Waterfall Model Lifecycle Model Information Technology Essay

Cascade Model Lifecycle Model Information Technology Essay Cascade approach was first Process Model to be presented and followed broadly in Software Engineering to guarantee accomplishment of the task. In The Waterfall approach, the entire procedure of programming improvement is partitioned into discrete procedure stages. The stages in Waterfall model are: Requirement Specifications stage, Software Design, Implementation and Testing Maintenance. Every one of these stages are fell to one another so second stage is begun as and when characterize set of objectives are accomplished for first stage and it is closed down, so the name Waterfall Model. All the technique and procedure embraced in Waterfall Model are progressively noticeable. Cascade Model lifecycle modelE:PROGECTpicture]water fall model.JPG Figure 1. : Waterfall Model lifecycle model The phases of The Waterfall Model are Issue definition In this segment, you give a short, general depiction of the framework To be broke down. This ought to contain an extremely short portrayal of the Association or the organization for which the investigation is to be done as Well the reasons and points of interest why the computerization is required. Nature of the examination being done is to come out obviously in This area Prerequisite Analysis Every single imaginable necessity of the framework to be created are caught in this stage. Necessities are set of functionalities and requirements that the end-client (who will utilize the framework) anticipates from the framework. The prerequisites are accumulated from the end-client by conference, these necessities are investigated for their legitimacy and the chance of joining the necessities in the framework to be improvement is likewise contemplated. At last, a Requirement Specification report is made which fills the need of rule for the following period of the model. Framework Design Prior to a beginning for genuine coding, it is exceptionally essential to comprehend what we will make and what it ought to resemble? The prerequisite determinations from first stage are concentrated in this stage and framework configuration is readied. Framework Design helps in determining equipment and framework necessities and furthermore helps in characterizing by and large framework engineering. The framework structure particulars fill in as contribution for the following period of the model. Testing As indicated over, the framework is first partitioned in quite a while which are created and tried for their functionalities. These units are incorporated into a total framework during Integration stage and tried to check if all modules/units facilitate between one another and the framework overall carries on according to the particulars. After effectively testing the product, it is conveyed to the client Execution On accepting framework configuration archives, the work is isolated in modules/units and real coding is begun. The framework is first evolved in quite a while called units, which are coordinated in the following stage. Every unit is created and tried for its usefulness; this is alluded to as Unit Testing. Unit testing for the most part confirms if the modules/units meet their determinations. Upkeep This period of The Waterfall Model is essentially ceaseless stage (Very long). By and large, issues with the framework created (which are not found during the advancement life cycle) come up after its viable use begins, so the issues identified with the framework are comprehended after organization of the framework. Not all the issues come in picture straightforwardly but rather they emerge time to time and should be unravel thus this procedure is alluded as Maintenance. Favorable circumstances of the cascade model The benefit of cascade improvement is that it takes into consideration departmentalization and administrative control. A calendar can be set with cutoff times for each phase of improvement and an item can continue through the advancement procedure like a vehicle in a carwash, and hypothetically, be conveyed on schedule. Advancement moves from idea, through structure, execution, testing, establishment, investigating, and winds up at activity and upkeep. Each period of advancement continues in exacting request, with no covering or iterative advances. Unnecessary to make reference to, it is a straight model and of exercises, direct models are the most easy to be executed. The measure of assets required to execute this model is extremely negligible. One extraordinary bit of leeway of the cascade model is that documentation is delivered at each progression of the cascade model turn of events. This makes the comprehension of the item structuring methodology easier. After each significant phase of programming coding, testing is done to test the right running of the code. Prototyping Discard prototyping Expendable or Rapid Prototyping alludes to the production of a model that will inevitably be disposed of instead of turning out to be a piece of the at long last conveyed programming. After starter necessities gathering is cultivated, a basic working model of the framework is developed to outwardly show the clients what their prerequisites may resemble when they are actualized into a completed framework. C:Documents and SettingsNIFRASDesktop1.JPG Figure 1.1: discard proto composing Steady Prototyping The last item is worked as independent models. Toward the end the different models are being converged in a general structure. C:Documents and SettingsNIFRASDesktop3.JPG Figure 1.2: Incremental Prototyping Developmental Prototyping Developmental Prototyping (otherwise called breadboard prototyping) is very unique in relation to Throwaway Prototyping. The primary objective when utilizing Evolutionary Prototyping is to fabricate a powerful model in an organized way and continually refine it. The explanation behind this is the Evolutionary model, when fabricated, structures the core of the new framework, and the enhancements and further necessities will be builtC:Documents and SettingsNIFRASDesktop2.JPG Figure 1.3: Evolutionary Prototyping Points of interest of prototyping Proto sorts make a perfect instrument for safeguarding talking about client connection Client can comprehend a model far simpler than the vast majority of the standard base of conveying prerequisites as the model Models rapidly resolve misjudging between biasness supervisor investigation Burdens of proto composing Prompts actualizing and afterward fixing method of building frameworks. For all intents and purposes, this technique may build the unpredictability of the framework as extent of the framework may extend past unique plans. The Spiral Model The winding model, otherwise called the winding lifecycle model, is a frameworks improvement strategy (SDM) utilized in data innovation (IT). This model of advancement consolidates the highlights of the prototyping model and the cascade model. The winding model is expected for huge, costly, and convoluted undertakings. The means in the winding model can be general as follows The new framework necessities are characterize in however much detail as could be expected. This for the most part includes meeting various clients speaking to all the outside or inward clients and different parts of the current strategy. A starter configuration is made for the new framework. A first model of the new framework is built from the primer plan. This is generally a downsized framework, and speaks to an estimate of the attributes of the last item. A subsequent model is advanced by a fourfold methodology: assessing the first model in quite a while of its qualities, shortcomings, and dangers; characterizing the necessities of the subsequent model arranging and structuring the subsequent model building and testing the subsequent model. At the clients choice, the whole arrangement can be prematurely ended if the hazard is esteemed excessively incredible. Hazard components may include improvement cost overwhelms, working cost miscount, or whatever other factor that could, in the clients judgment, bring about a not exactly agreeable last item. The current model is assessed in a similar way just like the past model, and, if essential, another model is created from it as indicated by the fourfold method laid out above. The first steps are iterated until the customer is fulfill that the created Model speaks to the completing item wanted. The last framework is built, in light of the refined model. Favorable circumstances of winding model The winding model is a sensible way to deal with the advancement of huge scope programming items on the grounds that the product advances as the procedure advances. Furthermore, the designer and the customer better comprehend and respond to dangers at each transformative level. The model uses prototyping as a hazard decrease instrument and considers the improvement of models at any phase of the developmental improvement. It keeps up a precise stepwise methodology, similar to the exemplary life cycle model, however fuses it into an iterative system that more mirror the genuine world. Weaknesses of winding model   1. Exceptionally modified constraining re-ease of use   2. Applied diversely for every application   3. Danger of not meeting financial plan or timetable   4. Danger of not meeting spending plan or timetable C:Documents and SettingsAdministratorDesktopspiral model.png Figure 1.4: winding model Fast Application Development (RAD) Methodology what is RAD? RAD (quick application advancement) is an idea that items can be grown quicker and of higher caliber through: Social affair necessities utilizing workshops or center gatherings Prototyping and early, reiterative client testing of structures The re-utilization of programming segments An inflexibly paced plan that concedes structure enhancements to the following item form Less convention in audits and other group correspondence Preferences of RAD Early perceivability More prominent adaptability Normalized look and feel Expanded client inclusion Purchasing may set aside cash contrasted with building Disservices of RAD This strategy may not be valuable for enormous, special or profoundly complex activities This strategy can't be a triumph if the group isn't adequately propelled and nor can't work firmly together. Succes

Fathers and Sons - The Quarrel - Chapter 10 Essay Example for Free

Fathers and Sons The Quarrel Chapter 10 Essay Section ten starts with Arkady and Bazarov examining Nikolai and his obsoleteness, Nikolai counseling his sibling Pavel about a similar issue follows this. These two occasions scarcely fit into a similar part as the squabble that happens straightaway. Bazarov and Pavel have not gotten along since they met and share various perspectives on fundamentally everything. Pavel severely dislikes Bazarovs skeptic mentality and Bazarov, being an agnostic doesnt care much for Pavels refined nature either. They have both been consuming to have a contention, particularly Pavel who was simply trusting that a sparkle will begin a fire. At the point when the discussion floated to one of the neighboring landowners Pavel saw his opportunity and utilizations this as an impetus to begin the discussion about agnosticism and their various perspectives. As the two men start dueling it is recognizable how both appear to be prepared promoters. Their inquiries are brief and their responses to the point and dont part with something over the top. Bazarov appears to not think less about what's going on though Pavel is by all accounts trickling with eagerness. Pavel goes about as a greater amount of an investigative specialist than Bazarov and starts the contention by expressing his contradicting perspective of aristocratism which Bazarov taunts so evidently. The two men have their respect now and in spite of the fact that Pavel appears constrained very little strain is in the air. I don't have a similar sentiment, said Pavel touching off the discussion. Bazarov then asks Pavel what can be demonstrated about the alleged prevalence of the privileged people. In spite of the fact that Pavel answers the test I feel Bazarov is attempting to change the subject when he decides to customize the contention and starts to discuss what the purpose of all of Pavels inconvenience is. He infers that Pavel doesnt accomplish anything in his life thus his blue-blooded lifestyle has been a pointless one with no advancement. In spite of the fact that this is plainly close to home to Pavel I dont feel as though Bazarov was deliberately attempting to assault Pavels life and mocking it. Obviously Pavel is affronted and answers, losing a portion of his poise. He offers another individual expression towards Bazarov saying that solitary uninformed or idiots would live without the principals that nobles lecture; he is straightforwardly inferring that Bazarov is oblivious and moronic. This contention I feel was even more an individual explanation made towards Bazarov instead of a decent contention to banter over, anyway Bazarov holds his nobility and moves to another point, naming a couple of words utilized in privileged and marking them as absolute drivel. Now I think Bazarov is winning the contention, as Pavel appears to be confounded and incidentally overpowered by Bazarovs questions. However, Pavel does the proper thing next by asking Bazarov what he feels ought to be done about the circumstance, yet again Pavel includes another individual articulation toward the finish of his contention saying that if Bazarovs sees were placed into impact the Russian individuals will wind up past the pale of humankind, outside human laws. Next a greater amount of Pavels poise is taken as they portray to him precisely what an agnostic does and doesn't do. Turgenev obviously expresses that Pavel is overpowered by the meaning of skepticism and what plans they have for Russia. In his view it is as though Pavel thought little of their obliviousness. Bazarov says that at present time the most valuable thing that should be possible by the Russian individuals is to deny. To deny authority, principals, craftsmanship, everything. I neglect to see what amount can be picked up by this, Bazarovs hypothesis is that the sum total of what that has been fabricated must be devastated so as to develop another life which the individuals need. In spite of the fact that I feel Bazarov is running a superior contention I dont concur with his way of thinking and feel that as opposed to denying everything an endeavor can be made at simply attempting to change what has been worked as opposed to crushing it and reproducing it without any prepara tion. Pavel keeps on losing his temper and his contentions deteriorate as he loses his respect and starts acting innocent. To answer to Bazarov and Arkadys depiction of the Russian individuals he says No, no! I cannot accept that you youngsters truly know the Russian individuals, that you speak to their requirements and yearnings! No, the Russian individuals are not what you envision them to be. They hold custom sacrosanct, they are a male centric individuals, they can't live without confidence . . . This sentence with its wealth of nos sounds untainted and its vast majority appears as though Pavel is attempting to let himself know as opposed to the others that what they state isn't accurate. Bazarov still contains full pride and as adultly as conceivable consents to ease Pavel, however he despite everything will not concede on the off chance that he isn't right. At that point he expresses that in spite of the fact that Pavel might be correct it despite everything demonstrates nothing. His next contention is fundamental, yet powerful, Pavel says that all things considered Bazarov should get going against his own kin and Bazarov answers with a similarity that suggests that as per Pavel if most of the individuals accomplish something absolutely idiotic he should do as such also. Pavel disregards the last contention made by Bazarov and rather decides to fight back by assaulting Bazarov by saying he isn't a piece of the Russian individuals after he restricts them from multiple points of view. Bazarov handles this contention just by alluding to the most Russian individuals he knows, the workers, who know about the past laborers who have risen and happen to higher status now. Bazarov, as we have seen before in the book, converses with the laborers and doesnt mind responding to their inquiries and conversing with them. In spite of the fact that he may look down on them and not appreciate them he despite everything treats them like individuals thus they will clearly bolster him on this one so Pavel made awful move by testing how Russian Bazarov is as he has more to appear for it than Pavel. In any case, again I do feel that contrasting Pavel with himself was pointless and simply made the contention increasingly close to home once more. There is a brief break in the part as Nikolai stands up and attempts to chill the two off asking them not to make this individual. He is somewhat late. With Nikolais impedance Pavel gets an opportunity to get it together and recapture a portion of the respect he had previously. They begin to examine agnosticism by and by with a cooler and less tense air. Bazarov gives another definition for skepticism, this time concentrating more on their activities as a gathering. They at that point start to discuss the quality of the agnostics, which Pavel is demonstrated to have belittled. I concur with Bazarovs see here that an enormous number isn't required, but instead a more grounded confidence or power in what they are doing as reality to be more grounded then a huge number. Albeit somewhat superfluous Bazarovs relationship to a solitary light torching the entire of Moscow, I feel was a solid contention. Pavel appears to lose his nobility alongside the contention as he again begins acting fretful and incensed. Pavel then loses all poise when he begins to be mocking saying Bravo, bravo! furthermore, attempting to make what Bazarov is stating stupid by claiming to recognize it. His loss of pride is clarified with Bazarovs explanation You have withdrawn from your excellent feeling of individual poise and with this Bazarov decides to close the contention, yet not without his end sentence in which he solicits Pavel to think from organizations where the nobility has had a result of no issues. Pavel endeavors to give some examples yet is refuted by Bazarov for his endeavors. Bazarov indeed asks Pavel to take as much time as is needed and consider it; with this he disappears and the conversation reaches a conclusion. Bazarov is obviously a ground-breaking advocate who can keep up his pride in any event, when he is condemned and albeit numerous individuals contradict his perspectives he has figured out how to keep his perspectives alive. Pavel, albeit a decent endeavor would make a more fragile backer, his shortcomings lie in his snappy temper. Keeping up your cool is significant and Bazarov demonstrated that, he left the contention with all his respect and my vote as the victor though Pavel was left tongue-tied and marked as the washout.

A view from the class Raúl Andres Soto, MPA 15 Leah Yudin, MPA 15 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

A view from the class Raúl Andres Soto, MPA ’15 Leah Yudin, MPA’ 15 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog For this  SIPA student stories series edition, weve decided to share with you the backgrounds of two of our amazing students who are in their first year of study at SIPA. One is a Fulbright scholar from Guatemala who now co-chairs the SIPA Student Association. The other student is from New Jersey and hopes to work for the City of New York one day. Lets see what theyve been up to!   Raúl Andres Soto, MPA ’15 is in the development practice program at SIPA. Raúl is a Fulbright scholar from Guatamala and a beneficiary of the Guatefuturo Foundation of Guatemala. Raúl holds a BS from the Universidad del Valle de Guatamala and has a diverse professional background in the academic, private and non-profit sectors in Guatemala. His contributions as an engineer started with his undergraduate work, where he took part in a multidisciplinary initiative to systematize the processing of Ramón (Maya Nut, Brosiumum spp) tree seeds. Raúl then worked for two years in the food industry in Guatemala, focusing on quality and food safety aspects in an exporting canning factory and a beverage factory (the manufacturers for Pepsi in Guatemala). In 2011, he assisted the productivity component of the program Opening Opportunities of the Population Council, which aims to provide life skills to female Maya youth in rural Guatemala. From 2012 until the beginning of graduate studies, h e was an adjunct professor at the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, having taught the food chemistry laboratory and coordinated multidisciplinary student projects such as the one he undertook for his graduation. At SIPA, Raúl is the general secretary and academic affairs co-chair of the SIPA Student Association. This past summer, he undertook research at WorldFish and the International Livestock Research Institute of the CGIAR Consortium in Zambia. The work helped to assess the safety of fish for human consumption in the Western Province of Zambia. After his studies at SIPA, Raúl hopes to contribute to alleviating the double burden of malnutrition in Guatemala, as it is one of the countries in the world with highest under- and over-nutrition rates. Raúl is also an amateur musician, having performed in different venues in Guatemala with the band, Lamboratorium, and released four online records. Leah Yudin, MPA’ 15, is concentrating in urban and social policy with a specialization in management at SIPA. Originally from southern New Jersey, Leah has lived in Philadelphia, Las Vegas, and Washington, DC before coming to New York. Leah worked primarily for nonprofit organizations prior to SIPA, where her work touched on U.S. foreign policy, environmental advocacy, and nuclear nonproliferation. At SIPA, she serves as the USP Concentration departmental research assistant and the communication chair for the Gender Policy Working Group. Leah spent last summer interning in the Operations department of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, where she worked on the Graffiti Free NYC program. This experience confirmed her interest in working to solve urban problems, and she has continued her internship throughout this semester. She is hoping to work for the City of New York upon graduation, or for a related economic development or service provision organization in NYC. We look forward to Raúl and Leah’s second year at SIPA!

What does Utilitarianism Has to do with a Surgeon

The guiding principle, being utilitarianism, is to act in the way which will always produce the maximum overall amount of goodness in the world. The basic purpose of morality is making the world a much better place to live in (Hinman, 2014). Morality is also about producing some good consequences and not having any kind of good intension. It also states that we should be doing whatever brings the maximum benefit (intrinsic value) to the entire humanity. Case: rule utilitarian vs. act utilitarian The case under study is of the surgeon who has to decide killing of a normal, but unjust person for the sake of saving five sick people. An act utilitarian in this case would be considering every probable†¦show more content†¦Opposition to transplant In addition, most of the observers intuitively say it is utterly wrong. Hence, a challenge is eventually posed to the utilitarian, as it mostly seems to go on without even saying that the transplant would be an act of greatest utility mainly for the cost of one’s life as well as the surgeon’s time, as five other people could also be saved (Degrees of clarity, n.d.). Considering the situation, then it will result into a one-to-five cost-to-advantage ratio, which is not just preponderance, but only weightily so. Here it is important to discuss about Foot’s views as he avoids the problem by saying that the doctrine of doing as well as allowing draws more moral distinction specifically between the actions which we wilfully execute and also the ones we which we allow to take place. In this case, it can be said that it is morally sound to let all the five men die as killing the sixth man would be actually a murder. On the contrary, doing nothing, while being unfortunate, seems very much justified due to the fact that we can do nothing on our own but just let it happen on its own. At this point, a better means to explain the transplant case is required, and for that, preferably we will only use the fundamental tenets associated to utilitarianism. One of the major solutions for this case will be simply ignoring the intuitive answers and to assert that an operation for transplant will indeed be a moralShow MoreRelatedObjections to Utilitarianism1467 Words   |  6 Pages SECTION (1) INTRODUCTION We noted, last week, that UTILITARIANISM is a version of CONSEQUENTIALISM in that it holds that the RIGHT action (in any given situation) is the action WHICH HAS THE WHICH HAS THE BEST CONSEQUENCES; CONSEQUENTIALIST ethical theories may be contrasted with DEONTOLOGICAL – or Read MoreThe Trolley Problem1420 Words   |  6 PagesTrolley Driver, Bystander at the Switch, Fat Man, Transplant, Hospital scenarios discussed in the The Trolley Problem reading. In doing so, address what the ethical issue(s) are in each of these scenarios. The trolley problem can be expanded to discuss a number of related ethical dilemmas, all referring to the conflicts inherent in utilitarianism and consequentialist ethics. The problem with the trolley driver scenario is that the driver is faced with a choice of whether to infringe on the rightsRead MoreUtilitarianism Can Not Be Defended Against The Injustice Objection1162 Words   |  5 PagesIn this essay, I will argue that utilitarianism cannot be defended against the injustice objection. Utilitarians may be able to reply to the injustice objection in some cases by invoking one of two replies, the ‘Long term consequences’ reply, in which utilitarians will avoid unjust actions that increase short-term utility because in the long-term they will not lead to the greatest good. The other reply that may help utilitarianism avoid injustice in some cases is the ‘Secondary principles’ replyRead MoreCan Utilitarianism Be Defended Against The Injustice Objection?136 1 Words   |  6 PagesCan Utilitarianism be defended against the Injustice Objection?    In this essay, I will argue that utilitarianism cannot be defended against the injustice objection. Utilitarians may be able to reply to the injustice objection in some cases by invoking one of two replies, the ‘Long term consequences’ reply, in which utilitarians will avoid unjust actions that increase short-term utility because in the long-term they will not lead to the greatest good. The other reply that may help utilitarianism avoidRead MoreThe Ethics Of Being An Amputee1626 Words   |  7 Pagesconstructivist and utilitarian perspective in which I argue that patients do have the right to do what they will with their bodies in their own pursuit of happiness, since knowledge and what is or isn’t ethical is only merely (and loosely) based on society’s ideals of what is or isn’t â€Å"right.† I will base this argument around a Scottish surgeon that amputated the healthy legs of two apotemnophilia patients. Example Case In 1999, a surgeon named Robert Smith amputated the legs of two healthy patients, inRead MoreDr. Ethos, The Chief Resident Of A Hospital1591 Words   |  7 Pages Dr. Ethos, the chief resident of a hospital is faced with a dilemma. He needs to figure out what to do in the following scenario. A mean, cranky old man walks into the hospital. The old man is complaining about a painful toothache and through his relentless complaining, he is seen by Dr. Ethos. In the middle of the old man’s examination, the doctor is immediately paged to different room. In that room, there are ten young men and woman, between the ages of 15 and 35; they desperately need differentRead MoreOn Utilitarianism Essay1119 Words   |  5 PagesIn Utilitarianism, J.S. Mill gives an account for the reasons one must abide by the principles of Utilitarianism. Also referred to as the Greatest-happiness Principle, this doctrine promotes the greatest happiness for the greatest amount of people. More specifically , Utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism, holding that the right act is that which yields the greatest net utility, or the total amount of pleasure minus the total amount of pain, for all individuals affected by said act (JoyceRead MoreMr. Wright s The Unnecessary Surgery1301 Words   |  6 PagesIn life everyone seeks out what will give them the most happiness. To be able to get the happiness that we seek in life, we often think of our own self-interest. According to Shafer-Landau (2010), â€Å"Psychological egoism, which tells us that there is only one thing that motivates human beings: self-interest,† (p86). To achieve this happiness we rely on our own desires, what makes us feel good, or we do as much good as we can to achieve our own version of happiness. In the case of the unnecessary surgeryRead MoreEssay on The Parable of the Sadhu by Bowen H. McCoy1072 Words   |  5 Pagessee and often worry about. 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Ethics focuses on what is the good for individuals and society. Ethics are involved in how to live a good

Obesity A Growing Problem - 1780 Words

As the world around us evolves, it is affecting many aspects of life. Some of these changes cause many problems in health care. With more technology and quicker access to things, health problems in general seem unattainable at times. Many parents are working more days and longer hours at work, leaving many children at home to feed themselves. As a result, many children and adolescents are eating at fast food places for various reasons: eating at a fast food place has cheap, quick access, and takes no waiting time. Through the years studies have shown an increase in obesity throughout the country. This is a major cause of concern for Americans. Research has shown that factors like socioeconomic status, race/ ethnicity, and poor eating†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"School-based interventions may be effective if there is sufficient administrative support, reorganization of the physical education structure, and a shift from competition to an orientation of life-long fitness†. (Green). It is unfortunate when schools make budgets cuts and eliminate physical education classes or reduce afterschool programs that involve sports of fitness. There need to be more support for the school systems in influencing changes against obesity. Physical education programs throughout the nation must take a proactive approach in combining fitness, counseling, dieting, and proper nutrition to assist children suffering from obesity (Green). When schools redirect their focus to help stop or reduce obesity in children, it is necessary that parents also reinforce physical activities at home. Parents are a potentially powerful voice in the fight against childhood obesity (Schwartz). If parents continue to reinforce physical activities at home then children will make it more of a lifestyle. Parents and family play a major role by encouraging and supporting children to become more involved in physical activities. The encouragement from parents and teachers will make sedentary ac tivities appear less attractive to kids. Increasing physical activity is a rather simple first step in adjusting to a healthier lifestyle as well as a step in reducing obesity in children. This country faces a ton of health concerns. The government cannot governShow MoreRelatedObesity : A Growing Problem959 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Today in the United States, obesity is a growing problem. One-third of adults in the United States are obese which is about 78.6 million people (â€Å"Adult Obesity Facts† 1). The number of adults that are obese has quadrupled in the last thirty years. Childhood obesity has doubled in the last thirty years. In 1980, seven percent of children between the ages of six and eleven were obese. In 2012, eighteen percent of children in that same age group were obese. In 1980, five percent of teensRead MoreObesity : A Growing Problem918 Words   |  4 PagesObesity is a growing problem in the United States, especially with children and adolescents. Since 1980 obesity rates have more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents. In 2012 more than one third of children in the United States were either overweight or obese. With obesity rates in children and adolescents continuing to grow, we need to educate ourselves to help lead a healthier lifestyle for our children. There a re many things that can cause obesity from health problems to poorRead MoreIs Obesity A Growing Problem? Essay1319 Words   |  6 Pagesmuscle health, an increase in body fat, and possible depression. Obesity is a growing problem in America not only with adults but also with school aged children. The percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012. 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Although our society defines being obese as having any extra weight in even the slightest of capacities, the definition is a condition characterized by the excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body. Because obesity is such a big issue in America, on e might want to know how we could let it get this bad, but whoRead MoreObesity: A Growing Problem796 Words   |  3 PagesOverweight and obese children are a significant problem in the United States today. The amount of overweight adolescents and younger children have sky rocketed, and has more than tripled since the 1970s. Developing overweight habits while young inhibits an individual’s chances of being healthy later in life. In order to prevent the obesity epidemic in our country, the major causes and root problems of obesity must be explored and put to an end. Obviously, overeating and a lacking of physical activityRead MoreChildhood Obesity: A Growing Problem795 Words   |  3 PagesChildhood obesity is a growing problem that needs to be resolved. Many people may say it is the Child’s fault, he is weak willed. This is just a common misconception; there are hundreds of different reasons for childhood obesity. I will just be scratching the surface of this paper. By the same token childhood obesity is a growing problem that needs to be resolved. We can achieve this by understanding some common misconceptions, understanding health problems, and understanding fitness. Therefore

Apply Problem Solving Free Essays

Problem solving is not always an easy task to tackle. During my years of work experience I have seen and been part of several problem solving situations, and everyone is different, and everyone handles these situations differently. In order to solve them successfully sometimes you have to persuade certain people and sometimes science needs to prove it wrong or right. We will write a custom essay sample on Apply Problem Solving or any similar topic only for you Order Now Working in title and escrow can be frustrating, challenging, long hours, and most importantly extremely stressful. This was the career path I was on over nine years ago, and my thoughts were that I would be doing this position for the rest of my career. The mortgage industry was very hectic and busy at the time and people were refinancing their homes and some were refinancing twice a year. The rates were incredible and housing prices continued to rise, and it seemed as if everyone was either buying new homes or refinancing their existing homes. The economy at the time was doing well and many people were buying new items and charging them. We would cut many checks to credit card companies to pay off their balances through the refinance stage. The better the rates became the busier we became, but we didn’t higher any new employees. We were all working long hours and as the months went on instead of working until six in the evening we were working until eight or nine in the evening and sometimes on the weekends. My manager kept expressing to the higher management that we needed to higher more employees to keep up with the demand and give the same high quality of service. They continued to ignore her and continued to brush it off. Until one day when she crunched the numbers and showed them that the company was burning out their employees and spending so much money on overtime. In the last six months with all the overtime they, spent they could have hired an additional three people and still would have been less expensive for the company. The management finally realized that they needed to hire on two more people to keep up with the work and continue to strive with our quality of customer service and not burn out the employees they had. In the following two weeks we had two new assistants and we were all able to work until our scheduled time five in the evening and no more weekends. About 10 years ago I was diagnosed with gastritis which is when the lining of my stomach becomes inflamed, irritated, or erosion happens. This is caused by stress, eating spicy foods, dairy products, and eating acetic products such as tomatoes or oranges. I went through different tests to be diagnosed and when the doctors diagnosed me they wanted me to take antacid prescribed drugs such as Prevacid and Nexium. Yes these were both scientific drugs, but they were not helping the situation. I was still having nausea and stomach pains while I was taking the prescribed drugs. Eventually I spoke to a friend who was going to a holistic doctor and would not stop talking about how great she was. During this time I was married and my husband was a paramedic so of course he did not believe in alternative medicine. He was against it and thought it would never work. Even though he was not opened to alternative medicine I was. Being miserable I realized and figured out that it would not hurt to try and talk to her. I meet with her and she put me on some natural herbal release pills and probiotic pills. Within days I was benefiting from those natural herbs. I was able to slowly bring dairy and acetic products gradually back into my diet and not feel the nausea or receive the stomach cramps. Since that day I have not taken Prevacid or Nexium and I feel great. I do believe in scientific medicine, but I also believe in natural herbs that come from the ground. Through this process I learned that we cannot be closed minded and need to be opened to other possibilities at certain times. Through my experiences in title and escrow I realized that you cannot change everything, and if there are certain issues or problems that need to be changed or fixed that at times certain people need to see the facts before they believe it or change it. With my diagnosis I am very happy that I was opened to new ideas and didn’t only believe what others believed because if I did I might not have been able to manage my gastritis. In life we experience many things, and there are always problems to be solved, but what matters is how you go about solving them. How to cite Apply Problem Solving, Papers

Have you ever wondered what my... free essay sample

Have you ever wondered what my children, the trees would say if they could speak? They are sad, angry, disappointed yet somehow manage to be compassionate and forgiving, which is truly the saddest of all. My children watch while you cut down their siblings. You merciless humans, plow down such beautiful creations, and all for what? A little more elbow room? You deprive them of their basic needs; obstruct their path to find water with your plastic wastes. They suffocate themselves so that you can breathe without any obstructions. You dont even let them mourn in peace. That is what happens in autumn. Perhaps when my children shed their leaves, they are weeping for all they have lost, all they have been unjustly robbed off as you just watch them wail. You watch them mourn and you think that its beautiful.You, who are destroyers at heart, riot through life with torches and pitchforks in your hands, leaving bones and fire and rotting flesh in your wake. It is a shame that we have to face your gratuitous wrath. If only my children could speak. If only they could testify you. If only they could be granted justice. If only they could strike back. Broken shrieks of despair and fury would erupt from their throats. We were here first, You havent the right, After all we have done for you, they would say. Their branches would blaze with fire, rage dancing in the flames as you steal their existence, leaving only a stump of life before swiping that away, too. Lifeless bare branches would cast their haunting shadows over the ground, wishing they could trap you in their livid hold. Take my word. They could trample you; they would win and I would be glad when they do.Humans are the most disappointing creation. Trees, after all of their long years, would be wise enough to realize this. Pride and greed blind you, and you do not see past your selfish needs. The green monster in your heads sputters out demands for more, more, more. The trees only give. They provide oxygen and shade and something truly beautiful to look at. If they could speak, they would say, You should all be ashamed of yourselves. And you should be.Despite all that you are guilty of, the trees express compassion. They give you shade when you are too hot. They stand over you like watchdogs, wishing away the heat. Even so, you complain of the uncomfortable ground that they reside in. You ungrateful beasts, even when they let you ogle at their beauty while they are weeping in the sad autumn months asking what they did to deserve their undoing, they allow you to scrape together the remains of their grief and they only watch as you have the audacity to play with their leaves as if they came from joy.My children are so forgiving. It is a mystery to me, why they excuse you after all that you have done. They mourn in autumn, thrive in summer and become leafless and lifeless in winter. Yet spring will always come again, without fail. My children will forgive you, it is in their nature. They will bloom for you again, and you will remain oblivious to the absolution they grant you. Their leaves will stretch down, offering a gentle caress that can only be saying: We forgive you. I wish they were not so kind. You do not deserve their mercy. Perhaps that is why trees are so much taller than you. They tower over you and you are forced to look up at them. No wonder you are so small. As your fellow human, Maggie Stiefvater said, If I were a tree, I would have no reason to love a human, and yes, my children have no reason to love you, to purify the air you breathe, to give you shade, wood or their products. Yet, they do. They love you and let you rejoice at the cost of their sorrow.Who has not looked on the flowering laburnum and laughed in sheer joy? Who has not watched the red orange burst of the flame of the forest and been inspired? Who has not stolen mangoes, climbed banyans and tamarind trees and then taken respite in the shade? Can you ever just look at a tree in its prime, with the wind in its leaves, or the light spilling through its branches, or the rain sweeping down its trunk and not be moved? How can one not feel protective of a young gentle sapling struggling in a storm, knowing it has a long way to go?One blessed human, Rabindranath Tagore, wrote:The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures. It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth in numberless blades of grass and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth and of death, in ebb and in flow. I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life. And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment. If that remnant of compassion still remains alive within you, leave us alone. Start recycling paper. Reduce pollution. We cannot take more of your toxins. Come to us for the products we willingly give you. Dont force my children to consume your artificial fertilizers. To build your houses, you have destroyed the homes of my animal friends. Let them survive. Dont make them suffer the same fate we were doomed to so far. We share the same space that the Mother Earth has graciously given us. Let us not compete, because whoever wins, it will be you who will take up the heavier losses. Thank you.

Why Did a Stalemate Develop on the Western Front free essay sample

Why did a stalemate develop on the Western Front? Stalemate during war is when no action can be taken or progress made. The Stalemate on the Western front, a line of trenches stretching from the Swiss Alps all the way across France to Nieuwpoort in Belgium, was a dilemma that was not foreseen by either the allies or Germany. Originally it had been predicted that the war would be over after a quick and decisive battle, this perception was quickly diminished once the war had begun. No one reason explains why the situation on the western front developed into a stalemate but many factors can be considered. The developments in weaponry have been said to have contributed to the Stalemate. In the early twentieth century many new and effective weapons were being developed. Long range heavy artillery had been proved much more effective than the mounted rifle wielding soldiers of previous centuries. We will write a custom essay sample on Why Did a Stalemate Develop on the Western Front? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The allies and Germany were both caught up in this weaponry boom. This â€Å"race† for new technology led to the two sides being approximately evenly matched, because of this neither side could make much head way. Also, the Generals in charge of the troops were mostly aged officers whose knowledge of modern weapons was limited. The fast moving nature of modern warfare had taken them by and led to rather outdated methods being used. So even though new weapons were evadible if they were not used effectively they were useless. The problem with advanced warfare and having similar types of weapons was that it was really machine against machine thus getting an upper hand was virtually impossible. Problems in communications also contributed towards the stalemate because the connections between the front line, the artillery and the Commanders were very poor. Most of the Generals were stationed several miles away from the front line, due to this they could not get a clear idea of what was going on amongst the troops. This delay and confusion on the battlefield made it hard to get an objective perspective on the battle. Sometimes the different nationalities such as the French and British found it hard communicating with one another this made it difficult to co-ordinate and pass on orders. As a result of all this the messages taken from the commanders to the front line were often out of date by the time they reached the trenches. The failure of the Schlieffen plan played one of the most important roles in bringing about the stalemate on the western front. Firstly, Russian forces had mobilised much faster than previously supposed they would, this miscalculation meant that Germany had to redeploy troops to the eastern front when they still needed the force to defeat France. Due to this Germanys forces were stretched and did not have the man power to break the French lines, all they could do to stop themselves from being pushed back through the Franco-German border was entrench. This resulted in the two forces entering a state of static warfare, fighting in this way makes it virtually impossible to gain any land. Secondly, the Germany army was slowed down by Belgium. The Germans had assumed that the Belgians would not put up a fight because their country was neutral. This was not the case as Belgium decided to fight, poorly equipped as they were. This did not stop the Germans but it did give the French troops time to prepare, thus losing the German troops the element of surprise. Lastly, because the German troops had advanced so fast through Belgium their supply trains had found it hard to keep up with the troops this resulted in them being under equipped and poorly prepared. The outcome of the battle of the Marne was one of the most important causes of the stalemate. As the French effort to attack across the border failed they resorted to a retreat to defend Paris. As a result of this the German forces were obliged to quit their arcing motion to meet the French at the river Marne. The relatively well equipped French were fighting on their own land and the Germans, as explained above were poorly prepared and had a severe shortage of men. When a gap was spotted between the German Second and First Armies by reconnaissance planes the French and British forces took advantage of the situation by launching a night time attack which served to separate the two armies even further. When it looked like the Germany would be almost entirely encircled and destroyed, they retreated, pursued by the French and British, to just north of the river Aisne where they built trenches that were to last for several years. This act effectively destroyed the Schlieffen plan and ended the so called war of movement. After the First Battle of the Marne, both Allied and German forces began a series of outflanking manoeuvres to try to get behind the enemy. As each manoeuvre was blocked they moved further through France and eventually reached the coast. This later became known as the â€Å"Race to the sea†. As neither force could break the others lines the offensive came to a relative standstill. This would remain so for approximately the next four years. This lack of progress obviously played a major part in the route to the development of a stalemate on the western front. I have come to realise that there is no single cause behind the Stalemate that began in 1914 on the Western Front but many which all contributed to the eventual outcome. The long term effects of the failure of the Schlieffen plan however lead me to believe that this is the most important reason the stalemate developed as it did. Bibliography History in Focus, GCSE Modern World History (second edition)

mark twain essays

mark twain essays Charles Goodyear was born in New Haven, Connecticut on December 29, 1800 to Amasa and Cynthia Goodyear. Charless father was a hardware manufacture and a merchant. Amasa Goodyear built mainly farming tools like hayforks and scythes, which he invented. When Charles was a teenager he wanted to go into the ministry and become a pastor, but his father convinced him that he was a good business man and placed him in the hardware store of the Rogers brothers in Philadelphia at the age of seventeen. He worked there until he was twenty-one years old. At that time he returned to New Haven to join his fathers business, making farm tools. For five years he worked for his father, building up the family business. On August 24, 1824, while he was still working for his father he married Clarissa Beecher who also lived in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1826 Charles Goodyear decided to move to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There he opened a hardware store where he sold the products that his father made. Four years after opening this store both Amasa and Charles Goodyear were bankrupt because they would extend credit to customers and the customers would never pay back the money that they owed. Charless health started to decline and both father and son owed tens of thousands of dollars. For the next thirty years Charles Goodyear was thrown in prison over ten times because he didnt pay his debts. In 1834 when he was in New York, on a business trip, the Roxbury India Rubber Company caught his eye. He decided to go inside the store and take a look around. While he was in the store he saw an India rubber valve on one of the products in the store. He thought that a better valve on a product of his fathers might help them pay off some of their debt. He decided to make a better valve with Indian rubber. A few days later he showed it to the manager of the Roxbury India Rubber Company, who was very impressed with valve, but ...

Annotated bibliography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Annotated bibliography - Essay Example Their hypothesis is that closer peer groups directly influence marijuana consumption. They used the results of the Spanish Survey on Drug Use in the School Population in 2004 that included 24,561 informants. They created a probit model, where two alternative peer variables are used in their formula. They discovered that when factors of peer pressure are controlled, peer group effects on marijuana consumption are significant, and that closer peers can affect marijuana usage more than other peer variables. Education Economics is a valid source, because it aims to study educational issues using economics as a framework. Duarte, Escario, and Molina are credible authors, because they instruct in the field of economics. The article is a secondary source that uses information from a comprehensive survey. The findings can be applied to students 12 to 18 years old, although cultural and contextual factors have to be considered. This article is linked to my research question, because the intro duction part provides the negative effects of marijuana in the health and academic conditions of students. It suggests that legalizing marijuana will be bad for students in general, because of negative impacts on mental health and academic achievement. ... â€Å"Prevalence and Intensity of Basic Symptoms among Cannabis Users: An Observational Study.† American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse 37.2 (2011): 111-116. Martinotti et al. wanted to know if cannabis use results to psychosis, or if psychosis draws people to cannabis consumption. They also studied the relationship between family history of psychosis and experience of subjective experiences. They examined a sample of 502 healthy university students by studying the presence and level of subjective experiences (SEs) and their connection to cannabis use. Subjective experiences pertain to psychotic-like experiences, such as changes in perceptions and having magical skills or seeing magic. Findings showed that 114 subjects smoked cannabis, and that 20.5 percent smoked one joint every week, while 71.9 percent used it sporadically for a year. The authors learned that cannabis use did not result to greater SEs, whether it is smoked daily or protracted within one year. Furthermore, t hey discovered that SEs are higher for users with a history of psychiatric problems in the family. American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse is a valid source, because it is a peer-reviewed journal, and it uses clinical and other empirical methods in studying drug and alcohol abuse issues. The authors are also reliable, because they are part of different public and educational institutions and they have knowledge in studying and teaching this topic. The article is related to my research question, since it provides evidence that marijuana does not always lead to psychosis, although it can increase psychotic risks for people who come from families that have psychiatric illnesses. Like Duarte, Escario, and Molina, this article suggests that legalizing marijuana

Business CourseWork (Should NewPostcom Introduce a 10-day military Essay

Business CourseWork (Should NewPostcom Introduce a 10-day military training course) - Essay Example mployees declared the training beneficial for their discipline, confidence and incentive to work as well as for future teamwork collaborations, something that is evident from their professional record as well. The costs of the military training were recorded, as well as the difficulties in the way of the launch of such a training course. However, in view of the great benefits of such a program, as well as keeping in mind the positive results and cost effectiveness thereof, it is recommended that the training course be launched. This project will undertake to discover whether it is practical for telecommunications firms, such as New Postcom, to introduce a 10 day military training course for its new employees. It was observed that some firms have concluded that the new generation of Chinese professionals lacks the professionalism to function effectively at work. Some of the senior managers have laid the blame on the pampering of the new generation that was brought up under the One-child policy of China; being the only child at home, the young professionals were pampered a great deal by their parents and, consequently, did not develop a responsible and independent character. Therefore, some of these employees, who lacked the incentive to work hard professionally, underwent a 10 day military training course in order to improve their professional skills: motivation, confidence and hard work. The project aims at finding out whether such a military course would, indeed, be so beneficial. This would be done by surveying the employees who have underwent such a training course to find out if they felt any benefits of the training course. They will be handed questionnaires to answer that would help gauge their feelings concerning the course. Direct interviews, both of the employees and the employers who are supervising them, will also be conducted. The first set of interviews, as well as the questionnaires, will shed light on what benefits the course had on the employees,

Effects of FDI in the Dominican Republic

Effects of FDI in the Dominican Republic Introduction Background and purpose The Dominican Republic has done a major shift in its economy, coming from an agricultural economy, to one based on services. An estimate of the sectors contribution to the country are, 60.2% in services (tourism, transportation, communications, finances, others), 15.5% in industry (manufacturing), 11.5% in construction, 11.3% in agriculture, and 1.5% in mining (CIA fact book). As of right now only tourism leads the service industry, but is soon to be challenged by the investment of contact centers. Because of this shift in its economy the Dominican Republic has become home to various foreign investments, but the one this study will focus on is on the foreign direct investment in contact centers, or call centers as they are also known. It is important to explore the advantages the Dominican Republic offers to attract such foreign investment, as well as to analyze the fact that although there are benefits, it could also lack the necessary infrastructure to sustain this rapidly growing industry. Due to the ongoing world financial crisis, many international companies are struggling to keep their business afloat and looking to establish their contact centers outside of their home based countries. Saving money and reducing operational cost are some of the main reason companies move and do foreign direct investment (FDI) abroad. Investing and conducting operations overseas seems to be the answer that foreign contact centers are looking for in order to meet such goals. It can be said that the Dominican Republic offers an answer to the difficulties contact centers companies are experiencing and continue to confront back at home. Some of the solutions given to these companies are a great business climate for foreign direct investment (FDI), incentives and good geographical location, among other compensations. As a result of moving abroad contact centers gain a particular advantage over their competitors. These advantages can range from cheaper operational cost, strategic location a nd skilled personnel, to a variety of options which may or may not be available in the Dominican Republic. But like everything in life not everything is perfect, the country also needs to confront a sad reality, which is that although it offers good things to investors, it also lacks of other good things. This study will provide the key aspects of contact center FDI in the Dominican Republic in order to present some of the weak and strong points the country has on this industry. By doing this the report looks at what the country has to offer to current and future investors in the contact center industry. It will also provide-from the investors point of view-what makes the Dominican Republic an attractive place to invest foreign capital in contact centers, as well as some of the problems encountered throughout the business venture. Although information provided by the governmental institutions in charge of spreading information about this industry say the country is capable, suited and ready to meet all the requirements of international investors, it is a fact that no system is perfect. This is where facts will be laid down in order to show what truly attracts, keep or loses these investments on the island. Based on those previously mentioned facts the study will look at what improveme nts can be made by the country in order to keep a competitive edge on the rapid growing industry. With this information the reader will comprehend the flaws in the system, and what measures are needed in order to correct them and generate a more positive investment climate. Along with this positive investment climate the study will show the impact call center FDI has had in the country. An efficient and effective investment climate can only be produced by pointing out the pros and cons of what the Dominican Republic has to offer to its investors. The conclusion of the study wishes to convey that these improvements can be achieved by taking action upon the recommendations given. Being that this study is based mostly on empirical knowledge, some of the observations made will be presented based on the industry expertise of the writer of over 7 years or working experience in this field. Research questions Is the Dominican Republic a good place for FDI? Have contact centers FDI created a real impact in the Dominican Republic? Research methodology In order to answer the questions mentioned above, this paper we will use a mixture of methodologies in order to analyze if the country is truly a good place for contact center FDI and if the industry has had an impact in the Dominican Republic. These methodologies include interviews, qualitative research and quantitative data. Organization of paper This document will be composed of four chapters, the first one being its introductory part. The first chapter will provide a brief introduction and background of the Dominican Republic and what sectors comprise the FDI in the country, along with the research questions and research methodology. The second chapter will present an overview of foreign direct investment, inflows, trends, performances and investment climate that pertains the country, as well as the promotion agency in charge of FDI in the country. This information will be in comparison with selected economies from the Caribbean, Latin America and others. The third chapter will cover a more in-depth analysis of contact centers in the Dominican Republic, flaws and investor perspective. The study will also look at a specific company from which the study will depict the impact this specific center has had in the country. The concluding and fourth chapter will provide key findings from the study and recommend future improvement s based on those findings. Overview of FDI in the Dominican Republic FDI trends and performance in Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic, like many other developing countries, is actively seeking to attract FDI. They are not only seeking FDI as an important factor in creating employment opportunities and additional source of income, but rather for the reason of potential spillovers of knowledge and technology. The strong public support for FDI in the Dominican Republic is expressed through the creation of the Center for Exports and Investment of the Dominican Republic, institution in charge of all exports and investment, along with other measures taken by the government. Some of these measures include simplification of administrative procedures, aid from the CEI-RD in logistics and information, subsidies, tax breaks, exemptions and other instruments that facilitate FDI. Before addressing the question of whether FDI in the Dominican Republic has led to development, spillovers of knowledge and technology, as well as, if it is a good place for contact centers to establish and invest, the study will provide an overview of FDI inflows and trends in the Dominican Republic. FDI inflows in the Dominican Republic have made a miraculous recovery from 2004 to 2008 according to the data by the World Bank (World Bank, World Development Indicators). As any other developing country, the inflow of foreign capital was affected by the political environment, which reflected in an average loss of almost 200 million dollars per year during the 2000-2004 governmental period. During this period the collapse of a major bank caused financial turmoil and many investors were forced to leave the country. After a change of government and the macro stability was placed back in track by the new authorities, the country received an average foreign capital inflow of 450 million dollars a year, to earn a total of over two billion dollars in FDI inflows (See figure below). This great recovery happened during the 2004-2008 period, as it was first mentioned, and it is still improving as the country keeps positioning itself as a preferred destination for FDI. Although contact centers are not the main reason for this fast recovery in the FDI, the new rapid industry of contact centers are playing a very important role as it continues to evolve into a leading industry in the service field. In President Fernandez first governmental period (2004-2008) the country recovered from the worst financial crisis in many years. During 2005 the country predicted a GDP growth of 9.3% and inflation to be brought under control at 7.3% throughout the 2004-2008 years. By managing these issues President Fernandez said We have rescued the confidence of investors by achieving macroeconomic stability (Leonel Fernandez, 2004). Having achieved macroeconomic stability, the Dominican Republic received US$1 billion worth of foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2005, up 40% from 2004, and U.S. investment accounted for around 40% of the total (CEI-RD, 2006). This led to an improvement of FDI inflows and mechanisms to continue attracting and sustaining this newly found investments. Below are the net inflows of FDI for various Latin American and the Caribbean countries, including the Dominican Republic. Investment climate When one thinks of the Dominican Republic, images of tropical beaches and all-inclusive resorts may come to mind, but this ten million-strong nation, occupying two thirds of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, also has one of the Americas fastest growing economies and diverse scenery in the Caribbean (BusinessWeek, 2006). The briefing paper Foreign Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean, 2008 is one of the latest editions of a series issued annually by the Unit of Investment and Corporate Strategies of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Division of Production, Productivity and Management. This report presents-in a very detail manner-the foreign investment done in Latin American and Caribbean countries, showing their relative differences and investment climate among other indicators. This report also touches on the contact center industry, which has contributed greatly to the ever increasing FDI inflow of the Dominican Republic. Comparing to oth er countries the Dominican Republic shows one of the best FDI inflows by reflecting a relative difference of 83%. What this means is that FDI activities has been constantly growing in the country, thus reflecting good initiatives from the country and a positive improving investment climate (see image below). A good investment climate is not created by simple marketing; it takes hard work, good economic policies and first-class governance on behalf of the government and its Head of State. Because many countries offer desirable investment conditions companies frequently ask themselves, where they should invest their capital. The answer needs to be provided by the country that wishes to be the host of the foreign investments these companies wish to make. The Dominican Republic has characteristics that make it a desirable place to make an investment of any kind, but the question that still lingers around is if the country can really sustain an investment of great magnitude. Offering the right investment climate in the Caribbean is something that the country wishes to achieve, but is not always successful on doing so. With a long history of attracting considerable FDI in a variety of sectors, the Dominican Republic is a regional leader in attracting contact center foreign investment. Longstan ding political stability and a diversifying economy have led many foreign firms to choose the Dominican Republic as an investment destination. Recent success in attracting FDI is due to the countrys investor-friendly legal regime, generous incentives, and infrastructure capable of supporting new technologies, including information technology (FDI Magazine. Financial Times Magazine. August 2005). As mentioned earlier, this success is fairly new and the Dominican Republic still faces the challenge of maintaining and attracting this foreign investments. A great way to see how well positioned is the country and the investment climate it offers is to do a comparison of economies. Doing Business 2010: Reforming Through Difficult Times is the seventh in a series of annual reports investigating regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. The report presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 183 economies, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, over time (Doing business, 2010). Looking at this specialize report the Dominican Republic reflects its ranking in ease of doing business and other important world ranking criterias that foreign investors consider necessary to know before investing in any. Although this report is using specific economies, the data compares the Dominican Republic to the economies of countries around its region, as well as others from a distant hemisphere and much more developed than the island. One basic criterion for investment is the ease of doing business, the chart below reflects a clear weakness for the Dominican Republic in this area by ranking lower than a Puerto Rico and Jamaica. Puerto Rico and Jamaica are much smaller countries, which may contribute to more agile processes, but the fact that they are neighboring countries there should be a bigger similitude among them in terms of how business is handle. This is a clear sign that depending on how a country handles its business will reflect how efficient their mechanisms are, therefore providing a bigger ease of doing business. Another factor that should not be of much importance is the fact that Jamaica and Puerto Rico receive assistance, guidance and at times are regulated by developed countries. This should not be an excuse for why the Dominican Republic is falling behind in such a basic and important principle. (Doing business, 2010). The chart below, which has also been extracted from the Doing Business 2010: Reforming Through Difficult Times Report, touches on another very important factor for investors when they consider making an investment abroad. The ranking given in this chart is compared to the selected economies of Haiti, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Rwanda and others. This comparison is done once again in order to show how the Dominican Republic presents itself as a favorable investment location. Yet again this favorable climate for investors is not providing the best climate because is falling behind to neighboring economies which only advantage seems to be a more organize and efficient system. The Dominican Republic continues to improve, but is weak in its bureaucratic process, which as a result continues to slow down its progress. Dominican Republics ranking in doing business (Doing business, 2010) Once an investment is done, one of the biggest-if not the main concern of any investor-is how secure is their investment in a foreign country, meaning how are they protected from any unwanted situation. The Dominican Republic has recently passed a new legislation which provides a greater protection to its investors, thus providing investors with a contingency plan if anything happens. The graph below shows the global ranking of the Dominican Republic in terms or protecting its investors, which is a great improvement from other areas already mentioned. Although this is a very important concern for investors, it still addresses a post-investment situation. What this mean is that it does not really provide an immediate impact in attracting a foreign investment if the other factors are encouraging, but it does boost investors confidence in the country they plan to invest as well as adding to a better investment climate. (Doing business, 2010) In an interview to CEI-RD Minister Eddy Martinez in the renowned Dominican daily show Hoy Mismo, transmitted by channel 9, he talks about the investment climate in the Dominican Republic and mentions key factors that make the country a great place to invest-compared to other countries in the region. He talks about establishing incentive mechanisms in order to attract those capitals which appraise the value of the investment not only for the amount, but for the impact these investments will have in terms of technology transfer, creation of employment, type of employment, quality of products produced in the country and if they will carry out Research Development activities. Although this mechanism is something the country whishes to implement, it is still not fully incorporated, thus leaving room for error. The institution is still trying to educate and integrate the contact center community so they can share these incentives and goals with other investors who want to do future busine ss based on the country incentive structure. To disseminate this information the CEI-RD has done seminars concerning these incentives, and is moving forward to the implementation of those incentive policies. During the interview CEI-RD Minister mentioned that many investments come through different ministries, therefore many investors are not sure who and how their investment are handle. This reflects a clear disorganization in the governmental mechanisms, which translates into a weakness. Minister Martinez suggests the government creates an integrated mechanism of investment. What this means is that no matter the origin of the investment or ministry, it will end up in a single place. This will allow proper follow up of the investment, and in case a project gets stuck, the institution can determine where being detained due to bureaucracy or lack of project handling. Based on that integrated mechanism the country can increase its FDI inflows by having all projects in a single place, thus providing one more reason to invest in th e Dominican Republic. Promotion agency (CEI-RD) and incentives offered The Dominican Republics government has implemented a liberal framework for attracting FDI. It makes no distinction between foreign and local companies in terms of ownership restrictions and ability to qualify for investment incentives. Foreign investment is permitted in all sectors except those related to public health and the environment (such as storage and disposal of hazardous or radioactive waste), as well as national security. The Dominican Republic government also offers full exemption from all taxes, duties, charges, and fees that affect production and export activities in free trade zones, which it introduced in 1969. The free trade zones aim to attract high-tech manufacturing (including electronics and electrical components) as well as more traditional manufacturing-such as of automotive parts, medical devices and pharmaceuticals, plastics, metals, injection molding, textiles and footwear, jewelry, tobacco and of course contact centers. The incentives offered last up to 25 years for zones on the Haitian border, and up to 15 years for all other zones. In May 2006 there were 59 industrial parks and free trade zones in the Dominican Republic, hosting more than 600 companies, providing over 190,000 direct jobs, and occupying 2.1 million square meters. Although there are no performance requirements for foreign investors, few sector-specific incentives are offered to them. (World Bank Group, MIGA, Snapshot of the Caribbean, 2007) All of the benefits mentioned above and the continuing inflow of investment is happening thanks to efforts from the government and the institution in charge of carrying out FDI promotion. The institution carrying out this very important task is the Dominican Republics Export and Investment Center (CEI-RD), which is headed by Eddy Martinez, as the Minister and Executive Director of this government institution that promotes national strategic export and foreign investment opportunities and works hands-on with local and foreign enterprise to facilitate business activity. Because the institution knows the importance of investment they are aggressively targeting investors through offices in New York, Miami and California, and because of the nations entry into the Central American Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA-DR. The Centro de Exportacià ³n e Inversià ³n de la Repà ºblica Dominicana (CEI-RD) as it is called in Spanish, is the countrys one-stop investment promotion intermediary. It has three main departments: Export Promotion, Investment Promotion, and a Training Center. The CEI-RD aims to strategically promote the valuable conditions that the Dominican Republic offers as an investment destination and foreign trade developer, by pursuing priority areas as defined by the Government, to increase employment, technological transfer and the social welfare of the Nation. The agency organizes and participates in trade missions both overseas and locally as well as provides tools to assist investors, such as an export directory. (World Bank Group, MIGA, Snapshot of the Caribbean) The CEI-RD is the official organization responsible for the promotion of international trade and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). It was created as a product of the fusion of the Center for the Promotion of Exports of the Dominican Republic (CEDOPEX) and the Office for the Promotion of Investments of the Dominican Republic (OPI-RD), according to Law 98-03, effective on June 17, 2003. The CEI-RD is comprised of two main operational areas, export promotion and foreign investment promotion and its functions include many promotions, but some of the more relevant to this study are promotion of the countrys advantages to attract foreign investment, coordination with other government institution related to foreign trade in the interest of achieving an expedient and efficient flow of exports and investments in the country, promotion and development of FDI and business from the CEI-RD offices abroad, currently in Miami, New York and Chicago, participating actively in trade negotiations and ad ministration of resulting agreements, contribute to the improvement of the legal framework and its proper application. Also throughout the Foreign Service network, new offices will be opening soon in Puerto Rico and Silicon Valley The institution services are available for local and foreign companies to facilitate the exports and investments of the country which is an advantage to any investor. Among the services the CEI-RD offers, and which are relevant to this study, they have specialized consulting, technical assistance in meeting the regulations and norms required for the export of goods and services, which is helpful to new investor who are not familiar with the legal framework. They also have validation of certificates of origin, technical assistance relating to trade agreements, recommendations for improving the production process and benefiting from tariff preferences. The new investor can also benefit from visits on behalf of the CEI-RD specialized staff to their companies in order to evaluate the production process under trade agreements and preferential programs. One very important service the CEI-RD offers is that they ensure the correct application of norms relating to export and investment proced ures by administrating Law 84-99 on the reactivation and promotion of exports and Law 16-95 on foreign investment. Other services, although not specific to the industry, offered by the CEI-RD and from which investors could benefit are product profiles and market analysis, business intelligence, legal and economic information, registration of exports and foreign direct investment, facilitation of a network of representatives abroad and foreign trade documentation center. As any other promotion agency the CEI-RD has several promotion programs that make the Dominican Republic attractive for FDI. These programs include National and International Trade shows and expos where it presents companies, local and foreign, can showcase their products. The CEI-RD also coordinates trade missions in order to ensure a successful transaction as well as training programs relating to international trade. In these specific programs-relating to international trade-local companies can get educated and learn how to export their products and foreign investors can learn about the local market and opportunities. Another very important promotion program-and the one of the most significant-is the coordination of business meetings to present what the countrys has to offer, as well as to contact potential investors and exporters. With this two-way program, foreign and local investors will have a mutual gain by making the necessary contacts to get their business started, thus gene rating future FDI. (CEI-RD, 2010) Contact center FDI in Dominican Republic Overview of contact center FDI As it was previously mentioned, this study looks at the pros and cons of contact center FDI from various angles, one been from the host country point of view and the other the investors point of view. From the host country the study takes into consideration a report created by the economist Jonathan Aragonez, from the Center of Export and Investment of the Dominican Republic (CEI-RD), as well as other documentation of contact centers from the CEI-RD. These documents will provide the necessary data to point out the countrys benefit and disadvantages. Do to the lack of published papers that truly criticize or analyze the contact center industry, this study will support many of its facts on three things. These three key contributions are empirical knowledge of the writer, interview conducted to the economist previously mentioned, and interview with a contact center owner who is doing FDI in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic has had strong export services for many years, and as a result there are 40 to 50 call centers registered with the Dominican Call Center Association. Investors currently operating in the country cited skilled workers, most of whom are bilingual, as their main reason for choosing it as their investment location (Dominican Republic Contact Center Association, 2010). The country has a large, well-trained labor force and although Spanish is the countrys official language, investors can find workers that also speak English. Apart from the stable, fast growing economy, attractive cost structure and near shore location, it can be said that people are the primary competitive advantage in the Dominican Republic. Investors in the Dominican Republic always emphasize the Dominicans high learning ability and proficiency in English. (Eddy Martinez, 2006). The countrys large size means that land is available for green field investment-if one was to be done-although most investors opt to rent or lease a work space for their operations. The country also offers great access to all markets being that is one of the six countries in the world that has a free trade agreement with the U.S. and Europe. Some of the other countries that have such a privilege are Israel, Jordan, Chile and Mexico (Office of the United States Trade Representative, 2010). Other favorable investment factors included the countrys well-developed, affordable telecommunications infrastructure which is the only one in the Caribbean with access four international cables through the Americas Region Caribbean Optical-Ring System Cable (ARCOS-1). What this means is that the Dominican Republic connection to the U.S. or any other country is redundant, thus ensuring contact center businesses to always be connected. Contact centers in the Dominican Republic generate 25,000 direct jobs, from the 57 companies registered and operating in the country. In the next two years those centers are expected to create 30,000 additional jobs, which when added to the indirect ones are more than 150,000 in. This information comes from the CEI-RD, which also says almost all of the data and information technology centers have been installed in the country in the past three years, meaning this great progress has been done in record time. This year alone-and not including centers outside of free trade zones-Contact Centers constituted 15% of approved companies in the free trade zones of the Dominican Republic, being matched only by textile companies (Approved companies by the Free Trade Zone and Export Committee, 2010). In previous reports the committee also shows how these companies add to the countrys GDP year after year, reflecting in a steady and secure growth of this industry. Companies approved in 2010 Free Trade Zone and Export Committee, 2010) The contact center industry in the Dominican Republic is one that has maintained a steady and significant growth. By doing so it has provided a great deal of jobs in the Dominican labor market, citing that for the year 2009 the industry counted with 22,000 jobs. Taking into consideration that the growth of this industry will be of about 27% and 36% annual growth during the next five years, it means that by 2014 the number of jobs can grow to an astonishing 150,000 jobs if the average annual growth rate is of only 27%. If the industry grows at an average of 37% annually, we are talking about having 250,000 jobs, which is almost double of the previous projection. (Jonathan Aragonez, 2010) Strengths, weaknesses and investors perspective of contact centers FDI Deciding whether to invest or not in a country is a decision which is influenced by what the country has offered and showed you, and what other investors say their experience has been. Investors will most likely take other investors input as the reality of how business works in a country. With that being said, one of the biggest disadvantages mentioned by investors is that the Dominican Republic doesnt count with a large enough English speaking community to hold growing operations. This statement comes from the interview with Mr. Blake Janover, contact center owner who has experienced the lack of English speaking representatives. He mentions that the Dominican Republic is a great place to invest, but not the best in the world due to some more important flaws than not enough English personnel. The main weaknesses mentioned by this contact center owner are banking, finance, and overall infrastructure, which is why he runs everything through an external company abroad instead of legally constituting a Dominican company. He also says that it takes time to get things rolling in the country, but he likes the Dominican Republic because it offers a huge tax benefit, as the US offers almost none (Blake Janover, 2010). Further details given by Mr. Janover can be seen in the Appendix. As for the interview with Mr. Jonathan Aragonez, an economist for the Center of Export and Investment of the Dominican Republic, he explains that the Dominican Republic offers contact center investors a great deal of benefits. In his interview he mentions some of the exclusivity of Dominican Republic, its treaty and skilled labor force. The most significant interpretation I could gather form the interview was that an investor is usually winning when investing in a contact center. This is an industry that is expected to grow at a steady 27 to 36 percent in average in the next 5 years, so the investor is bound to make a great profit in the business.(Jonathan Aragonez, 2010) Both the investor and the host country agree in one thing, the Dominican Republic offers advantages that many other countries dont have, and that is why the country is becoming a leader in the industry. These advantages are not only extended to the country and the investor, but are also transferable to the workforce. The average starting salaries in the contact centers are between RD$18,000 to RD$22,000 pesos. This amount is three times more than the average salary of RD$6,000 pesos-established by law-for people working office jobs such as law clerk, assistant or financial analyst (Ministry of Labor of the Dominican Republic, 2007). The contact center salaries are only matched by those of Doctors or Engineers in production plants, which is very demanding professional field in comparison with being a contact center agent. Although this is good for an individual whose only skill may be to speak English, it affects other labor markets due to the fact that the salary is so much

Monsignor Quixote: Unleashed

Graham Greene is known in recent years as the â€Å"old master† as a writer. He had already accumulated tremendous achievements which led him in having an expertise in writing. Because of the freedom that he exudes in writing, his subject matter, intensity and tone of writing style is quite extended significantly. Greene’s works were usually focused in pity, doom and the impenetrability of God’s will. In his work entitled â€Å"The Human Factor† (1978), he talks about the protagonist victim trapped in a twist of betrayal and spying. In his another book entitled â€Å"Dr. Fisher of Geneva, or The Bomb party† (1980), tells about he chilling story of a wealthy man who plays God sadistically with his poor assistants who tried to entertain him and humiliate and hurt them in return. However, another masterpiece from the old master, the gentlest among Greene’s works, has introduced a worthwhile read entitled â€Å"Monsignor Quixote†. â€Å"Monsignor Quixote† is an offshoot of Cervantes’s work (Greene, 1990). In this version, the readers are opened to the idea of Catholic faith and Communist sympathy conflict. The setting is in Spain in the late 1960’s were the end of the Second Vatican Council and of the end of the Latin Mass happened. This novel tells the story of a humble and kind priest who believes that himself that he was a descendant of Don Quixote, the famous Knight of the Sorrowful Countenance. After such belligerent, he was promoted as Monsignor and later forces Father Quixote from his parish in El Toboso wherein such promotion had been made by a powerful Italian bishop whom Quixote helped in fixing his car and providing him with a sumptuous lunch. Outrage of a local bishop in El Toboso arises and requested him of leave of absence to go to Madrid and buy purple socks and bib as the new Monsignor. Father Quixote’s cavalry will soon emerge. This book teaches valuable reflections about authority, hope and despair, love and selfishness (Greene, 1990). However, the rejection of dogmatic authority in the church and state is the focused of the book. Greene emphasizes the value of the spirit and not in the letter (system). Greene was said to be intertwined between two systems which requires utmost obedience and submission to the adherents. He delves onto the human weaknesses rather than uprightness. Doubt is seen as a paradox, which it is in human nature to doubt for humans are intrinsic and can control their instincts. Decisions made from incomplete information arises the matter of doubt. Greene’s inclusion of the Catholic faith as a background is hope in the most extreme situations. Monsignor Quixote and Sancho Plaza had congruent hopes on such event, thus, Monsignor hopes for Sancho, being a Communist to convert into being a Catholic while Sancho hopes for Monsignor to be a Marxist. And these hopes did not end triumphantly which lead to despair. In the book, their hopes arise through the books they read: Sancho’s preference in Marx’s works and Monsignor’s in religious books. Sancho is a materialist while Monsignor is selfless and do care for the world’s salvation. Considerably, the greatest virtue amongst all is Love. Greene knew that there is hope because there is love in it. In this regard, Sancho was faced in a conflict if he will rescue his friend from El Toboso or seek refuge form his fellow Communists. But because of love and loyalty, Sancho did not cross the frontier and instead went to El Toboso to save his friend. His loyalty and love for his friend is more important than his safety. In Greene’s works, usually there are borders which are not meant to be crossed. Love is eternal. Sancho’s reflections on the nature of love, that hate is finished through revenge, still love persists after death. Monsignor realized that Sancho would not abandon him, because he saw in him love and unselfishness (Greene, 1990) . â€Å"Monsignor Quixote† is an inspirational read, a book which greatly exemplified the humble characteristics of its author, Graham Greene. References: Greene, G. (1990). Monsignor Quixote (Reissue ed.): Pocket. Towers, Robert.   (1982, September 19).   An Amiable Graham Greene.   The New York Times on the Web.   Retrieved July 13 2007, from http://www.nytimes.com/books/00/02/20/specials/greene-quixote.html      

Popular Culture Media and Society: Culture Jamming Essay

Introduction â€Å"Culture jamming† is a strategy often utilized by the anti-globalization movement in the creation and reappropriation of memes, or memorable and persistent ideas. Traditional culture jamming strategies have included a variety of actions, ranging from billboard liberation, wherein artists reclaim billboards as public space, to media activism, wherein activists attempt to garner news coverage through some form of direct action in order to have their message heard. Additional tactics such as spoof advertisements geared to mock a particular brand or industry and branding removal, wherein activists remove all marks of branding from products, have also been deployed. Culture jammers attempt to expose the norms of western industrial society and call them into question but often their attempts are not popular enough to reach a large audience and encourage a large scale questioning of the status quo. The goals of the culture jamming community are to introduce new norms into societies that effectively turn back the meanings of current social norms. Despite the best intentions of those working within the movement, traditional culture jamming rarely makes it into popular culture and is thus often thwarted in the attempt to successfully challenge the norms perpetuated by globalization. The purpose of this study is to examine the ways in which culture jamming that permeates the media and crosses the line from subculture to pop culture can challenge hegemonic structures of power while simultaneously reinforcing those challenges by increasing their popularity. Through the study of popular culture artifacts from a variety of genres I hope to determine whether or not popular culture may serve as an effective strategic forum for the introduction of culture jamming artifacts, as opposed to the traditional and more subversive tactics being deployed by culture jammers. Towards an Understanding of Culture Jamming Culture jamming and studies of culture jamming have typically focused on the ability of an activist group or individual to effectively redeploy the signs and symbols of a dominant system in a manner that disrupts their meaning and critiques the overall system from which the symbols originate. In his recently republished 1993 pamphlet on culture jamming, Mark Dery (2001) states that culture jammers: †¦ introduce noise into the signal as it passes from transmitter to receiver, encouraging idiosyncratic, unintended interpretations. Intruding on the intruders, they invest ads, newscasts, and other media artifacts with subversive meanings; simultaneously, they decrypt them, rendering their seductions impotent (para. 36). From Dery’s perspective culture jamming can be seen as actions or artifacts that are politically or subversively charged. Jamming can range from parody to media gags, but always aims to make a statement against a particular target of power or popularity within a culture. Similarly, semiotic theorist Umberto Eco (1984) advocates that one form of media can be utilized to spread criticism pointed at another type of medium in order to â€Å"restore a critical dimension to passive reception† (p. 138). Eco refers to acts and artifacts that have this potential to be part of â€Å"semiotic guerilla warfare.† The signs and symbols of a culture are open to interpretation. While within a culture there may be a common meaning for these signs and symbols within a culture that meaning is not set in stone. A sign or a symbol may be used to contradict its own popular meaning. Thus we can see how semiotics plays an important role in developing tools for the toolbox of the culture jammer. The lack of fixed meaning in the signs we see on a daily basis allow culture jammers to turn back symbols as semiotic weapons against their creators. Kalle Lasn (2000) defines culture jamming as the demarketing of marketing. As the founder of Adbusters magazine, Lasn has pushed for the reclaiming and redeployment of particular brand names, icons, and advertising campaigns through a process known to culture jammers as subvertising. Lasn explains in his book, Culture Jam that culture jammers utilize Debord’s notion of detournement, or turning back specific aspects of a spectacle against itself. In the case of culture jamming, brands and their advertising are turned back upon themselves to reveal questions and inconsistencies about a particular advertiser’s ideals as seen through its campaigns. Lasn (2000) also claims that successful culture jamming can function as a pincer movement utilizing both high profile media campaigns that challenge industry in combination with grass roots campaigns for local action. The challenge to an industry or target combined with encouragement of behavioral change has the potential to change the perception of the target on a broad scale while also reducing support for the target. A well-organized pincer will get millions of people thinking about their lives—about eating better, driving less, jumping off the fashion treadmill, downshifting. Eventually the national mood will evolve (pg136). Lasn’s pincer attack attempts to make that which is currently chic or popular in a society unpopular on a massive scale. As fewer people within the society buy into the imagery of a particular industry or brand the industry loses financial support and must either change its practices or face rejection by the community at large. Lasn has spear headed grass roots campaigns such as â€Å"Buy Nothing Day;† an annual campaign urging consumers to avoid buying anything on the last Friday of November (a date commonly known among retailers as â€Å"Black Friday† as it often marks record profits for retailers as a result of holiday shopping). Lasn combines this grassroots campaign with thirty-second television ad spots on CNN each year as well as more locally oriented promotion such as fliers that activists can print off the Internet and disseminate at will. Christine Harold (2004) claims that the culture jammer â€Å"seeks to undermine the marketing rhetoric of multinational corporations, specifically through such practices as media hoaxing, corporate sabotage, billboard ‘liberation,’ and trademark infringement† (p. 190). These strategies are used by jammers in an effort to â€Å"glut the system† by supplying audiences with contradictory messages. Their goal is to generate a qualitative change in the minds of the audience about the subject matter targeted. Harold (2004) critiques traditional culture jamming as a rhetorical strategy because it often relies upon revelation of hidden truths and rejection of the systems it attempts to play upon. In her analysis, Harold specifically indicts Lasn’s publications and others who deploy parody or direct negation of corporate logos in their attempts to cause questioning of norms. Reliance on parody as a mechanism for revealing truth requires audiences to deconstruct the common meaning of a sign with little to work with but the sign itself. Additionally, parody causes a commitment to rhetorical binaries that articulate rejection of the targeted idea with little room for the idea to be reframed. Dominant powers within a criticized system can easily utilize these tactics for their own means. The reliance on a recognized symbol helps to maintain its cultural prominence. The rhetorical binary used by culture jammers allows the targeted entity to easily deflect criticism and quash the questioning of norms. While Adbusters and activists of similar ideology may put forth a message of rebellion and rejection corporate targets can use these concepts of rebellion and rejection to sell their products. Recent advertisements for Sprite illustrate this concept well as they focus on rejecting celebrity culture and embracing one’s own character by purchasing the product. Harold (2004) advocates a more appropriative approach to culture jamming seeks to be appropriated by commercial media in order to redirect the focus of dominant media systems. Much of Harold’s argument focuses on the value of media activism via prank, pointing to groups such as the Barbie Liberation Organization (BLO) and Biotic Baking Brigade (BBB) as groups that have successfully received positive media coverage through their pranks. Clearly, we can see that culture jamming may be an effective strategy for putting dominant hierarchies, organizations, and systems into question. However, Reinsborough and Harold (2004) both raise interesting points in terms of the effectiveness of the strategy, with Harold illustrating the problems of strategies that are not appropriative and Reinsborough recognizing that subversive media strategies (such as those Harold advocates) are often limited in scope. When considering Reinsborough’s (2003) usage of the word meme the concept that he is referring to is not necessarily identical to that articulated by memetic theorists. Susan Blackmore (1999) has broadly defined memes as â€Å"everything that you have learned by imitation† (pg6). The definition of imitation from a memetic perspective should not be confused with â€Å"copycat† acts. Instead, imitation should be seen as memes passing from one mind to another. In his article on culture jammers and the World Wide Web, Stephen Downes (1999) defines the meme as a â€Å"contagious idea that spreads from one mind to another† (para. 2). He articulates that memes are a way to represent the ideas contained within advertising and explains that in order for ideas to take hold in one’s mind they must appeal to the audience in a way that helps them to be remembered. Similarly, Kalle Lasn (2000) speaks of â€Å"infotoxins,† or â€Å"infoviruses,† that permeate dominant media forums. Lasn claims that disinformation is propagated through media and public relations spin resulting in the establishment of incorrect beliefs about the world. In one example, Lasn refers to the media’s portrayal of anti-automobile activists as limiters of personal freedom as a contributing factor in the failure of activists to popularize their message. The movement becomes unable to stimulate a mindset shift towards a culture that is less dependent upon petroleum products. As the activists are seen as â€Å"anti-freedom† harms they are attempting to solve such as global warming are not taken seriously. Additionally, he argues that while the effects of global warming can be seen on both local and global scales, disinformation that has been spread through dominant media forums has led to a sense of complacency about the issue in the minds of Americans. Lasn believes these â€Å"infoviruses† are untruthful memes that must be challenged through the production of counteractive memes that outperform those that movements wish to question. â€Å"We build our own meme factory, put out a better product and beat the corporations at their own game. We identify the macromemes and the metamemes—the core ideas without which a sustainable future is unthinkable—and deploy them† (pg124). Both Reinsborough (2003) and Lasn (2000) seem to be identifying that memes are memorable and popular concepts that have the ability to be spread in order to transform cultural norms. Blackmore (1999) and Downes (1999) clearly illustrate that memes are made up of ideas that are picked up from popular culture and imitated. The process of culture jamming can be seen as one generating memes that hold a meaning that challenges existing norms. To return to the analogy of the gene, culture jamming can be seen as a form of â€Å"memetic engineering† with a goal of producing a dominant and meaningful meme that causes new â€Å"traits,† or meanings, to become exemplified within a culture. Understanding the Transformative Potential of Popular Culture Communication and mass media scholars have examined the extent to which popular culture may contribute to the formation of cultural norms and social structure. Guy Debord (1977) implicates popular culture in large portion of what he labels â€Å"the society of the spectacle.† Debord’s (1977) view of the world in the era of global capitalism is one in which popular culture serves to provide images or representations of the world that do not represent its historical state, but instead inspire audiences to digest the world around them as commodities as a replacement for the real. Artifacts such as films are not representative of art, but are tools to inspire audiences to strive towards the acquisition of consumer goods and respect the hierarchal structure. Debord (1977) points out that the society of the spectacle is replete with images and representations that drive audiences to become consumers. This consumption leads audiences to respect the structural hierarchies that repress them. In essence, the complacency most audiences have towards the consumption of images and subsequently the world around them drives this structuralism. While Debord (1977) implicates popular culture and the spectacle as paramount in the construction of a social order of consumption, he does offer some hope for those striving to work against the consumptive nature of capitalist hierarchies in the form of â€Å"detournement† By creating contradictions, negations, or parodies of a given work, â€Å"corrections† can be made to the meaning of the work in order to create a meaning that is more representative of the â€Å"true† states of societies. Marshall McLuhan (1964) argued in his groundbreaking work, Understanding Media, that popular culture experienced a drastic shift with the advent of technologies such as film, radio and television. Whereas popular culture had been print dominated in years previous, the shift to new types of media changed the way media was created and the effect was dramatic. McLuhan argues that the introduction of printed texts into cultures undermined the tribal aspect of communities and collective ideas that had once dominated small communities. Cultures became more individualistic and increased the power of logic and rationale of the written word as opposed to commonality among group members. The advent of new media brought about a more collective consciousness as individuals were drawn to its aesthetics. New tribal communities formed that were rooted in both local and global norms. Audience exposure to new and different sights and sounds increased the shared understanding across cultures. McLuhan also illustrates that the spread of media united people as a result of the media’s importance by comparing media to staples of a society’s economy. Television, for example, can be used to construct the cultural norms of a society. Those people who are active audience members of a particular television show or genre are likely to have shared beliefs, forming a tribal community of their own. McLuhan argued that the community building potential of television and the syndication of programming created the potential for these cultures to spread globally. While McLuhan’s work was performed in the 1960s the subsequent popularity of the Internet seems to confirm at the very least that communities of people who make up television audiences extend worldwide as fan sites, bulletin boards, and blogs dedicated to television programs cross multiple borders and cultures. Television, much of McLuhan’s media, is a part of popular culture. Research has also been conducted suggesting that popular culture has the ability to reaffirm existing cultural norms or as a tool in transforming current norms. Lee Artz (2004) has examined the cultural norms that are present in the bulk of the animation produced by the Walt Disney Co. Artz argues that the autocratic production process embraced by Disney executives results in four dominant themes present in nearly every animated film the company has released. These themes include the naturalization of hierarchy, the defense of elite coercion and power, promotion of hyper-individualism and the denigration of democratic solidarity (p. 126). The prevalence of these themes can be identified through study of the narratives contained within Disney films as well as through the stylistic elements of the animation itself. The ease with which animated film can be translated and transported into the languages and cultures of peoples worldwide offers a large audience to Disney in marketing its films and film-related products. The portability of Disney products from one culture to another is a problematic notion for Artz (2004), as he explains the social stratification present and reaffirmed in the films produced is largely representative of the global capital system that allows Disney to thrive as a media giant. Artz suggests that effective resistance against these thematic representations cannot be implemented by rogue Disney artists injecting subversive messages into films. Instead, â€Å"cooperative creations and narratives† and the appropriation and subsequent use of animation technology by artists, writers, and producers committed to the promotion of democracy would be more effective. This conclusion appears to be impirically proven. While not discussed in Artz’s work, subversive strategies have been employed by disgruntled artists involved in the production of Disney films (such as the post-production inclusion of an image of a topless woman in the background artwork of The Rescuers). However these acts did not generate substantial negative publicity for the company. Peter Simonson (2001) has examined the successes the animal-rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have experienced as a result of using communication strategies rooted in popular culture. PETA seeks to change predominant cultural norms in the area of animal welfare. Their traditional communicative strategies have relied on the generating news controversy and gaining news coverage. Simonson proposes that social movements and organizations seeking to change popular morals or norms rely upon social noise—a multifaceted concept that can be defined as messages that are compelling or loud enough to be heard amidst the signals of mass-media. Noise disrupts commonly held social meanings and is often discordant or disagreeable to a subset of the audience. Scholars have also focused on what makes a particular artifact or action popular. John Fiske (1989) studied culture as popular culture in terms of texts. By making textual analysis of artifacts in popular culture, Fiske began to make claims about the structure of popular messages. Fiske introduced the concept of the producerly text as a primary characteristic of popular culture. The producerly text is conceptually anchored in the distinctions made by Barthes (1977) between the writerly and readerly texts. Barthes contends that readerly texts are those that we are able to read passively. Interactions between the audience and these texts are receptive; there is no need to question or interpret the text in a different way than it is written. Writerly texts can be seen as those texts that require the reader to constantly evaluate and rewrite the meaning of the text, and writerly texts usually require some specialized knowledge or a toolset to decode (Fiske 1989). Many scholars and activists concur that there is a risk when entering into pop culture that the rhetoric used by those critiquing dominant ideologies and structures may be co-opted. The potential exists for the message to be appropriated by those in power for their own means; the message becomes incorporated by those in power in order to embolden their own claims or profits. The same process that allows activists to change the meaning of texts is available to everyone. Popular culture has the potential to create and transform both societal structure and norms. Additionally, communities of common exposure and belief can be developed using popular culture as a medium. There may be a risk of that subversive ideas can be incorporated by dominant systems of power, but this incorporation does not necessarily limit the transformative potential popular culture holds. When considering the culture jammer’s intent of questioning and changing norms popular culture becomes an interesting point of cultural injection. Conclusion In essence, the popular culture jam seeks to be appropriated into pop culture- it becomes pop culture and helps to redefine that which is popular. The result is a sort of â€Å"subpropriation,† where in the author seeks to have his or her work popularized in order to simultaneously popularize a previously subversive concept or idea. However, this appeal to the popular does not necessarily stop culture jamming from occurring. Entry into popular culture does not dictate that the message will be recuperated by industry. Rather, popular culture jamming takes place at a different point than other types of culture jamming. The â€Å"jam† in popular culture jamming occurs at the point that the artifact, action, or behavior becomes popular. The most obvious effect of moving towards a jamming of popular culture is the increased access to larger audiences. Popular culture does not request to be covered in the same way that news-oriented communication or advertisements often do. Instead, popular culture places demands upon media outlets to not only be covered but also be distributed to the masses. This sense of demand results because the popular is attractive to the media as a potential form of profit. Again, we see Fiske’s (1989) theories on production and incorporation at work. A popular culture jam spreads as a result of its popularity. Often this popularity is created by the irresistible profits that may be yielded from an artifact’s incorporation into the popular. In essence, one aspect of the structures that propagate and allow for globalization (and the subsequent problems that those in anti-globalization movements perceive to be resultant from it) to persist and thrive are turned back to criticize either itself or another portion of the hierarchal structure. Popular culture, despite the criticisms it often faces for lack of sophistication or intelligence, is an important element of our lives. Popular culture may also serve as a tool for those struggling against globalization, rampant consumerism, and capitalist exploitation. Each time we turn on a television or listen to the radio or log on to the Internet we are exposing ourselves to popular culture. Popular culture should not be perceived as an intellectual wasteland. While much of that which makes up popular culture may be perceived as being detrimental to society by any number of people, activists and media scholars cannot ignore or reject it. Popular culture needs to be embraced and transformed through the use of producerly texts in order to improve and transform the genre into another persuasive conduit for activists. Popular culture is not going away. In the age of new media popular culture is becoming even more pervasive in our lives as media formats are combined. If embraced as a rhetorical forum by culture jammers, popular culture can be transformed into a more revelatory and revolutionary space for communicating ideals that activists wish to make popular. References Artz, L., (2004), The Righteousness of Self-centered Royals: The World According to Disney Animation, Critical Arts Journal, Vol. 18, No. 1, 116-146. Blackmore, S., (1999). The meme machine, 1st ed., Oxford University Press. Debord, G., (1977), The Society of the Spectacle. Available at http://library.nothingness.org/articles/SI/en/pub_contents. Dery, M., (2004, Oct 10), Culture jamming: hacking, slashing and sniping in the empire of signs. 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