Barney: Responding Essay

1. Between the journal entries from September 10th and 11th, the rat has trapped the scientist by biting the rope while he was in the well, so he is either dead or alive at the bottom of the well. 2. Tayloe was fired because of poison trails leading up to Barney’s dish, and in the scientist’s point of view, Tayloe tried to kill the rat because he thought he was getting too smart. The scientist rationalized on this thinking that this was under the influence of alcohol, that the life on the island was too much for him, and that he lost his guinea pigs. 3. The real cause for the dismissal was because the rat tricked the scientist into firing him, by placing poison trails leading up to his dish. Barney needed to get rid of Tayloe for two reasons. The first is Tayloe said Barney was getting too smart, so he was worried he would try and kill him. The second is that Barney was already plotting to kill the scientist, and it would be much easier to do so with Tayloe gone. Foreshadowing of the surprise ending was â€Å"He denied it. Who else then? †This would make you think of who would have actually tried to poison Barney of the two of them, even though it was neither. 4. One sample of irony in the second last paragraph is â€Å"I have now replaced that section or rope and arranged some old sacking beneath it to prevent recurrence of the accident. † This is ironic because the scientist believed the rope was weathering because of the edge of the masonry, and in trying to fix the problem, he arranged sacking underneath the rope. But this will do no good, as the rat was biting the rope, and later gets him trapped in the well with the same strategy. In the same paragraph, another sample of irony is â€Å"Perhaps I should fix myself a sandwich as I may be down there longer than seems likely at the moment. † This is ironic because the scientist thinks he will be in the well longer than he hopes. But little does he know, he will be down there for the rest of his short life. In the final paragraph, third sample of irony is â€Å"I sprayned my wrist is why this is written so bad. †This is very ironic because this is the rat pretending to be the scientist so that nothing is fishy. But a sprained wrist doesn’t affect spelling, may just slur a few words. 5. ? 6. The story is written in journal form because it has to have time between each paragraph. For example, there has to be a gap between the second last and last journal entry, for the point of view to change (scientist to rat). 7. Well, the reultz of my experimentt argh complete. The ratt turned very very smart. The end.

Village Volvo

1. Describe Village Volvo’s service package. The service package consists of five points: supporting facility, facilitating goods, information, explicit services and implicit services. †¢Supporting facility: The car repair is based in a new Butler building in a suburban location with four work bays, an office, a waiting area and a storage room. Because of the location Village Volvo considers a shuttle service two or three times a day. The waiting room is equipped with a television se, comfortable chairs, coffee, a soft-drink vending machine, magazines and the local newspaper. †¢Facilitating goods: Facilitating goods are on the one hand the parts which are used to replace worn-out parts of the cars and on the other hand goods which are provided in the waiting room like coffee, soft-drinks, magazines and the local newspaper. †¢Information: The client and the mechanic who will be working on the vehicle discuss the problems the client has noticed and sometimes they may take a short test drive. Another source of information is the Customer Care Vehicle Dossier (CCVD) which is a continuing file of each vehicle the garage services. The CCVD can help the mechanic to diagnose problems and provides a convenient record if a vehicle is returned for warranty service on an earlier repair. †¢Explicit services: On the basis of 22 years of training and experience with the local Volvo dealer, they have earned a respected reputation and they offer any repair service on Volvo cars. For services which are not part of Village Volvo the owners developed a network of other service providers who can satisfy the customers’ needs. Care is taken throughout the repair process to keep the car clean, and the inside is vacuumed as a courtesy before pickup. After the repairs are finished, the vehicle is taken for a short test drive. Another explicit service is the availability. They have set aside specific â€Å"drop in† times (3 to 5 PM Wednesdays and 8 to 10 AM Thursdays) each week when clients may drive in for quick routine services. Between 7 and 8 AM and 5 and 6 PM the two owner-mechanics do not repair, because they want to be available for customer contact. †¢Implicit services: Implicit services include good attitude of mechanic, the comforts of the waiting area, and the convenience of the services offered. Mechanics take time to discuss problems with their clients; they even take a short test drive with the finished car and inform the customer about any other steps necessary whilst reparation. Although the customer will be consulted before any work other than the agreed-on job is done. Village Volvo 1. Describe Village Volvo’s service package. The service package consists of five points: supporting facility, facilitating goods, information, explicit services and implicit services. †¢Supporting facility: The car repair is based in a new Butler building in a suburban location with four work bays, an office, a waiting area and a storage room. Because of the location Village Volvo considers a shuttle service two or three times a day. The waiting room is equipped with a television se, comfortable chairs, coffee, a soft-drink vending machine, magazines and the local newspaper. †¢Facilitating goods: Facilitating goods are on the one hand the parts which are used to replace worn-out parts of the cars and on the other hand goods which are provided in the waiting room like coffee, soft-drinks, magazines and the local newspaper. †¢Information: The client and the mechanic who will be working on the vehicle discuss the problems the client has noticed and sometimes they may take a short test drive. Another source of information is the Customer Care Vehicle Dossier (CCVD) which is a continuing file of each vehicle the garage services. The CCVD can help the mechanic to diagnose problems and provides a convenient record if a vehicle is returned for warranty service on an earlier repair. †¢Explicit services: On the basis of 22 years of training and experience with the local Volvo dealer, they have earned a respected reputation and they offer any repair service on Volvo cars. For services which are not part of Village Volvo the owners developed a network of other service providers who can satisfy the customers’ needs. Care is taken throughout the repair process to keep the car clean, and the inside is vacuumed as a courtesy before pickup. After the repairs are finished, the vehicle is taken for a short test drive. Another explicit service is the availability. They have set aside specific â€Å"drop in† times (3 to 5 PM Wednesdays and 8 to 10 AM Thursdays) each week when clients may drive in for quick routine services. Between 7 and 8 AM and 5 and 6 PM the two owner-mechanics do not repair, because they want to be available for customer contact. †¢Implicit services: Implicit services include good attitude of mechanic, the comforts of the waiting area, and the convenience of the services offered. Mechanics take time to discuss problems with their clients; they even take a short test drive with the finished car and inform the customer about any other steps necessary whilst reparation. Although the customer will be consulted before any work other than the agreed-on job is done.

Anzaldua †Borderlands la frontera Essay

In Gloria Anzaldua’s book Borderlands La Frontera, The New Mestiza, she shares her experience in a post-colonial world as a Chicana, a lesbian and a woman who grew up in a cross-cultured area trying to understand her identity but also to make us rethink about what a border is and what are the consequences which come with it. Anzaldua creates a â€Å"mestiza consciousness† as a dynamic capable of breaking down dualistic ascendant archetypes. This concept is related to â€Å"hybridity†, a mixed race, which will be the primary focus in this essay. The significance of being a hybrid in a colonized area of the North America resides in the desire of finding harmony between one’s cultural identity and the conqueror’s model society. Before the war with the US, California, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas belonged to Mexico. As Anzaldua states, â€Å" separated from mexico, the native Mexican-Texan no longer looked toward Mexico as home, the southwes t became our homeland once more† (Anzaldua 29). In this area she lives in, the border, Anzaldua cannot expressly think of herself as Mexican nor can she truly call herself American according to the norms which include language (English) and the skin color (white). What is her identity then? All she knows is that her home is in the Rio Grande Valley. Anzaldua’s mother used to refer to boys as snakes: â€Å"don’t go to the outhouse at night [†¦] a snake will crawl into your nalgas and make you pregnant†. The Azteca-Mexicana culture is male-dominated; women do not really have much power. As she explains, â€Å"the first time I heard two women, a Porto Rican and a Cuban, say the word nosotras, I was shocked [†¦] Chicanas use nosotros whether you are male or female. Language is a mal discourse† (Anzaldua 76). Women are controlled by men in her society, maybe this is one of the reasons she became a lesbian. Men drove the powerful female deities underground by giving them monstrous traits and by replacing them with male deities, which shows the lack of power women hold in this culture. In addition, the author explains that speaking Spanish was seen as an insult for Americans; â€Å"if you want to be American, sp eak ‘American’. If you don’t like it, go back to Mexico† (Anzaldua 75). The ironic fact here is that Gloria’s ancestors have always inhabited the land that now belongs to the US, before ‘white people’ came and populated the area. The US itself was a colony with Spanish, French, British conquerors. Who said that ‘American’ has to be the language  you must speak in order to belong to their land? In addition, she had to take two speech classes to get rid of her accent. She expresses that â€Å"attacks on one’s form of expression with the intent to censor are a violation of the First Amendment [†¦] Wild tongues can’t be tamed, they can only be cut out† ( Anzaldua 76). Indeed, to truly be part of the American ideal society, she had to speak only English and get rid of her accent. However, her accent is part of the person she is, her culture and identity. Getting rid of it is getting rid of her cultural background. In conclusion, Gloria Anzaldua explains how challenging it was for her to live in a colonized land of North America, trying to fit in their ideal society without forgetting her own culture and everything that identify her. Her sexuality, gender, religion, culture, language and accent are what constitute the Self, what represents her uniqueness and defines her role in North America.

The World's Most Ethical Companies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

The World's Most Ethical Companies - Essay Example Blue Shield was started in 1939 by the Medical Association of California. It is based at San Francisco, California. It is one of the oldest health insurance companies and has over 3.5 million members and approximately 65,000 physicians (Richards, 2010). The company has developed several health plans. The main ones are individual health plans and family health plans as some of its products, as it offers to the community. The main purpose of the company is to ensure quality provision of health care services and effective costs favorable to the community. These outstanding motives make the company excel in meeting the needs of the consumers, its approach to the environment, and general employee treatment. 2. Determine at least two (2) ways in which the chosen company behaves in a morally responsible way toward each of the following: a. Consumers  b. The environment c. Employees 2.0 Ethical Behaviors practiced by the company towards the Environment The company wants to develop to be a responsible health care institution. This has been defined by its support of the community development and commitment in taking care of its consumers, who are mainly registered members. The effort made in this case is working hard to be socially responsible. This includes reducing the environmental pollution, recycling of material wastes and provision of composite services as explained below. 2.0.1 Reducing environmental pollution This is one of the vital steps taken by the company. It aims at maintaining good health in the surrounding community, as well as the whole environment. Blue Shield believes in a healthy environment as a critical contribution to the well being of the people of California. Pollution has been reduced by curbing air pollutants that come from the Bay Area including treatment of chemical wastes and dumping products in a safe and environment friendly manner (Reece, 2004). These pollutants are presumed to carry substances that make asthma condition of the affected patients worse. It is in the company’s mission not to only see profitable activities but also to strengthen and protect both the community and environment. 2.1.1 Providing Recycling and Compost Services This has been one of the company goals in its intention to maintain a healthy environment. The company recycles several materials that are environmentally unfriendly but reusable. Items such as plastics, bottles, and used cans and paper are recycled. These materials are not just from the company’s outputs, but also those by the community delivered to the company through a third party. In addition, to ensure a clean environment, there is an effort to use recyclable wares by Blue Shield. The materials can decompose, hence contributing as important nutrients to the soil. The company has also employed the services of a vendor, who takes IT materials for recycling (Reece, 2004) 2.1 Ethical Behaviors of the Company towards Customers The company service to customers is explai ned in their goals, which state clear adherence to complete and satisfactory service to its consumers while ensuring quality and affordable health care. High customer retention rate and ability to have repeat clients are the measures through which the company uses to gauge the effectiveness of ethical behavior and Blue Shield has realized the customers are satisfied. Secondly, the employees mandated with the responsibility to serve and take care of customers and attend to

Pepsico Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Pepsico - Essay Example All these activities, from a marketing perspective, enable businesses to attract a market share, run profitably and sustainably. This paper examines the marketing concepts and subjects of marketing strategy that are presented and explained in a documentary program, CNBC special research/analysis on the company PepsiCo, which is headquartered in Purchase, New York, PepsiCo Inc is an American multinational company that produces markets and distributes grain-based snack foods and beverages. Like all businesses, PepsiCo has to gain a share of the highly competitive market, make profits, and create consumer value; however, this is not an easy feat to achieve without strategic marketing concepts and marketing strategies. The first marketing concept inherent in PepsiCo’s marketing strategy is the creation of healthy foods and drinks in response to the rise in global health issues, such as obesity (â€Å"Pepsi Documentary Part 1†). PepsiCo aims to produce snacks and beverages w ith low calorie, sugar, and salt, a challenging marketing strategy that is slowly transforming the scarcely known nondescript company into a leading global beverage and snacks company. Besides that, PepsiCo has an ever-increasing global presence, supplying a wide range of beverages and snacks all over the world; the company aims to satisfy customers through a regular supply of their products. The company fulfills all their customers’ needs by ensuring that there are no shortages of consumer products in the market, ranging from beverages up to snacks. Supplying customers with all their needs is an effective customer-centric strategy that enables PepsiCo to build strong customer relations while making profits. Research and innovation is at the center of PepsiCo’s marketing strategy; the company actively conducts research to discover new ingredients and flavors that can be used in its products (â€Å"Pepsi Documentary Part 1†). This research is very essential in th e creation of new breakthroughs for the company; for instance, in its quest to establish healthier products, the company seeks to discover alternative sweeteners through the research. Research is an effective way of building customer value because the basis for the establishment of outstanding products caters for consumer needs. PepsiCo continuously seeks to create superior brands that are appealing to the customers, so that it can attract its share of the product market. Given the changing global attitudes towards lifestyles in particular, PepsiCo has an obligation to meet the new market needs by ensuring its products are in tandem with the emerging changes. PepsiCo’s research and product development center works tirelessly and relentlessly to establish new ideas the company can implement that, in order to create sustainable customer value and loyalty. For instance, PepsiCo’s product research and development center has been tasked to find ways of reducing the levels o f sugar, calories, and salts in the company’s products as a strategic direction for the future (â€Å"Pepsi Documentary Part 2†). Ethics and cultural considerations are also part of PepsiCo’s marketing strategies; the company is firmly committed to societal values and cultural aspects that characterize its potential target markets. For instance, the company is strongly committed to reducing the leve

Womens Representation in the Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Womens Representation in the Media - Essay Example Moreover, these same images have been portrayed within the media since the dawn of the television age as is traced through the work of Barry Gunter.   Throughout television history, programs have been created with an eye toward attracting and defining the female in ways that focused upon the observational qualities she possessed – her body shape, her pleasing facial appearance and her glamorous clothing and accessories. Even in shows such as The Honeymooners, which offered a questioning of the ‘powerless’ role of the female, attention was given to ensure the female body remained a pleasing conformation. The emphasis on the concept that even lower middle class women were expected to conform to external ideals has only continued to build in the film industries and as television has expanded programming.   These widely apparent examples of how women portrayed in the media represent an impossible ideal to which ‘normal’ girls are constantly compared h as also been proven to have the potential for long-term social, psychological and physical problems.Chasing the DreamToday there are numerous pop culture stars such as Paris Hilton who seem to believe that being an object talked about is better than contributing something significant to the welfare of society.   This attitude of image trumps substance is transferred to many of their fans and by extension many other young girls. Empty-headed material-culture superstars have achieved their fame based solely on their beautiful bodies and extreme spending habits.’

Detroit and municipal bankruptcy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Detroit and municipal bankruptcy - Research Paper Example This essay seeks to elaborate on why Detroit should pursue bankruptcy. Detroit filling of bankruptcy can follow the city’s current existing population record. According to the census record taken in 2012, Detroit hosts a population of around 700,000 residents. This number stipulates that the city stand among the highest populated cities in the state of Michigan (Rattner 15). The high population implies that the city requires relatively higher resources compared to other cities to sustain the residents within the area. Filling for bankruptcy suffices as a good course because it enables the city to maximize on the available resources from tax exemption policies within the enacted act’s provision. The unemployment rate in Detroit has elevated to significantly alarming records. Since the year 2000, the unemployment rates have changed tremendously. The high unemployment rate is evident around the metropolitan areas where it has risen by over 10% of the national average. Unemployment rate factor is directly inversed to other factors like the homicide rates within the city considering that Detroit has the highest homicide rate and is among the most dangerous cities in the United States of America. The judicial state within the city raises the significance of filing for bankruptcy. In the year 2014, only 8.5% of cases commenced were solved. This number compared to the 30.5% of the cases solved nationwide indicating that the judicial system requires redress. The security system in Detroit also begs for the filling of bankruptcy. In Detroit city, the response to the police calls averages 56 minutes compared to the 11 minutes nationwide. The faulty security and policing system in Detroit are attributive to the lack of resources. The fire trucks and police trucks conditions neglect is evident in that they are old and cannot work efficiently. Nevertheless, just like other

The High Cost of Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The High Cost of Education - Essay Example As the report highlights  the cost of college education in America has over years increasingly gone too high. High tuition fee charges in colleges is now proving to be the biggest problem facing college students, parents and sponsors. In this hard economic time, students and parents are now struggling a lot sourcing for funds to meet this high cost of tuition fee. This has ranged from sourcing school loans from banks and including selling of property assets to fund education.   This trend has negatively impacted on the concerned parties to an extent where students have almost lost hope for a better future. One very strong negative impact that has so far been noticed is the discouragement it has had on the students undertaking various courses in various universities. It is quite clear from studies conducted by this team that on completion of college education individuals who graduate hardly get well-paying jobs that match the cost incurred while in college.  From this discussion it is clear that  a greater percentage of the little money earned from these jobs end up being used to repay the loans that were borrowed during school days leaving a minimal percentage for investment. This therefore renders a larger population of the newly employed and young hustling for their entire life. From these insights it is therefore paramount to consider the cry of the large young population and consider a thorough review of the entire fee payment systems in colleges with intent of lowering its cost for the benefit of the future generation.

Personal Response on Sexuality Identity Term Paper

Personal Response on Sexuality Identity - Term Paper Example So, it is very clear that the people from these different geographical areas will have totally different notions about sex. I too, being a product of the western society had a broad outlook about sex from the very beginning, though this course has, I think, made me think more critically in sexual decisions. Social factors that have a bearing on my sexuality According to the western, especially American concept of sexuality that prevails among the youth, sex is more of a recreational activity that does not have any connection with morality. It is a male dominated society where the ability to lure as many women as possible is considered a way to prove ones maleness. For females, the credibility lies in the ability to hook a man to ones armpits. The role of media cannot be denied in this social situation. According to reports, 8 out of 10 prime-time shows in America have sexual content; thus making sex a very common thing among the youth, having no emotional or ethical value (Dykeman, D uncan, Irvin, King, n. d.). The liberal view of the society I live in about sex is evident from the result of a survey. As per the survey, nearly 90% Americans believe that boys and girls will not wait until marriage to have sex; and only about 17% people were against oral sex and even they had serious doubts about the achievability of their expectations (NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School Poll, n.d.). Thus, I found sex as a privilege to be enjoyed since adolescence, though I had little discussion with my parents about sex. Despite the liberal attitude towards sex, I would admit, it seems difficult to have open discussions with parents. In fact, my ideas about sex are all collected from friends and the media. I think it is the social freedom we people enjoy that makes sex very possible everywhere. I know there are countries where people seldom go to clubs, or are strictly under the supervision of the parents. However, being the product of an industrialized society, my parents never put a lot of pressure on me to reveal where I am going and who I am meeting. I think it is common for the youth in my country to have this freedom and as a result I had a well defined sexuality since the very beginning of my adolescence which was highly liberal in nature. Even when I got married, I would admit, I did not think that marriage was in no way going to affect my sexual relations. My perceptions on sex and the role of critical thinking Frankly speaking, I never thought of the role of ethics in sex. Though at times I read here and there about the issues associated with plurality in sex and the advantages of having a single sex partner, it seemed a rather impossible proposition in the society I live in, especially because of the lack of emotional attachment the sexual partners posses to each other. In the society I live in, there has been a gradual deviation from the traditional concept of sex as associated with marriage. Being in a society where sex is in no way connected to wedlock and childbirth, and hence not binding, I, like any other young person in the country, prefer to view sex as a physical need; the result of hormonal changes that needs to be quenched irrespective of marital status. In fact, I had adequate knowledge about STD from media but in my own case, I was not so serious about the diseases. The attitude, like any other youngster of my age, was ‘this won’t happen to me’, but now I think I am about to change. Though I live in a society that allows sex with

Home Depot Essay Example for Free

Home Depot Essay It is not common for an enterprise to rise from the level of start-up to market domination in less than 3 decades, but Home Depot has this special distinction. With annual sales in excess of $80 billion from over 2 thousand retail stores (A Portrait of Growth, 2007) this remarkable corporation did not even exist until 1978. This stunning growth, which has an impressive record of profitability as well, has been largely achieved in North America, during the less than dynamic times of the last quadrant of the 20th century. The Home Depot success story is not in mere commercial or financial terms alone, but is also a powerful symbol of the spirit of free enterprise: the company was founded by a team of just 2 entrepreneurs, and has made deep inroads in all the communities it serves (Roush, 1999). This document combines both internal and external views and accounts of the functional histories and accomplishments of Home Depot, and concludes with observations about the possible future prospects of the corporation in the global markets which have begun to unfold. Company Analysis Home Depot has been built on a triad of platforms, which can be used to analyze its performance in qualitative terms (A Portrait of Growth, 2007). The first of these planks has been to build on a core business, which the company has executed with finesse and with impressive results. The corporate brand has become virtually synonymous with all do-it-yourself and do-it-for-me home improvement activities in the United States. The company is present in all 50 States, and has a comprehensive package of products and services for all categories of individual home owners. The company brand is an assurance of quality and value-for-money for an entire generation of U. S. citizens. Easily accessible customer advice (Roush, 1999). and strong cultural roots in the multi-racial values of modern America are inextricably linked with all phases of company operations. A second dimension of Home Depot has been to extend business (A Portrait of Growth, 2007). The management has been relatively conservative in this respect, adding wholesale and electronic business lines, but without the kind of aggressive expansion that was a hall-mark of its early years of store expansion. Indeed, it is also interested to dispose off its wholesale business. It is possible to think of many extensions of the original home improvement business in a retail format, which the company seems to have ignored. However, business extension remains a key stated aim of Home Depot. The third plank of Home Depot is to enter new markets (A Portrait of Growth, 2007). Implementation, being restricted to Canada, Mexico, and China, has been poor. Russia, India, the European Union, Brazil, the Middle East, and South Africa, are some of the potential markets which Home Depot has ignored. There seems to be no systematic effort to exploit the Internet and establish a strong global presence, as many other U. S. based corporations have done. The overall qualitative company analysis of Home Depot shows excellence in and focus on growing the core business, with limited forays in diversification, and weak attempts to extend the business to all available markets. Quantified company analysis leads to the same conclusion: Home Depot yields high short-term cash, but seems to be low on initiatives for new investment. 2005 Gross Profit, at over $27 billion, is more than a third of sales revenue. This is quite extraordinary for a business without proprietary products or technology. It reflects the success of the company’s basic philosophy of achieving economies of scale (Roush, 1999). The 2005 achievement is no ‘flash in the pan’ for the company has an impressive record of 5 years of operating margin expansion. Long term debt is less than 10% of equity, indicating some possible diffidence of company management about future prospects. It does not augur well for investors who look for superior growth opportunities. The 2005 Quick Ration is below 0. indicating efficiency in purchasing and logistics, with due leverage of its commanding market share and brand strength. It is clear that Home Depot is a successful and profitable enterprise, though it is inadequately geared to exploit new opportunities and emergent market trends. The company’s financials and business structure indicate that it may have already crested its best years, especially with respect to the limitations to further growth in North America. Segregated accounts for operations in China are not available in the public domain, but it appears that the company has not matched its historical success in a new continent. The entrepreneurial origins of Home Depot may not be entirely relevant for the professionalism demanded by a global market environment. Economics High volumes at low prices are at the heart of the business model (Roush, 1999). The network of over 2 thousand retail stores, with national spread in the United States, and enviable brand equity, combine to attract a plethora of suppliers with apparent deep discounts for the company’s endorsement. The economics of Home Depot act as an entry barrier, preventing regional competitors from attacking its market share. High cash generation puts Home Depot in a formidable bargaining position, and with the power to sustain predatory pricing offers. The Home Depot economic model has deeper roots in people than in numbers! Decades of intensive training and close interaction between the founders and front-line employees (Roush, 1999) make the company’s stores more than mere warehouses of branded goods. Home Depot emphasizes customer education, which attracts middle-class first time home buyers in sustained and large numbers. The company has carved a large segment in the U.  S. market with such deep footprints that they are almost impossible for newcomers to erase. Accounting Home Depot is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (Home Depot Inc, 2007). It has met all reporting and disclosure requirements without any exceptions on record. Auditor comments on its financial statements show adequate compliance with statutory accounting standards. It is apparent that the company has an adequate accounting system, which is able to capture details of millions of transactions in reliable manner. Though the Management Information Systems of Home Depot are not in the public domain, it is possible to observe that even statutory treasury functions are advantageous for the company. The control of such a large number of sales items spread trans-nationally over such a large number of locations, would itself serve as an entry barrier for a new entrant. The company must excel in systems development, even if some parts are outsourced, to account correctly for such a large number of daily transactions. The Home Depot accounting system is therefore a significant non-financial asset of the corporation. Such systems have large future profit potentials if the company diversifies and enters new markets. Finance Earnings have grown by more than 20% for 4 consecutive years (A Portrait of Growth, 2007). Cash generation exceeds $7 billion. Total assets are about $44 billion. The equity base is stable at just over 2 billion shares, but long term debt is just 9. 9% of equity. The company is amazingly liquid for a business, which on paper should be most vulnerable to the vagaries of customer demand. The Current Ratio is just 1. 7, which is remarkable for so many items on sale across more than 2 thousand depots. Return on Investment in 18. 31, which exceed expected performance for a business without patents and proprietary technologies. Home Depot has a sterling financial performance, and is extremely sound by all financial yardsticks. However, the equity is not adequately leveraged. It appears that the management does not have new ideas about the future, though the business segment in which it operates is full of technological, economic, spatial, and demographic changes. Even the Current and Quick ratios, while admirable from an accountant’s perspective, may be questioned in terms of inventories of scare materials such as wood. Overall, finance has opportunities to excel as a function when a company grows aggressively, makes ambitious expansion plans, and deals in multiple currencies. The financial waters of Home Depot are placid! Marketing The Finance function of Home Depot may be a quiet place, but Marketing is a dynamic function for the company! Excellence in customer service is a founding value of the company (Roush, 1999). Much of this is achieved through intensive training programs, and by innovation in store design. It is hard to match the incomparable product and service combination of Home Depot and it is apparent that the company has a strong understanding of middle-class Americans as a customer segment. All home improvement needs can be met at the company’s stores, and customers have come to rely on the company’s pricing for a wide variety of tools and fixtures. The company brand enjoys top-of-the-mind recall, and has strong associations with the generic product category of retail home improvement. The do-it-yourself product category is very large in most sections of U. S. society, so Home Depot has a durable line of revenue by dominating this market. The business calls for deep understanding of the multi-faceted needs of home owners, and Home Depot has nurtured a special bonding with typical customers ever since its inception. The brand loyalty is extremely strong and has not been broken by any competitor as yet. The company has such a strong hold on the market that new manufacturers of appliances, fittings, and surfaces, are forced to enter the market through Home Depot stores. Customer education is a key consideration at Home Depot (Roush, 1999). This serves to protect the company’s market shares for even the most generic product lines, because no one else matches the information needs of new home owners, or older ones who encounter new problems in their properties. Since the company also offers favorable pricing, customers have little motivation to switch loyalties. Repeat custom is ensured through universal customer satisfaction. There is also plenty of space devoted to do-it-for-me market segments, which combines well with the wholesale business (now on the block for sale) to bring in valuable endorsements from experts in the professional home repair and redecoration businesses. Customers routinely visit Home Depot without any specific product in mind, or even without fully knowing what exactly they need to buy. The friendly advice which is easily and freely available at Home Depot serves to hook customers and has them returning for all home improvement needs. The service also serves to expand the overall market for home improvement, encouraging home owners to take on tasks which they may have left unattended or passed on to service providers, were it not for the guidelines forthcoming from the stores of Home Depot. The encouraging ambience in the stores of Home Depot is reinforced by wise and timely mass media communication. By advertising on a NASCAR theme on television (A Portrait of Growth, 2007) the company shows deep appreciation of its typical customer cluster, and their preferences. Home Depot is also an official NFL sponsor, which is most appropriate considering the profile of the typical customer who shops at Home Depot, and who is responsible for the vast majority of home improvement decisions. Home Depot excels in all aspects of Marketing with sharp focus on a targeted segment. The Marketing Mix is a coordinated mix of product and service elements guaranteed to ensure repeat custom and durable brand loyalties. Though Home Depot has not slackened its intensive marketing efforts to this day, the residual effects of the goodwill it has generated can stand it in good stead for years. It is considered to be one of the best retailers in North America by customers, associates, and peers alike. Management The Chief Executive Officer and senior Legal and Human Resources personnel have left the company in the last 3 months ending February 2007 (A Portrait of Growth, 2007). All the vacancies have been filled by internal promotions. Such moves would indicate strong management resistance to proposed changes of basic direction, and a determination to persist with established business patterns. The implications are even clearer for a company such as Home Depot, with strong traditions for developing and depending on people. The possible power struggle may have left significant sections of the remaining staff in turmoil, and perhaps now actively searching for alternate jobs. The former Chief Executive Officer is bound by a year’s no-compete clause, and cannot solicit employees to leave and join in his other ventures for the next few years: such clauses in separation contracts also suggest that many people in Home Depot may want to search for alternate jobs as soon as they have options. There is no merit in this matter as far as Home Depot’s future prospects are concerned. There is worse conflict with a major share-holder as well, over strategic direction (A Portrait of Growth, 2007). The share-holder entity, which is professionally managed, has merely asked for an independent strategy review, which is not something against the best interests of Home Depot. However, the Board has decided to oppose the constructive resolution. Reviews by outsiders are never binding on clients, so the management’s intransigence in this matter leaves room for doubt about cohesion at the top of the hierarchy. It is apparent that the company is divided between proponents of change, and a powerful group which favors the status-quo-ante. Though Home Depot has a spectacular performance record, it is true that the 21st century global market is quite different from domestic USA towards the end of the last millennium. New demographic segments of the wealthy, and of some immigrants, have emerged even within the strong hold of the home market, so a recasting of strategy seems in order, even if such an exercise were to conclude that the company is already on the right course. Hands on Human Resources Management, with emphasis on training (Roush, 1999) formed the template of the early success of Home Depot. However, a modern corporation cannot survive on breakfast meetings between employees and founders alone! Diversity concerns have certainly altered the composition of the work force, so new ways of managing people and deploying resources are inevitable. The present Home Depot management may have become prisoners of past achievement, preferring to stay with a course which may not be appropriate any longer. While internal promotions are creditable to a certain extent, Boards also need infusion of new perspectives from other successful companies. By filling all the recent vacancies internally, Home Depot may have deprived itself of valuable perspectives from the street. The company’s close association with middle-class America may become a limitation as it is forced to engage with unfamiliar markets and new customer types. Overall, serious discontinuities are evident in the highest echelons of Home Depot.

Formal And Informal Communication

Formal And Informal Communication In this report I have tried to enlighten the different aspects of communication in order to communicate effectively as a manager and different types of communication barriers which will distort the message delivery process and three recommendations for managers how to improve their communication skills. Hope this will complete the subject. INTRODUCTION The process of communication falls under three categories which are verbal communication, non verbal communication and written communication. Communication must include both transfer and understanding. Communication cannot exist without a sender and a receiver. Poor communication is probably the most frequently cited source of interpersonal conflict. According to Stephen and Mary (2009, p.329), managers are concern with two types of communication, which are interpersonal communication and organisational communication. Interpersonal communication is communicating with two or more people. And the organisational communication is all the patterns, networks, and system of communication within an organisation, which are important to mangers (Stepehen Mary, 2009, p.331). Four major functions of communication are control, motivate, emotional expression and information. The hierarchies form in the organisations is a control mechanism of communication in the organisations. In this they have created different levels of jobs and the communication is communicated by their immediate supervisor or boss. Communication motivates the employ by giving a feedback of his work how well he have done and in which area he needs to improve. The communication which takes place within the work place with the colleagues is a mechanism by which the members show their frustration and feeling of satisfaction. Therefore communication provides an emotional expression of feelings. The information provided by communication helps to make a decision by the receiver after evaluating the information provided through the communication. ASPECTS OF COMMUNICATION process of human com.jpg Exhibit Process of Human communication Source: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5431820_process-human-communication.html [Accessed 30 August 2012]. Exhibit 1 which explains the communication process is made up of seven parts. It is 1.Sender sends a message 2.encode its and send it through a 3.channel and the 4 receiver decodes and 5.receive message 6.sends a feedback to the sender this chain concludes when the sender 7.receives the feedback message. Sender and Receiver The sender is the individual who initiates the conversation. The sender must communicate the message in a way that the receiver will understand. To do this the sender must encode the message. The way a message is encoded depends on the way the sender and receiver typically communicate and the relationship between the two individuals. The process of encoding is simply taking the thoughts in your head and putting them into words. However the words you use will change depending on who you are talking to. When talking to a customer, your language will be softer and different than when talking to your staffs. If a message is not properly encoded, it is unlikely that the message will be understood (Stephen, 1998, p.313). The Channel The channel aspect of the human communication process is the method through which the communication takes place. When humans communicate with one another they must select a channel to do so. Common channels include face-to-face meetings, letters, email, memos, reports, and telephone conversation (Frances, 1995, p.282). The channel selected helps shape the communication that will take place (James Amy, n.d.). Different channels have different strength. Noise Noise is one of the negative aspects of human communication and is characterized as the interference that occurs when verbally communicating. Noise can be internal, such as the sender or receiver was getting distracted, or external such as others talking making it difficult to hear the sender. Verbal Communication Verbal communication is communication that is spoken. However verbal communication can be extremely complicated. Verbal communication includes the tone and pitch of a persons voice, the words she chooses, her rate of speech and the volume she speaks at (Burtness Hulbert, 1985, p.319). Changing one of these characteristics can drastically change the way her messages are received. For example, if you are angry and want the person you are talking with to know you are angry, you are likely to raise your voice and maybe even use choice words. Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal communication is another aspect of human communication that we often forget about. Nonverbal communication includes the way we gesture, our posture, what we wear, our facial expressions and even how we sit. Nonverbal communication can be either complimentary or contradictory. Complimentary nonverbal messages strengthen what we are saying with our words, such as frowning when you are telling someone you are sad. Contradictory nonverbal messages weaken what we are saying with our words, such as having a disgusted facial expression while saying that the food is yummy. Formal and Informal Communication Formal communication is vertical and follows the authority chain and is limited. Informal communication known as the grapevine is free to move in any direction. This communication can be take place from vertical to horizontal, upwards and downwards and also can skip the authority levels. The grapevine communication is very effective and fast. This passes the massage within few time periods. Through this method managers can identify issues that employ consider important. Communication Network There are different patterns of network of communication. The structure itself influences the speed and accuracy of the message and performance and motivation of the participants. Chain: This gives a flow of information to the end of the chain. Circle: Here each person can communicate on both sides of him. Star: This is more decentralise and allows a free flow of information among all group members. Wheel: Information flows from one person to all. Y-Pattern: Two persons are close to the centre of the network Com Network.jpg Exhibit Organisation Communication Network Source: http://www.kkhsou.in/main/EVidya2/Professional%20English/communication.html [Accessed 30 August 2012] FIVE TYPES OF COMMUNICATION BARRIERS Filtering This is manipulating the message in an easy way that the receiver can listen or omitting some part of the message which may cause trouble. Language This is one of the common barriers of the world. There are countries which do not use an international language like English or any other common language and they use to stick on their local language. But in a globalizing world there must be a common language which could be use to communicate all. Words mean differently to different people. Age, education and cultural background influence a language the person uses and definition he or she uses (Stepehen Mary, 2009, p.337). Physical Barrier Physical barriers are physical objects which obstructs the receiver to clearly receive the message. For example a wall or distance from the sender (Christopher, 2010). Ità ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s is easy to overcome this barrier and in modern work place the physical barriers are avoided. Information Overload Overload of information is also a common barrier. We human beings can cater up to certain amount of information and if the capacity limit is exceeded we may do misinterpret the things which are communicated. Cross Cultural Communication ok-gesture.jpg Exhibit The A-Ok gesture Source: http://hidden-avenue.blogspot.com/ [Accessed 30 August 2012]. As a cross cultural barrier in different parts of the world people interpret gestures and signs differently. As seen in exhibit 3 for some culture they have a meaning which can be communicated in the community and in other cultures ità ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s abusing one another (Stephen, 1998, p.332). These factors create communication problem. So we must be careful when we communicate in an unknown cultural environment. THREE WAYS HOW MANAGERS CAN IMMPROVE THEIR COMMUNICATION SKILLS Avoid Information Overload The managers should be trained how to prioritise their work. They should not burden themselves with work and they should spend excellence moment with their subordinates and should listen to their problems and feedback activity. Be a good delegator and have a workload balance for the day. Plane your day and make a task list. Try to achieve your listed tasks for the day. Give Constructive Feedback Always try to avoid giving negative feedback. The content of the feedback might be negative, but it should be delivered constructively. Constructive feedback will lead effective communication and build a good relation between the superior and the subordinate. To give a feedback ità ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s better to give face to face or if not reachable by phone (Kitty, 1998, p.4). These feedbacks are informal and try to give it regularly and timely as soon as possible. Listening Actively A manager must be a good listener. When someone talks we hear. But most of us donà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢t listen. Listening is an active search for meaning whereas hearing is the passive. Active listening is enhancing developing empathy and putting yourself into senders position. These types of scenarios occur to managers daily. So be empathetic and an active listener to improve your communication skills (Victoria Holly, 2005).

Analysis of Public Celebrity Apologies in America

Analysis of Public Celebrity Apologies in America Devin Black Julia TofantÃ… ¡uk Their circumstances and effects via analyzing specific cases Introduction Recently, I have become aware of a trend that has been sweeping across America – the celebrity apology, or precisely, the non-apology. I think I have always been aware of the constant apologies made by celebrities, but it has only been in the past year when I have actually paid attention to the words they were using to apologize, and under what circumstances they were apologizing. In fact, the exact moment when I became infatuated with the celebrity apology was when I was listening to a broadcast of the Opie and Anthony Radio Show in March 2014 and the hosts were discussing the numerous celebrity apologies that had been made during the previous week. Their discussion about celebrity apologies began to consume the show daily, until they officially established an â€Å"Apology Clock† on June 5, 2014 (Apology Clock, 2014). The experiment was to see if they could go ten days without a celebrity apology. The results showed that they could not, as there was at least one new apology a day and more often than not there were apologies from multiple celebrities. Their research ended unexpectedly one month later when one of the hosts became a victim of the celebrity apology. I will discuss more about this later in the paper. For the purposes of this paper, I will begin by defining the terms and scope the paper covers. Secondly, I will present some cases from a wide range of circumstances which celebrities apologized, and the results of their apology. Finally, I will discuss Americans’ reaction to the celebrity apology. Definitions According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, a celebrity is defined as â€Å"a person who is famous.† For this paper, the definition will be narrowed to only a person who is recognizable in North America and broadened to include corporations, as these are considered individuals under the law. An apology is defined as â€Å"an expression of regret for having done or said something wrong.† For this paper, we also need to consider the definition of a non-apology apology, which is defined as â€Å"a statement that has the form of an apology but does not express the expected contrition.† An example of a non-apology apology would be saying Im sorry that you feel that way to someone who has been offended by a statement. This apology does not admit that there was anything wrong with the remarks made, and additionally, it may be taken as insinuating that the person taking offense was excessively thin-skinned or irrational in taking offense at the remarks in the first place (Lazare, 2005). Case Studies of celebrity apologies and the results of the apology There are hundreds, if not thousands of examples of celebrity apologies. For this paper, the time frame of the case studies of celebrity apologies examined will begin in 1998, well after the advent of the Internet. This starting point was chosen because the Internet disseminates information almost effortlessly, therefore more people would be aware of the apologies given by celebrities. Furthermore, the case studies offered are examples of the wide range of circumstances under which a celebrity has had to apologize. There are countless more examples to choose from, but the following examples provide a general overview, so the scope has had to be narrowed. Case study 1: Bill Clinton apologizes for having an affair Indeed I did have a relationship with Miss Lewinsky that was not appropriate. In fact, it was wrong I misled people, including even my wife. I deeply regret that. On August 17, 1998, President Bill Clinton stood in the White House pressroom and apologized to the American people for having an affair with a White House intern, Monica Lewinsky. When the affair first became public, Bill Clinton denied having a sexual relationship with Ms. Lewinsky even though she offered circumstantial evidence to a Senate investigating committee. The news of this extra-marital affair and the resulting investigation eventually led to the impeachment of President Clinton in 1998 by the U.S. House of Representatives and his subsequent acquittal on all impeachment charges of perjury and obstruction of justice in a 21-day Senate trial (Posner, 2009). This apology most likely saved his presidency. His apology was emotional and appeared sincere. He was able to connect with Americans, while at the same time admitting he was wrong and asking for forgiveness (Bill Clinton apologizing for his affair with Monica Lewinsky, 2008). However, what makes the circumstances of this apology important is the fact that the political motivations of the Republican Party forced President Clinton into a position where he had to apologize. The results, politically, led to the rise of the Republican Party from 2000 to 2008, and an ever increasing motivation to use the personal affairs of politicians as a weapon in elections, and politics in general. Case study 2: Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction On February 1, 2004 during the half-time show of Super Bowl XXXVIII, Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake were performing when suddenly Timberlake removed an article of Jackson’s clothing, revealing an exposed breast to a live television audience. This event has been termed Nipplegate by the media (Apologetic Jackson says costume reveal went awry, 2004). The next day Jackson apologized to the public â€Å"to anyone who was offended.† This is an example of the non-apology apology. There are several reasons why the circumstances surrounding this particular non-apology apology is important. First of all, a wardrobe malfunction is considered to be an accident, so the question remains why an apology was even necessary. Secondly, the American sensitivity to nudity is revealed to have a low threshold, while their sensitivity threshold to a violent sport, American football, is high. This means that Americans are more offended by nudity than violence. Finally, the results of this apology led to the Federal Communications Commission to impose higher fines and regulations concerning obscenity in broadcast media on public airwaves, which still continue today (Ahrens, 2006). Case study 3: Michael Richards â€Å"nigger† rant During a November 17, 2006 performance, Michael Richards, a stand-up comedian who became popular for the role of â€Å"Krammer† he played on the successful American sitcom Seinfeld, shouted a racially charged response to black hecklers in the audience, shouting Hes a nigger! several times and referring to lynching (Farhi, 2006). This is only one example of an apology or non-apology apology based on racism, religion, or sexual orientation. Other celebrities who have had to apologize for racist rants or, more importantly, opinions based on race; include Mel Gibson, Gary Oldman, and many others (Hare, 2014). However, what makes this apology most interesting is the public’s initial reaction and later action. Richards made a public apology on the Late Show with David Letterman, when Jerry Seinfeld was the guest, saying: For me to be at a comedy club and to flip out and say this crap, Im deeply, deeply sorry. Im not a racist, thats whats so insane about this. What happened next is surprising; the audience initially laughed during uncomfortable pauses in Richards explanation and apology, unable to decide if the interview was a comedy bit; at one point Seinfeld chided the audience, Stop laughing, its not funny. (CNN Newsroom, 2006) Later, Richards called civil rights leaders Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to apologize. He also appeared as a guest on Jacksons syndicated radio show. This began a new trend in apologizing; the guilty party had to personally apologize to representatives of the groups who might be offended (Sharpton: Comedians apology not enough, 2006). Case study 4: Various corporate apologies Since corporations, as well as celebrities, are extremely vigilant when protecting their brand, it is no surprise that they find themselves in situations where they have to apologize. Most corporate apologies are sincere because they have directly affected the lives of individuals or the environment. However, many corporate apologies are non-apology apologies because the circumstances around which they have apologized usually involve trivial matters that would not normally offend the majority of the population. One example of a typical corporate non-apology apology involves Delta Airlines. During the 2014 World Cup competition in Brazil, Delta Airlines posted a message on Twitter congratulating the United States soccer team for their defeat over Ghana. In their message, they posted a picture the Statue of Liberty with the number 2 super-imposed over it and another picture of a giraffe with the number 1 super-imposed over it. These graphics symbolized both the country and the score of the game. The problem with this is that giraffes are not to be found in Ghana (Mendoza, 2014). Critics found the Twitter post to be â€Å"ignorant and offensive,† and some even considered the post racist. Delta Airlines felt they had to apologize the next day on their website saying the â€Å"tweet was both inaccurate and inappropriate† and that the company was â€Å"reviewing its procedures to ensure that future images and posts reflect both our values and our global focus. (Delta Air Lines Apologizes for Giraffe Gaffe, 2014) Case study 5: Celebrities who do not apologize There are many times when celebrities say or do things which people find offensive, and the public usually waits for an apology a few days after. However, some celebrities refuse to apologize. What makes these cases interesting is the effect their refusal to apologize has on their career. Two recent examples of this scenario involve Charles Barkley, a former NBA basketball player; and Anthony Cumia, a popular radio presenter. In the first scenario, Charles Barkley was commenting on his travels to different cities in the United States while he was an NBA player during a live television broadcast. During his narrative, he described women from San Antonio, Texas as being â€Å"big old women,† referring to their weight. When people from San Antonia demanded an apology, Barkley replied that he will apologize â€Å"when hell gonna (sic) freeze over. (Dater, 2014)† There was no negative fallout from his response. In fact, he continues to be a sports commentator and presenter today. Many believe that Barkley did not have to apologize because this behavior is what is expected from him. The story eventually left the news cycle and is practically forgotten. On the other hand, the situation is different for Anthony Cumia. Cumia was one half of the radio show Opie and Anthony, the same show that had the aforementioned â€Å"Apology Clock† experiment, which lasted from June 5 to July 4, 2014. During the show’s holiday break for Independence Day, Cumia was walking in Times Square, New York City late at night photographing the city lights. While he was taking one particular photograph, an African-American woman happened to walk in the frame of the picture. She heard the camera’s click and immediately began to accost Cumia, and she was joined by a group of African-American men. Later that evening while he was at home, he began posting the pictures and his comments on Twitter. Many of these comments were charged with emotion, and some of them were construed as being racist and violent towards women. The posts were noticed by a blogger, and the incident was reported in the mainstream press a couple of days later (Perex, 2014). Cumia refused to apologize. In fact, he appeared on various news programs to explain and defend himself. The only thing he admitted was that he should have â€Å"cooled down† before posting his experience on Twitter. His refusal to apologize lead to his firing from SiriusXM radio four days later (MacNeal, 2014). Americans’ response to and attitudes towards celebrity apologies Social Justice Warriors Currently, the trend in America is that celebrity apologies are increasing. This can be attributed to the importance of social media; not only Twitter and Face Book, but also public blogging sites that act as mainstream media, such as TMZ or The Huffington Post. These blogging sites have given rise to the â€Å"social justice warrior†. A â€Å"social justice warrior† is a blogger who uses social media to â€Å"fight for the rights of the minority, under-privileged, and under-represented (Internet Observation Project).† They actively seek out celebrities, generally white males, and search for things that they say or do which are considered offensive to the people they want to protect and then write about the circumstance. Their blogs are read by a few and then linked in Twitter, where the article is read by many. More often than not, the mainstream press will report on the story if the blog post has been shared enough times. There is much criticism towards the â€Å"social justice warrior.† Many believe that they are nothing more than gossip columnists who do not have the talent to write for established tabloids. Most â€Å"social justice warriors† earn money when people view their blog and/or click the advertisements posted on the site, so it is in their interest to write about controversial topics. Furthermore, â€Å"social justice warriors† do not have to answer questions about their sources, and usually hide themselves if there is an attack against them (Roosh, 2014). Backlash against celebrity apologies More recently, many people are starting to question why celebrities need to apologize, particularly for an unpopular opinion they may have voiced. An example of this backlash is when the actor Robin Williams committed suicide. After this tragedy, many celebrities voiced their opinions about suicide, and one celebrity who voiced unpopular opinions about suicide, the singer and author Henry Rollins, particularly received a lot of criticism (Joyce, 2014). This led to the question, â€Å"Do we now have to apologize for our opinions (Norton, 2014)?† Finally, the celebrity apology has become embedded in humor. A recent example, and one that defines how ridiculous the celebrity apology has become, is the Twitter #IAmSorry started by actor Shia LaBeouf, which celebrities now have to use when posting their apologies. He has stated that the celebrity apology has become â€Å"an art form now,† and should be instructed in every drama class (Hare, 2014). Conclusion The celebrity apology is more than a humiliating moment for an individual or a corporation. The reason why many Americans are obsessed with celebrity apologies is because maybe it is a reflection of American sensitivities. When they see someone apologizing, it makes them feel better, maybe even more perfect. Also, it may be easier for people to look at others’ shortcomings and mistakes instead of looking at their own. After completing my research, I noticed that their further investigation can be done. For example, it would be interesting to know if there has been a real increase in celebrity apologies recently, or if the publics’ backlash toward celebrity apologies has increased, which in turn makes it seem like there are more apologies. Also, a more quantitative analysis of celebrity apologies would reveal more about the phenomena. Finally, I wonder if the apology culture is only prevalent in the United States or is it common in other parts of the world. Works Cited (2006, November 21). Retrieved October 11, 2014, from CNN NEWSROOM: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0611/21/cnr.01.html Ahrens, F. (2006, June 8). The Price for On-Air Indecency Goes Up. Retrieved October 11, 2014, from The Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/07/AR2006060700287.html Apologetic Jackson says costume reveal went awry. (2004, February 3). Retrieved October 2014, 11, from CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2004/US/02/02/superbowl.jackson/ Apology Clock. (2014, July 4). Retrieved October 11, 2014, from OApedia: https://oapedia.com/oa/Apology_Clock Bill Clinton apologizing for his affair with Monica Lewinsky. (2008, August 2). Retrieved October 11, 2014, from You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPxwKS12TXE Dater, J. (2014, May 11). Charles Barkley wont apologize for his comments about San Antonios women. Retrieved October 12, 2014, from SB Nation: http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2014/5/11/5708198/charles-barkley-wont-apologize-for-his-comments-about-san-antonios Delta Air Lines Apologizes for Giraffe Gaffe. (18, June 2014). Retrieved October 12, 2014, from NBC News: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/delta-air-lines-apologizes-giraffe-gaffe-n134106 Farhi, P. (2006, November 21). Seinfeld Comic Richards Apologizes for Racial Rant. Retrieved October 11, 2014, from The Washington Post : http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/21/AR2006112100242.html Hare, B. (2014, June 9). Celebrity apologies: The good, bad and uncomfortable. Retrieved October 11, 2014, from Time: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/09/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/celebrity-apologies-best-worst-uncomfortable/ Hare, B. (2014, June 9). Celebrity apologies: The good, bad and uncomfortable. Retrieved October 11, 2014, from CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/09/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/celebrity-apologies-best-worst-uncomfortable/ Joyce, C. (2014, August 25). Henry Rollins Is Still Really Sorry for His Comments About Robin Williams Suicide. Retrieved October 11, 2014, from Spin Magazine: http://www.spin.com/articles/henry-rollins-suicide-comments-la-weekly-column-robin-williams/ Lazare, A. (2005). On Apologies. Oxford University Press. MacNeal, C. (2014, July 13). Anthony Cumia Wont Apologize For Twitter Rant: It Wasnt Racist. Retrieved October 12, 2014, from Talking Points Memo: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/anthony-cumia-no-apology-racist-rant Mendoza, D. (2014, June 17). Deltas giraffe gaffe. Retrieved October 12, 2014, from CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/17/travel/delta-tweet-storify/ Norton, J. (2014, August 27). It’s Time for Celebrities To Apologize—For All Their Apologizing. Retrieved October 11, 2014, from Time: http://time.com/3196100/suicide-apology-culture/ Perex, C. (2014, July 4). Shock jock fired for racist Twitter rant. Retrieved October 12, 2014, from The New York Post: http://nypost.com/2014/07/04/shock-jock-anthony-cumia-fired-for-racist-twitter-rant/ Posner, R. A. (2009). An Affair of State: The Investigation, Impeachment, and Trial of President Clinton. Harvard University Press. Roosh, V. (2014, October 6). What is a social justice warrior. Retrieved October 11, 2014, from Roosh: http://www.rooshv.com/what-is-a-social-justice-warrior-sjw Sharpton: Comedians apology not enough. (2006, November 23). Retrieved October 2014, 2014, from CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/11/22/sharpton.richard/index.html Social Justice Warrior. Retrieved October 11, 2014, from Internet Observation Project: http://internetobservationproject.com/social-justice-warrior-definition/

Investiture Controversy Essay -- Church, Pope Gregory VII

The ruler Otto controlled the church during his reign by making bishops and abbots royal princes and agents to him (425). The revival of the church however, began as the German empire weakened in the eleventh century (425). During this time, the Church declared its independence from the governments’ control by embracing a reform movement, The Cluny Reform Movement (425). The reform established at the Cluny monastary in France, aimed at â€Å"freeing the church from secular political influence and control† (425). The reformers were supported in their efforts by popular respect for the church as people admired clerics and monks (425). During this time, any man had the opportunity to become Pope; the Pope was supposed to be elected by the people and clergy of Rome (425). The church also promised a better life to peoples whose current was relatively harsh (425). The reformers condemned the state’s contemporary mixing of religions and secular institutions as well as t he clergy’s subservience to royal authority (425). They taught that the Pope alone commanded the clergy and they demanded separa...

Dinner Party :: Personal Narrative Companies Business Papers

Dinner Party I walked out into my dinning room where I had been mulling over the table all day. I wanted everything to be just so. I glanced at the place settings for the hundredth time, trying to decide if I should sit Alfred Zingale and Matthias Arndt next to each other. It wasn’t that I was worried about conflicting views, actually it was quiet the contrary, and I didn’t want them to be able to double team the other guests. Finally I decided that just because they have essentially the same opinions, I wouldn’t separate them. In my mind they come as a unit because they had co-authored a book. The place cards had been set and I made up my mind that I would do no more rearranging. I bent over the table in my grey sleeveless dress and lit the deep red candles that were extending upward out of the floral arrangement. The guests would be arriving soon and I began to think over the whole situation. Each person has written a book about the dot com industry, how they can b e successful as well as how to invest wisely in one. I was hoping to learn a lot of information so I could make a good decision on whether my company would benefit from being online. These thoughts drifted through my head until the doorbell rang. I opened the door to a short plump woman with reddish brown hair in her late 40’s was standing on my stoop. She wore a pale green dress suit, but looked quite attractive. She extended her arm, shook my hand and introduced herself as Anita Rosen. As the only woman who was attending the dinner party that night, it was a given who she was, but all the same she was quite pleasant. John Cassidy was next to arrive. He looked like the typical â€Å"guy next door† type. I bet he could have been pulled straight from a magazine. He wore a blue knit sweater vest. As soon as he was in the door, the bell rang for the final time. Zingale and Arndt stood at the door. Zingale was thin with a moustache, black hair parted on the side. Arndt wore glasses, was shorter and much plumper.

My Salvation Experience Essay

As of September of 2011, I will have been a born-again Christian for 41 years. My journey to faith in Christ began with the conversion of my father, Jack Baines, Sr. in 1967. Dr. Melvin Worthington was the pastor of the First Free Will Baptist of Amory, Ms and he invited my father to attend a Revival service in Tupelo, MS where his brother was the guest evangelist. The first night, my dad went to the altar and said he rededicated his life to Christ. However, the second night, he went forward to the altar and said he really had never been born again and that night he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. His life was immediately characterized by change and dedication to living for the Lord. As my father began to grow in the Lord, he also began to lead people to Christ and it started with his family. A he taught the Bible to us at home and lead our family to be faithful to attend the church, one by one my sister, brother, and I asked Christ into our lives. I was five years old when I was born-again. I was the typical kid who was not old enough to really experience a life of deep sin or rebellion but was just as lost and in need of salvation as anyone. One day my dad took me to the pastor’s office where I was led to Christ and soon baptized. The change in my life was immediately evident as I was assured that I would go to Heaven when I died and knew that I needed to live according to the teachings of the Bible. One of the major changes was the burden, even as a young boy, that I had for my friends and family who need to accept Christ. I became very diligent at a young age to tell people about Christ, be faithful serving in the local church, and developed a love for good preaching and teaching. I am so thankful even today that someone cared enough for my father and my family that they shared the gospel with him. This began a journey that would impact my life just a few short years later. My relationship has continued to grow and the personal relationship with Christ has helped me face every life situation. I am very thankful that becoming a Christian early in life spared me much heartache that may have come my way had I not been a Christian. I love to help lead children to Christ knowing that an early relationship with Christ will prepare them much earlier to live in this world.

Factors That Affect the Rate of Reaction of Peroxidase

Factors that Affect the Rate of Reaction of Peroxidase Purpose: To determine the effect of various factors on the rate of reaction between an enzyme and its substrate, and also to determine the optimal ranges under which the enzyme activity is maximized. Also to determine whether saline and alcohol are inhibitors or activators Hypothesis: PH factor prediction: I predict that as the pH increases so the activity of the enzyme will increase until it reaches optimum pH range (pH 7) because the enzyme is less denatured when it reaches the preferred pH level, and after this it will decrease because the active site will change in shape and it will no longer accept substrates. Temperature factor prediction: I predict as the temperature increases, the enzyme activities will increase because there is more energy to speed up the reaction until it reaches the optimum temperature range (room temperature which is about 20  °C), and after that the enzyme activities will decrease because of denature of the enzymes (cause changes to active site that will no longer fit substrate) Concentration of enzymes prediction: I predict that as the concentration of enzyme increases, so the enzyme activities will increase because there is more enzyme to react with the substrates however when enzymes get saturated, the reaction will come to a plateau because eventually all the substrates will have enzymes to react with, and any extra will have no effect on the reaction whatsoever. I predict alcohol is an inhibitor of Peroxidase because alcohol when alcohol bind to the allosteric site it changes the active site shape of the enzymes thus deactivating enzymatic activities I predict salt is an activator of Peroxidase because salt contains Na ions which attaches to the allosteric site changing the shape of the enzyme to fit a substrate. Materials: †¢ Peroxidase (enzyme in potato) †¢ Hydrogen peroxide, 3% †¢ A strong acid, pH3 (lemon juice, or HCL) 0. 5 †¢ A strong base, pH 10 (drain cleaner, NaOH) 0. 5 mol/L †¢ A weak acid, pH 6 (vinegar, acetic acid( CH3COOH)) 0. 5 mol/L †¢ A weak base, pH 8 (baking soda, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3)) 0. 5 mol/L a †¢ A saline solution, pH 7 (table salt, NaCl) 0. mol/L †¢ Alcohol, pH 7 (rubbing or spirits (isopropyl or ethanol)) 1 mol/L †¢ Distilled water, pH 7 †¢ Hot plate, stove, or kettle (hot water bath) †¢ Cold water (ice water bath) †¢ Eye dropper or oral, needle-less syringe 10 cc (10 mL) †¢ Graduated cylinder or needle-less syringe 10 cc( 10 mL) †¢ Disposable plastic plates †¢ Disposable plastic cups †¢ Thermometer †¢ Timing devi ce (with second hand) †¢ ice Safety Precautions Being sure to wash hands before and after handling materials. Use caution with hot and cold materials. Follow all safety procedures. Procedure: †¢ I placed a piece of raw potato in 10 mL of water at room temperature (20  °C) for three minutes. Put three drops of hydrogen peroxide (3 %) on it (after dabbing dry with paper towel) †¢ I placed a piece of raw potato in 10 mL of cold water at temperature 10  °C for three minutes. Put three drops of hydrogen peroxide (3 %) on it (after dabbing dry with paper towel) to observe the effect of temperature on reaction activity †¢ I placed a piece of raw potato in 10 mL of cold water at temperature 15  °C for three minutes. Put three drops of hydrogen peroxide (3 %) on it (after dabbing dry with paper towel) to observe the effect of temperature on reaction activity †¢ I placed a piece of raw potato in 10 mL of hot water at room temperature 25  °C for three minutes. Put three drops of hydrogen peroxide (3 %) on it (after dabbing dry with paper towel) to observe the effect of temperature on reaction activity †¢ I placed a piece of raw potato in 10 mL of hot water at temperature 30  °C for three minutes. Put three drops of hydrogen peroxide (3 %) on it (after dabbing dry with paper towel) to observe the effect of temperature on reaction activity I placed a piece of raw potato in 10 mL of lemon juice 0. 5 mol/L at room temperature (21  °C) for three minutes. Put three drops of hydrogen peroxide (3 %) on it (after dabbing dry with paper towel) to observe the effect of pH on reaction activity †¢ I placed a piece of raw potato in 10 mL of drain cleaner, NaOH at room temperature (21  °C) for three minutes. Put three drops of hydrogen peroxide (3 %) on it (after dabbing dry with paper towel) to observe the effect of pH on reaction activity †¢ I placed a piece of raw potato in 10 mL of vinegar, acetic acid 0. mol/L at room temperature (21  °C) for three minutes. Put three drops of hydrogen peroxide (3 %) on it (after dabbing dry with paper towel) to observe the effect of pH on reaction activity †¢ I placed a piece of raw potato in 10 mL of baking soda 0. 5 mol/L at room temperature (21  °C) for three minutes. Put three drops of hydrogen peroxide (3 %) on it (after dabbing dry with paper towel) to observe the effect of pH on reaction activity †¢ I placed a piece of raw potato in 10 mL of saline solution 0. 5 mol/L at room temperature (21  °C) for three minutes. Put three drops of hydrogen peroxide (3 %) on it (after dabbing dry with paper towel) to determine if saline is an inhibitor or activator †¢ I placed a piece of raw potato in 10 mL of alcohol solution 1 mol/L at room temperature (21  °C) for three minutes. Put three drops of hydrogen peroxide (3 %) on it (after dabbing dry with paper towel) to determine if alcohol is an inhibitor or activator †¢ I put three drops of hydrogen peroxide (3 %) on large pieces of potato to observe the effect of concentration (large pieces have smaller surface area which have less enzymes) I put three drops of hydrogen peroxide (3 %) on medium pieces of potato to observe the effect of concentration (large pieces have smaller surface area which have less enzymes) †¢ I put three drops of hydrogen peroxide (3 %) on small pieces of potato to observe the effect of concentration (smaller pieces have larger surface area which have more enzymes, the more the enzymes the greater the reaction activi ty) Analysis: Inquiry skills (scientific Method): The dependant variable is time The independent variable is Peroxidase enzyme The controlled variables are PH, temperature, and concentration The reason to create this datum is so that we could make a comparison. Without creating this action, it would be hard to see the effect of enzymes on the decomposition of peroxide. It’s to create this reference point to see how it decomposes before any enzymatic reaction and after. Inquiry skills (data management): [pic] Figure 1: Qualitative observation scale of Peroxidase-catalyzed peroxide decomposition Temperature factor (10  °C): Quantitative Datum (action)- (time in seconds) |Qualitative Datum (action) -(extent of bubbling) | |10 |0 | |20 |1 | |30 |1 | |40 |2 | |50 |1 | |60 |1 | |Average: |1 | Temperature factor (15  °C): Quantitative Datum (action)- (time in seconds) |Qualitative Datum (action)- (extent of bubbling) | |10 |1 | |20 |1 | |30 |2 | |40 |2 | |50 |2 | |60 |2 | |Average |2 | Temperature factor (20  °C): Quantitative Datum (action)- (time in seconds) |Qualitative Datum (action)- (extent of bubbling) | |10 |2 | |20 |2 | |30 |3 | |40 |3 | |50 |3 | |60 |2 | |Average |3 | Temperature factor (25  °C): Quantitative Datum (action)- (time in seconds) |Qualitative Datum (action)- (extent of bubbling) | |10 |3 | |20 |3 | |30 |4 | |40 |4 | |50 |2 | |60 |2 | |Average |3 | Temperature factor (30  °C): Quantitative Datum (action) – (time in seconds) |Qualitative Datum (action)- (extent of bubbling) | |10 |3 | |20 |2 | |30 |2 | |40 |2 | |50 |1 | |60 |0 | |Average |2 | pH factor (pH 3): Quantitative Datum (action)- (time in seconds) |Qualitative Datum (action)- (extent of bubbling) | |10 |0 | |20 |1 | |30 |1 | |40 |1 | |50 |1 | |60 |2 | |Average |1 | pH factor (pH 6): Quantitative Datum (action)- (time in seconds) |Qualitative Datum (action)- (extent of bubbling) | |10 |1 | |20 |2 | |30 |2 | |40 |3 | |50 |4 | |60 |4 | |Average |3 | pH factor (pH 7): Quantitative Datum (action)- (time in seconds) |Qualitative Datum (action)- (ext ent of bubbling) | |10 |2 | |20 |3 | |30 |3 | |40 |3 | |50 |4 | |60 |4 | |Average |3 | pH factor (pH 8): Quantitative Datum (action)- (time in seconds) |Qualitative Datum (action)- (extent of bubbling) | |10 |3 | |20 |2 | |30 |2 | |40 |2 | |50 |2 | |60 |1 | |Average |2 | pH factor (pH 10): Quantitative Datum (action)- (time in seconds) |Qualitative Datum (action)- (extent of bubbling) | |10 |2 | |20 |1 | |30 |1 | |40 |1 | |50 |0 | |60 |0 | |Average |1 | Concentration factor (large pieces): Quantitative Datum (action)- (time in seconds) |Qualitative Datum (action)- (extent of bubbling) | |10 |0 | |20 |1 | |30 |1 | |40 |1 | |50 |2 | |60 |2 | |Average |1 | Concentration factor (medium pieces): Quantitative Datum (action)- (time in seconds) |Qualitative Datum (action)- (extent of bubbling) | |10 |4 | |20 |4 | |30 |3 | |40 |3 | |50 |3 | |60 |2 | |Average |3 | Concentration factor (small pieces): Quantitative Datum (action)- (time in seconds) |Qualitative Datum (action)- (extent of bubbling) | |10 |4 | |20 |4 | |30 |3 | |40 |3 | |50 |3 | |60 |3 | |Average |3 | Saline inhibitor/activator factor: Quantitative Datum (action)- (time in seconds) |Qualitative Datum (action)- (extent of bubbling) | |10 |4 | |20 |4 | |30 |3 | |40 |3 | |50 |3 | |60 |2 | |Average |3 | Alcohol inhibitor/activator factor: Quantitative Datum (action)- (time in seconds) |Qualitative Datum (action)- (extent of bubbling) | |10 |1 | |20 |1 | |30 |1 | |40 |1 | |50 |0 | |60 |0 | |Average |1 | Knowledge and understanding (Data Analysis): The optimal range of temperature and pH of Peroxidase is about 20 °C to 25 ° C at a pH of 6. 0 to 7. 0 It seems to be that Peroxidase has a different temperature range than Catalase however both have similar pH range. Knowledge and Understanding (Concept Analysis): Enzymes are made of protein, depending on the structure of the amino acid, and the hydrogen and ionic bonds is what makes the difference between the two enzymes (Catalase and Peroxidase). It seems to be that Catalase has stronger hydrogen and ionic bonds than Peroxidase and that’s why it can withstand more temperature before it’s denatured. Conclusion: My experiment results agrees with my hypothesis. According to the data tables I have created, you notice that the enzymatic reaction (amount of bubbles) first increases starting from 15 °C then it starts to go down when it reaches over 25 °C (this matches with my first prediction on the effect of temperature on Peroxidase) Starting from pH 3 to pH 7, the reaction increases then it decreases after pH 7 (this matches with second prediction) Starting from low concentration, we get less reaction then it increases gradually (this matches with my third prediction)

Promoting Population Health Essay

Every Woman Matters is a program through the Nebraska Department of Health which is state run and federally funded. This program focuses on decreasing barriers to preventive breast and cervical cancer screenings in low-income women. They so this by raising public awareness and make these screenings more accessable and affordable to eligible women (Backer, Geske, McIlvain, Dodendorf, & Minier, 2005). Reduced cost or no cost clinical breast exams, mammograms, and Pap smear test are provided through this program. The EWM program has attempted to provide their services to physician practices to assist in the development of the program. The practices are expected to follow the GAPS model to implement this change. This includes: â€Å"goal setting, assessing existing routines, planning the modification of routines, and providing support for these improvements (Backer et al., 2005, p402). In order for this to be successful, they need to alter physician and practice behaviors. The practices resources, willingness to change, and the ability of staff to fully cooperate or work as a team should have been evaluated before the attempt to implement EWM program into each practice. It seems the practices chosen to implement the Every Woman Matters program already had its own issues or barrier for implementation to be fully possible. Some of the problems that were faced were: one practice was only focused on generating income, some were hospital owned which added barriers to approval, enthusiasm was not shared by all staff, staff was disgruntled or overextended, limited resources, resistance from staff, no active leader, prevention not being priority, and the loss of interest or elimination of goals after the first few months (Backer et al., 2005). Each practice  involved had at least one of these issues present resulting in the Every Woman Matters program not being effective in meeting its goals. Prevention Programs Two prevention programs that advocate for early screening are The North Carolina Breast Cancer Screening Program (NC-BCSP) and the Esperanza y vida health education program. Both of these programs are focused on women’s health screenings and treatment and they go about it the same way, influencing and supporting through social networks and offering culturally tailored interventions. The North Carolina Breast Cancer Screening Program focuses on African American women over 50 years old. They use a social ecological theory which targets several levels of the community from individuals and social networks to institutions and policymakers. They believe that providing â€Å"linkages† will develop communities that will endure after the research project ends (Altpeter, Earp, & Schopler, 1998). Social workers and others are used as â€Å"coaches or teachers† to develop the community participants’ skills. They help organize local efforts and provide technical assist ance or training. Social workers also identify and integrate the needs of underserved constituents into service planning to aim to improve service delivery. Three interventions are used in developing the program, Outreach, InReach, and Access. Outreach targets individual women and community nerworks to which they belong, building on the capacity of local leadership to advocate and promote breast cancer screening. This includes having agency-based community outreach specialists, county-based community advisory groups and a network of volunteers that span the projects 5-county region. The focus is to enhance awareness, generate community support, and introduce Lay Health Advisors that run focus groups. InReach enhances service delivery by restructuring clinic policies and procedures to increase efficiency of previous services that are delivered, provider education on breast cancer topics, help agencies implement community outreach efforts customized to older African American women. Key players of InReach are health care providers including private practice physicians, radiology centers, county health departments and federally funded rural health centers (Altpeter et al, 1998). â€Å"Program Champions† will advocate with the medical community and agencies for community wide screening,  referral, and follow-up plans. Access promotes accessible, equitable care by overcoming institutional barriers (cost, transportation, mammogram quality assurance) that prevent low income African American women from getting screenings. Key players are state and local agencies that are responsible for financing or delivering needed services. Radiology centers improve units or increase the quality of mammograms, the development of linkages, decrease in prices with creative use of federal or state financing with innovative plans such as â€Å"free weeks†. Promotion of ongoing availability in local health agencies of breast cancer screening activities. The NC-BCSP focuses on institutionalizing health promotion programs by establishing relationships with local health departments, rural health clinics, radiology centers, and physicians to ensure the program â€Å"me shed† with the current systems already in place in local organizations. This is important in fitting a â€Å"niche† within an organization to ensure longevity and uncover existing grassroot linkages that can fimly establish a comprehensive system of accessible, available, and affordable breast cancer screening and treatment options. Institutionalization depends on infrastructure development, community linkages at multiple levels and monitoring and providing feedback. What I find most importand in the NC-BCSP is the way they use community members to make this program work. Program Champions who have influence at the policy level and Project Coordinators who are older black women from the community. Lay Health Advisors who will gain professional knowledge and skills have existing ties within the community and social networks will initiate behavioral change. Natural helpers from within targeted communities are recruited and trained women who others turned to for advice, support, and assistance in the past. The Esperanza y vida is a peer-led health education program addressing the decreased rate of breast and cervical cancer screening and treatments in the Latina community. Sudarsan (2011 p 194) states â€Å"Individuals can not be considered separately from their social environment and background.†, which they prove by influencing and supporting Latina individuals through social networks and neighborhoods and communities. This programs’ interventions reflect the community’s priorities and culture. Culturally appropriate information and resources are provided to increase patient knowledge for self care and to decrease obstacles to health care. By offering culturally tailored  interventions, they increase the rates of screening. In their program, they use three different locations to account for geographic, ethnic, and community diversity. Along with education regarding breast and cervical cancer screenings and treatment, the Esperanza y Vida program addresses fears , concerns, and perceptions that negatively impact understandings. They also evaluate pre and post-program knowledge, testing attendance to increased screening adherence. Using ARS, an audience response system which uses Power Point questions and responses are recorded anonymously using a wireless keypad, increasing the probability of participants answering honestly. The program found differences between locations indicating varying familiarity with technology and literacy, resulting in low comfort levels. Esperanza y Vida accommodates Latino perspectives on family, religion, gender roles, and provides navigation into screening. The group settings are community-based locations, faith-based locations, or in womens’private homes. These â€Å"safe† locations are more appealing to undocumented Latinas, increasing the rate of participation. Learning by reflecting on access to various local agencies, and community structure variations. Trained peer volunteers are utilized, these are breast or cervical cancer survivors who share their persona l stories and stress the importance of early detection and regular screenings. Men are also encoursaged to attend because in Latino families the men tend to have more control over resources and decision making, promoting the health of female family members. Program sites are obtained by program coordinators who work with Community Advisory Boards, volunteers, and local community and faith-based organizations. Outreach includes providing potential sites with program details including program content, time and space needed to conduct the educational program. All participants of Esperanza y vida complete questioneers which include demographics, years in the US, current participation in screenings, pre-intervention knowledge surveys (evaluating baseline knowledge and attitudes) and post-intervention survey with the same questions (to measure any changes and success of the program) (Sudarsan, Jandorf, Erwin, 2011). The staff also tracks site setting, language the program is taught in, the type of program. The language the programs are taught in relate to the host and participants requests which reflects language preference in that specific region. Implementing Esperanza y Vida in diverse locations with  geographic considerations and variations and ethnic variables will assist in expanding the program across the US. Adaptation of the same intervention at different geographic sites will provide information to diverse populations. Cultural competence of the program has potential to decrease health disparities in Latinas (and soon other groups) in the US. The ability to recruit and educate diverse subgroups of the Latino population with success in enhancing knowledge about breast and cervical cancer screening and treatments. This program is malleable to different community needs which makes it stand out among others with similar focus. Strategies If I was the nurse leader in charge of developing a follow-up to the Every Woman Matters program, the strategies I would propose for creating a more effective prevention program would include: first, choosing practices that were financially stable, who worked well together, and where all staff was in agreement to promote change. References Altpeter, M., Earp, J., & Schopler, J. (1998). Promoting breast cancer screening in rural, African American communities: the â€Å"science and art† of community health promotion. Health & Social Work, 23(2), 104-115. Retrieved from http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rzh&AN=1998053486&scope=site Backer, E. L., Geske, J. A., McIlvain, H. E., Dodendorf, D. M., & Minier, W. C. (2005). Improving female preventive health care delivery through practice change: An Every Woman Matters study.Journal of the American Board of Family Practice, 18(5), 401–408. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases. Carroll, J. K., Humiston, S. G., Meldrum, S. C., Salamone, C. M., Jean-Pierre, P., Epstein, R. M., and Fiscella, K. (2009). Patients’ experiences with navigation for cancer care. Patient Education and Counseling 80, 241-247. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2009.10.024 Leeman, J., Moore, A., Teal, R., Barrett, N., Leighton, A., & Ste ckler, A. (2013). Promoting Community Practitioners’ Use of Evidence-Based Approaches to Increase Breast Cancer Screening. Public Health Nursing, 30(4), 323-331. doi:10.1111/phn.12021 Retrieved from http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rzh&AN=2012167333&site=ehost-live Meredith, S. M. (2013).