Happy Days Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Happy Days - Assignment Example Additionally, the improved economic conditions catapulted many Americans from low class to medium income earners. Most families could afford a car, and top of range products such as fridges, televisions among others. It is also worth noting that 50s marked an era of tremendous growth in the housing industry as well as transport infrastructure and networks. The increased number of affordable houses and high quality road networks made life easy for Americans. On a different note, entertainment became entrenched in people’s lives hence improving social life for Americans. Most significantly, Americans were enjoying high quality of life compared to many countries in the world. This made Americans feel at the epitome of the world. However, not everybody enjoyed the happy moments. An appreciable portion of Americans was already on their old age and had suffered the aftermath of World War II making it difficult for them to enjoy the 50s. Additionally, political critics and conservatists spent more time critiquing the government instead of taking advantage of the overwhelming opportunities present during that time. Left behind were the uneducated citizens, and African Americans who could not fit in the job market. Without a good source of livelihood, such groups could not enjoy the benefits of 1950 era. However, the 50s was by general means, good moment for

First Grade Curriculum Guide for Mentally Retarded Students Essay Example for Free

First Grade Curriculum Guide for Mentally Retarded Students Essay Various models of language, which are rich and are in various forms of literature, including, poetry, songs and fiction are to be introduced. The five major ideas in reading are some of the basis of the curriculum and the instructions. They inspire the various assessments that to be used. Phonemic Awareness: It involves the ability to and be able to manipulate sounds in words. It also involves the ability to isolate letters and sounds and also to blend sound and segment sounds. Alphabetic Principle: This refers to the capability of associating sounds with letters and uses these sounds to form new words. Fluency with text: Is the effortless and the ability of the reader to read words in connected text automatically. Vocabulary: Being able to effectively understand and use words so as to acquire and convey meaning. Comprehension: This process involves the intentional communication that takes place between the reader and the text to be able to convey meaning. Literacy Centers Each day a child will be expected to participate in centers. This will allow the children to be able to explore various materials, try to reinforce concepts already taught and direct their own learning. The centers are likely to change weekly. They include: Word wall centre, Art centre, Listening centre, poetry centre, spelling centre and Reading centre. Writing, Spelling and Phonics The children will be given the courage to apply their knowledge of letter sounds as temporal spelling. After the child knowing how to say words slowly as well as listening to the sounds, this should help him record the message and think of himself as a writer. As the child progresses, he will be expected to move toward a more convectional spelling and therefore will be held increasingly accountable. Words and spelling of high frequency are taught when working with words block of time. In each week, there will be an introduction of word wall words which will be seen by the child always during the time of reading and therefore he will need to spell frequently while writing. To add on that, through these words, the child will be taught letter sounds and some spelling patterns of the words that are well known such as â€Å"at† so that they are able to spell words like â€Å"fat†, â€Å"sat†, â€Å"mat† and even â€Å"cat†. The goal is to enable the child recognize the spelling patterns and then consistently use them while writing. The writers’ workshops will consist of ample time for writing, mini lessons and during guided writing sessions, there will be sharing of time. Grammar will be taught to children including the use of punctuation marks. There will be the use of modern manuscript as a form of handwriting. There will be no extra time being spent on teaching formal handwriting, but rather there will be incorporation of the teaching of proper letter formation into some other daily lessons. Reading Curriculum The development of literacy will form the primary focus of the first grade year. There will be a well balanced literacy program which will include a wide range of language experiences which involve reading, writing, listening and speaking (American Association and School Administrators, 2006) Reading aloud to children This will be a guided reading where by the teacher will be required to read allowed for the children to pay extra attention to be able to hear what is being read. The children listen carefully. The children will then read with the teachers help. This is achieved when the teacher reads then the children repeat what is being reading. Shared Reading This is also referred to as Independent reading. There are two forms of independent reading: †¢ Children read in group together †¢ Children read alone First, there will be grouping of children to enable them read as a group. In this they will be able to assist each other catch up. Those who are fast in mastering the words are likely to play important roles. After doing this the children will be allowed to read on their own (individually). This is the best time to determine whether a child has got something from the session.

The Existence of Evil :: Philosophy Religion Ethics Essays

The Existence of Evil Six years ago a little girl from my church approached me and asked why the devil existed, and why bad things happen. At the moment I was a little perplexed and did not know what to say. All that came to my mind was that humankind needed a scapegoat to blame for the occurrence of unfavorable incidents. Blaming adverse conditions on the devil is the easy and obvious way out of any situation. All one has to do is to say that the devil was the cause of the situation and wash his hands of the entire problem. At twelve years old, I thought that humanity used the devil as a way to elude responsibility and to ignore the consequences of its actions. It was not until last year that I realized the answer to the little girl's question about the existence of evil. In English class last year I read Arthur Miller's play The Crucible as required reading. According to my English teacher, one theme of The Crucible was that having evil in the world is necessary to balance out the goodness. If either entity overpowered the other, they would throw off the entire balance. Beside maintaining balance, evilness helps humanity to appreciate the goodness in the world. Without ugliness, a person cannot enjoy beauty. Without misfortune, a person cannot enjoy fortune. And without evilness, a person cannot enjoy goodness. No one could enjoy goodness in the world, because there would be nothing to compare with it. Concerning religion, if there was no devil in the world to make humanity miserable, then it would not look forward to heaven. There would be no difference between the two, so humankind would not have to question its actions because there would not be any consequences such as heaven or hell. Imagine a world where everything is perfect, and there is no suffering. Natural laws are bent at the hint of harm to humanity. If a plane carrying passengers starts to plummet, gravity ceases and the plane floats down to earth like a feather. Or if a gun is shot at a person, the bullet turns into a marshmallow so it will not harm anyone. In that world there is no pain nor suffering, just existence. The people do not have to adapt to their environment, because the environment adapts to them. I find this version of life frightening, because the people would take everything for granted.

Black People and African American Actors Essay

â€Å"We black men have a hard enough time in our own struggle for justice, and already have enough enemies as it is, to make the drastic mistake of attacking each other and adding more weight to an already unbearable load. † (Malcolm X) African American men through time have struggled for a power that is out of their reach because others hold the power. August Wilson’s Fences displays a Psychological/Psychoanalytic approach by illuminating the inherent injustice in America’s treatment of African American males and the ways in which this racism affects and invades the societal units – the family. The conventional husband-wife and father-son conflicts are subservient to the plays discussion of racism. Fences is a drama that focuses on the characteristics of black life in a small neighbor in 1957 and the strains of society of the Maxson family. The play shows how the main character struggles against his oppressive past and his present surroundings, and when he tries to regain the power in his life, he fails, and ends up bringing down other with him. The protagonist, Troy Maxson is a restless trash-collector and former baseball player for the Negro League. In the play, Fences, Troy’s past dictates the kind of man he is today. His father, an abusive unsuccessful sharecropper, has had a major impact on Troy. Troy states, â€Å"But I’ll say this for him†¦he felt a responsibility toward us. † (1310; all page references are to class text Literature an Introduction to Reading and Writing, 5th ed. ) This comment is the one good thing that Troy has to say about his father. Despite his father’s meanness, he did feel a sense of duty toward his family. After an incident with his father beating him unconscious, Troy left home at the age of fourteen (Wilson 1311). Leaving the oppressive rule of his father should have brought Troy a feeling of freedom, but Troy found the exact opposite. Troy found that there were no jobs or places for blacks to live so he began stealing to survive. He met a woman and got her pregnant with his first son. Lyons. The responsibility weighed on him because now he had two more mouths to feed (Wilson 1311). To take care of his family, he continued to steal which ended him jail for fifteen years and this is where he learned to play baseball. Troy Maxson was a great baseball player, at least according to his friend Bono. Although he played brilliantly for the â€Å"Negro Leagues†, by the time that blacks were allowed into the Major League Troy was too old. In Troy’s self-created illusion, he believes that he would have made it to the Major League if it were not for the color of his skin (Wilson 1292). Because he never earned the recognition or the money, which he felt he deserved, the discussion of professional sports will often send him into a tirade. In a discussion with Bono and Rose concerning Cory recruitment by a college football team, Troy states, â€Å"Jackie Robinson wasn’t nobody. I’m talking about if you could play ball then they ought to have let you play. Don’t care what color you were. † (1. 1. 78). Troy points out the blatant racism that kept him from a career in the major leagues. He was just as good, if not better, than many of the white players, and yet he did not get a shot. Troy, now fifty-three, has long retired from baseball; he makes a living for himself and his family as a garbage man, and nurses his well-earned bitterness. His life has been warped by white racism, and in turn, Troy is helpless to keep himself from warping his son’s life. Because of the racism, Troy has suffered in life and the tumultuous relationship with his father, Troy tries to control both is son’s lives. Troy has a low expectation of what black men can do with their lives, and is holding his sons back from obtaining successes that Troy could only dream about obtaining. Lyons is ambitious talented jazz musician. Lyons jazz playing appears to Troy as an unconventional and foolish occupation. In the beginning of Fences, Lyons comes to Troy to borrow ten dollars because he girlfriend Bonnie has a job working at the hospital. In Troy’s mind, Lyon is failing in his duty as a man by not taking care of his woman. Troy lectures Lyons, â€Å"I done learned my mistakes and learned to do what’s right it. You still trying to get something for nothing. Life don’t owe you nothing. You owe it to yourself. † (1. 1. 145). The quotation is an example of how Troy feels the black man will never amount to anything in the â€Å"white man’s world†. He also tries to control his son, Cory’s future because he see that he is going down the same road the Troy was on and was rejected from. Troy tells his wife Rose â€Å"The white man ain’t gonna let him get nowhere with the football. † (1. 1. 65). Through racial discrimination is still a huge problem in America during the 50s, things have gotten more equal, especially in the world of sports. Troy however is too stubborn and bitter to admit there has been some progress. Troy is now a fifty-three year old African American male who works for the sanitation department. Troy works to gain power as a man by changing his job situation. Troy goes to his boss, Mr. Rand and asks him â€Å"Why? Why you got white mens driving and the colored lifting? † (1. 1. 10). Troy sees this as oppression, though he knows that he has a job that is awarded to both white and black men, the racial line is till carefully drawn. He is determined to cross this line because he cannot handle any racial prejudices in his life. Troy continues to recount his fight with his boss to his long-time friend, Bono. Troy states, â€Å"You think only white fellows got sense enough to drive a truck. That ain’t no paper job! † (1. 1. 10). Troy feels that blacks are good enough to be drivers; he assumes that they would not be able to handle â€Å"paper† or office jobs. This is another example of how racism is so entrenched that black people are a little racist against themselves. Troy’s characters sought after this job in order to gain back some of the power in his life, even though he does not have a license to drive. He is finally able to prove to himself and the people around him that he is worthy and just as good as any other man, including white men. As a father, Troy feels obligated to provide the necessities of life, but he seems to think his duties end there. During a discussion between Cory and Troy, when Cory asked he father, â€Å"How come you never liked me? † Troy replies, â€Å"You live in my house†¦sleep your behind on my bedclothes†¦fill you belly up with my food†¦cause you my son. You my flesh and blood. Not cause I like you? Cause it’s my duty to take care you. † (1. 3. 107). It is clear the legacy of racism threatens to take another generation. However, he was unable to provide for his family alone and had to use the tragic injuries of his brother, Gabriel, a World War II veteran. Troy uses this money to pay for his house. He says, â€Å"If my brother didn’t have that metal plate in his head†¦I wouldn’t have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of. And I’m fifty-three years old. † (1. 2. 64). He feels weighed down by the guilt of using his brother’s destruction as a way to jumpstart his own life. He feels like the only reason he has anything is the fact that his brother life was ruined. Through he has a loving relationship with his wife Rose, he still strays and finds a woman with which he feels he can be a different man. He uses this affair as a way to escape from the responsibility of his life and the constant reminders of his shortcomings as a man. When trying to explain why he had the affair he tells Rose, â€Å"I can step out of this house and get away from the pressures and problems†¦be a different man. I ain’t got to wonder how I’m gonna pay the bills or get the roof fixed. I can just be a part of myself that I ain’t never been. † (2. 1. 98). His affairs results in a baby, and he needs Rose to help him, after his mistress, Alberta, died. Rose accepts the responsibility of raising this child, but she has cut off all emotion bonds with Troy. Rose tells him â€Å"I’ll take care of you baby for you†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢cause†¦ like you say†¦she’s innocent†¦and you can’t visit the sins of the father upon the child. From right now†¦this child got a mother. But you a womanless man. † (2. 3. 4). It is with this act that Troy loses more of his control and finds himself even more emasculated than before. Troy was unable to see that he did have control over one aspect of his life, yet he was too worried about proving his worth to others and to himself, that he proved his unworthiness to his own wife. Troy is a resentful victim of his life’s circumstances, a man who has become fenced in from happiness by the conviction that he was never paid what he was owed in any right: not from his father, not from his former baseball career, not from his employers, and not from his family. Troy tried to take back the power that was taken from him by demanding that his loved ones live practical, responsible lives while he has the freedom to have an affair, rebel against racist practices of his employers by protesting the limitation of black workers as lifters not drivers on the trash trucks. Troy refuses to see life in any presented to him but the way he perceives events in his own head. Eventually, Troy’s death leaves many negative attributes an inheritance for his family to sort out and accept. Fences I. INTRODUCTION (4-6 sentences) A. Quote B. Thesis Sentence–The play illuminate the inherent injustice in the America’s treatment of black men and the ways in which this racism affects and invades the family. 1. The conflicts in the play show has racism affected the family. 2. Set in 1957 after World War II when blacks still are fighting for power. 3. Shows how the characters struggle against his oppressive past and present, and when he tries to regain power he fails and brings down others around him. II. BODY (minimum of three paragraphs) A. 1st Supporting Paragraph (8-12 sentences) 1. Topic Sentence–Troy’s past dictates the kind of man he is today a. Subject – The ways he was raised b. Focus – why he left home and what he did when he left home 2. 1st Subtopic Sentence–His father was an abusive unsuccessful sharecropper 2nd Subtopic Sentence–left home at an early age and landed in jail. 3. Concluding Sentence– uneducated black man did what he had to do to serve. B. 2nd Supporting Paragraph (8-12 sentences) 1. Topic Sentence–Troy’s injustice dealing with his career a. Subject–Lost opportunity due to racism towards blacks in sports b. Focus– why is lost his opportunity to be the man he thought he was supposed to be and how he handles it 2. 1st Subtopic Sentence– during that time blacks were only allowed to play in the Negro League. 2nd Subtopic Sentence–Any talk about sports through Troy into a tirade. 3. Concluding Sentence–Because of the oppression that was placed on him, it causes he to oppress others dreams C. 3rd Supporting Paragraph (8-12 sentences) 1. Topic Sentence–The affect his past has on him and sons a. Subject–Troy’s low expectation for options that the black man has in a career b. Focus–He holds his sons back from realizing their dreams 2. 1st Subtopic Sentence–Thinks he son Lyon is wasting his life by not accepting a job that is thought as acceptable in the white man world 2nd Subtopic Sentence–Does not want his son Cory to follow in footsteps as an athlete because of how he was treated. 3. Concluding Sentence–Troy is too stubborn and bitter to admit there have been changes since his time concerning treatment of black athletes D. 4th Supporting Paragraph (8-12 sentences) 1. Topic Sentence–His job and racism a. Subject–Whites has the better job in the sanitation department b. Focus–Tries to change his job situation 2. 1st Subtopic Sentence–Troy goes to his boss and confronts him about the racism at work 2nd Subtopic Sentence–Troy himself is racist toward other blacks 3. Concluding Sentence–Troy is able to prove to himself and family that is worthy and as a good as any white man. E. 5th Supporting Paragraph (8-12 sentences) 1. Topic Sentence–Responsibilities as a father a. Subject–Troy believes that a father is only supposed to provide for his family b. Focus–how he goes about it 2. 1st Subtopic Sentence–Tells he son that he doesn’t have to love him he just has to make sure that he has a roof over his head 2nd Subtopic Sentence–Provides for his family by using his brother 3. Concluding Sentence– F. 5th Supporting Paragraph (8-12 sentences) 1. Topic Sentence–The effect it has on him relationship with his wifea. Subject–has an affair b. Focus–blames his responsibilities on his affair 2. 1st Subtopic Sentence–Tells his wife that he now choice but to cheat because of the things he has to do to make a life for his family 2nd Subtopic Sentence–Loses he wife 3. Concluding Sentence–is further emasculated III. CONCLUSION (3-4 sentences) A. Troy is a victim of life: his father, his dead career, his job and family all play are part B. Troy tries to control his life but the decision he makes lead him to be more oppressed then he was before. He is stuck in the past and cannot move forward with his life. His death continues the cycle.   

Nurse Initiated Thrombolysis

Coronary disease contributes to a high mortality and morbidity each year (Cowie, 2002). Thrombolytic therapy during elevated S-T segment elevation in acute myocardial infarction and new left bundle branch block (STEMI) has been found to have advantages in coronary disease management (Fibrinolytic Therapy Trialists Collaborative Group, 1994; Clare and Bullock, 2003) which include symptomatic delay and 30/1000 mortality reduction. Evidentiary studies suggest that six-hour delay in thrombolytic treatment implicates significant reduction in the mortality rate of thrombolytic therapy recipients (i.e. 30/100 before 6 hour treatment to 10/1000 upon 13-18 hour treatment) thus invoking systematic methods on the management of cardiology department to reduce time delays (Fibrinolytic Therapy Trialists Collaborative Group, 1994). The National Service Framework for coronary heart disease devised the 20 minute intervention (Department of Health, 2000) from the clinical onset of the disease, the so called ‘door-to-needle-time’, in response to heart malady. The door to needle time has been changed to 30 minutes as of April 2002 indicated for patients with myocardial infarction (Smallwood, 2004). To reduce the possible time delay and to reach the 75 % goal reception of thrombolytic myocardial infarction (MI) patients at 30 minutes, an alternative model, Phase III, were set by Coronary Heart Disease Framework (Department of Health, 2000) with an overall inclusion or additive roles of nurses that would cover initial assessment and administering thrombolytic therapy to uncomplicated myocardial infarction cases. Nurse-initiated thrombolytic (NIT) practice is relatively new, and the studies, qualitative or quantitative in approach, are few. Most of the topics for NIT study would include NIT feasibility, reliability, and perceptive dimensions. In the following paper, there is an attempt to create a review of the different studies concerning nurse-initiated thrombolysis. Elucidation of roles and nurse’s pivotal roles are deducted from the studies. II. Assessment Quin et al. (1998) conducted a study on the assessment of coronary nurses’ ability to determine patient suitability for the thrombolytic therapy using clinical and electrocardiographic standards and they found that majority of the nurses, 85 % of sample population, showed safe and appropriate management decisions.   The study population was limited to only ten Coronary Care Units (CCUs) in Yorkshire and Northern England and the methodology and data collection consists of vignettes and questionnaire forms for finding out suitability of nurses decisions. Andrews et al (2003) attempted to test track records of two acute chest pain nurse specialists (ACPNS) for 9 months within Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department of Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital and they found that the NIT diagnosis and administration by ACPNS achieved a median door-to-needle time of 23 minutes compared to 56 minute fast track system thus indicating time reduction and over-all efficacy in thrombolytic therapy in the Coronary Care Unit. Data obtained for tracking period from 91 patient records and 72 % (acute chest pain nurse specialists) ACPNS reception. A remarkable 51 % significant difference in patient proportion within 30 minute thrombolytic therapy was found between ACPNS and fast track system initiated by the on-call-medical-team. Qasim et al (2002) conducted comprehensive analyses and compared statistical variances of door to needle times for patients with acute myocardial infarction amongst three phases (I:1989-95; II: 2:1995-7; 1997-2001) at Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, England. Their study indicated 9 %significant difference by patients treated within 30 minutes from Phase 1 (range 5-300 minutes) and Phase 2 (range 5-180 minutes) treatment audits. Systematic clinical review showed 0% improper NIT administered by coronary care thrombolysis nurses from a population of 24 patients which indicate 100% NIT efficacy. CCU (Coronary Care Unit) thrombolysis nurses accomplished set requirements prior to NIT practice— F and G grades and electrocardiogram interpretation. Qasim reported that fast-track and NIT may provide for myocardial infarction and bundle branch block management. Other studies similarly agreed on the adoptive role of nurses in thrombolytic treatment and suggested improvement in the coronary department by focusing at A&E department to improved thrombolysis (Heatherington et al., 2002). Loveridge (2004) on her study on the diagnostic interpretation of district general hospital (DGH)-, teaching house-, Coronary Care Unit (CCU)- and Minor Injury Nurses (MIU) nurses, indicated otherwise when she concluded that NIT is not feasible because of their lack of diagnostic skill and ECG (electrocardiogram) interpretation. Loveridge reiterated Savage and Channer’s (2002) concerns regarding risk of rapid assessment which includes intracerebral hemorrhaging from inappropriate drug administration and misdiagnosis. She finally concluded that NIT is un-feasible and requires education and training, a developmental program to secure NIT practice. III. NIT experiential dimension and ethics Humphreys and Smallwood (2004) counseled on the ethical aspects of nurse-initiated thrombolysis which focuses on the awareness and responsibility of NIT practice addressing related issues on the morality of professional practice and medical malpractice. Patient autonomy should always be considered and consent from the patients must always be obtained. Nurse’s perception or amicability towards NIT are positive in terms of attitude-orientation as indicated by the qualitative study conducted by Smallwood and Humphrey (2007) on thrombolytic agent administrators. Twelve nurses from a MidWestland Hospital in England that were authorized to administer thrombolytic agent were asked to complete an open-ended questionnaire on the expansive role of nurses on NIT. The study suggested overall acceptability of NIT work and other major themes that emerged were perception of ‘pressure’ to deliver best practice and patient management under NIT conditions. Thrombolytic activity and the additive roles, as suggested by the results of the study were ‘desirous’ based on a personal motivation to do good for the patients and to reach professional growth. IV. Criticisms Nurse feasibility based from the limited collation of studies was generally ‘agreed upon’ strategy to reduce time delays in coronary management. The authors (Quin et al., Andrews et al., and Qasim et al.) concluded that nurse-initiated thrombolysis is a safe and effectual practice for MI infarction and STEMI but, it is noted that there were the statistical ‘weakness’ on the methods that they adapted. Most notable is that they all have an extremely limited sample population for the NIT nurses and the administered population (i.e. MI patients). Additionally, the studies were all focused on the speed of thrombolytic delivery and not on patient safety. There are no studies yet constructed on massive or consolidated studies for the NIT nurses in the A&E and CCU departments. Although Loveridge attempted to compare feasibility of different departmental nurses for NIT, she adopted Quin’s ‘vignette’ method and concluded that NIT is not feasible for the current clinical environment. In reality, although nurses may have positive outlooks for the NIT management and their expansive roles, more consideration should be made on actual NIT efficacy. Aside from Andrews et al., there were no clinical studies yet on NIT which may determine actual field efficacy. On the level of practical practice, nurse initiated thrombolysis requires improvement in the nursing professional community. Methodologically poor studies on nurse-initiated thrombolysis indicate the need for further study of its’ clinical outcomes and efficacy. Works Cited A. Andrews, S. Chida, S.I. Kitchen, M.I. Walters, RJI Bain, and S.M. Heath. â€Å"Nurse initiated thrombolysis in the accident and emergency department: safe, accurate, and faster than fast track.† Emergency Medicine Journal, 20 (2003):418-420. Cowie M. â€Å"Introduction Cardiovascular risk: a UK priority–it's time to act.† Heart; 89(2002): 1. Claire C.and Bullock I. â€Å"Door-to-needle times: bull's eye or just bull? The effect of reducing   door-to-needle times on the appropriate administration of thrombolysis: implications and recommendations. EurJ Cardiovasc Nurs, 2(2003): 39-45. Department of Health. National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease. Modern Standards and Service Models. London: HMSO,2000. Fibrinolytic Therapy Trialists Collaborative Group. â€Å"Indications for fibrinolytic therapy in suspected acute myocardial infarction: collaborative overview of early mortality and major morbidity results from all randomised trials of more than 1000 patients.† Lancet; 343(1994): 311–322. Heatherington, CJL,  P Doyle,  JA Kayani,  and  DF Gorman.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Focus on emergency departments to reduce delays in thrombolysis. (Letters).  Ã¢â‚¬ Ã‚  British Medical Journal, (901)  2002: 1. Loveridge, N. Nursing Diagnostics and Electrocardiogram Interpretation in Relation to Thrombolysis. Emergency Nurse, 12 (2004):28-34. Qasim A, Malpass K, O'Gorman DJ, Heber ME. Safety and efficacy of nurse initiated thrombolysis in patients with acute myocardial infarction. BMJ, 324 (2002);1328-31. Quinn T, McDermott A, Caunt J.. â€Å"Determining patients’ suitability for thrombolysis: coronary care nurses' agreement with an expert cardiological gold standard as assessed by clinical and electrocardiographic vignettes†. Intensive Critical Care Nursing, 14(1998): 219–224. Smallwood, A. and M. Humphreys. â€Å"Nurses’ perceptions and experiences of initiating thrombolysis: a qualitative study.† Nursing in Critical Care, 12(2007):132-140.      

Mass Media Violation Sociology Essay Sample

Mass Media Violation Sociology Essay Sample Violence in Mass Media Sociology Essay Sample Violence in Mass Media Sociology Essay Sample Currently observed increase in the number of crimes related to violence, especially among children and adolescents, makes people think about what social conditions lead to this. Perhaps, such values as individualism and materialism in society contribute to the increase in violence. Alternatively, the reason is the increasingly widening gap between the power of wealth and poverty of powerlessness. Another variant is that stalking savoring of violence in mass culture leads to this result. The latter assumption arises from the surge of physical violence coincided with an increase of bloody scenes in the media, especially on the TV. Television Violence Nowadays, the television broadcast a great variety of different programs, commercials, movies, and they abound in violence and sex. Currently, it is the main â€Å"food† of the audience. Many scientists and researchers in the field of press and mass communications has sounded the alarm about the fact that terror without the television does not make sense, and violence on the screen should be restricted by law (Ardis, Centerwall, and Huesmann). This work is devoted to the television broadcasting in order to clarify an overall assessment of morality on television, as well as urge to act, in particular, regulating broadcast of the television programs and films containing scenes of violence, sex and profanity. An informational impact of the media on the audience as a scientific problem was delivered in the first half of the twentieth century (Ardis 37). With the advent of television, which is a mass, powerful and extremely effective tool for the formation of attitude to the world among the audience, interest in this issue has reached a new level. One of the central themes of this kind of research was medial violence and its role in the transformation of people’s ideas about real life. However, in case one summarizes an overview of the known approaches to the study of the medial effects, their excessive diversity and inconsistency that sometimes reaches to diametrically opposed assessments strikes. For example, the theory of stimulation and social learning theory are the basis for the growing accusations against the TV (Bandura 13). Supporters of the accusatory position say about notorious justification of violence through its medial presentation and the desensitizing effect of such scenes on the minds of teenagers, etc. Remarkably, it is surprising how the today youth manage to remain tolerant and not violent receiving such unreasonably large charge of negative emotions daily. After all, if their behavior really depended on the television broadcast only, the criminal actions would be counted in thousands; the reality would be closer to the virtual reflection. Against the background of the debate about the phenomenon of violence, similar pattern is unlikely to provide a good material for a methodological problem solving related to television consumption. On the other hand, the opponents of strict legislative and administrative measures restricting the display of violence on television believe that â€Å"cinematic† acts only on marginalized groups that are originally inclined to inappropriate behavior (Centerwall 16). Here, one can use the concepts by S. Feshbach that despite their criticism, continue to serve as a good support for this kind of ideology (Feshbach and Tangney 387). Scientists explain their lack of aggression after continuous reception of programs containing violence by the phenomenon of â€Å"replacement† of aggression, which leads to the inhibition of negative manifestations of personality or to increased control over them. These radical differences are very characteristic. Television is seen either isolated from a variety of other factors affecting the real state of affairs, or its role is leveled to the level of minor sources of impact on the psycho-emotional state of a person. Linear, deliberately biased assessment of the role of the television creates an ideal field for the various manipulative practices including those in the scientific world. In addition, one does not take into account the important point: in any historical and social era, the phenomenon of violence is seen, above all, emotionally i.e. at a level beyond logic; hence, its reception is to be influenced by the expressive-communicative and aesthetic factors that are understandable and accessible to the general public at any given time. One of these especially powerful forces is the television culture, as well as the cinema had recently had dominant intellectual influence while earlier, it was the tabloid press. For this reason, in one era, unhurried events that took place on the silver screen were seen as a catalyst of violence. With the development of communication technologies, cinema was replaced with endlessly designed TV and computer characters and amazing monsters. Studies of cinematography held in different countries in the early twentieth century (Ardis and Centerwall) gave similar results: very naive and even chaste movies according to the modern standards provided at the time of their appearance marked â€Å"criminalizing impact† on teenagers. At that time, information chaos did not overwhelm the society, it has not yet been confused by a variety of â€Å"evidence-based† concepts, and things could have been called by their names. Numerous studies confirm the already expressed thesis that the current generation of teenagers perceive in the course of growing a huge number of scenes of murders, violence and cruelty, numerable in tens of thousands by means of the TV watching. Since each of these scenes is made truthfully because it certainly tends to attract the viewer’s attention, there is a feeling of total pseudoreality pressure on the consciousness and the surrounding world. The conductor of this increased aggression is the TV. It is not surprising that scientists distinguish a group of people who are not only entirely dependent on media products but also turned into real TV-addicts. Fear of violence pouring from the TV screens makes them think that the same thing is happening outside the windows of their apartments although in reality, there is nothing of the kind: the number of victims and disasters is disproportionately lower (research shows that during the day, the viewer gets over a hundred of sce nes of murders and violence acts with blood) (Coyne 207). Informational violence is not only inevitable but even necessary emotional background, which is spread to all spheres of life. It is the â€Å"new† social quality of the information correlated with phisiologism and human need to be prepared for physical threats from the outside, i.e. with the qualities that a person has acquired in ontogenesis as an individual, not as a person. In Europe, they began to raise the alarm years ago. However, the results are not very impressive. For example, in Germany, the Commission on Violence allocates special role to the media (Grossman and DeGaetano 137). Some of the results of the Commission are of interest not only for Germany: the shift of emphasis in research from the information technology to the perceiving consciousness clearly signals the transition to a new post informational stage. The media play an increasingly important role, which was previously imposed as a duty to schools, churches and families, and have an impact on the values, goals and styles of relationships in society. Television has become â€Å"the main tool to consciousness industry.† The media promote the adoption of social clichà ©, â€Å"enemy images† through â€Å"simplified and yet inevitably falsified image of reality† (Hopf, Huber, and Weiß 79). Clichà ©d representations are very dangerous because based on them, for example, a simple opponent is directly identified with the enemy. However, to be more precise, one should say that this is not just a clichà ©; it is a repetition of certain stereotypes that have become a resistant concept, but simplified, primitive and, therefore, distorted clichà ©s distorted the picture of the world presented by the media as a reality. The participation of people in public life in such circumstances becomes insignificant: a departure from the community and social disintegration contribute to the development of deviant attitudes and crime in a variety of its manifestations. Television methodically and inevitably creates a grim picture of the reality. The reason for this is the fact that relevant for the TV information is often aggressive and destructive: sensationalism sought by the media can lead to the formation of negative perceptions of the world. Allocation of social and environmental disasters, as well as political and economic scandals, led to the fact that a large part of the audience has a â€Å"mood of the deadline.† The image of violence as a kind of inevitable givens and, as a consequence, the legitimation of violence in the media is of particular importance in promotion of various forms of crime including elements of violence. The image of violence is a verbal and/or optical presentation of physical and mental violence. According to the findings of researchers, deliberate understatement of the social role, the attack on the dignity and identity of the individual and social groups in the television programs in fact justify violence (Huesmann S10). This is especially true for women whose dignity and honor are humiliated by pornographic pictures. The image of violence has a significant share in all TV programs, but recipients are regularly denied in the analysis of its causes. Violence is justified simply by force; it is idealized and appears on the screen in the form of an incoherent action. Violence scenes are directly imprinted in people’s minds because the information offered by these pictures does not encourage speculation. It is an indicative situation: the media and primarily the TV use the information as a mechanical pulse â€Å"catching† the reflexes. The audience subject to the rules of laid down ethical model master these stimuli by producing appropriate social responses to them. The result is the coexistence of two opposing worlds: the world of electronic and technical medial information (journalists and peace mediators) and socially conditioned world of cultural and ethical expectations (the world of the audience). Social information distorted by technical causality of medial language leads to disastrous consequences. It is also appropriate to emphasize that violence is not the only flaw of sophisticated suggestion that customers face (the more developed the country, the more channels of influence there are). The results of this situation, which has already become a familiar and seemingly justified, are as follows. The apparent successive aggressive model gradually changes attitudes towards violence, which leads to the trivialization of violence; violence can be understood as a practical means of solving the problem as â€Å"legitimate, normal situation† and as a valid way of conflicts solving. The television interpretation of reality changes people’s ideas about it, and even their relationship. Violence on the television can be understood as the motivation for violent behavior. In some cases, the television attention becomes a direct incentive to the offender, an occasion to get â€Å"on the scene† to become glorified. For example, one-sided presentation of the report on the escalation of violence at the time of aggressive demonstrations or during large sporting events can create the effect of self-fulfilling prophecy that will actualize expectations aimed at aggression and provoke a departure from the reasonable limits of â€Å"peaceful† visitors and, of course, the participants that are pre-configured to violence. The internal logic of the media, their method of operation, selectivity of their attention and the choice messages are in constant conflict with duties of chronicler, values, and orientation of messages. Quite often, the topic of violence is being developed; sometimes it occurs on the basis of sympathy for executing violence. The television appeared in an ambiguous position. The violence is an integral part of society’s existence. To mix violent scenes means to create an incomplete picture of the world. On the other hand, emphasizing violence and aggression can lead and leads to its escalation. It is a kind of vicious circle that illustrates isolation and finiteness of technocratic civilization. The most important fact is that non-violent television cannot exist. Adjusting this paradox to its logical extreme, one can say that television interpretation of the world as such is an act of aggressive and violent intrusion into reality. The television is contrasted to the world; it opposes the reality, struggles with the world and wins. The Impact of Violence in Contemporary Television Programs on the Child’s Personality With the help of television, children form the â€Å"image of the world† understand the concept of good and evil, justice and friendship and other social phenomena. However, psychologists are more and more sounding the alarm about the mass addiction of children to the TV viewing. In fact, there is an expression â€Å"screen kids.† Children of preschool age spend their time near the TV screens during 2 to 6 hours a day on average. The greatest amount of time children spend in front of the TV is from 18 to 22 hours. Attention is drawn to the fact that children who do not attend kindergarten spend at the TV screens two times more than children attending preschool institutions. Therefore, they get the habit of continuous viewing of TV programs together with their parents, especially working mothers with grandmothers. The trend that preschoolers have a particular interest not only to children’s programs and animated films, but also to art and detective films and infor mation programs addressed to an adult audience became apparent. It is noteworthy that naturalistic display of violence takes place implying a detailed screening of victims, of bloody corpses, bloody fights, severed heads, kidnappings and suchlike. The level of danger that a TV presents to a child is debatable: Firstly, it must be said about the special sensibility and ability of the child’s mind to suggest. Film on the TV affect a person in many ways at the unconscious level. Only a part of the information that is perceived by a child affects the consciousness. The images, sounds, signs and symbols have an inspiring impact. For example, the thunder, the sounds of falling rocks, howling blizzards, among others cause such emotions as fear or a sense of horror. In addition to the clear demonstration of violence, cinema actively uses implicit violence. For example, a train oncoming at the viewer makes the child fear of being crushed. The scenes of murder in tightly closed room, locked doors, key in the lock on the inside, the sound of busy heart, which are not realized by the audience all these contribute to the development of feelings of anxiety and constant danger. In order to defend against these unpleasant emotions, the child displaces them in the unconscious part of the psyche. An adult may not immediately notice any obvious changes in the behavior or response of the child. Most parents report that their children like watching detective movies or movies with elements of violence. However, those unpleasant emotions and terrible images or sounds that the child perceives from the screen are stored in the unconscious and can disturb the baby in the form of dreams, fears, increased anxiety or neurotic symptoms. Secondly, it must be said about the â€Å"habituation effect† and the contagiousness of aggressive behavior. Continuous viewing of violence blunts emotional feelings among children; they become accustomed to violence, and they form indifference to human pain. If every 15 minutes on the television screen pain or violence are broadcast, after a while, the child perceives it as a norm. He forms the standard of emotional response. It can be assumed that the lack of spirituality and the special cruelty of the contemporary adolescents are strongly associated with emotional, moral and ethical standards, which have been formed by their society, and especially the TV. Psychological studies have shown that if a preschool child is exposed to video-related violence in a laboratory, he/she immediately afterwards starts to behave aggressively (Grossman and DeGaetano 200). to the reason for this is the fact that children tend to imitate the behavior that has received positive reinforcement. For example, an aggressive cartoon character is the winner, and nobody condemns him. According to psychologists, a certain way of understanding the aggression develops during the screen fights in young viewers; thus, a certain script of actions creates, which is not recognized by the child (Grossman, and DeGaetano 215). However, when faced with difficulties in relationships with people, the child remembers the scenario of aggressive behavior, which he/she constantly sees on the screen, this script tells him the likely course of action. Thirdly, it is important to mention â€Å"romanticizing† of villains in feature films that children watch with their parents’ affrays. Romanticizing of the negative lifestyle leads to the formation of the corresponding moral behavior patterns. Sometimes, parents feel that the child perceives the film as an adult does. However, it is not true. The child does not understand the metaphors and cannot properly understand the events on the screen since thinking of a preschool child is visual-efficient and visually-shaped. He/she catches the main line of the plot and the concrete behavior. Fourthly, it should be noted that the modern television does not support the mental development of children. The share of developmental programs in television is from 1.5% to 3% of broadcast time. One should compare it with advertising that takes 23% of the television time (Grossman and DeGaetano 76). A child who watches a cartoon or a movie is identified with its heroes. The process of identifying with real or imaginary models and carriers of moral rules is imperative. Therefore, it is very important what TV program the child watches. A modern person does not live only in the external material world but also in the global information field. Information space surrounding the person largely determines the formation of his/her â€Å"worldview†. It is hard to imagine the life of the modern family without television. Television is a â€Å"window to the outside world†, and at a reasonable approach, it can serve as an educational and entertaining tool. Research media, particularly the television both in the USA and abroad are successfully maintained for a long time. One of the most urgent problems in the study of telecommunication is the problem of assessing and measuring the psychological aspects of human exposure to television. Television has a powerful potential to shape public opinion, the mindset of people, which, in turn, acts as an important factor in the regulation of social behavior. On-screen violence today is a form of mass entertainment. Violence, including the broadcast one, is a component of the mass consciousness. Unfortunately, in the pursuit of commercial gain, a great number of creators and distributors of films clearly alter the sense of proportion. There is much more violence in the movies than it is required by economic considerations, and inadmissibly more to be able to effectively perform the public functions of cinema. Cinema is intended to instill in people a sense of faith, love and hope. It is obvious that most of the younger generation is trapped in screen violence. Without the help of public institutions, it is impossible to solve the problem. Thus, the activation of the social forces from families and schools to government agencies is promising. Anyway, an adequate assessment of the escalation of violence on the screen should be given, and the real work to combat its spread and mass perception should be started.

International Entry

International Entry Executive Summary It is surprising that the profitability of large retail booksellers in Japan is relatively poor with their sales being small compared to other countries in the world (Directory of Japanese publishing and bookselling, 1982). One of the major players in the market is the Saihan system that ensures market control by fixing the price of the products in the industry (Directory of Japanese publishing and bookselling: a guide to the market for British books, journals and literary rights in Japan (1st ed), 1978).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on International Entry-Mode Choices specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Farrell, this system deters the entry of new retailers into the bookselling industry, and has often been labeled as â€Å"anti-competitive,† and â€Å"collusive† (2005, p. 29). A comparison is therefore necessary with other countries and especially the United States to estab lish the validity and effects of the system to the bookselling market. Introduction The impact that the introduction of the Saihan system in Japan has had on retail booksellers is an issue that has aroused a never-ending debate. As Farrell states, there are advantages and disadvantages of having the system in Japan since the effects are different for the various companies (2005, p. 29).  Some of the companies operating in this country include Bookoff and Amazon Japan both of which have recorded mixed returns with the system in place (Govindarajan, Gupta, 2001, p. 5). An evaluation of the effect that the dissolution of the Saihan system would have on the industry is also a spotlight of this paper with the focus being on the two companies.  As a board member of Barnes and Noble, I will make an evaluation and feasibility study on the possibility of opening a series of bookstores in the country with the consideration of the Saihan. Background This paper focuses on the Japanese book selling industry showing how competitors were able to establish their position within the industry. Japan is a country with a well-developed reading culture with most of her citizens having a habit of reading books of all genres (Directory of Japanese publishing and bookselling 1982). One would therefore expect the book Retail Markets in the country to be well established and profitable given that the culture is a positive one to this industry. Problem Statement According to the Directory of Japanese publishing and bookselling (1982), the bookselling industry in Japan has a history of diminished returns over the years. A major contributor to this hitch is the restrictive Saihan system (Brewer, Young, Guisinger, 2003, p. 29). The aim is therefore to investigate the feasibility of starting a branch of a multinational bookstore with evaluation of the effects of Saihan system on the other existing bookstores in Japan. The evaluation of the effects that the dissolution of the Saihan sys tem would have on the Japanese retail Booksellers also takes pre-eminence in the essay.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Analysis of the Problem According to Gurnsey and Henderson, Japanese bookstores are thought to have a prosperous development (1984, p.17). However, in this country, the booksellers suffer low profits with their companies mainly being small scale (Melville, 1999, p. 47). As Melville states, the cause of the problem is mainly the Saihan system (1999, p. 47). Other factors that have been established as causes of the problems include the return policy and the lack of financial disclosure existing in these firms (Minowa, 1990, p. 97). The Saihan system establishes that the sale of books has to be under the set price with the publishers being responsible for the setting or fixing of the price (Bartlett, Ghoshal, 1998, p. 19: Womack, 1990). As a busine ss rule, new entrants in a market have to use pricing in addiction to other factors to attract new customers and steal those being served by the older firms (Hatch, Dyer, 2004, p. 29). Japanese retail booksellers are however denied this privilege by the Saihan system, as it is not possible for them to use price as a weapon in the process of competition (Farrell, 2005, p. 48). The customers are also described as not being loyal to any of the retailers, as they find no difference in buying from them (Peng, 2001, p. 29). According to Farrell, the sale of the books in Japan is not dependent on a word of mouth, but rather on reviews and advertisement thus meaning that significant revenue goes to advertisement (2005, p. 48). As opposed to other regions of the world where financial statements of the companies are readily available to the public, the retail bookselling firms in Japan are not good at disclosing their financial statements (Farrell, 2005, p. 48). The companies are therefore l ikely to produce figures that are not matching with the actual profits. Another problem that Sirmon, Hitt, and Ireland explain is the return policy in the Japan bookselling industry (2007). According to them, retailers can freely return the unsold books to publishers for an equivalent amount of credit (Sirmon, Hitt, Ireland, 2007). The implication of this strategy is that there is no need for stock inventory and that a bigger scale is necessary (Farrell, 2005, p. 57). These are some of the problems that the industry is tolerating with the most significant being the Saihan system.  The Saihan system would be illegal in many countries especially in the United States where a policy is in place to guide and control the existing industries. According to Prestowitz, one of the protective factors in the US is the constitution that allows the freedom of starting a profit making organization or company (1988, p. 42).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on International Entry-Mode Choices specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The companies’ act that is in place also ensures that would-be retailers are not deprived of their rights. The retail bookselling industry here is also free of any bonds that would restrict new entrants into the industry with the return policy being non-existent (Farrell, 2005, p. 36). This case may explain the performance of the industry. Bookoff and Amazon Japan are some of the companies that have established themselves in the Industry (Farrell, 2005, p. 48). The entry of Amazon into the Japanese bookselling market was met with a big challenge (Farrell, 2005, p. 27). The Saihan provided the most of this challenge (Peng, Heath, 1996, p. 498). However, Amazon Japan was able to make intelligent adjustments to bypass the system in a bid to ensure profitability. According to Farrell, the company enabled its Japanese clients to purchase books via a series of outlets by paying them thro ugh credit cards (2005, p. 31). It also provided free shipping of books to the customer thus enabling the bypassing of the system. Another brilliant idea was the accumulation of points by its customers, which would then be exchanged for books (Farrell, 2005, p. 38). The company also bypassed the Saihan by having a third party sales of books through the market sales it organized besides charging a commission on the sale of the books (Farrell, 2005, p. 38). This means that the company was not directly involved in sales, but was benefitting from them, thereby being not guilty as per the Saihan system. Alternatives and Criteria Selection The main consideration for a company to invest in Japan is respect to the set laws and guidelines. The Saihan system and the related laws are just but a few of the examples. The other requirements for a company to invest in the country’s bookselling industry are cautious evaluation of the market dynamics and the existing competition. Since there is no single company that can claim dominance in the retail bookselling industry in Japan (Peng, Heath, 1996, p. 498), Barnes and Noble stand a good chance of starting on a profitable path. All that the company requires is the financial input that is directed towards the marketing of its products (Peng, Heath, 1996, p. 498). The company also needs to learn from the previous attempts to penetrate this market. In fact, a good idea would be to use the experience of Amazon Japan. As Yeung states, there is a need to come up with an effective strategy when setting up a business or subsidiaries with the replication of ideas that have worked for other businesses being also accepted (2006, p. 59).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The company should therefore attempt to start marketing criteria that are close to that of Amazon Japan in an effort to incorporate a strategy that is focused on going round the Saihan system. Barnes and Noble should also diversify on their products in this market. The creation of many products has been shown to be a way of obtaining customers’ loyalty, as they can easily get what they are looking for within one roof (Yeung, 2006, p. 17). The formulation of a competition as a marketing strategy where customers would accumulate points and or use them to purchase the commodities is also one of the ways of enhancing profitability (Yeung, 2006, p. 17). Recommendation From the discussion of the effects of the various factors affecting the retail booksellers in the Japanese market, a number of recommendations emerge. These are related to the theories put forward on marketing and consumer dynamics (Peng, Heath, 1996, p. 523). A foremost recommendation is the dissolution of the Saih an as a component of the retail bookselling industry in the country. This step would increase competition between the companies promoting profitability and or increasing sales (Peng, Heath, 1996, p. 527). With the dissolution of the Saihan in the country, a number of effects would be felt in the industry and the financial market in Japan in general. As stated above, one of the effects would be the development of stern competition between stakeholders in the industry. Competition is a good thing for businesses, as it encourages them to improve efficiency and customer service (Farrell, 2005, p. 67). On the other hand, the retail market bookselling in Japan has largely been in existence with no precise member having an edge over the other due to the restrictions imposed by the Saihan system (Farrell, 2005, p. 67). With the dissolution of the system therefore, some of the companies would have an advantage over the others depending on their financial base. This case would mean that the smaller firms are kicked out of the market, as they would not be able to offer a competitive pricing for the books (Farrell, 2005, p. 67). Another possible recommendation is the institution of free deliveries and shipping from warehouses in the United States. This strategy would be another way of promoting loyalty and profitability for Barnes and Noble (Acedo, Barroso, Galan, Ali, 2006, p. 630). The relocation and opening of a branch in this country requires a careful study of the market. No company should be in a hurry to do so without doing the necessary groundwork. This argument is also supported by Barney (2001, p. 23) who says that the company should therefore evaluate the consumer profile and preference before setting up a branch here. Action plan A possible action plan for the company is considered after the discussion of the Saihan and its effects. A personal recommendation is that Barnes and Noble should not invest in the retail bookselling market in Japan in the current p revailing circumstances. The major deterrence for this decision is the Saihan. However, with the dissolution of the Saihan, this decision would change to facilitate the opening of the branch. Another plan would be to set up a strong marketing team. As suggested by Kotler, for any business to be successful even in the absence of the Saihan, there needs to be an effective marketing plan (1986, p. 17). Conclusion In conclusion, the Saihan system closely monitors and controls bookselling retail market in Japan. Some of the problems that have compounded to produce the low profits and sales experienced in this industry have also been discussed with appropriate recommendations. With the dissolution of the Saihan system, a personal consideration would be to set up a branch for Barnes and Noble in the country. Reference List Acedo, F., Barroso, C., Galan, J., Ali (2006). The resource-based theory. SMJ, 27(1), 621–636. Barney, J. (2001). Is the resource-based view a useful perspective for strategic management research?. AMR, 26(4), 41–56. Bartlett, C., Ghoshal, S. (1998). Managing across borders: the transnational solution. Boston, Mass: Harvard Business School Press. Brewer, L., Young, S., Guisinger, E. (2003). The new economic analysis of multinationals an agenda for management, policy and research. Cheltenham, U.K.: Edward Elgar. Directory of Japanese publishing and bookselling (1982). London: The British  Council. Directory of Japanese publishing and bookselling: a guide to the market for British  books, journals and literary rights in Japan (1978). London: British Council. Farrell, D. (2005). Offshoring: Value creation through economic change. Journal of Management Studies, 42(1), 675–683. Govindarajan, V., Gupta, K. (2001). The quest for global dominance: transforming global presence into global competitive advantage. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Gurnsey, J., Henderson, H. (1984). Electronic publishing trends in the United States, Euro pe and Japan: an update of Electronic document delivery III. Oxford: Learned Information. Hatch, N., Dyer, J. (2004). Human capital and learning as a source of competitive advantage. SMJ, 25(2), 1155–1178. Kotler, P. (1986). Principles of marketing (3rd ed.). Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall. Melville, I. (1999). Marketing in Japan. Oxford England: Butterworth-Heinemann. Minowa, S. (1990). Book publishing in a societal context: Japan and the West. Tokyo: Japan Scientific Societies Press ;. Peng, M. (2001). The resource-based view and international business. JM, 27(1),  803–829. Peng, W., Heath, P. (1996). The growth of the firm in planned economies in transition. AMR, 21(4), 492–528. Prestowitz, V. (1988). Trading places: how we allowed Japan to take the lead. New York: Basic Books. Sirmon, D., Hitt, M., Ireland, R. D. (2007). Managing firm resources in dynamic environments to create value. AMR, 32(4), 273–292. Womack, J. (1990). The Machine that changed the world. New York: Maxwell Macmillan International. Yeung, A. (2006). Setting the people up for success: How the Portman Ritz-Carlton Hotel gets the best from its people. Human Resource Management, 45(2), 267–275.

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Weakening of the United States Education System Essay

Weakening of the United States Education System - Essay Example This essay stresses that the trend of outsourcing by American companies in the late 1990s gave jobs to Asian countries like India; and these Asian companies and countries have continued to bid on other technological projects. China and India’s large population also represents labor potentials that translate to serious threats on the US dominance in the international technological market. In the 1950s the United States was able to create educational opportunities for its population; the focus on science and math education during these years helped the US gain technological capabilities. But this educational focus has declined or weakened over the years. Instead, over in Asia, young minds are working long and hard hours mastering and gaining knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). And these are the very areas which students in America are avoiding because of their higher levels of difficulty. This paper makes a conclusion that the American education system has yet to incorporate adjustments into its curriculum which would allow its graduates to comfortably relate with the outside world. And this oversight, if uncorrected, will continue to minimize the competitiveness and the capabilities of their graduates and eventually, their workforce. Countries like China and South Korea are investing largely on their universities and in technological research in order to give them the capability of competing strongly with other countries.

Looking at the Four Way Relationship among Jackson, Clay, Calhoun, and Essay

Looking at the Four Way Relationship among Jackson, Clay, Calhoun, and Webster, which Man do you Find more Admirable and Why - Essay Example First is the one concerning the â€Å"nullification crisis†. Prior to this period, under the American System a lot of subsidies were being granted through tariffs imposed on imports and otherwise aiding the domestic industry because it was thought to boost the economy. When Jackson came into power, he curbed these trade protection measures which resulted in an outcry and retaliation from the Congress. The crisis that developed with strong stances from both sides was dimmed when the Congress announced it would lower taxes in 1833. The second episode was concerning the â€Å"Bank War†. The Bank of the United States was a corporation controlled by the Congress with basically two major functions, one was to print paper money and the second was to manage the government’s finances, however Jackson thought that such an institution was dangerous and wrongful and later vetoed a charter asking to expand the Bank’s role. Jackson became the advocate for the people aga inst the elite who had set to exploit them. By doing this he introduced a new but permanent theme into American Politics. Further, Jackson strengthened and extended the role and responsibilities of an American President. He inaugurated the â€Å"spoils system† which was in effect a patronage system whereby once a party wins the elections, the government gives employment to its voters as an incentive to stay loyal to the party. During his time in power, Andrew Jackson displayed a lot of strength and patriotism and with his precise aim and steel will was able to greatly impact the face of American politics for generations to come. (Miller Center, University of Virginia). Daniel Webster (1782-1852) was an American statesman, lawyer and orator and a strong supporter of nationalism. Following his quick success, Webster was elected for the House of Representatives in 1812. Later, Webster left the congress and moved to Boston, where he proceeded to establish himself as one of the na tion’s greatest lawyers. He returned back to Congress in 1823 and was elected for senator four years later. Webster allied with President Andrew Jackson over the issue of nullifying tariff in South Carolina but apart from that they were not really on the same side. Webster ran for presidency but was never elected. (Sydney Nathan). Henry Clay (1777-1852) was an American statesman, congressman and senator. Clay was a supporter of balancing the rights of Free states as well as slave states and fought for federal funding for the national bank, the industry and for much needed investment in infrastructure. Clay also ran twice for the Presidency, both times unsuccessfully. (Bio.Truestory) John Calhoun (1782-1850) was an influential American politician, senator and political theorist. He was Vice President of the United States from 1825 to 1832 during the presidency of John Quincy Adams and also during the initial time period under Andrew Jackson. Calhoun resigned from Vice Presiden cy in 1832 and was then elected for the United States Senate. He had been a supporter of President Jackson initially, but with the passage of time and events their alliance deteriorated and Calhoun withdrew his support from Jackson after he turned against him. He subsequently became a strong voice against Jackson’s policies especially, the â€Å"spoils system†. From the time beginning from1832 and leading up to this death, Calhoun dedicated his

Informative Speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Informative Speech - Essay Example Even though experimental vaccines and treatment drugs have been developed and are currently in use, the disease is yet to be contained. To limit and/or avoid catching Ebola, it is important to observe high-level hygiene and avoid contact with infected persons. This will not only ensure that people are safe from the disease, but also curb its spread from one person to another. Most importantly, every symptom related to Ebola should be taken seriously. Most infections are spread from one person to another because symptoms related to Ebola are often disregarded. It is vital to be tested for the disease as early as possible whenever the aforementioned symptoms are observed. Diagnosing the disease early increases chances of survival. The ultimate objective, however, is to avoid the disease altogether. This can be done by ensuring people with the said symptoms are quarantined for testing and treatment if applicable. When in known or potentially affected areas, avoid coming into contact with other people’s fluids such as sweat, saliva, or blood. This goes to as far as avoiding handshakes and using protective gear when in such

Movie Paper on Mommie Dearest Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Movie Paper on Mommie Dearest - Essay Example This could greatly be accounted by the wrong and sometimes grotesque perceptions of the illness in the media and their depictions in films. Although some of these portrayals are realistic and accurate, some are more likely sensationalized. Media and films are powerful mediums of information. They can either justify the truth or bend the truth to both positive and negative extremities. With this in hand, this paper then is perusal of a film's characterization of a person with mental disorder. The film studied is the biographic movie of Joan Crawford's life entitled "Mommie Dearest" which was based on the book written by her adopted daughter Christina after her death. In the film, Yablans and Perry (1981) focused the story on the relationship between the movie legend Joan Crawford and her adoptive daughter Christina. The movie starts with then single and divorced Joan Crawford; determined to adopt children to fill the void that was missing in her life. Joan first adopted a baby girl and called her Christina. She later adopted another baby boy and called him Christopher. The film depicts the children's lives under the renowned Hollywood star, who behind curtains was an abusive and violent parent. Her obsessive want of excellence as a famous actress and a parent topped with the pressure of being in show business and an abusive attitude towards alcohol was a repeating theme throughout the movie. Yablans and Perry(1981) concentrated the film on Joan Crawford's bouts of obsessive madness where the burden was inflicted on her children. Christina's struggle as a child and later on adulthood to be an actress to satisfy her mother was also conveyed. There were only several small indications of her marriages during the film. No doubt, Joan Crawford's supposed reputation as a renowned actress was ruined by the exposure of her other life. Although Joan Crawford was not formally diagnosed, she was suspected to have an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). According to resources of MentalHelp.net (n.d.), "OCD is an anxiety disorder where a person has recurrent and unwanted ideas or impulses (called obsessions)" and these obsessions are coupled with the constant "urge or compulsion" to satisfy the "discomfort caused by the obsession". These obsessions could vary, from simple things such as hygiene to more complex things such as religion. When the compulsions to satisfy his obsession are disgruntled, anxiety attacks follow. MentalHelp.net (n.d.) further adds that a person with OCD have thoughts and behaviors that are often "senseless, repetitive, distressing, and sometimes harmful, but they are also difficult to overcome". The behavior of a person with OCD was more or less depicted by Joan Crawford's characterization in the film. First was her obsession to be seen as a good role model of a parent. She insisted on adopting children although she was advised by her friend who is an attorney to not adopt because it was not advisable for her to adopt children given her single and divorced status. When advised, she retaliates "Bend the law!" (Yablans and Perry, 1981). In another instance, the two children were made to recite which were obviously practiced answers to the radio staff that came to interview the Crawford family on how they spend their Christmas. Joan Crawford was watchful of their answers and it

EU Policy in the Area of Communications Assignment

EU Policy in the Area of Communications - Assignment Example As set forth by the TVWFD, access to information is to be enforced such that all citizens may enjoy on free television the major sports and cultural events, or at least the public extracts featuring highlights of such events, that are of high public interest.   Also, the Directive mandates Member states to ensure freedom of reception and retransmission in their jurisdiction of television broadcasts from other Member states, except when the broadcast â€Å"seriously and gravely† threatens to impair â€Å"the physical, mental or moral development of minors, in particular, those that involve pornography or gratuitous violence† (Council of European Communities, 1989, p. 23).  Ã‚  As set forth by the TVWFD, access to information is to be enforced such that all citizens may enjoy on free television the major sports and cultural events, or at least the public extracts featuring highlights of such events, that are of high public interest.   Also, the Directive mandates Me mber states to ensure freedom of reception and retransmission in their jurisdiction of television broadcasts from other Member states, except when the broadcast â€Å"seriously and gravely† threatens to impair â€Å"the physical, mental or moral development of minors, in particular, those that involve pornography or gratuitous violence† (Council of European Communities, 1989, p. 23).  Ã‚  The rules imposed to the Directive are apparently too liberal and absolute, in favor of the free exchange of information, and too restrictive in the matter of Member states exercising their discretion to control the entry of harmful informational broadcast content.   This is not to say that there is no high-level commitment to the Directive, but particular circumstances may call into question the wisdom of an absolutist approach in the Directive’s interpretation.   For instance, Germany has gained a reputation for its hardline stance against racial hate speech to uphold t he personal dignity right protected by Article One of the German Basic Law.   This is for good reason:   â€Å"Suppose a nationalist government takes power in one of the new Member States and the German broadcasting authorities doubt that its broadcasting authority will clamp down on neo-Nazi programming †¦ and show a documentary of David Irving, a notorious Holocaust denier†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Bignami, 2004, p. 129), then conceivably Germany may ban such broadcast within its jurisdiction. 3.   Analyze and discuss the reasons for the failure or success of transnational broadcasting projects in Europe. Include in your answer some reflection on the experience of a country of your choice.  

Movie Paper on Mommie Dearest Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Movie Paper on Mommie Dearest - Essay Example This could greatly be accounted by the wrong and sometimes grotesque perceptions of the illness in the media and their depictions in films. Although some of these portrayals are realistic and accurate, some are more likely sensationalized. Media and films are powerful mediums of information. They can either justify the truth or bend the truth to both positive and negative extremities. With this in hand, this paper then is perusal of a film's characterization of a person with mental disorder. The film studied is the biographic movie of Joan Crawford's life entitled "Mommie Dearest" which was based on the book written by her adopted daughter Christina after her death. In the film, Yablans and Perry (1981) focused the story on the relationship between the movie legend Joan Crawford and her adoptive daughter Christina. The movie starts with then single and divorced Joan Crawford; determined to adopt children to fill the void that was missing in her life. Joan first adopted a baby girl and called her Christina. She later adopted another baby boy and called him Christopher. The film depicts the children's lives under the renowned Hollywood star, who behind curtains was an abusive and violent parent. Her obsessive want of excellence as a famous actress and a parent topped with the pressure of being in show business and an abusive attitude towards alcohol was a repeating theme throughout the movie. Yablans and Perry(1981) concentrated the film on Joan Crawford's bouts of obsessive madness where the burden was inflicted on her children. Christina's struggle as a child and later on adulthood to be an actress to satisfy her mother was also conveyed. There were only several small indications of her marriages during the film. No doubt, Joan Crawford's supposed reputation as a renowned actress was ruined by the exposure of her other life. Although Joan Crawford was not formally diagnosed, she was suspected to have an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). According to resources of MentalHelp.net (n.d.), "OCD is an anxiety disorder where a person has recurrent and unwanted ideas or impulses (called obsessions)" and these obsessions are coupled with the constant "urge or compulsion" to satisfy the "discomfort caused by the obsession". These obsessions could vary, from simple things such as hygiene to more complex things such as religion. When the compulsions to satisfy his obsession are disgruntled, anxiety attacks follow. MentalHelp.net (n.d.) further adds that a person with OCD have thoughts and behaviors that are often "senseless, repetitive, distressing, and sometimes harmful, but they are also difficult to overcome". The behavior of a person with OCD was more or less depicted by Joan Crawford's characterization in the film. First was her obsession to be seen as a good role model of a parent. She insisted on adopting children although she was advised by her friend who is an attorney to not adopt because it was not advisable for her to adopt children given her single and divorced status. When advised, she retaliates "Bend the law!" (Yablans and Perry, 1981). In another instance, the two children were made to recite which were obviously practiced answers to the radio staff that came to interview the Crawford family on how they spend their Christmas. Joan Crawford was watchful of their answers and it

Privatization in developing countries Assignment

Privatization in developing countries - Assignment Example They start to register losses and the management fails at delivering their goals (Gianaris 57). Each of the management cycle and rules comes with certain advantages and disadvantages; likewise the concept of privatization also comes with certain advantages and disadvantages. If we look at the pros we would conclude that privatization places its operations in the ownership of private enterprise, these are more responsive to customer services because they deal with great competition in the industry and they have to perform well to gain market share. The Government cannot take undue advantage of the industry and they are not bound to perform under limitations. Privatization also provides a one off boost of cash flows to the government and the same money can be invested in other projects or to meet short term liabilities. Privatization of the industry loses its monopoly and that is why the same product could be sold at a much competitive price with enough supply to meet the demand. Another advantage of the concept is it leads to innovation in the product and other features that le ads to a better understanding of the customer needs and requirements Few of the disadvantages that are related to privatization are the cost of transaction is too high, the public monopolies are now private monopolies and the competition is still less in few of the industries, Government privatizes its industries because they are short of cash flows or are high on debt and for that reason they sell their industries for a much cheaper cost and value than it would have been sold under normal circumstances, the private business closes down the operations which are performing well and so a lot of jobs are lost and sections are closed and the investment goes in the hand of few even though it is sold to a huge majority. Margaret Thatcher was one of those people who introduced

One- Creative Writing Essay Example for Free

One- Creative Writing Essay Medic! the cry rang out through the hot street. Another gunshot, and men scrambled for cover like scared rabbits. The man still lay bleeding in the middle of the road. The war had started today, and he was already dying. He made an attempt to crawl for safety. Too late, he looked pleadingly to his comrades. A rifle bullet cut through stifling air and bit deep into the mans backbone. He writhed, screaming in pain. A final shot, this time better aimed. A burst of blood from his neck and a gargle, and he was gone forever. He was dead. His radio crackled. A few miles away someone needed help. Med Evac to grid 647- 321. Landmine detonation. One casualty. Serious. George Robertson lay in the muddy field, in a pool of dirty water and his own blood. Like a Valkyrie coming to claim him, a helicopter buzzed overhead, and two medics kneeling beside him spoke in terse, quiet voices. Of course, George didnt know any of this. George didnt know that his legs were a smoking ruin and that his pelvis had been smashed, fragments forced into his gut and spine. There was no pain, only the purgatory black of unconsciousness. A memory formed in his mind. The morning rally echoed out over the barracks. George woke up and sat on the side of his bed. Still dark outside, he thought, as he glanced at his watch. Five thirty- what was going on? Someone knocked at the door, and came in. It was Mark, Georges best mate. They had joined the army together, about a year back. Mark was from Liverpool and was the funniest person in Georges squad. Whaddya reckons going on then? asked Mark in his thick scouse. Dunno, replied George, still half awake. Might be about that thing in the Novistranos islands. Oh yeah. Yeah, I read abou that. Big time drug dealers rule half the place, I heard George, finally, was dressed. The two men walked out into the warm June night, across the parade ground where they drilled three times a week with that idiot Sergeant Major. Another rally call echoed through the mist. Cmon, were late!, exclaimed Mark loudly. Leg it! The men ran into the briefing hall, and not a moment late. Colonel Smith was stepping to the front. The men sat down. The situation in the Novistranos Island group has changed, gentlemen. A military coup has taken place there, led by a drug dealer called Pedro Alvarez. A picture of the man in question flashed up on the projector- he had a bushy moustache and wore huge sunglasses, with a straw hat on. Some of the assembled men laughed- he hardly looked the billionaire, mass murdering drug dealer he was. Okay, settle down now. He may look comical, but hes anything but. He bribed the army some weeks ago, and took control of most of the country. He sent the tanks into the capital last night. Latest estimates put the death toll in the thousands. The President is dead. The cabinet have either been murdered or defected to the rebels. This is serious. Novistranos has a capable army, with around 150,000 professional soldiers, and an unspecified number of reserves. NATO says we need to act fast. The Prime Minister makes a statement this afternoon. Prep for combat. You leave in 6 hours. You were formed as a rapid reaction force. Today, you fulfil that role. There was a shocked silence in the barracks. Every man attended to his weapons and kit. They sat on their bunks, writing final letters, cleaning firearms, assembling combat gear; webbing, body armour, radio sets. They knew that without proper preparation, they were going home in a cheap wooden box. On the helicopter, George lay on a stretcher, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling, unknowing of his weakening pulse and massive blood loss. There were two dressings around what was left of his legs, and a line in his arm. The rotors buzzed like maddened flies, and the medic next to him noted his pulse. George dropped out of the paroxysm of nothing he was in, and lapsed into another flashback. George Robertson woke up. It was too early. Hed got the sack yesterday from the garage where he worked. He remembered how the boss had said something along the lines of an irreparable deficit between costs and sales. George had said to his best friend Mark about how the boss quite possibly had a deficit between his mouth and brain. George had liked his job at the garage- he liked working with machines and going down the local afterwards with his mates. Out of all the jobs in Sheffield, all thirty of em, thought George, that had to be the best one. He had thought about going down the Job Centre, but what would they have for a lad with 5 GCSEs in Sheffield? The steel industry had packed up about twenty years ago, and no office would take him with his qualifications. Damn. Sheffield can offer me no more, he thought aloud. He needed a job where he could travel, and carry on working with mechanical stuff. Preferably without being a gypsy who fixed caravans, he chuckled. Just then, the pho ne rang. Hello?, George answered. He couldnt be bothered with anyone today. A right mate?, answered the voice at the other end, in a thick liverpudlian accent. It was Mark. You got any ideas for a job? Me mams chucked me out again George laughed aloud. Its true what they say about scouse families, then? As a matter of fact, I do have an idea for a job. What would you think about joining the army? Sounds good to me- pay, free house on a base could be just the thing. Hes destabilising! In the hot and damp medical tent, orderlies milled around the man who lay on the table in the centre of the floor. George was dying. He thrashed around on his bed, his mind not registering the pain his body was in. Finally, the surgeon arrived. He wore a bloodstained apron, with scalpels and capped syringes full of morphine hanging out of the pouch like a sinister infant kangaroo. He had a weather-beaten face; hed seen it all before, too many times. Whats going on with him?, the Doctor inquired. Massive internal bleeding he needs surgery now, sir, recommended a senior medic, brandishing x- ray photos at the Doctor, who brushed past him. Uncaring of the swirling melee, like a ghost in the night, the Doctor walked to George, who was still thrashing about on the table. The Doctor took Georges arm, and took a syringe from his pouch. The needle slipped into the skin, like the mouthpiece of a hungry mosquito. A thumb pushed the plunger, and the Doctor shouted Ten millegrams morphine going in. A minute later, the potent opiate did its work and the thrashing stopped. His pulse was still weak, but had slowed to a safer level. His blood pressure, though, the Doctor noted, was through the floor. The room was silent and still. The doctor breathed in long and slow. Get this man to theatre. Im going to do what I can.. The Doctor said, and walked away to get ready. Oh, and contact HQ. They have to inform his family. The shaking stopped as the ramp on the Hercules transport reached its fully open position. The thirty young men checked their parachutes one last time. They looked at the light by the door- still red. The men turned their heads to the standing figure of Lieutenant Lewis. He shouted out the orders that they already knew about and had studied countless times on the way to this god-forsaken place. Stand up! 60 seconds!, he shouted over the whistling wind. The men stood up, unclipping their arrestor hooks from their chutes. Clip on!. The men took the hooks and attached them to the line running the length of the cargo bay. 30 seconds! George looked over at Mark, who was facing forwards, looking at the helmet of the man in front. He heard another man whispering the Lords Prayer; someone else simply closed his eyes and raised his head to look at the ceiling. George thought of all of his friends at home, his family, his little sister, and his girlfriend. He had never had a chance to tell any of them he was shipping out. He thought more of them, imagining their faces, imagining their voices. A huge explosion interrupted his reverie, and the plane lurched to one side. One unfortunate man was thrown out the door screaming, spinning uncontrollably to his death. Another was hit by burning kerosene from an auxiliary fuel tank that exploded next to him, and ran screaming through the door. Missile hit! Repeat, missile hit! Evac, evac, evac!, the pilot screamed through the intercom. Ejecting! There was a roar as the pilot saved himself from certain death. Shocked, George looked at the still red light at the back of the plane. He muttered a hurried prayer. Lets go!, screamed the Lieutenant. No- one needed telling twice. Like lemmings running to a cliff, they charged for the exit. Some of the men got out in time. Others were not so lucky. The planes nose jerked upwards as another explosion severed the arrestor line, and all the men in the plane were thrown out of the door, all spinning. except for the charred remains of what had been the co- pilot, who had been immolated in the first hit. The plane span downwards, hitting the ground with a cataclysmic explosion. George coasted down through the sky. He was still processing what had happened on the plane- it had happened so fast. One second he was thinking of home, next second he had watched two men die. Was this war, he thought? Was this what it was really like, simply watching your friends die completely randomly and without reason? War was hell, he decided, and hed been in one for less than a minute. He wanted to go home. Back in Sheffield, the Robertsons sat watching the TV. They saw the pictures of air strikes on the Novistranos Islands. They saw the British planes roaming the skies, firing missiles at seemingly random intervals at unseen targets. Another year, another war, the correspondents had said. Itll be over soon, they prophesised like fortune tellers, as they always did. The telephone rang. Hello?, said John Robertson, in his gruff voice. Is that Mr Robertson?, inquired the voice. Speaking. What do you want? My son is in a war zone. If youre another double glazing salesman- John was cut off by the insistent voice of the caller. Mr Robertson, could you take a seat please? I have some bad news. Its about your son, George. I cant do any more. Stitch him back up, you. All we can do now is hope. The Doctor took off his gloves and walked away from the dying man. The Doctor knew hed be dead in a few hours. There was so much damage to his arteries. Almost all of them were ruptured. Anyway, the Doctor reasoned with himself, hed never walk again- he had no legs. He would have to have a colostomy bag too- that much damage had been done by bone shards from the pelvis, shattered into hundreds of pieces. The doctor went into his private room, lay face down on his bed, and wept. There were so many dead just so many. All young men with their lives ahead of them. War. War. War. A three-letter word, with so many implications. George thought again. He was drifting away from these thoughts now; he was running out of the energy to think them. He remembered back to when he hit the ground. George unclipped his parachute and took his SA-80 from his pack. He had come down in a clearing, luckily. In training, they had showed the pictures of men who had landed on trees. Nervously, he spoke into his radio microphone. Bravo 2-6 to any friendly units, respondBravo 2-6 to any friendly units, please respond, over Bravo 2-5 here. Whats your status, George? It was Mark. Im OK, he replied. The plane. How many got out alive? Do you know? I saw 12 chutes as I came down, including yours. I was last out. The last thing I saw was the back of the plane completely shearing in two. theyre all dead. Sixteen men hurled to their doom. Sixteen friends. Sixteen families. It all sank in. OK Ive looked at the map. Meet at grid 502-178, said Mark. Roger, see you- George stopped talking. Hed seen something move in the trees to his left. George immediately went prone, and looked around him. He crawled through the undergrowth, and saw a man walking away. He looked in his early twenties maybe the same age as George. He carried an AK-47, and wore a red t shirt, with the words Always Coca Cola emblazoned on the back. George moved again, this time snapping a twig. The man turned around, eyes wild with panic. He lifted his gun to shoot George. George instinctively pulled the trigger on his rifle. A shout of gun, and the man was on the floor. George lay there, stunned. Hed just killed a man. He got up to look at the man. and jogged. The rendezvous couldnt be far away now. A half hour later, George was being briefed by the lieutenant. They had 11 men in the squad, and the main force had landed on the beach a few miles away. Helicopters buzzed overhead.. Now that the war is through with me George stepped forwards. Im waking up I cannot see. His foot hit something metallic.. Deep down inside I feel the scream.. Landmine! shrieked a squaddie. George was in terrible pain. This terrible silence stops me.. The world went white. Now the world is gone, Im just one, Oh God help me.. The pain stopped. George remembered no more. Hes dead, Doctor.