding which students can accept and come into being an learning approach (Entwistle & Peterson, 2004). They think the deep learning is impracticable and unexpected to first year students. While other opinions think the deep approaches of learning is much more important than surface one because learning attitude and methodology can build up solid base for student lifelong study. There is a place in higher education for a deep  approach to learning. The academic scores should not be put into first place for first year students (Burton, Taylor, Dowling, & Lawrence, 2009). Certainly, a complete education is aimed to keep balance between knowledge memorization and utilization. The essay proposes that deep approach of learning rather than surface learning should be regarded as an important and necessary method in university study, particularly first year study. Therefore, how to transit from surface approach to deep approach in order to go through the courses smoothly and achieve study objectives is the most critical topic  for most of first year students. References list: Burton, L. , Taylor, J. , Dowling, D. , & Lawrence, J. (2009). Learning approaches, personality and concepts of knowledge of first-year students: Mature-age versus school leavers. Studies in Learning, Evaluation, Innovation and Development, 6(1), 65-81. Donnison, S. & Penn-Edwards, S. (2012). Focusing on first year assessment: Surface or deep approaches to learning? The International Journal of the First Year in Higher Education, 3(2),9-20 Entwistle, N. , & Peterson, E. (2004). Conceptions of learning and knowledge in  higher education: Relationships with study behaviour and influences of learning environments. International Journal of Educational Research, 41, 407-428. Masters, J. , & Donnison, S. (2010). First year transition in teacher education: The pod experience. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 35(2), 87-98. Penn-Edwards, S. , & Donnison, S. (2011). Engaging with higher education academic support: A first year student teacher transition model. European Journal of Education, 46(4), 566-580. Rawson, M. (2000). Learning to learn: More than a skill set. Studies in Higher Education, 25(2), 225-238.

Evaluate the Causes of World War I Essay Example

Evaluate the Causes of World War I Essay Example Evaluate the Causes of World War I Essay Evaluate the Causes of World War I Essay World war one is one of the most of import events in universe history. It took topographic point in Europe in 1914-1918. The whole universe participated this war. So everyone had some duty. There are more than one grounds for the eruption of this war. Chiefly. it was the enlargement signifier of patriotism A ; the confederations system. Other issues played a major portion excessively. such as imperialism. the industrial revolution. naval race and domestic factors. One of the chief long term causes as I said before is Nationalism. Patriotism is the loyal feeling when people believe passionately for their states. The utmost feeling of patriotism is called ethnocentrism and it leads to fascism. Nationalism besides. promoted the war because patriots wanted to restore their nation’s power. Th e bulk of people before and during the universe war one. wanted to hold a larger district. Flags are created to stand for a state. The three states that formed the Triple Alliance was formed by different cultural groups. Above all. Austria’s – Hungary’s cultural groups wanted their independency. These groups were. Slovaks. Serbs A ; Czechs. They wanted to govern themselves and hold their ain province. Particularly. many Serbs in different districts wanted to fall in the adjacent province of Serbia. Italy was besides formed from a aggregation of smaller provinces. taking at holding its authorities established. The trigger cause of universe war one was the blackwash of Archduke Franz Ferdinard A ; his married woman besides by a Serbian patriot. This happened in June 1914 while they were in Sarajevo. Bosnia which was a portion of Austria – Hungary. This blackwash was in protest to Austria – Hungary holding control of the part. This was the utmost signifier of patriotism as I said supra. that killed the prince of Austria and universe war one began. Another cause which cause the war is imperialism. In other words. the competition among powerful states to widen their power. All the states were looking for ways to suppress oversea settlements. There was a competitory feeling about it. They besides needed more resources. Naval bases for Germany A ; Britain were besides of paramount of import. For illustration. France A ; Russia prepared to confront any German invasion. Germany took from France an of import industrial country of Alsace – Lorraine. In 1890 Germany has a New Kaiser who was really active. Germany seized control of Chinese ports A ; wanted more oversea settlements as Britain A ; France had. Italy besides wanted more oversea settlements and that’s a ground it joined the Triple Alliance. Furthermore. there is another cause. the confederations. Alliances existed to back up friends and endanger enemies. The promoted their ain civilization. Alliance’s motions are like packs. They used force and engineering arms. Alliances active function before the war was to understand the advancement of the war A ; country’s motions. So earlier universe war one Russia defended Serbia. Serbia’s districts were controlled by the province of Austria – Hungary. Serbia started the war against Austria – Hungary and Russia got involved. France A ; Russia had a close friendly relationship. A response to acquire back its land Germany attacked France through Belgium. In 1884 the Ternary Alliance we formed with Germany. Italy and Austria – Hungary to back up each other militarily in instance of an onslaught. The Triple Entente that formed in 1904 with Britain. France and Russia. The last cause of the war was the industrial revolution. in other words militarism. Militarism is associated with engineering arms. Such as autos. bombs. machine guns. pigboats. slugs. dynamites etc. Industrial development was really of import in order to be powerful. In this new war ground forcess used autos and non Equus caballuss. Another point is the wireless. was used for propaganda. Everything was traveling really fast. Military includes pigboats. aeroplanes and machine guns. France A ; Russia worried a batch for Germany’s development. Loans from France helped Russia to develop industries. Germany’s navy program named Navy Code was increasing their naval forces. This program worked as a threaten to Britain. Germany’s development of their naval forces was evident. It become one of the world’s most powerful naval forcess in 1980 with Britain foremost. In 1914 German industries was 2nd in the universe merely to that of the USA. Serbia was besides going a powerful force in Balkans. France besides built up their industries A ; ground forces. Russia was the largest of all six powers nevertheless it was the most backward and least developed. As a consequence of this war there was desolation across Europe. Eight 1000000s of people died A ; twenty – nine 1000000s injured. The usage of the word devastation includes issues we are non able to see. It’s non merely the devastation of edifices. the deficiency of instruction and the economic diminution. It’s besides the deficiency of thoughts. household issues. the psychological science of the crowd. propaganda and much more. Even after the universe war one for decennaries the leaders altering political relations. alterations A ; public sentiments. In my sentiment continuing the peace was neither Ternary Alliance’s or Triple entente’s precedence. What if the states did non demo off or vie for power? I believe that patriotism was the most of import cause for doing the war. Consequently all the states were responding in highly chauvinistic ways and unreasonably. I besides think universe war one was a consequence of leader’s hostility towards other states which was sustained by the increasing patriotism of European states. The blackwash of Archduke worked as the immediate cause that triggered a Domino consequence of reactions among all these states. If this wouldn’t go on. they would hold happen another cause to get down the war. I suppose everything’s happened because of the selfishness leader’s had. They didn’t inspire the crowd A ; this prove that there was the failure of diplomatic negotiations.

Crashing on Cocaine Essays

Crashing on Cocaine Essays Crashing on Cocaine Essay Crashing on Cocaine Essay Throughout Yous many days and nights of using cocaine, he avoids coming to his senses of telling and accepting the truth. Instead, You fills gaps and mishaps in his life with lies. The lies begin with his resume, on which he claimed to know French. In all actuality, You does not know any French but is too proud to admit he was lying. Thus, Yous lying resulted in the French article being a disaster. Also, another lie You devices is the fake Vogue invitation to see Amanda. You claims to be Mister Allagash, and started working for Vogue last week (McInerney 119). Yous continuous creation of lies, eventually unravels, causing him further failures with work and his personal life. As the failures multiply, so does Yous cocaine addiction to get him through everyday life. Not only did You lie about his resume and an invitation but also about his life with Amanda. The only person who knows the truth, that Amanda was never coming back from Paris to be with You, is Tad. Tad sent his condolences but expressed to You how he could use this to his advantage in getting women: He advised you to say that Amanda died in a plane crash on her way home from Paris. . . (McInerney 44). According to Tad, playing the sympathy game is always more effective in getting with the ladies. However, You never uses the sympathy scheme that Tad advises when they are out partying. Instead, You avoids the question and tells everyone that he is not sure where Amanda is, again creating another lie. Creating lies about where Amanda is and how she is doing, comes easy to You when he is under the influence of cocaine or prior use of cocaine. Also, when people at work ask about Amanda and You, he lies and tells everyone that everything is going well. When in all actuality Amanda wants nothing to do with You and is not returning home. As for You, he does not have a clue where or how Amanda is doing with her career. Also, when You first sees and speaks with his brother, Michael, he tells his brother that Amanda is out shopping. Although, that is not the truth, and it is not until after You and his brother have a fist fight that You breaks down and tells Michael the truth. The truth is that Amanda left him and is not coming home from France. Overall, when You is out on the town with Tad and various women, he avoids telling the truth and eventually uses cocaine to get him through many evenings. Also, You avoids telling the truth by telling many lies about his personal life. Thus, when the truth comes out about how he does not know any French, his false invitation, and his life with Amanda, You resorts to cocaine to get him through the day or evening and for a sense of security that everything will turn out for the better. Throughout Yous life he finds comfort in cocaine, much like other cocaine addicts are comforted throughout their lives with the use of cocaine. Cocaine users often confide in cocaine usage to motivate themselves in overwhelming and difficult issues in life. The difficult issues often deal with family, friends, and an individuals personal life or their work atmosphere. For You, cocaine affects his actions and responses to the problems that originally stem from the acceptance he finds in cocaine. You eventually is unable to perform his job accurately due to numerous days without sleep and the lack of sleep turns into his forgetfulness. Which all result in the loss of his job. Due to the added stress cocaine users endure and affects of cocaine, over a short period of time addicts, especially You, suffer from anxiety and paranoia. Most of the time Yous anxiety and paranoia is due to the fact he is high on cocaine and wonders what is happening or has happened in his nights of partying. In order to avoid and having to deal with reality cocaine addicts tend to avoid the truth by lying and escaping into a fantasy world. Intertwined in Yous vast problems is the fact that he avoids telling the truth and fulfills his mishaps with lies, common characteristic of most cocaine addicts. You, resorts to cocaine to comfort him from the truth. Overall, cocaine is a motivator, a stimulant, and a way of life for all addicts including You. Anderson, Kurt. Crashing on Cocaine. Time 11 Apr. 1983:23-29. Bozza, Kerry L. Cocaine Can Kill. Current Health 1 Jan. 2002:14. McInerney, Jay. Bright Lights, Big City. New York: Random House, 1984. Peele, Stanton. Visions of Addiction. Lexington: Lexington Books, 1988. Woods, Geraldine and Harold. Cocaine. New York: Time Inc., 1985.

Personality Types of Students in a Typical Classroom

Personality Types of Students in a Typical Classroom Middle school kids are at different places academically, emotionally, and socially, and teachers need to work with all of them. Personalities also come heavily into play, as they do with adults. Youll want to be prepared for a wide range of personalities before entering any schoolroom of students at this age. Bully Bullies typically pick on students who either cannot or will not defend themselves. Bullies themselves are often exceedingly insecure people who prey on weaker individuals. There are physical, verbal, and cyber bullies. Most students will not stand up for others who are being bullied for fear of repercussions, and schools and parents need to be diligent in spotting this behavior and working to prevent it in and out of the classroom. Busy Body These students might be full of energy and lack focus to concentrate on the task at hand. From constantly bouncing in their seats or talking all the time to moving around the classroom at inopportune times, their activity can overwhelm the classroom. Find ways to keep their attention and keep them from distracting others. Sometimes students who are busybodies are dealing with learning challenges like ADD or ADHD and may need assessments to determine if there are underlying causes for their behavior. Class Clown Every classroom has students who believe their job is to keep the remainder of the class entertained. These students love the attention and make getting laughs their primary goal. This action often gets these students into trouble, as their behavior can detract from the learning that needs to happen. As such, they are often referred to the office for disciplinary action. Clueless These students often dont seem to get it. They may not understand social cues or sarcasm or are oblivious to what is happening around them. They can sometimes be easy targets for bullies, especially verbal bullying. They might be referred to as dumb or â€Å"airheads.† They are typically laid back and easygoing. Motivated Motivated students are often extremely hard workers with specific goals they are trying to achieve. They may or may not be naturally smart, but they can typically overcome any learning issue through hard work. Teachers love to have motivated students because they are eager to learn, asks questions, and do anything to reach their goals. Motivated students can sometimes be the target of the bullies, who may tease them about being teachers pet. Natural Leader Everyone looks up to natural leaders. They are typically tremendously enthusiastic, well-liked, and well-rounded individuals. They often do not even realize that other people look up to them. Natural leaders often lead by example and have the unique ability to get people to listen to them when they do speak. Nerd Typically, nerds have above-average intelligence. They are often seen as different or quirky and are physically immature for their age. They often have unique interests compared to their peers and can be extremely fixated on those interests. This can make them targets for bullies. Organized These students are almost always prepared for class. They seldom forget to complete homework and bring what they need to class. Their locker or desk is exceptionally neat and orderly. They are always on time and ready to learn when class begins. They do not forget deadlines, are adept at staying on task, and are good at managing their time. Pot Stirrer A pot stirrer loves to create drama without being in the center of the situation. They look for little pieces of information that they can use to turn one student against another. These students are master manipulators, even changing stories to ensure drama. They understand what buttons to push, for both other students and the teacher, and they are excellent at doing just that. Quiet as a Mouse These students are often shy or withdrawn, or they might be introverts. They only have a few friends, and those friends are also typically quiet. They are never in trouble, but they rarely participate in classroom discussions. They avoid conflict and stay clear of all drama. It can be tough for a teacher to gauge how much these students are learning, but its important to find a way to connect. These students can be incredibly bright and highly motivated to learn, but prefer not to be involved in drama. Respectful These students rarely have anything unpleasant to say and can be model students. They are often on task and are typically well-liked by their peers. Respectful students usually abide by the rules, rarely cause disruptions in the classroom, and are active participants in class  discussions. They are typically hard workers and leaders, and involved in activities and sports. In general, they are motivated to do more than the bare minimum and are quick to look for new opportunities for involvement and to and try new things. Smart Aleck These students are extremely sarcastic, argumentative, and confrontational. They question or comment on everything that anyone, including the teacher, says. They are often sharp-witted and can respond quickly to any situation. These students have a unique ability to get under a teacher’s skin and enjoy doing just that. Socialite Socialites would talk to a wall if they thought it would talk back. They always have something to say and find it difficult to go even a few minutes without talking. They love classroom discussions and are the first to raise their hands when the teacher asks a question. There is no limit to the topic. They are experts at everything and love to hear their own voice. Unmotivated Unmotivated students are often labeled as lazy, even though that might not be the case. They seem to lack the internal drive to succeed academically, or they are just there because they have to be. In some cases, they do not have the necessary parental support at home to be successful or have a learning difference that hasnt allowed them to work to their fullest potential. They often frustrate teachers because many have tremendous ability, but appear to refuse to put in the time needed to complete or turn in assignments. Sometimes these students need extra assistance or testing to rule out learning differences. Unorganized These students can frustrate a teacher. They continuously forget to take homework or important notes home. Their locker or desk is chaotic. They often turn in crumpled papers due to being crammed into a locker, backpack, or book. They are often late to class/school and are terrible at managing their time. They may still be actively engaged and do well in school, or they may struggle with their academics.

Gulf War History Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Gulf War History - Research Paper Example The main cause of the schism between several countries was the Shiite Sunni split which often led to conflicts and warfare in some cases. Since coming to power, Saddam Hussein, the then president of Iraq, represented the rejectionist Arab states and was considered as one of the most quarrelsome leaders of the gulf countries. He was also considered an arch enemy of Israel. Its hatred against Israel can be summarized by the rhetoric he used very often against the nation, one time saying that he will let fire eat half of Israel if it did anything against Iraq (Bard, 2011). For years, Iraq had considered Kuwait to be a part of its territory and continued to influence the internal politics and working of the state through several means. Furthermore, Iraq was becoming economically weak so it sought to identify alternatives to help strengthen its economic situation. This paper shall analyze how Kuwait was an option in allowing Iraq to recover from its situation. Iraq was considered to be th e belligerent state in this dispute and UN authorized a full fledged coalition attack that aimed to topple Iraq’s incursion into Kuwait and restore the situation as it was before the conflict. Reasons for conflict:- The quarrelsome nature of the Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein made the state prone to violence and unneeded interventions to further individual causes. Furthermore, the war with Iran that ended in 1988 had an enormous economic impact on Iraq and left it on the verge of bankruptcy (HistoryGuy, 2011). Kuwait as natural part of Iraq:- Iraq considered Kuwait its de-facto part for a long period of time despite the latter’s independence on the country. This claim led to numerous confrontations throughout several years and hampered any diplomatic ties between the two countries for years to come. In 1961, Iraq’s president Qasim threatened Kuwait of invoking old ottman claims that were a part of the system during British imperialism. The Iraqri government als o sought to play the role of savior by saying that the Kuwaiti Emir was a highly hated figure within the Kuwait population and that people sought his ouster. Iraq claimed that it would liberate the Kuwaiti country off his tyranny with its intervention (Lowry, 2008). In 1973, Iraq continued to persist with its stance and occupied as-Samitah, a border post on Kuwait-Iraq border. The real dispute, however, began when Iraq demanded to occupy Bubiyan and Warbah (Kuwaiti Islands). This claim got the Arab nations into action and the Arab league called its summit to discuss this quickly boiling situation. A consensus was reached on the point that Iraq will be demanded to withdraw its claims on the said regions (HistoryGuy, 2011). Situation between the two countries was relatively calm during the Iraq-Iran war and Kuwait supported Iraq during this battle. Dispute over Oil:- There was a constant lack of consensus over borders between the two oil rich states and conflicts over ownership of oil reserves was inevitable. The situation started to deteriorate when rich deposits of oil were found at the undefined border between the two states and when Iraq constantly claimed that the Kuwaiti drills were violating Iraq’s territorial integrity by moving across borders to excavate oil. This conflict was triggered by the nature of middle eastern borders, which are not very clearly distinguishable due to desserts and sand (HistoryGuy,

The importance of the theologian Tertullian Essay

The importance of the theologian Tertullian - Essay Example Tertullian considered that Heretics were altering the religious teachings and scriptures to fulfill their personal desires, which is leading people towards corruption and confusion about religion and its core believes. He has mentioned it in his treatise of De Praescriptione Haereticorum, in which he defends the Rule of Faith. He argues that religion is not a source to attain material goals and comfort, but a path towards finding oneself and the reason of their existence. Hence, it cannot be guided by an individual who is seeking religion in terms of materialism (Barnes). The prevailing concept of the church being a place only assigned, or prayers was also modified by Tertullian, and describes in his Apology that it is not just a place of worship but attaining wisdom and social integration. In his later works gathered in De Carne Christi, he enlightened the concept of ‘substance’ and ‘person’, explaining how a being can be material and spiritual at the same time. Explaining this notion he addresses the authorities of God, Spirit of God and the Son of God. He exemplifies that as one person can have right over different substances, similarly Jesus Christ has the right over both humanity and divinity, and both exist in equality (Roberts). This paper will deal with Tertullian ideology of Penitential discipline, the church doctrine and his contributions for ethical and moral correction of the people. The paper also aims to provide authentic information about his contribution in forming the Latin vocabulary developing the terminologies of Trinitarian theology and Christology. 1. Trinitarian Theology Trinity defines the core concept of substance and person, illuminating that that there are three divine persons, not one, and one substance not three. The three persons are The God, The Spirit of God and Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God. All the three exist in eternity and entirety and are distinct to other, yet possess the same substance. The refore, all can be considered as God or divine in autonomy (Morrison). Tertullian explains this concept as discussed by Osborn (1997). that the kingdom of God is not suppressed but supported by the son of God. He describes that God’s monarchy is balanced by the Son of God and not in any ways threatened or distributed (Osborn). He explains that there is an economy of divinity, which is possible to maintain only if the divinity is practiced in both natural and supernatural forms. God is one who has created the entire universe and all creations; the Son of God is the protector and presenter of God, while the Spirit of God is the procedure of creation and protecting. Therefore, Tertullian states that, for the existence of God’s monarchy, the co-existence of the Son of God and the Spirit of god is equally important, and they are not dependent but related to each other (Morrison). In explaining the theology of Trinity, Tertullian in his doctrines, also throws light to the On eness and Corporeity of God. He rejects the concept of Marcion of dual God that is one of the Old Testament and one of the New Testament. In his argument to this, he lays the foundation of God as the supreme Authority. If He has someone equal

Strategic Management of International Enterprises Essay

Strategic Management of International Enterprises - Essay Example (Savitsky & Burky, 2004). Globalization continues to grow in its effort for a coherent global economy previously separated by culture, geography, or nationality. Global competition, entry strategies, strategic timing and positioning, the government rules and policies, the local culture, investments, and the target market are some of the issues that confront companies wanting to expand overseas. Due to globalization, situation has altered to keep pace with the changes. Nevertheless, challenges remain and this report presents how Motorola faced the challenges like ethical and corporate social responsibility, cultural diversity, and marketing strategies. Motorola is a global leader in wireless, automotive and broadband communications. Motorola possesses world class technologies in global procurement rules and channel which it applied globally. It has an excellent marketing strategy. Motorola has established themselves as quality leaders and were early winners of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in the USA. Motorola is admired as the role model for corporate excellence. According to the Fortune Magazine, Motorola is the titan of TQM, the epitome of empowerment, tribune of training, icon of innovation and prince of profits (Winston, 1996). Reconciling with the local government is an important factor for any MNC to enter a market. Motorola identified telecommunications as an important field which the government of any country is concerned about. Accordingly, they put the highest priority in reconciliation with the local government. It responded to China’s reform and liberalization policies and formulated strategies to target China’s domestic market. Before entering the market it determined certain investment fields and investment amounts with a clear vision from the beginning of the position it wanted to attain in China. Its clear-cut investment policy and insiderization efforts contributed to its success in China (Hara & Nakanishi, 2004). It

California since 1970 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

California since 1970 - Essay Example This essay "California since 1970" outlines how this state changed based on main issues: population, school system, and political geography. California has been populated since 1970 when it had a population of 19,953,134. Currently the population of California is 38,292,687. The US Bureau officially estimated the population to be 36, 756,666 as in 2008. In 2000, its population was numbered 33, 871, 648. The state’s population has grown dramatically since 1970 ("California Population."). Based on the US Census Bureau, the population of California is made of white non-Hispanic (42.7%), Hispanic (36.2%), Blacks (6.7%) and Asian (12.4%). The growth rate has slowed recently; from 2000-2004, the state lost 99,000 people to other states than it gained from other states in the United States. The presumption of system of governance, local control based on domestic electoral accountability- the system that was in place for the last 150 years has been taken over by the state control syst em. The decisions that were used to be local discretion matters-among them the student assessment, student graduation and promotion, and resource allocation are now matters of the government policy. Districts are now subjected to federal regulations and voluminous state and reporting requirements ( â€Å"Report of the Joint Interim Committee on the Public Education System†). The state tells the facilitators how to teach readings and how to carry themselves in the company of teachers. Since the enactment of PSAA, the state took over the failing schools and fire principals and teachers. Due to the changes in governance since 1970, there are crucial areas of learning and teaching that were not subjected to the legislative mandate. Currently, the constitution of the state assigns education’s responsibility to the state while the legislature has delegated that responsibility to local schools. The school districts were given the authority to collect taxes, make contracts, an d implement state law as it applied to school’s operation. The education’s accountability was synonymous with domestic political accountability. The members of the school board answered to the electorates. Over the years, state centralization made a difference in some crucial ways. Among them are transparency, efficiency, rationality and adequacy of finance system. Since 1970, the combination of voter initiatives, court rulings and legislative enactment has altered the school system in the state of California finance (Watts, Malcolm and Clark Jones, 67). Compared to 1970s, California now look decidedly blue. Both the California congressional representatives and senators are Democrats. During the last election, the Californians voted solidly Democratic. The growth in the democratic support since 197- has not been uniform in the entire state. The North used to vote for Democratic while the south used to vote for republican. This has been replaced by west-east, or the coa stal inland division. In the early 1970’s, the most Democratic region was the Bay Area in the presidential elections, and the southern and central areas were solidly Republican ( "California's Political Geography."). Over the years the presidential elections has been a measure of political standings among the Californians this

Heavy Metal and Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Heavy Metal and Society - Essay Example However, to "metalheads" themselves this perception seems absolutely inadequate, because heavy metal is both a message to society and a suggestion of a different type of order. If we try to look at heavy metal as an artistic movement we will see that it is communicating something with its loud, socially-unacceptable, hedonistic and barbarian sound. It does not aim for consonance, it has always had the most distorted and aggressive vocalists and its instrumentation has always been basic. Heavy metal has embraced everything that we normally don't think about socially: death, ugliness, terror, disease, warfare, sodomy. The type of heavy music, which is generalized as "heavy metal", is much larger than this only genre - it has a long history of four decades of progress and contains many different genres (Walser 15). Heavy Metal. Progressive rock from the late 1960s started the genre of heavy metal. It emerged from the proto-metal of bands like "King Crimson", "Black Sabbath", "Led Zeppelin", "Deep Purple" (often called hard rock bands). The musicians of "Black Sabbath' used power chord riffing and dark modalities to express the paranoid nihilism. The band became a proto-metal band with morbid, yet, as fans say, poetic songs. Soon this kind of music solidified into a 1970s style of heavy metal most notably represented by "Iron Maiden", 'Judas Priest" and "Motorhead". Unlike the harmony-based, short-cycle riffs of rock, metal almost exclusively used moveable power chords, which can be played in any position along the neck of the guitar in quick sequence. So, riffs are written as phrases (like classical, or jazz) more than rhythmic variations built around open chords. This both simplified the music to the point where it was highly accessible, and gave it a dark sound which lent itself, as in class ical composition, toward a narrative song structure in which riffs form motifs that resolve themselves over the course of a song. It had a gnarled, feral sound against a background of then everyday music. Speed Metal. In the early days of the cold war, speed metal arose to reflect the apocalyptic consciousness gripping heavy metal after fusion with antisocial and anarchistic hardcore punk. Bands influenced by the progressive styles of the 1970s and the abrupt, droning, explosive style of hardcore began making a fast type of metal which used palm muting as a strumming technique to produce bursts of alternating rhythmic emphasis. Classic speed metal bands are "Metallica", "Megadeth", "Slayer", "Anthrax" (these four are also sometimes called "Big Four of Thrash"), "Testament", and "Prong". Topics like war, pollution, nuclear weapons and corporate domination were sung of in either a male bass vocal or shouted in a riot style chorusing. While this music was highly complex and often inventive in structure, it remained roughly under the influence of rock-based mainstream music and passed its technique on to the underground death metal, thrash and grindcore to follow. Thrash. When hardcore and metal collided thrash emerged as a fusion of punk song stylings with metal riff styles and topics. These were one- and two-riff creations on the subject of apocalyptic and political nature. Vocals were shouted in a high-speed manner, the speed and abrupt percussive guitar techniques of the genre laid the foundation of death metal playing. Thrash remained

California since 1970 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

California since 1970 - Essay Example This essay "California since 1970" outlines how this state changed based on main issues: population, school system, and political geography. California has been populated since 1970 when it had a population of 19,953,134. Currently the population of California is 38,292,687. The US Bureau officially estimated the population to be 36, 756,666 as in 2008. In 2000, its population was numbered 33, 871, 648. The state’s population has grown dramatically since 1970 ("California Population."). Based on the US Census Bureau, the population of California is made of white non-Hispanic (42.7%), Hispanic (36.2%), Blacks (6.7%) and Asian (12.4%). The growth rate has slowed recently; from 2000-2004, the state lost 99,000 people to other states than it gained from other states in the United States. The presumption of system of governance, local control based on domestic electoral accountability- the system that was in place for the last 150 years has been taken over by the state control syst em. The decisions that were used to be local discretion matters-among them the student assessment, student graduation and promotion, and resource allocation are now matters of the government policy. Districts are now subjected to federal regulations and voluminous state and reporting requirements ( â€Å"Report of the Joint Interim Committee on the Public Education System†). The state tells the facilitators how to teach readings and how to carry themselves in the company of teachers. Since the enactment of PSAA, the state took over the failing schools and fire principals and teachers. Due to the changes in governance since 1970, there are crucial areas of learning and teaching that were not subjected to the legislative mandate. Currently, the constitution of the state assigns education’s responsibility to the state while the legislature has delegated that responsibility to local schools. The school districts were given the authority to collect taxes, make contracts, an d implement state law as it applied to school’s operation. The education’s accountability was synonymous with domestic political accountability. The members of the school board answered to the electorates. Over the years, state centralization made a difference in some crucial ways. Among them are transparency, efficiency, rationality and adequacy of finance system. Since 1970, the combination of voter initiatives, court rulings and legislative enactment has altered the school system in the state of California finance (Watts, Malcolm and Clark Jones, 67). Compared to 1970s, California now look decidedly blue. Both the California congressional representatives and senators are Democrats. During the last election, the Californians voted solidly Democratic. The growth in the democratic support since 197- has not been uniform in the entire state. The North used to vote for Democratic while the south used to vote for republican. This has been replaced by west-east, or the coa stal inland division. In the early 1970’s, the most Democratic region was the Bay Area in the presidential elections, and the southern and central areas were solidly Republican ( "California's Political Geography."). Over the years the presidential elections has been a measure of political standings among the Californians this

Physiological Tests Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Physiological Tests - Essay Example There are various factors that can easily control the accuracy of the results. E.g. An Individual's Motivational level and pacing ability can have a profound impact on the results. An average teenager female would have the score (difference of max height jumped and standing height reached) ranging between 31-40cm. A score of 51-60cm is regarded as a good score and anything above 60cm is categorized as Excellent. In order to improve the leg power, the subject should focus on exercises like Squats, Dead lifts, cycling and Swimming. 2.. A treadmill test is a continuous running for 9-15 minutes wherein Multistage Field Test (MFT) the subject runs at the sound of recorded beep. Traditionally MFT is done in open rather than indoor, so environment also has some affect. 3.In MFT the beep is on a recorded tape. As the audio-tapes may stretch over time, the tapes need to be calibrated which involves timing a one-minute interval and making adjustment to the distance between markers. The recording is also available on compact disc, which does not require such a stringent calibration, but should also be checked occasionally. 1. It enables the athlete to recruit and trigger fast twitch of muscle fibers. It helps to produce greater amount of force in smaller amount of time. This is in accordance to Henman's principle. Bench Throw allows the subject to release an external load before the limbs enter a decelerative kinematics' phase. 2. Bench Throw done continuously for a while followed by a rest period and repeated until a deceleration occurs has been proven to elevate the heart rate to training zone level. DISADVANTAGES 1. Inappropriate choice of weights can make significant changes to the results. If the weight is too light the rate of acceleration will be too fast and if the weight is too heavy the bar will decelerate before the release point. 2. It is a little risky. While the rod is thrown up, safety measures should be

Corporation and Profit Retention Essay Example for Free

Corporation and Profit Retention Essay Sole Proprietorship: This is by far the most common form of business. It is the most common because it is the easiest to form. In order to create this type of business one simply has to â€Å"hang their shingle out† and let the commerce commence. However with such limited oversight also comes unlimited liability. Liability- Liability exposure with sole proprietorships is a huge draw back.. The owner and the business, legally, are one and the same. This leaves all the owners property ( and the business assets since they are one and the same) at risk. Income Tax- There are no real tax advantages at this level. It is known as a â€Å"pass through† entity. The income that is generated passes through the business to the owner. Taxes are paid at the individual level. Longevity- Unless the owners will provides specific direction in the contrary, the business is directly linked to the owners health. Since the owner and the business are legally indistinguishable from one another when the owner dies the business also dies. Control- Unlimited control is another attractive quality of Sole Proprietorships. Since legally there is no separation you may do with the company as you see fit. From what services are offered to what the logo looks like all decisions are the owners to make. Profit Retention- Since the owners efforts alone are responsible for the amount of profit generated, they keep it all. After the employees ( if any ) are paid what is left is the owner’s. Because they have total control, they may reinvest it in the company or they make take it all out. Location- Since there is no legal paperwork filed with any state agency, moving locations is as simple as driving to another state and setting up shop. That being said if you required state license in the original state, you would need the equivalent in the new location. Convenience/Burden- There are no legal documents that need to be filed with any state agency. Owner and company are indivisible so there is no paper work saying otherwise. At the most you may need to file a Doing Business As (D.B.A. ) with your local tax office to allow you to open a bank in the company’s name. General Partnership: This type of company is usually formed when two or more individuals with different skill sets get together. Each participant brings with them their own experience and skills in order to create a new venture. While the liabilities are not bore alone, the partners are not sheltered from them. Liability- While they are split in a predetermined percentage, the liabilities of a General partnership are unlimited. There is nothing that is off the table including your personal assets. Income Tax- There is no real tax shelter provided at this level. Income that is generated is â€Å"passed through† to the partners. They will pay taxes at the individual level. There are however, various tax forms that need to be filled out. Longevity- When a partner dies the partnership ceases to exist. The partners may not pass on the original partnership agreement to their heirs. There may be a buy/sell clause in the articles of partnership. Control- Complete control is given up to a vote of the general partners. If there is no consensus made, the articles of partnership should dictate how the disagreement is handled. Profit Retention- After the business debts are paid, the partners split the net profit. The articles of partnership will usually dictate the percentages, and if no mention is made it is assumed it is split evenly. Location- The fact that a partnership is not it’s own legal entity makes it relatively easy to move. If there is a market in a new location there is very little that prohibits moving. Convenience/Burden- While no state/federal documents are required, you will need an â€Å"Articles of Partnership† drawn up. This will act as the bylaws/charter for decisions and operations moving forward. There are a few tax forms that need to be completed by the partners at the appropriate time. Limited Partnership: This type of business is used more as an investment vehicle than a job or career. It allows an investment to be made and fostered from a distance. If you are the limited partner though, you may not have a hand in the day-to-day activities or management. Liability- As a limited partner your investment is your only liability. That being said your stake in the partnership is an asset that personal creditors may come after. Tax- As a limited partner your revenue from the company is federally taxed at the personal level. There are various situations to avoid taxation as a corporation. General partners must pay self employment tax. Longevity-A limited partnership is sometimes used as an estate planning tool. Therefore the continuity from generation to generation is very customizable. The limited partner may die and this will have very little impact on the business. Control- As a limited partner you have no say in the management or daily activities of the business. You may not bind the partnership to anything as a limited Partner. A general partner runs the daily operations and makes the management decisions. Profit Retention- If you are a limited partner you are entitled to the agreed upon amount of profit only after the general partner is paid. As a limited partner you have very little influence over the amount of profit generated. Location- Limited partnerships can change locations but it is inconvenient and could be considerably more expensive. Some states mandate the filing of tax forms for limited partnerships, not to mention some states have state income taxes. Convenience/ Burden- Articles of Partnership are needed. There are some states witch require registering limited partnerships, and strict attention should be paid to the activities witch the IRS considers â€Å"corporate.† C Corporations: C Corporations are a legal entity unto themselves. They shield the share holders, board members, and employees from liabilities. They have the ability to raise capital by selling portions of the company, and huge tax loopholes to shelter revenue. With all the loopholes however are huge tax burdens, often over 30% of the net. Liability- A corporation is a legal â€Å"being†. It can be sued, or bring legal action against someone. Therefore it provides a large umbrella for its owners and employee’s alike. When malfeasance occurs it will absorb the effects. Income Tax- Being it’s own legal entity is not cheap. The state that the business is located in could very well impose taxes, as well as the federal corporate tax rate witch is the highest in the world. Couple this with the fact that the employees that work there are then taxed again at the individual level, and you see how quickly things add up. Longevity- Corporations have the potential to last forever. Due to the fact that authority is so decentralized, one person getting ill or leaving the company is no more than a bump in the road. You could pass on your shares or stake in a company through proper estate planning. Control- If you were to incorporate your business it could be set up so that your family always had a seat on the board or always had voting rights at a shareholders meetings. However, especially in a public company, you must act in the best interest of the shareholders. No one person runs a corporation alone, there are shareholders, and usually board members. Authority being so decentralized makes complete autonomy very rare. Profit Retention- As there are many owners there are also many hands in the pot. The fact is that each shareholder is entitled to a portion of the company’s profit in direct relation to how much of the company they own. In closely held corporations this could be 3-4 individuals, but in a multi-national company this could be millions of people. Location- The federal government does not create any corporations. This is done at the state level. For a corporation to go from one state to another they would have to file as a foreign corporation. This can get expensive and legally â€Å"sticky† when deal with different state laws and agencies. Convenience/Burden- To incorporate a business is relatively easy. The challenge and burden comes in keeping it running and staying on the proper side of legal. It must file it’s own tax returns, contend with state and local laws, maintain the strictest accounting practices, conduct annual shareholders meetings, all while turning a profit for its shareholders. No small task. S Corporations- S Corporations are a legal entity. They offer a legal umbrella to their employees and owners as well. They have the ability to raise capital by selling off small pieces of themselves as stock. The S corporation has to follow the same strict accounting and reporting procedures as corporations, however their income is not taxed the same. Liability- An S corporation is a legal â€Å"being†. Therefore it provides a large umbrella of protection for its owners and employee’s alike. When malfeasance occurs it will absorb the effects. Income Tax- An S corporation is a specialized tax situation. It has most of the reporting and recording requirements of a C corp. but allows for the â€Å"pass through† of revenue to the individuals. The company The S corp. designation is however for federal purpose’s only, the state the company is in will certainly have it’s own laws. Longevity- S Corporations have the potential to last forever. Due to the fact that authority is so decentralized, one person getting ill or leaving the company is no more than a bump in the road. You could pass on your shares or stake in a company through proper estate planning. You could also have a seat on the board reserved for your family/heirs. Control- The fact is when a S Corporation is formed the corporation has to do what is best for itself. A lot like an autonomous person, it must continue to look out for its own survival. Normally one person does not dictate the course of a Corporation, there are several in charge of this. Profit Retention- Since there is no one individual at the pinnacle the profits are distributed through out. If there is a board of directors, share holders, stock owners, all of these individuals are entitled to a portion of the profits. Location- The federal government does not create any corporations. This is done at the state level. For a corporation to go from one state to another they would have to file as a foreign corporation. This can get expensive and legally â€Å"sticky† when deal with different state laws and agencies. Couple this with the fact that states deal with S corporations wildly different, from treating them like the federal government to not recognizing them at all. Convenience/Burden- To incorporate a business is relatively easy, although the fee’s can add up. S corporations must avoid several pitfalls so as they are not taxed like C corp.’s. This and the fact that the accounting is so stringent, they may not have over 100 share holders that meet once a year, and the laws so wildly differ from state to state make the burden factor high indeed. Limited Liability Company- With the protection of a corporation and the flexibility of a Sole Proprietorship, the LLC has become extremely popular since it’s recent creation. However they are not a vehicle for taking a company public, capital can be difficult to raise because the members will have to guarantee the loans, and the members must take care not to intermingle funds. Liability- The LLC, like a corporation, is it’s own legal â€Å"being†. It provides an umbrella for it’s members to operate under and not fear liability claims against themselves personally. Income Tax- LLC’s are in the unique position of deciding how they want to be taxed on a yearly basis. Most of the time LLC’s can function like other forms of small business. The income will pass through to the members who will then pay at the individual level. It does however have the option of paying at the corporate level so as to lower the tax bracket. (This is because the highest individual tax rate is higher than the corporate tax rate.) Longevity- If a member of an LLC dies or retires action will be determined by the operating agreement. This could include a buy/sell clause for the heirs, a transfer of ownership, or whatever state law dictates. In most cases Control- The fact that an LLC could be run by just one person means that he /she could have just as much control as a sole proprietor. The catch is with the finance’s. The finance’s must be maintained â€Å" at arms length† to maintain the corporate veil of protection. So long as this is done, the majority member/owner of the LLC has complete control. Profit Retention- The profits generated by the business flow to the members. The amount is in direct correlation with the amount of ownership each member holds. Location- All 50 states allow LLC’s now but the law varies wildly. Some states still want an ad run in the paper when a business is formed and others require a single 1 page form. To move from state to state can be done but the local laws might be prohibitive. Convenience/Burden- The LLC doesn’t require anywhere near the amount of accounting as a corporation. The articles of organization needs to be filed to create it and then the operating agreement dictates how it’s run.

Background market and strategies of the nissin group business essay

Background market and strategies of the nissin group business essay Through the evaluation of the background, market situation and business strategies of Nissin Group, this paper provides the explanation on why Nissin instant noodles have achieved a fast development performance in the instant noodles business in Hong Kong The study of Five Forces and PESTEL analyses will lead to the understanding on how the macro-environment and micro-environment affect Nissin performance its business direction and strategy. A further study of the results from the perspective of an internal competence analysis to the results from the Five Forces and PESTEL will identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of Nissin. These findings will then tell Nissin of what needs to be minimized, eliminated, and to reduce or neutralize risks. All these findings will add up the reasons to justify how Nissin sustains its market leader position in Hong Kong. Suggestions on improvement and implementation of corporate strategy will also be elaborated. 1o. Introduction Intrepid Japanese entrepreneur named Momofoku Ando established Nissin Foods around the middle of the 20th century with the name Chukosasa Co., Ltd. Foreseeing that Japanese society was being economically and socially reengineered toward production speed and efficiency, he also sought to reengineer the Japanese diet in response. His answer to the requisite of speed exerted and demanded of the modern Japanese was simple the instant noodle. The invention revolutionized the food industry not only in Japan but also throughout the world. Now Nissin Foods, produce not only instant ramen noodles but also fresh and pre-packaged frozen food, and meals-ready-to-eat including cereals and spaghetti. But noodles remained the primary product draw. Mr. Ando stayed ahead of the competitive pack with remarkable innovations. In 1963, he introduced into the market the ramen Yakisoba, which had a separate flavoring packet. A decade later, Momofoku Ando invented cup noodles and in 1984, Nissin Foods established in Hong Kong (Nissin Foods Holdings, 2010). What has been Nissins strategy to address the various forces acting upon the instant food industry? How valid and viable would this strategy still be in an age of high technology and rapid global integration? And now, lets start to know the direct key stakeholders in Hong Kong. Management of Nissin The Management receives strong support from Parent company who has made the sustainability much easier for a stronger market share. Staff of Nissin They are the executors of the business. Staff would be happy to work for Nissin if the business is stable and with continuous growth. Hong Kong consumers the market share is large amongst the younger generations and white collars as they accept new trendy food, especially from Japan. Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) of Hong Kong Government the Government has to control the types of incoming food products for consumption, as a statutory body, FEHD will govern the quality of food items importing to Hong Kong. Hong Kong Consumer Council it regulates the selling of consumer goods to the public in a fair trade practice. By supports of academic references, there will be a careful analysis of macro-environment and micro-environment undertaken by using Five Forces and PESTAL, plus a review of the internal analysis by strategic capabilities. The outcomes from external and internal environment analyses will be combined in a SWOT analysis. From the results of this analysis conclusion on overall business strategy, some improvement or implementation can be drawn through the methods of Porters Generic Strategies, Ansoffs matrix and organic method. 2. Analysis of Nissin in the Instant Noodles Industry in Hong Kong The following analysis of Nissin is based on strategy development processes suggested in major strategic management literature. There will be a careful analysis of macro-environment and micro-environment undertaken by using Five Forces and PESTAL, plus a review of the internal analysis by strategic capabilities. The outcomes from external and internal environment analyses will be combined in a SWOT analysis. From the results of this analysis conclusion on overall business strategy, some improvement or implementation can be drawn. 2.1 External Analysis Industry Analysis/ Five Forces Analyzing the generic food industry from the perspective of Michael Porters five forces, namely, the threat of new entrants, competitive rivalry within the industry, the threat of substitutes, the bargaining power of customers, and the bargaining power of suppliers (Porter, 1985). Threat of new entrants Nissin Foods in Hong Kong does not perceive any new entrants or competitors in the industry. The market appears to be increasingly expansive and lucrative and this is expected to lure new participants. However, the predominance and well-entrenched positions of the current players had dampened the enthusiasm of those who intend to enter the industry from outside. Industrial competition would probably more ensue from within and intensified internal competition would take place in the form of innovations in the product itself as well as in promotional designs and packaging. The barriers to entry are quite formidable considering that customer loyalty to the existing players are quite strong and that these current players have already established linkages with local formal sources of capital and distribution outlets (Becker, et al., 1999). Competitive rivalry within the industry The instant noodle industry in Hong Kong is a highly intense rivalry among the current players, thus making the industry itself highly competitive. Innovations are frequent and the market now regards as its highly popular products, environmentally friendly cups and containers and food ready to eat from the moment the packages are opened. Advertisements fight for time both on mass telecommunications channels and over the Internet and companies also engage in intense competition in the sponsorship of events like games and competitions. The existing noodles companies also engage in the constant monitoring of the performance of their products on the market, outlaying huge sums of money for customer surveys, promotions, and advertisement as well as in technology and manufacturing innovations. Threat of substitutes Hong Kong consumers are increasingly health conscious, they demand fresher and higher nutritional food. As such, there is an increasing consumer preference for fruits, vegetables, poultry and low fat, low sugar and zero to low preservatives content products. No matter how much hard works Nissin has contributed to the improvement of noodles quality, the dried instant noodles are not considered as a real meal to the consumers in Hong Kong. Substitute products like those offered by Jollibee, McDonalds, KFC and fast food noodle houses are slowly but steadily flooding the market and as buyers become more tend to the Western style of business activities and private lifestyles, such substitutes become increasingly attractive than the traditional instant noodles. Bargaining power of customers (Buyers) It bears negatively on the prospects of Hong Kongs instant noodle industry as more and more people rising in terms of social status and economic position. The increasing purchasing power of the population exerts leverage on instant noodle companies who might see the loyalty of their customers being eroded by their increasing incomes. The substitute product firms such as the fast food chains are also known for their notoriously low operating costs and their relatively cheaper products. Cheaper products have a corresponding income effect on the consumer as they realize the greater power of their money vis-a-vis the substitute product. When combined, these factors lead to the rational consumer realigning his consumption possibilities curve to favor the substitute rather than the formerly patronized product. This situation currently faces the Hong Kong noodle industry. Bargaining power of suppliers Finally, and as a counterpoint to the pathetic prospects with regard to the increasing demand of substitute products in the instant food market and the increasing power of customers, the instant noodle industry is seen to still maintain its hold over the supplier sector. In this regard, the bargaining power of the suppliers for the instant noodle industry remains low as many of the independent supplying firms have either been vertically integrated into the existing companies or have been interlinked through long term supply contracts. The low rate of entry into the industry also act as a safety net that limits the power of suppliers to charge high prices for the firms inputs which basically include wheat, buckwheat, corn, sesame oil, and other organic inputs. The suppliers market remains huge and extensive allowing for easy substitutability whenever a supplier becomes a party to an unprofitable relationship. 2.2 External Analysis PESTEL The PESTEL analysis provides a comprehensive list of influences on the possible success or failure of particular strategies; it stands for political, economical, social, technological, environmental and legal. (Johnson, et al., 2008) Political Situation Hong Kongs political system follows the set-up envisioned by the Chinese government when the former British colony returned its sovereignty back to China in 1997. The Chinese government maintained the capitalist economy and so the situation remains favorable to continued and sustained business expansion. Hong Kongs administrative structure carefully and strictly enforces laws and regulations that regulate fair business competition. Corruption is at fairly low levels and government officials are careful to preserve the Chinese governments reputation of fair but strict governance according to the law (Goodstadt, 2010). Economic Situation With Hong Kongs position as one of Asias financial and trading centers firmly entrenched, the city is actually looking forward to another sustained economic growth by 2011 and beyond. Hong Kong remains a fast-paced hub of businesses among almost all the global cities and therefore social mobility is fluid, leading to a fast rising middle class with an increasing purchasing capacity. Demand for instant foods is therefore expected to increase and despite the existence of a fairly sized competition, notably the Toyo Suisan Kaisha, Ltd.; House Foods Corporation; the Nong Shim Company, Ltd.; the Tingyi Cayman Islands Holding Corporation; Asia Food and Properties, Ltd.; the Ottogi Corporation;the Myojo Foods Company, Ltd.; the Tokatsu Foods Company, Ltd.; and Bing-Grae Company Ltd, the market shares of these companies remain small. With the expected expansion of existing demand, will in effect scramble for larger and larger shares of this market. Social Situation Noodles remain a primary staple in the Chinese diet, it being one of the traditional foods associated with the culture. As the social structure modernizes and instantaneity becomes a part of the societys way of life, instant ramen noodles become the norm. Cultural adjustments in response to modernization have often been slow but the rapid acceptance on instant noodles ever since its introduction in the 1950s has been truly revolutionary, the product being responsive to the demands of both tradition and modernity. Technological Situation The information and communications technological infrastructure in Hong Kong has been always at the forefront of the adoption and utilization of new generations of such technology. Manufacturing equipment remains state of the art and Hong Kong laws and regulations are unrestrictive of the entry of more advanced technology. Hong Kong, moreover, is solidly linked to the global village through the Internet with firms recognizing the imperative of such linkages with the status of their Hong Kong firms as hubs for their global operations. Environmental Situation The government and the people of Hong Kong are concerned about the implications of manufacturing activities on the environment. Firms should answer the demands for corporate social responsibility in this aspect. For example, pollution and waste management are particularly important considerations. Since government has already put in place policies that address environmental concerns, environmental reporting is now the focus of governmental efforts. Different sectors are seeing the value of linking environmental responsibility and reporting (The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, 2010). As environmental reporting becomes more widespread Hong Kong firms are also given the chance to keep with international trends. Legal Situation Hong Kong provides an extremely favorable legal environment to businesses, as the official rates of income taxation for both individuals and corporations are relatively low compared to other business areas. Corporate income taxes for example peak at 17.5% allowing business establishments higher outlays for investments and expansion providing them sufficient breathing space for increased profits and returns on their investments. These conditions serve as a major pull factor for regional and local investors including Nissin Food. Companies who also have CRS departments like Nissin could also avail of tax holidays of as high as 10% on their incomes (Hong Kong SAR, 1997). In addition, courts and magisterial agencies are highly competent and legal expertise are extremely trustworthy in a place that had developed an excellent reputation for judicial fairness and equitability from even from its years under British rule. 2.3 Internal Analysis Capabilities Nissin Food Co., Ltd. has always been extremely competent with sufficient financial capacities that should allow it to withstand fluctuations in consumer demand throughout the years. Its manufacturing plants and equipment remain modern and environmentally safe, complemented by subsidiaries that have safety research in food technology. Nissins technological expertise, directorial competence and workforce commitment remain at the highest levels and the Ando family has kept the familys trade secrets secure with the proper legal and propriety registrations and protection. Technological knowhow has often been a trademark of the company ever since it was established and kept with important business moves over the years. Quality control technology has been especially developed through the years with the company regularly testing and re-testing its products before they are put on the shelves and marketed overseas. Even packaging, storage, and transport mechanisms are strictly monitored and frequently adjusted to ensure quality standards of safety (Nissin Food Co. Ltd, 2010). Through these initiatives, Nissin Food has maintained a solid image as the primary instant food corporation carrying what they call Japan technology. The company also enjoys an excellent reputation with its suppliers as well as its workforce and the city of Hong Kong itself. Another internal competence of the company is the presence of a highly competitive and committed workforce led by directors who are highly trained in their respective fields. Employees undergo periodic training and evaluation mechanisms, follow strictly implemented guidelines in the performance of their respective jobs. Human resources thus become highly motivated and trained (Nissin Food Co. Ltd, 2010). Regardless of these competencies, the company faces real risks, which if left unattended may pose serious attacks on the stability of the company. Among these would be food safety issues as consumers become more and more conscious of bio-terrorism while other brands are more aggressively promoted. The risk of increasing prices of raw materials such as flour, palm oil and petroleum-based products for packaging purposes is also accounted. And more, risks related to information systems become more technologically sophisticated than ever. 3. SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis is an important step in planning but its often being underestimated its usefulness and functions. SWOT analysis is a basic, straightforward model that provides direction and serves as a basis for the development of marketing plans (Ferrel, et al., 1998). Strengths Nissin Instant noodles have made a significant impact in the Hong Kong residents diet ever since the companys branch was established therein in 1984. Thus the company enjoys a high reputation with the brand itself having instantaneous recognition and respect by its patrons. The brand enjoys sustained loyalty among consumers, its manufacturing sector known for sanitary and environmentally friendly production processes, and the product is known for its flavor and taste, price reasonability, health attributes, and long shelf life, characteristics which make Nissins instant ramen noodles highly appropriate to the lifestyle of the modern Hong Kong resident. Mr. Momofoku Ando had retired in 2005 but the family has retained its unique capacity to adjust its products to various cultural contexts, delivering dozens of varied flavors for different country and city preferences and its keen recognition of new complementary products like environmentally friendly containers and cups to merge and l ink-up with manufacturers of these innovations to ensure cost efficiency to sustain business scale. Weaknesses There is no apparent weakness of the company except perhaps that the aggressive expansion of its business may have reached the limits of saturation. The relatively unchanged firm logo and design over half a century may have become boring among consumers psychological recognition. Brand familiarity does have a second edge in that it may psychologically influence consumers to try out a new brand. Nissin Food has also been relatively overtaken by other firms in cutting the preparation time for the instant noodles product as Mummy and Fuku noodles can be eaten straight that matched perfectly instant. Opportunities Hong Kong is a huge market for the food industry with its population of over 7 million expanding at an average annual growth rate of 1%. The market potential is therefore inspiring especially considering the fact that over half of this population is urban based with more and more young people drawn into high paced urban living. There are also more young women from both local and foreign places entering the workforce. This means that local family populations are left without the traditional ways of cooking and food preparation as women who were formerly tasked with culinary preparations at home migrate to the center for employment. The emerging demographic picture also portray a steadily growing segment of single people in the labor force, swelling the ranks of those who would prefer instant and fast food rather than traditional long-time home cooking. Nissins early demonstrated concern for environmental and health safety concerns, seen in the establishment of its food safety research institute is also a positive sign given the worlds increasing concern for environmental safety standards and the increasing health consciousness of people in recent times as they look consistently for low fat, low salt diets. Hong Kongs fast paced society also is an opportunity, as the citys demands for instant convenient food remain high. This offer Nissin the opportunity to expand from noodles to other instant food such as coffee, juice drinks, spaghetti, bread and snacks and the chance to establish linkages with other food outlets like restaurants, or otherwise introduce distribution innovations mobile snack center in schools, shopping malls, cinemas and exhibition halls. Threats The instant food competition comprised of the companies mentioned above and other brands like Doll noodles, Sau Tau and Master Hong pose the main threats to Nissin Foods. If the growing health consciousness provides a positive note vis-a-vis the companys effort at developing safer and healthier products, there is also a downside as mass media increasingly airs concerns about monosodium glutamate (MSG) and other preservatives used in instant food production. There is also a growing taste and preference for restaurant food and fine dining especially among the new rich. The emergence of organic and fresh instant noodles in the market particularly by the competition and the rising prices of wheat and other raw materials are foreseen to pose considerable threats especially with rising demand for these products by other demanders worldwide. Discussion This section will critically propose some strategies that Nissin Food Co., Ltd might implement in consolidating or even expanding its hold in the instant foods market in Hong Kong. Michael Porter recommended three generic strategies in this regard, namely cost leadership, differentiation, and focus (Porter, 1980). In terms of cost leadership, Nissin Food has always been ahead in the development of low cost instant noodles and other food products compared to many of its competitors. Company policy has always been directed to the elimination of operational glitches that would lead to increased production costs and streamline the process. This explains why despite the upgrading of technological capacities and the establishment of research institutions that would simultaneously increase expenses, Nissin Food is still capable of producing high quality noodles the be sold at relatively affordable prices on the shelves. With regard to differentiation, the Nissin Food Company has managed to diversify its food products from noodles to cereals and other products like biscuits, chocolate flake cookies and even lactobacillus drinks. Even its traditional offering, the instant noodles has been diversified into several types as cup noodles, the pillow type instant noodles, the fresh instant noodles, the thick straight noodles, and frozen types all in 450 different flavors. Innovation had always been key to product diversification and it need not be always a high-fangled high technology based development as long it gives the company a keener competitive advantage over other firms in the market (Porter, 1996). Thus, the simple idea of introducing the Nissin straight thick noodle led to increased volumes of sale in 2008. Differentiation allows a company to address the demands of consumers across a wide range of segmentation (Porter and Kramer, 2006). In its Hong Kong operations, the company has differentiated its products to all sectors of the population not only through diversified products but also through careful studies as to what products might have a more competitive appeal to certain sectors. Discovering for example that in their United States operations, Chow Mein noodles seemed to be the preference of Americans, the company also aimed at making this product appealing to the foreign sectors of the Hong Kong population. Finally, Nissin Food Company has always been secure in the instant noodle as its niche in manufacturing and sales and primarily targeting the working population. A niche approach is basically developing greater competitive advantage in a sector or product and holding on to this advantage through differentiation and innovation strategies (Porter, 1985). Among the three, differentiation appears to be Nissin Food Companys strongest and most effective strategy, allowing it to constantly increase its sales over the years and expand operations to address an ever larger share of the market. Differentiation has also allowed it to penetrate western markets such as the United States, Russia and even Mexico. In the United States, chow mein had attracted the microwave generation because of its microwavable fried noodle through innovative advertising. New products should always be based on prior arket surveys to test the levels of demand and businesses must always have a clear vision and strategy for diversification, planning against the risks involved with an honest regard for the gains it expects to achieve (Ansoff, 1957). Nissin uses both related and unrelated diversification techniques as, not contented with its traditional noodle offerings, it has innovated and expanded also to frozen foods, cereals, and nutrition drinks. Such risks have been repaid with dividends through the recent years. Conclusions and Recommendations Nissin Foods Company, Ltd. in Hong Kong faces has demonstrated a stable and strong internal competence structure. It has managed to sustain efficiency and close coordination among the various phases of its operations, making its various departments including the management, production, marketing, and research units mesh smoothly. It is in food safety and quality standards that the company stands out among the rest of competitors in the Hong Kong market and it is highly recommended that this be made part of a comprehensive advertising strategy that packages not only products but the entire company itself as an environmentally friendly corporation in tune with its recognized corporate responsibility to save the earth. This would be a leading promotional strategy as the company funnels through its Food Safety Research Institute, thorough investigations and research of environmentally affective chemicals, organic inputs as they affect the products of its farms, breeding stations, fisheri es, feed plants, ingredient plants and its productions plants as well. The Hong Kong macro-environment also appears to be a favorable one for Nissin Foods, affording it a competitive area where the company could showcase both its traditional and innovative offerings to an ever growing and constantly differentiating and segmented population. The change in administrative governance appears not to have made a significant impact on the robustness of business competition within the region. The PESTEL environment thus could be taken as a general plus factor. It is again in the area of environmental considerations that Nissin must focus on. It is recommended that the attention must be directed toward the pollution side of its post-operational activities. By this, as extra concern on disposal of containers and on the earth-friendliness of such packaging as Nissin continues to use non-biodegradable materials in this regard. To more promote the environmental image of the firm could innovate towards the end of minimizing its ecological footprint. On social relations, Nissin could collaborate with social and ecological groups toward the development of programs addressing Hong Kongs expanding ecological problems of pollution as well as industrial congestion. (word count 3,823)