Samsung Galaxy vs. Apple iphone (Actual Termpaper) Essay

Samsung Galaxy vs. Apple iphone (Actual Termpaper) - Essay Example Additionally, the devise solutions section is divided into either semiconductor or LCD division. The company has grown significantly both in profitability and innovations with new products being released year in year out. As it celebrated its 40 years of operations in 2009, Samsung Electronics was ranked first among worldwide IT companies; a fete that the company had not achieved previously.3 In 2010 Fortune 500 ranking, Samsung was placed twenty second and this was a rise with ten places and became the ever best placed Korean Company. Samsung Galaxy phone is among the most recent product released by Samsung Electronics as it continues to offer its customers products that are update with changes in technology. The first Samsung Galaxy phone in the series was released in June 2009. On the other hand, Apple iPhone is produced by Apple formed in 1976 by Steven Wozniak and Steven Jobs. For a long time during its existence, Apple concentrated in manufacture of computer although in the pas t decade Apple stopped specializing in computers alone positioning it to compete with other players in the industry.4 For instance in 2001, Apple produced iPod and since then the company has become a major producer of music players. In 2007, Apple Company entered into the mobile phone sector with release of its Apple iPhone. Apple operates under the philosophy of â€Å"comprehensive aesthetic design† and uses unique advertising campaigns and this has enabled the company establish a strong reputation in electronics industry and retain a strong consumer base.5 This report compares and contrasts management strategies used by Samsung and Apple Inc to distribute their smart phones in an international market. Samsung Galaxy and Apple iPhone In July 2009, Samsung Electronics released its first smart phone; Samsung Galaxy, model i7500. Samsung Galaxy is a series of different models of phones manufactured to run on Android operating system (OS).6 The fact that these phones are develop ed to operate on Android OS allows them to run different applications giving users different functionality. The move to manufacture Galaxy phones were changes in technology and availability of Android which is an open source OS, that is, it can be accessed freely from the internet. Additionally, Samsung wanted to offer to its consumers a product which can run an array of applications. By using Samsung Galaxy phones, users are able to download materials using high internet downloading capabilities, can access libraries from their phones and a large internal storage space.7 Samsung Galaxy also offers customers high quality music and pictures given that they run various music players. Samsung Galaxy phones have a relative small dimension that therefore a user can carry it a round comfortably in the pocket.8 Following the release of the first Galaxy phone, Samsung Electronic has continued in innovating and has been releasing a new model into the series. For instance, in November 2009, i 5700 was released and this was followed by the introduction of Samsung Galaxy S (i9000) in June 2010.9 Samsung Galaxy S III (GT-i9300) is latest Galaxy phone to be released into the market in May 2012. Galaxy phone are categorized in different classes defined by letters S, R, W, M and Y. Galaxy phones in the S and R

Environmental Risk Perception Article Paper

Environmental Risk Perception Article Paper Bill Hasler Environmental risk is an issue perceived in dissimilar ways by individuals across the globe. In fact, it is impossible to assess full accuracy of environmental risk research. This is due to several environmental aspects which require thorough investigation. In the recent past, global warming has been the major topic under consideration. This paper seeks to analyze two articles related; one analyzes issues of global warming, and the other highlights aspects not related to environmental issues In short, the first article focuses on the effects of tourist, transport, and industries on our environment. This article indicates that transport is one of the major contributors of global warming. Some forms of transport such as buses, cars, trains, and airplanes ferry tourists to their intended destinations (Cristina, 2013). However, as indicated in this article, road and air transport lead to emissions of huge amounts of fossil fuel which in turn pollute the atmosphere. Additionally, the article records that air transport is the primary contributor of greenhouse effect (Cristina, 2013). In fact, the rate of pollution falls at 60 percent, followed by road transport at 40 percent of the total greenhouse effect. This article supports this documented evidence by considering other sources such as charts from the WTO (World Trade Organization). Moreover, it indicates that greenhouse effect can be reduced if emission of carbon dioxide can be reduced through modern technologies, as well as sustainable environmental care. The second article reviewed the variability in climate for the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), an important aspect of climate makeup for much of the world. This article does take many weather factors into consideration such as wind, sea surface temperature, and cloud radiation (Ng, 2014). It should be noted that the suggestions and arguments in this article are based on a specific climate model, GFDL-ESM2M Coupled Climate Model (Ng, 2014). The article points out that positive IOD events occur when the eastern IOD (IODE) is anomalously cool (Ng, 2014). These events lead to droughts in Indonesia and Australia and flooding in areas of East Africa and India (Ng, 2014). The article goes on to say that it is unclear whether the atmosphere or the ocean is responsible for the amplitude of these events (Ng, 2014). This particular article, utilizing the aforementioned climate model, essentially found no conclusive evidence that the Indian Ocean is or is not impacting global warming (Ng, 2014). When comparing the two previously mentioned articles, it is first important to understand that although they discuss two different topics, climate in the Indian Ocean and tourist transport gases, the underlying issue is the same; global warming. The first article makes it very clear from the beginning that global warming is of great concern. The article is very effective in providing data to back up what is suggested. The fact that the data gathered comes from several credible resources goes a long way towards supporting their claims. The second article is completely different in its approach and goal. The authors seemed intent only on establishing that there was no discernable risk of global warming from the Indian Ocean point of view. They did do a great job of providing data, maybe too well. The article was jam packed with a ton of data that seemed to be credible, but it only served to leave the reader feeling like the authors really did not know whether or not global warming was a concerning issue. The first article also did a great job of providing alternative methods and suggestions to decrease gas emissions, thereby reducing the impact to climate change. The second article did not really seem to be solution based. With any environmental issue, there are always going to be stressors involved. With these articles in particular, the main stressors were traffic, noise, pollution, and weather. The first article focused mainly on noise, traffic, and pollution, while the second article really only focused on weather. The stressors from the first article are ones most people encounter on a daily basis. Dealing with noise and traffic are very common stressors, especially in the U.S. Pollution is something many citizens deal with worldwide, but it goes largely ignored because the source of much of this pollution is emitted by factories that provide much needed jobs. Weather is not looked at as a stressor very often, unless a specific event such as a tornado is present. What many people do not realize is the impact on the human state of mind that occurs with extended weather patterns, such as long winters or heat waves (Linda Steg, 2013). My own risk perception of global warming is one of great concern. When I read about the level of gases being emitted into our atmosphere, just in the tourist industry alone, I was shocked. The first article brought home for me just how real the issue of greenhouse gases really is. The fact that the second article essentially had no explanation for the weather patterns coming from the Indian Ocean did not help to ease the level of concern. There are alternatives available in the way of technology and equipment to help monitor and reduce gas emissions, as pointed out in the first article (Cristina, 2013). The fact that these methods and approaches are not being utilized tells me that our species is not nearly as concerned about the environment as we should be. The second article to me is a shining example of what our species is inclined to do; explain things away with massive data no one understands, rather than address the issues. My stance is one of heightened concern. I have been guilty in the past of ignoring the environment and the issues we face. However, reading that 90% of carbon oxide emissions come from over the road transportation, I cannot ignore it anymore (Cristina, 2013). I intend to continue to research these issues and share my findings with anyone I can. References    Cristina, M. L. (2013). Analyzing the Forms of Tourist Transportation with Major Effect on Global Warming and Sustainable Development. Agricultural Management / Lucrari Stiintifice Seria I, Management Agricola, 151-156. Linda Steg, A. v. (2013). Environmental psychology: an introduction. British Psychological Society and John Wiley Sons, Ltd. Ng, B. C. (2014). Nonlinear Feedbacks Associated with the Indian Ocean Dipole and Their Response to Global Warming in the GFDL-ESM2M Coupled Climate Model. Journal Of Climate, 3904-3919.

Maturation Of Scout Essay -- essays research papers

In Harper Lee’s novel, â€Å"To Kill A Mocking Bird† we see that maturation of some of the characters is clearly evident, particularly Scouts. We see this by the way she acts in front of Miss Maudie, Calpurnia and Mrs. Alexandra Finch. Beside her father, Scout probably respects and likes the most is Miss Maudie. The two of them have a great relationship and they both love each other very deeply. When Scout first introduces us to Miss Maudie (in chapter 5), she tells us all the nicest things about her. She talks about how much she and Jem trusted Miss Maudie and what a good friend she was. They trusted her because "she never told on them, never played cat-and-mouse with them, and because she was not at all interested in their private lives", (chp. 5, pg. 44-45) unlike most Maycomb people. This is also why Scout respected Miss Maudie so much and why she told her, "Miss Maudie, you are the best lady I know" (pg.45). Miss Maudie always made cakes for Scout, Jem and Dill, and she invited them over to eat them and also to play in her backyard. One summer, Scout spent the whole second half of the summer with Miss Maudie. They sat in the front porch, watched the sunset, talked, took care of Miss Maudie' s garden. That's when Scout became very close to Miss Maudie. Basically, Scout admired Miss Maudie. She was her hero. Calpurnia is a very important character in the novel. Scout has known her her whole life and has basically lived with her, but they weren't that close. Scout never liked Calpurnia very much, mostly because she always complained about her behavior. "She was always ordering her out of the kitchen, asking her why she couldn't behave as well as Jem when she knew he was older, and calling her home when she wasn't ready to come. There talking was like battling and one-sided. Calpurina always won, mainly because Atticus always took her side." (pg. 6). Another reason why Scout didn't like Calpurnia is because she made her practice writing. Then, when Scout's teacher in grade one found out that Scout can read and when Scout got in trouble for that, she blamed Calpurnia. At that time, she was too young to understand that Calpurnia only tried to help her and teach her so she would be literate and know more useful things. Even though this seems like a negative relationship and seems as if though it can never get better, the relationsh... ...and teaching her how to be a girl. Scout knows that she won't be able to have all the freedom and fun that she's had up until now and this is why she feels so depressed when she sees her aunt sitting in the front porch. She also knows that Aunt Alexandra may have some bad influence on Scout's and Atticus's relationship because Atticus has a lot of respect for his sister and he never confronted her about anything. Scout is afraid because Atticus always takes his sister's side, it could effect the relationship Scout has with her father and that and this could bring them apart. Throughout the novel, Atticus repeats to Scout an Jem the importance of seeing things from another point of view in order to understand what the other person is feeling. The theme of childhood is also another important one. The story takes place over a period of years, and the reader takes part in the adventure of the child growing up in a small Southern town. To Kill A Mocking Bird is a fascinating story about a young girl who sees the town through her little innocent eyes, this novel is a must for everyone to read because it displays racial tensions that are throughout out the town especially the citizens.

Emerging Issues Essay

Emerging Issues Paper In today’s society emerging issues in multiculturalism are affecting people in new ways. Professionals in the health care industry are facing new challenges and are realizing the changes they need to make to continue to help those in need. Individuals are changing as well and becoming uniquely multicultural themselves. These issues affect society and how culturally diverse groups interact but still allow them to live together and share each others experiences. Counseling Professionals face the issue of how to have successful practices when they are working with clients from so many different backgrounds. Psychologist, counselors, and mental health care professionals are in an ever-changing and demanding position dealing with such a multicultural society and the issues each culture faces. Counseling and therapy for individuals from different cultures can be challenging for today’s professionals because not only are today’s issues ever-changing but so are the cultural views and backgrounds. Cultures are becoming intertwined especially here in the United States and professionals are facing new issues helping individuals deal with problems related to possessing several cultures and backgrounds. Professionals should have a comfortable understanding of their own cultural beliefs and backgrounds before trying to understand the beliefs and issues of others. Once a Professional is comfortable and understands his own beliefs, he can then learn about the beliefs and values of other cultures without casting judgment or having a close mind with his clients. If counselors lack sufficient training in multicultural counseling it is likely that they also lack the skills to deal with ethical issues presented by clients with multicultural backgrounds† (Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 2003, p. 1). Professionals today face the issue of differences in culture and race. Members of the same race have different cultural beliefs and practices so it may be easy for a professional to become confused about a person and his culture if they are viewing the person by their race. For example, the Hispanic race has different cultures including Mexican, Cuban, and Puerto Rican. The professional needs to gather detailed information to understand each client and his individual needs. Professionals with a lack of knowledge on multicultural issues can lead to negative outcomes such as a misdiagnosis or a client feeling misunderstood. This issue can have an impact on our entire society if professionals are not fully trained and capable of dealing with today’s multicultural issues. If clients are not being properly treated their entire lives can be affected, which can affect the lives of their families and their communities. Professionals should also understand counseling practices throughout the world to better help clients with treatment. Understanding these practices can help clients to interact with diverse groups by allowing them to understand other cultures as well. Multicultural Identity Multiculturalism is very apparent in the United States today; most people enjoy and accept the fact that they have several cultures within their own family. Today multicultural families not only have issues with their own identities but also they must raise strong, secure, and multicultural children. The amazing thing about the United States is that people are free to express themselves and become independent. This freedom allows cultures to explore and express their traditions and practices without others looking down on them. Not to say that racism and discrimination is not apparent in the United States because it is, but most people living here have an understanding that we are in a multicultural society. Technology has had a large affect on multiculturalism and allows people to better understand themselves and others as well. â€Å"Accompanying the growth of human communication has been the erosion of barriers that have, throughout history, geographically, linguistically, and culturally separated people† (Adler, 2002, p. 1). Some individuals may find growing up with a multicultural family can be confusing, whereas others may see this diversity as a blessing and exciting. The multicultural person may sometimes feel as though he cannot specifically identify himself with one race or culture but with the right sources he can receive help on his unique needs. The multicultural person will have an easier time interacting with other culturally diverse groups because he already has an understanding of his unique needs. Conclusion Counseling and multicultural identity are both emerging issues in multicultural psychology. These issues will continuously change as our society changes and incorporates new ideas and beliefs and although these issues can be challenging, they can be rewarding as well.

Soc Theory Paper

‘it is always the doctors patient’ This paper will be discussing the struggle of allied health practitioners to achieve professional status. This health issue can be discussed under many different sociological theories however Feminism in particular sociological/ Marxist feminism with touching on post modern feminism also, shows great understanding around the health issues and gives an understanding of the way of health and health care in Australia.It explains how medical dominance in this field overrights the Allied health professional through subordination the allied health professionals being under direct authority of doctors in the hospital system in particular. Feminism also shows that in this field Allied health practioners are predominantly woman and medical professionals hold a patriarchy over allied health and the sexual division of the two. Finally closing point of how many womens health issues in past and present are again predominantly male.Medical dominance, â€Å"the professional dominance of medicine due to doctors† (Fridson 1970). Allied health profressionals struggle to receive professional status in the health industry, due to the fact that doctors and medical professionals hold dominance and â€Å"power† over those knowledge based practioners in an area of a specific field. Medical dominance has a few areas in which it exerts control, subordination being a key area, it ensures some health care workers Eg Nurses, OT’s etc all to work under direct authority of doctors, especially in hospital system (Willis 2004).Sociological feminism looks at the â€Å"ruling class† system, Medical professionals hold the hiearchy position or the upper class level with higher wealth, income funding and power, Allied health is placed in the lower class or the working class due to the fact that they are controlled or dominated by the upper class or the hiarchy or the industry, as they receive less funding and have little co ntrol over receiving their patients due to the fact that doctors write the referrals for the clients to access the allied health professionals.Another issues amoungst allied health in the power struggle with medical dominance is the fact that most allied health positions are filled with females. Because of â€Å"the informal role of woman was to be the carer â€Å" ( Germov 2009), a woman is seen to this begun woman gaining positions as nurses or midwives, as these are seen as caring roles or ‘womens’ jobs’ which then progessed to woman expanding into allied health positions as the access of education became greater to woman,

Three Daughters of China

Three Daughters of China Introduction Wild Swans -The three daughters of China, is a wonderful book written by Jung Chang. The book describes the lives of three people: the narrator, her mother and her grandmother. The three grew up at different times in China, that is, pre-communist, revolutionary and communism periods. The book examines the love, hope and hopelessness that the narrator and her family experienced during their lives (Chang 8). The following essay examines the main theme of the book. The essay also discusses the weakness and flaw of the work.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Three Daughters of China-Wild Swans specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Main theme of the book and how the author examines it The main theme of the book is cruelty and injustice in China as a result of cultural communism. The author recounts human suffering which was brought about by Cultural Revolution. She describes how people’s rights were being vi olated. For instance, the author provides accounts of foot-binding practices. The author says that her grandmother always looked disappointed due top unkind treatment that she received from Bing. Her grandmother led a miserable life and she suffered murderous pains in silence. The author felt much pain when she was told about her grandmother’s last days by Xiao-Hong and Xiao-Hei. She distressed by the fact that the doctors did not attend to her sick grandmother. The doctors said that they could not do anything about her condition. They asked the family members not to come anymore and thus, she lay in bed desperately as she waited for her death. At the time of her death, the author’s grandmother talked about Cultural Revolution. She said that she was denounced by her neighbors and she started experiencing pain ever since (Lu 20-24). The author’s mother was detained and thus separated from the rest of the family members. She was allowed to come home only once a mo nth. Each time she came home, she taught Chang revolutionary songs with an aim of cheering her up. The songs were full of hope and victory. The author recounts how Cultural Revolution made them to live in fear. They endured poverty and human hostility. Chang’s mother was not allowed to spend much time with her husband following Cultural Revolution. Her rank made her to travel on foot despite the fact that she was pregnant. Her mother was also exposed to grueling military training and this in turn caused her to suffer a miscarriage (Lu 20-24). The author too was a victim of Cultural Revolution in China. The revolution started when she was a child. She was thus exposed to brutal actions at a tender age. The author recounts how her father was exposed to torture until he met his death (Lu 20-24).Advertising Looking for report on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Weakness and flaw of the work T he book â€Å"Three daughters of China† has minor flaws and weaknesses. The author was not much concerned about her father’s childhood. However, she blamed herself for not looking after her sick grandmother while in hospital. This represents uneven character representations (Chang 256). Conclusion â€Å"How could the revolution be good?† The author was angered by the fact that Cultural Revolution brought about human suffering. She hated the revolution and anguished because she had no power over it. Cultural Revolution caused her father and mother to suffer physically and mentally. The author also led a miserable life following the Cultural Revolution. Even though times have changed, the author hopes that justice and prosperity will be achieved one day. Chang, Jung. Wild swans: three daughters of China. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2003. Lu, Xing. Rhetoric of the Chinese Cultural Revolution: the impact on Chinese thought, culture, and communication. South Carol ina: Univ of South Carolina Press, 2004.

Compartir Conjugation in Spanish, Translation, Examples

Compartir Conjugation in Spanish, Translation, Examples The Spanish verb compartir  means to share. It is a regular  -ir  verb like  vivir  and  escribir.  Ã‚   The tables below include  compartir  conjugations in the indicative mood (present, preterite, imperfect, future, periphrastic future, and conditional), subjunctive mood (present and past), and imperative mood, as well as other verb forms such as the present and past participles. Compartir Present Indicative Yo comparto I share Yo comparto la comida con mi amiga. T compartes You share T compartes tu habitacin con tu hermano. Usted/l/ella comparte You/he/she shares Ella comparte el carro con su esposo. Nosotros compartimos We share Nosotros compartimos el almuerzo. Vosotros comparts You share Vosotros comparts la ropa. Ustedes/ellos/ellas comparten You/they share Ellos comparten las responsabilidades. Compartir Preterite  Indicative The preterite tense is used to talk about actions that were completed  in the past. It can be translated as the English simple past tense. Yo compart I shared Yo compart la comida con mi amiga. T compartiste You shared T compartiste tu habitacin con tu hermano. Usted/l/ella comparti You/he/she shared Ella comparti el carro con su esposo. Nosotros compartimos We shared Nosotros compartimos el almuerzo. Vosotros compartisteis You shared Vosotros compartisteis la ropa. Ustedes/ellos/ellas compartieron You/they shared Ellos compartieron las responsabilidades. Compartir Imperfect  Indicative The imperfect tense is used to talk about ongoing or habitual actions in the past. It can be translated to English as was sharing or used to share. Yo comparta I used to share Yo comparta la comida con mi amiga. T compartas You used to share T compartas tu habitacin con tu hermano. Usted/l/ella comparta You/he/she used to share Ella comparta el carro con su esposo. Nosotros compartamos We used to share Nosotros compartamos el almuerzo. Vosotros compartais You used to share Vosotros compartais la ropa. Ustedes/ellos/ellas compartan You/they used to share Ellos compartan las responsabilidades. Compartir Future  Indicative Yo compartir I will share Yo compartir la comida con mi amiga. T compartirs You will share T compartirs tu habitacin con tu hermano. Usted/l/ella compartir You/he/she will share Ella compartir el carro con su esposo. Nosotros compartiremos We will share Nosotros compartiremos el almuerzo. Vosotros compartiris You will share Vosotros compartiris la ropa. Ustedes/ellos/ellas compartirn You/they will share Ellos compartirn las responsabilidades. Compartir Periphrastic Future  Indicative The periphrastic future tense is formed with the present indicative conjugation of the verb  ir  (to go) followed by the preposition  a,  and then the infinitive of the verb. Yo voy a compartir I am going to share Yo voy a compartir la comida con mi amiga. T vas a compartir You are going to share T vas a compartir tu habitacin con tu hermano. Usted/l/ella va a compartir You/he/she is going to share Ella va a compartir el carro con su esposo. Nosotros vamos a compartir We are going to share Nosotros vamos a compartir el almuerzo. Vosotros vais a compartir You are going to share Vosotros vais a compartir la ropa. Ustedes/ellos/ellas van a compartir You/they are going to share Ellos van a compartir las responsabilidades. Compartir Conditional  Indicative Yo compartira I would share Yo compartira la comida con mi amiga. T compartiras You would share T compartiras tu habitacin con tu hermano. Usted/l/ella compartira You/he/she would share Ella compartira el carro con su esposo. Nosotros compartiramos We would share Nosotros compartiramos el almuerzo. Vosotros compartirais You would share Vosotros compartirais la ropa. Ustedes/ellos/ellas compartiran You/they would share Ellos compartiran las responsabilidades. Compartir Present Progressive/Gerund Form The present progressive tense is formed with the  present tense conjugation of the verb estar, followed by the  present participle (gerundio  in Spanish). To form the present participle for -ir verbs, you need to add the ending  -iendo. Present Progressive of  Compartir est compartiendo  She is sharing Ella est compartiendo  el carro con su esposo. Compartir Past Participle To form the past participle of -ir verbs, you need to add the ending -ido. The past participle can be used to form compound tenses such as the present perfect.   Present Perfect of  Compartir   ha compartido she has shared   Ella ha compartido el carro con su esposo.   Compartir Present Subjunctive The subjunctive mood is used when a sentence has two different clauses- a main clause and a subordinate clause- where each clause has a different subject. The subjunctive mood is used in the subordinate clause.  To conjugate the subjunctive form, start with the first person singular (yo) present indicative conjugation, drop the ending, and add the subjunctive ending, which for -er and -ir verbs are a, as, a, amos, is, an. Que yo comparta That I share Hctor quiere que yo comparta la comida con mi amiga. Que t compartas That you share Pap quiere que t compartas tu habitacin con tu hermano. Que usted/l/ella comparta That you/he/she share Liliana quiere que ella comparta el carro con su esposo. Que nosotros compartamos That we share Lisette quiere que nosotros compartamos el almuerzo. Que vosotros compartis That you share Denise quiere que vosotros compartis la ropa. Que ustedes/ellos/ellas compartan That you/they share Mam quiere que ellos compartan las responsabilidades. Compartir Imperfect  Subjunctive There are two forms of the imperfect subjunctive. They are both equally valid. Option 1 Que yo compartiera That I shared Hctor quera que yo compartiera la comida con mi amiga. Que t compartieras That you shared Pap quera que t compartieras tu habitacin con tu hermano. Que usted/l/ella compartiera That you/he/she shared Liliana quera que ella compartiera el carro con su esposo. Que nosotros compartiramos That we shared Lisette quera que nosotros compartiramos el almuerzo. Que vosotros compartierais That you shared Denise quera que vosotros compartierais la ropa. Que ustedes/ellos/ellas compartieran That you/they shared Mam quera que ellos compartieran las responsabilidades. Option 2 Que yo compartiese That I shared Hctor quera que yo compartiese la comida con mi amiga. Que t compartieses That you shared Pap quera que t compartieses tu habitacin con tu hermano. Que usted/l/ella compartiese That you/he/she shared Liliana quera que ella compartiese el carro con su esposo. Que nosotros compartisemos That we shared Lisette quera que nosotros compartisemos el almuerzo. Que vosotros compartieseis That you shared Denise quera que vosotros compartieseis la ropa. Que ustedes/ellos/ellas compartiese That you/they shared Mam quera que ellos compartiesen las responsabilidades. Compartir Imperative   The imperative mood is used to give direct commands. There are both positive and negative commands, and they have slightly different forms. Remember that there are no imperative forms for  yo,  Ãƒ ©l/ella, or ellos/ellas.   Positive Commands T comparte Share! Comparte tu habitacin con tu hermano! Usted comparta Share! Comparta el carro con su esposo! Nosotros compartamos Lets share! Compartamos el almuerzo! Vosotros compartid Share! Compartid la ropa! Ustedes compartan Share! Compartan las responsabilidades! Negative Commands T no compartas Dont share! No compartas tu habitacin con tu hermano! Usted no comparta Dont share! No comparta el carro con su esposo! Nosotros no compartamos Lets not share! No compartamos el almuerzo! Vosotros no compartis Dont share! No compartis la ropa! Ustedes no compartan Dont share! No compartan las responsabilidades!

Why Mandarin Chinese is easier than you think

Why Mandarin Chinese is easier than you think Mandarin Chinese is often described as a difficult language, sometimes one of the most difficult ones. This is not hard to understand. There are thousands of characters and strange tones! It must surely be impossible to learn for an adult foreigner! You can learn Mandarin ChineseThats nonsense of course. Naturally, if youre aiming for a very high level, it will take time, but I have met many learners who have studied for just a few months (albeit very diligently), and have been able to converse rather freely in Mandarin after that time. Continue such a project for a year and you will probably reach what most people would call fluent. So definitely not impossible. How difficult a language is depends on many things, but your attitude is certainly one of them and its also the easiest one to influence. You stand little chance of changing the Chinese writing system, but you can change your attitude towards it. In this article, Im going to show you certain aspects of the Chinese language and explain why they make learning a lot easier than you might think. How difficult is it to learn Mandarin Chinese? Of course, there are also things that make learning Chinese harder than you think (or perhaps as hard), sometimes even the same things from different angles or on different proficiency levels. That, however, is not the focus of this article. This article focuses on the easy things and is meant to encourage you. For a more pessimistic outlook, Ive written a twin article with the title: Why Mandarin Chinese is harder than you think. If you already study Chinese and want to know why its not always easy, perhaps that article will provide some insights, but below, I will focus on the easy things. Difficult or easy for whom? With what goal? Before we talk about specific factors that make learning Mandarin easier than you might think, Im going to make some assumptions. You are a native speaker of English or some other non-tonal language not related to Chinese at all (which would be most languages in the west). You might not have learnt any other foreign language, or perhaps youve studied one in school.   If your native language is related to Chinese or is influenced by it (such as Japanese, which largely uses the same characters), learning Chinese will become even easier, but what I say below will be true in any case. Coming from other tonal languages makes it easier to understand what tones are, but its not always easier to learn them in Mandarin (different tones). I discuss the downsides of learning a language completely unrelated to your native language in the other article. Furthermore,  Im talking about aiming for a basic level of conversational fluency where you can talk about everyday topics youre familiar with and understand what people say about these things if targeted at you. Approaching advanced or even near-native levels requires a whole new level of commitment and other factors play a bigger role. Including the written language also adds another dimension. Why Mandarin Chinese is easier than you think Without further ado, lets get into the list: No verb conjugations - Partly because of bad teaching practice, many people associate second language learning with endless verb conjugations. When you learn Spanish or French and care about being accurate, you need to remember how the verb changes with the subject. We have this in English too, but its much easier. We doesnt say we has. In Chinese, there are no verb inflections at all. There are some particles that change the function of verbs, but there are certainly no long lists of verb forms you need to memorise. If you know how to say çÅ"‹ (kn) look, you can use it for any person referring to any period of time and it will still look the same. Easy! No grammatical cases - In English, we make a difference between how pronouns are handled depending on if they are the subject or the object of a sentence. We say he talks to her; him talks to she is wrong. In some other languages, you need to keep track of different objects and sometimes also not only for pronouns, but for nouns as well. None of that in Chinese! 我 (wÇ’) I, me is used in any situation referring to myself in any way. The only exception would be plural we, which has an extra suffix. Easy!   Flexible parts of speech - When learning most languages other than Chinese, you need to remember different forms of the words depending on what part of speech they belong to. For example, in English we say ice (noun), icy (adjective) and to ice (over)/freeze (verb). These look different. In Chinese, though, these could all be represented by one single verb å† ° (bÄ «ng), which incorporates the meaning of all three. You dont know which one it is unless you know the context. This means that speaking and writing becomes much easier since you dont need to remember so many different forms. Easy! No gender - When you learn French, you need to remember if each noun is meant to be le or la; when learning German, you have der, die and das. Chinese has no (grammatical) gender. In spoken Mandarin, you dont even need to make a difference between he, she and it because they are all pronounced the same.  Easy!  Relatively easy word order -  Word order in Chinese can be very tricky, but this mostly becomes apparent at more advanced levels. As a beginner, there are a few patterns you need to learn, and once youve done that, you can just fill in the words youve learnt and people will be able to understand. Even if you mix things up, people will usually still understand, provided that the message you want to convey is relatively simple. It helps that the basic word order is the same as in English, i.e. Subject-Verb-Object (I love you). Easy! Logical number system - Some languages have really bizarre ways of counting. In French, 99 is said as 4 20 19, in Danish 70 is half fourth, but 90 is half fifth. Chinese is really simple. 11 is 10 1, 250 is 2 100 5 10 and 9490 is 9 1000 400 9 10. Numbers do get a little bit harder above that because a new word is used for every four zeroes, not every three as in English, but its still not hard to learn to count. Easy!Logic character and word creation - When you learn words in European languages, you can sometimes see the word roots if youre good at Greek or Latin, but if you take a random sentence (such as this one), you cant really expect to understand how each word is constructed. In Chinese, you actually can do that. This has some significant advantages. Lets look at a few examples of advanced vocabulary that are really easy to learn in Chinese but very hard in English. Leukemia in Chinese is è ¡â‚¬Ã§â„¢Å' blood cancer. Affricate is Ã¥ ¡Å¾Ã¦â€œ ¦Ã©Å¸ ³ stop friction sound (this r efers to sounds like ch in church, which has a stop (a t sound), then friction (the sh sound)). If you didnt know what these words meant in English, you probably do now after looking at a literal translation of the Chinese words! These are not exceptions in Chinese, this is the norm. Easy! These are just some of the more obvious reasons that reaching a basic level in Chinese is not as difficult as you think. Another reason is that Chinese is much more hackable than any other language Ive learnt. The difficult parts are easier to hack What do I mean by this? Hacking in this case means understanding how the language works and using that knowledge to create smart ways of learning (this is what my website Hacking Chinese is about). This is especially true for the writing system. If you approach learning Chinese characters like you would learning words in French, the task is daunting. Sure, French words do have prefixes, suffixes and so on and if your Latin and Greek are up to par, you might be able to use this knowledge to your advantage and be able to understand how modern words are created. For the average learner, however, thats not possible. Its also the case that many words in French (or English or many other modern languages) cant be broken down or understood without doing serious research into etymology first. You can of course break them down yourself in ways that make sense to you. In Chinese, however, you dont need to do that! The reason is that one Chinese syllable corresponds to one Chinese character. That gives very little room for change, meaning that while words in English can gradually lose their spelling and morph over the centuries, Chinese characters are much more permanent. They do of course change, but not that much. It also means that the parts that make up the characters are in most cases still present and can be understood on their own, thus making understanding a lot easier. What all this boils down to is that learning Chinese neednt be all that hard. Yes, reaching an advanced level takes a lot of time and effort, but getting to basic conversational fluency is within reach for all those who really want it. Will it take longer than reaching the same level in Spanish? Probably, but not that much if we only talk about the spoken language. Conclusion This article was meant to convince you that you can learn Chinese. Of course, an article like this also has its dark twin, why learning Chinese is actually very hard, especially if you go beyond just basic oral communication. If youre a beginner, you dont really need such an article, but if youve already come a long way and want some sympathy, make sure you read on:Why Mandarin Chinese is harder than you think

Love and desire Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Love and desire - Article Example This is a topic of legislative debate across many countries, and it is unlikely that the contest will end soon. In Canada, there are groups calling for the striking off segments of the Criminal Code, mainly sections 210 to 213, which criminalize prostitution and related activities in order to protect sex workers and their clients (Betteridge, 2005, p. 11). On the other hand, there are others who are against the decriminalization of prostitution as this will only expose the prostitutes and the general public to greater risks. This weighty matter has left lawmakers and other stakeholders at crossroads. The main aim of this paper is to contribute to the debate on whether or not these activities should be decriminalized in Canada by arguing against the decriminalization. Decimalization of prostitution poses a major threat to the life and security of women, promotes sex trafficking, increases child prostitution and helps to expand the sex industry. Decriminalizing of prostitution will thu s prove costly in the long run. Why Prostitution should not be decriminalization In order to protect the lives and safety of the general public, it is important for prostitution to be viewed and treated as a form of sexual exploitation rather than as an occupation and a source of income. Decriminalizing prostitution has a number of consequences. First, decriminalization will lead to an increase in sex trafficking cases, both at local and international levels. As noted in the report by The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (2010), it is likely that third party business persons will want to profit from such activities by acting as middlemen or entrepreneurs. These people will be involved in the ‘marketing’ and ‘selling’ of women for sex. In the event that these middlemen lack adequate women to satisfy the market demand for sex, it is certain that they will engage in trafficking of women for sex. This will put the entire country at risk. This will lead to an in crease in kidnap cases across the country and neighboring countries as well. Decriminalizing prostitution is one way of indirectly involving non-prostitutes in these activities since every man or woman will be seen as a potential client by these middlemen. This affects people’s daily activities and movements due to the fear of being kidnapped. In addition, this will paint a negative image of the country to the outside world, and thus affecting Canada’s relations with other countries. Secondly, decriminalization will only help to expand the sex industry in the country. This will mean that at all times, women of different races and ages will be put on display for sale, and this may involve foreigners trafficked from other countries (Raymond, 2003, p. 318). Prostitution will be converted into a quick profit earning business. This will significantly contribute to the expansion of the sex industry since people will start to engage in different forms of sexual exploitation i ncluding phone sex, table dancing and peep shows in order to satisfy their desires. In addition, decriminalization will further increase the access and consumption of pornographic material in the country. The major disadvantage is that when the sex industry is expanded, a majority of the population may be drawn into these activities, either voluntarily

Intercultural Organisational Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Intercultural Organisational Management - Essay Example However, majority of organizations have been confronting issues in this regard due to a number of reasons and factors (Landis & Bhagat, pp. 23-29). For this reason, this paper is an attempt to identify some of such issues while carrying out analysis of two different scenarios that will enable a comprehensive understanding of intercultural issues in the organizational management. Briefly, in the first scenario, an organization tried to introduce and implement a performance reward system in Ecuador after its successful outcomes in Netherlands for the past two years. The company sends one of their HR consultants to Ecuador to arrange briefings of the new system to the employees working there, as the system earlier enabled the organization to achieve five percent increment in productivity, as well as enhancement of employees’ morale. However, few things go wrong in Ecuador, and the HR consultant had to take flight back home without implementation of the new performance reward system. Brief analysis has facilitated the researcher to acknowledge existence of cultural dimension of Geert Hofstede (pp. 24-39) in this scenario due to issue of cultural differences in this scenario of international business. One of the major problems of this scenario was ‘Low PD’ status of the Ecuador Company, whereas, Sandra was considering it a High PD company tha t caused problems. Although on a factual basis, the system might sound very promising, however, analysis of the scenario has indicated that some problems on both sides did not allow the organization to achieve the same results of Netherlands in Ecuador. The foremost factor seems lack of awareness about the two cultures that became the biggest barrier in this process. In the past, HR managers were responsible for enhancing motivation level of employees to achieve the productivity target through bonus and reward programs (Ferraro, pp. 56-61); however,

Ancient Dance References Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ancient Dance References - Essay Example Ancient Dance References Dance is a pastime and a ritual that, while historical, has very little traceable history. There is plenty of evidence to show that it has existed for many millennia, perhaps even since the dawn of mankind, but there are great gaps between the dance that we know now and the dance that existed back then.Dance, being a physical activity, is unable to leave behind concrete proof of its presence. As such, it is only a guess that dance has been around since the beginning of human beings. We are able to rely on the few bits of historical evidence to accompany this assumption, even though it still remains to be just an assumption. Likewise, the questions of where dance originated from, why it was started, and how it was originally practiced are only able to be answered with educated guesses. Descriptions of ancient dances are few and far between, but they do exist. This allows us a glimpse into the past of dancing. One of the first greatest descriptions of dance com es from India and was written by Bharata Muni, a man who lived approximately between 500 BC and 200 BC. The textbook that he wrote, which was called the Natya Shastra, outlined many things in regard to theatre and music, but the majority of the book was based on dance. Bharata wrote in great detail about a variety of dances, focusing a lot of pages to every movement in each of the dances. He also divulged into descriptions of the social contexts that these dances would be used in. This book is considered to be the first detailed account of dance.

A critical comparison of texts Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

A critical comparison of texts - Term Paper Example Most of the Chuan qi stories involved some aspect of the supernatural, and often involved humans interacting with supernatural creatures and spirits. The Chuan qi genre is only one of the five forms of fictional Chinese literature, and has four thematic story groups within it, those being historical stories, supernatural stories, stories of knighthood and errantry, and love stories. The love stories of the genre deal with the acts of keeping faith and breaking faith. A creature of another realm could attain human form and gain its liberty by keeping faith with a human; likewise, a human who broke faith with a spirit entity could take on bestial habits and become beasts themselves. The idea behind the two was that one could not happen without the other; there was an even exchange that took place, and as long each participant offered something essential, no retribution took place. But, if one party broke the equation or the exchange, the situation became serious. The moral being that a balance was always to be maintained.1 (Pg.518). T’ang writers brought about the Chuan qi style at a time when the neoclassical movement in prose created a steady foundation for story narration. T’ang subject matter and literary material was taken from the rich, invigorating, cultural livelihood of the big city. Writers of the Chuan qi stories were mostly well-educated men who gathered in the capital city trying to make a name for themselves through either fame or through political advancement. While the Chuan qi genre of story telling often employs elements of the supernatural, the writers tried to tell interesting stories that were straight forward, and devoid of flowery poetic language. Supernatural events occur alongside human interaction, instead of replacing it, and city workers and dwellers are depicted in their everyday lives. Chuan qi stories can be described as tales of the marvelous, and are usually written in the classical

Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Journal - Essay Example As an initial matter, being in a multiple mixed-culture country exposes one to a variety of ideas and perspectives. This is because there are layers upon layers of cultural variants. You cannot even speak of Korean-Americans as a totally homogenous group because there are different generations of Korean-Americans. For example, a second generation Korean American is likely to view Korean and American values and traditions differently than a second-generation Korean American. You may ask questions about the Korean War or the current conflict between North Korea and South Korea and receive different answers or different philosophical or theoretical approached to the issue being discussed. Some Americans may not even know about the Korean conflict; in the culturally mixed context, however, there are always some people with knowledge or first hand experience. In America, for example, there are former Russians from the Soviet Union, there are Vietnamese who were military leaders during the war, there are Jews who survived the Holocaust, and there are people with nearly every conceivable experience in our world. In a very real way, by having such a diverse population, it is very much like having a human encyclopedia within America's national boundaries. There is an additional benefit not offered in culturally homogenous countries; more specifically, people can actually immerse themselves in different cultural settings and traditions without having to travel abroad. In America, for example, there are many parts of the country where certain cultural traditions have manifested themselves physically in the form of towns or regions. In San Francisco, you can visit Chinatown or Little Italy. In Los Angeles there is an officially recognized Thai Town. All over the country there are places where cultural traditions are proudly displayed. A person wishing to experience some of the Chinese culture, for instance, does not necessarily need to fly to China. You can visit a Chinatown, whether in San Francisco or New York, and have a similar experience. Many of the people will be speaking Chinese, shops are operated in much the same way as in China, and the Chinese language and symbols are to be seen everywhere. There was a famous Hollywood movie, the title which I cannot recall, where a Chinese-American told a policeman "this is not Brooklyn. This is not even New York. This is Chinatown." The point is that the multiple mixed-race countries offer people to immerse themselves to some extant and therefore learn about and from other cultures. One weekend might be celebrating the Chinese New Year and another spent experiencing a traditional Catholic mass in Little Italy. It is very much like having many countries in one. Finally, it is fascinating to observe and learn how people from different backgrounds, be they racial or religious, can co-exist in furtherance of a common good. It would be inaccurate to suggest that all races co-exist harmoniously. This is simply not the case; nonetheless, it is amazing to see how well the majority of people get along well

Work of the Prophets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Work of the Prophets - Essay Example Rather God encourages Isaiah and Jeremiah to stress on different issues of the same truth with a view of different concerns of their times. Some foretold historical events have already come true, but the God’s truth spoken by two prophets stays timely nowadays. Timely character of two prophecies is mainly observed when reading about those sins of Judah and Israel Isaiah and Jeremiah point on. Thinking about analogies between modern times and â€Å"more than 2  500 years ago† Friedman (2011) fairly points that none of prophets speaks directly on economic markets, great unemployment or etc., but on false leaders, a general lack of justice, a lack of fair treatment and peace, and these issues are among modern Christian concerns. House (n.d.) admits that Isaiah firstly expresses concerns because nations are sinning against each other suffering from mutual oppressions. Isaiah claims that by sinning against each other humankind sins against God. Thus, nowadays, until there’re nations engaged in conflicts with other nations, or oppressing one another, it’s still sinning against God. Friedman (2011) points that Jeremiah’s preaching generally, is for â€Å"loving-kindness† however, about half of his prophecy’s dedicated to descriptions of sins of Israel and Judah nations. House (n.d.) refers it to Jeremiah’s â€Å"turbulent times† when neither common Judah nations, nor Israel rulers were listening to true words spoken by God through Jeremiah instead, listening to false words of false prophets. â€Å"People have gone away from the Lord† so much that Jeremiah himself was constantly threatened and hatred though his preaching was based on Ten Commandments (House, n.d.). Thus, Jeremiah’s mostly concerned with false idolatry. Worshiping â€Å"chiefs of Sodom† had already been a matter of concerns for Isaiah, and Friedman (2011) says sadly it has stayed so nowadays when Christians appreciate those powerful because of their wealth, and at the same time, there’re

Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Journal - Essay Example As an initial matter, being in a multiple mixed-culture country exposes one to a variety of ideas and perspectives. This is because there are layers upon layers of cultural variants. You cannot even speak of Korean-Americans as a totally homogenous group because there are different generations of Korean-Americans. For example, a second generation Korean American is likely to view Korean and American values and traditions differently than a second-generation Korean American. You may ask questions about the Korean War or the current conflict between North Korea and South Korea and receive different answers or different philosophical or theoretical approached to the issue being discussed. Some Americans may not even know about the Korean conflict; in the culturally mixed context, however, there are always some people with knowledge or first hand experience. In America, for example, there are former Russians from the Soviet Union, there are Vietnamese who were military leaders during the war, there are Jews who survived the Holocaust, and there are people with nearly every conceivable experience in our world. In a very real way, by having such a diverse population, it is very much like having a human encyclopedia within America's national boundaries. There is an additional benefit not offered in culturally homogenous countries; more specifically, people can actually immerse themselves in different cultural settings and traditions without having to travel abroad. In America, for example, there are many parts of the country where certain cultural traditions have manifested themselves physically in the form of towns or regions. In San Francisco, you can visit Chinatown or Little Italy. In Los Angeles there is an officially recognized Thai Town. All over the country there are places where cultural traditions are proudly displayed. A person wishing to experience some of the Chinese culture, for instance, does not necessarily need to fly to China. You can visit a Chinatown, whether in San Francisco or New York, and have a similar experience. Many of the people will be speaking Chinese, shops are operated in much the same way as in China, and the Chinese language and symbols are to be seen everywhere. There was a famous Hollywood movie, the title which I cannot recall, where a Chinese-American told a policeman "this is not Brooklyn. This is not even New York. This is Chinatown." The point is that the multiple mixed-race countries offer people to immerse themselves to some extant and therefore learn about and from other cultures. One weekend might be celebrating the Chinese New Year and another spent experiencing a traditional Catholic mass in Little Italy. It is very much like having many countries in one. Finally, it is fascinating to observe and learn how people from different backgrounds, be they racial or religious, can co-exist in furtherance of a common good. It would be inaccurate to suggest that all races co-exist harmoniously. This is simply not the case; nonetheless, it is amazing to see how well the majority of people get along well

Interpersonal Violence Distortion of a Community Essay

Interpersonal Violence Distortion of a Community - Essay Example This may impact on the community negatively and will slow any development that would be taking place. According to Myer and Enns, the whole aspect of Christianity concerns reconciliation among individuals within a community. According to them, Christianity would be fighting oppression and violence in the lives of many individuals. They advocate for this with their foundation rooted on the teaching of the Jewish prophets. These two make references to the holy bible that gives guidelines on peacemaking process. The bible is the main source of restorative justice. Through teaching in the bible, one has a view of how disputes were earlier solved and uses the same in current events. At times, through the readings of the bible, people get to know what steps to take in problem solving. Restorative justice aims at resolving differences that would have risen earlier without causing any harm or even regenerating what had earlier happened. Restorative justice is for the purpose of repairing dif ferential concerns that arise in the community. These two authors emphasize that aspect of restorative justice is embedded in the bible as shown by the church. They have hence based their writings on issues of dispute resolving in the bible. For example before Saul converted to Paul he used to persecute Christians but after converting, he was regarded as a follower of Christ. Acts relating to the issues of personal violence would be grouped family and community types of violence. Further, those aspects relating to the family are grouped into partner, child or elder. Thus, there is child abuse, partner abuse or even elder abuse. Causes of interpersonal violence Writers have emphasized that violence cannot be caused by a single factor but, by a multiple factors. This is because violence is complex and may be as a result of one or more related aspects. These factors are looked into below to expound on the issue of violence. The individual is a factor to this respect. Individuals are di fferent in terms of ideas, feelings, practices, temper level and their views on the issue. The other aspects would be social, community and relationship areas. Interpersonal differences are those differences or disagreements that may come up when one individual in not in moral terms with another in society. Temper level within an individual may lead to violence within a community. We have to understand that there are people who get annoyed easily by unpretentious things. This would provoke such individuals to cause violence which is unnecessary. Violence can also be caused by communal aspects. At times, the community requires people to participate in some activities or even carry its own activities. Many are times when individuals may go against this issue. When asked about the progress of the same, they get annoyed, and cannot contain this pain in them and as a result, they initiate violence. Such aspects lead to serious problems that are harmful to the person and loss to the commu nity at large. There may also be societal aspects that may be a course of generation of violence. A valid action plan is to eliminate what annoys an individual to the extent of committing violence. In fact, Enns and Myers advocate for peacemaking as per the bible. Those annoyed hence should be slow to anger and listen to advice given to them by the medical experts. This would lead to peacemaking process in situations concerning violence. Effects of violence in the community Violence being unethical, impacts on the

Extraordinary Measures Film Analysis

Extraordinary Measures Film Analysis The film Extraordinary Measures is based on a true story which follows the journey of a father who is determined to save his young childrens lives. John and Aileen Crowley have three kids, two of which who have a rare genetic disorder called pompe disease. Pompe disease is a rare inherited disorder in which the glycogen in the body is not broken down, and thus the glycogen builds up within the bodys cells. This can cause muscular dystrophy and eventually lead to enlarged organs. The children born with this disease often times live a very short life of about ten years and die because their organs can no longer function with this glycogen build up. In the film, John Crowley has two children with pompe, but the story revolves around his eight-year-old daughter Megan. Megan just recently turned eight years old when she fell ill and was rushed to the hospital because to her respiratory system was starting to fail. While in the hospital, the doctor spoke to John and Aileen about Megans conditions. When explaining that her chances of survival were slim, he used the phrase think of it as a blessing when talking about Megans impending death. While the doctor was trying to help the Crowleys with this situation, the Crowleys obviously didnt want to think of their daughters passing away as a blessing. Though Megan survived, John didnt want to sit around and watch as his children were slowly dying in front of him, so he took matters into his own hands and reached out to Dr. Robert Stonehill. Dr. Stonehill was a scientist who was researching pompe disease and the enzyme that breaks down the glycogen in the body, which is missing in those d iagnosed with the disease. During their meeting, Dr. Stonehill explained to John that the university wasnt providing enough funding to allow him to further test his theory about the missing enzyme. When he told John that he needed at least half a million dollars, John and Aileen decided to create a pompe disease foundation to help raise the money to create the treatment. As John worked as an advertising executive, Dr. Stonehill saw that as an opportunity to work with John to create their own biotech company to research the enzyme. The only issue with this was they needed a lot more funding then the foundation was able to raise. Though John tried to get Dr. Stonehill to meet with investors, he was very uncooperative. Though the two of them often disagreed with one another, the one thing they agreed on was that it was important to find a treatment for the disease, thus allowing them to eventually come to terms and sign a business deal. Months into research on the enzyme, John realizes that the investors were unhappy with the slow progress of the study. Dr. Stonehill and John had promised that they would bring the enzyme into clinical trials in a year, but they werent making enough head way to do so. This lead to another disagreement between John and Dr. Stonehill, resulting in them selling their company to the competition. Dr. Stonehill, being the stubborn man he is, angered and annoyed many people in the company, leading to John going behind his back to make the competitors happy. A group of researchers, excluding Dr. Stonehill, went on to further enhance the enzyme. Eventually, the drug was approved to go into clinical trials, but the scientists agreed that they would use it on infants. As Johns children werent infants, they wouldnt be treated with the enzyme, which was John was working towards the whole time. This lead to John doing some unethical things, such as breaking into the lab and trying to steal the enz yme himself to give it to his children. Luckily, Dr. Stonehill was able to get John out of trouble, but there was still the issue that John worked for the company and using his children in clinical trials would be a conflict of interest. The movie concluded with John getting fired from his job, allowing them to use his two children in a sibling study. The film ended with his children laughing in their hospitals beds, showing what is called a sugar high, indicating that the enzyme was indeed working and breaking down the glycogen. In the beginning of the movie, it seemed to relate with the topic of the patient-professional relationship that was discussed in an earlier lecture in this course. When the Crowleys had a health scare with their daughter Megan, it seemed as if they didnt have a good relationship with the doctor. I understand that the doctor was trying to be professional and make sure not to give the family a false hope, but I believe that there could have been a different way to go about telling a family that their daughters chances of survival were slim. The doctor had used the phrase think of [Megans passing away] as a blessing. Personally, I feel as if using that phrase came off as a little insensitive. There is no easy way to tell parents that their childs chances of surviving were low. Also with the case of pompe disease, the family must need to visit various doctors all the time, so Im not sure if they have enough time to have a good relationship with the many doctors that they visit. Even so, when dealing with a disease as serious as pompe, I do believe that it would benefit the family to have a doctor that they trusted and had a good relationship with. Another topic that was discussed in this course was death and dying. When faced with death, many people often turn to religion as a way to cope. Though death was heavily touched in this film, religion was only mentioned once or twice. The part that stood out to me in the film regarding religion was when Megan was in the hospital when her respiratory system was starting to fail. John had mentioned later in the film that when she was on her death bed, he has prayed to God that if it was her time, that she would die fast and peacefully. While Megan herself did not pray, her father had turned to religion as a coping mechanism. When Megan did not die, John used this as inspiration and a sign from God that he needed to be the one to help save his daughter. This just shows one of the many ways that people can turn to religion to make themselves feel better. Personally, I think the thing about the movie that related most to this course is the ethics that are involved in this movie. It seems as a huge dilemma in this movie was between John and the scientists differing points of view. John was very passionate about finding a treatment for pompe disease because he was closely linked to the disease through his children who were affected by it. He was desperate to save his childrens lives. In the movie, it seem that his desperation got the best of him and he would have done anything to save his children such as stealing the enzyme from the lab. Though he didnt end up stealing the enzyme, he was willing to do anything to help his children. I know that if I was a parent, I would probably do anything myself to help my children live longer. Though the love he had for his children was strong, that still doesnt make what he was about to do right. When it came to the scientists, they were very conservative with what they did. They followed the rules very seriously. Dr. Stonehill on the other hand did not. He was also willing to do anything to help these children. When John brought in the families who were affected by pompe disease, one of the scientists was upset. He explained to John that science was not a field that should get mixed up in emotions. If the scientist got emotional, they were willing to do anything to save those childrens lives, even changing the results to show that the drug worked. While I do agree that its important the scientist is truthful about the results, I also believe that being emotionally connected to a project could benefit the scientist in a way. I see nothing wrong with a scientist being motivated by their emotions to work on a project, as long as the scientist is truthful in their results. They need to remember that their job is to help people, and if they skip steps or lie about results, that c ould ultimately hurt more people in the long run. The film Extraordinary Measures touched many of the topics that were mentioned in this course thus far. It showed examples on how it is very important to have a medical team that you have a good relationship with and trust. In hard times, such as having a close call with losing a child, I believe that it is extremely important to have a good support system. In that support system, I think that its also important to be able to have a doctor that you trust fully. You want to know that your child or loved one is not only in the hands of someone that knows what they are doing, but someone who cares about them as a patient.ÂÂ   It showed that many families, if not the patients themselves, turn to religion as a coping mechanism during hard times. I believe that it is very therapeutic to turn to religion as a coping mechanism in hard times. Like in Johns case, he used religion as an inspiration and push into looking for a cure for his children. Personally, I am a firm believer that eve rything happens for a reason. This way of thinking can be hard if something terrible happens, but in the end I do think it helps with looking at the silver lining. The film also showed that it may be hard to be passionate about something but also to follow the rules and not let your emotions get in the way of the purpose of the study. Passion is a very good motivator for many things and people. It can help you get through the days that you feel you are too tired to do something. It can help you push through the bad days when it feels as nothing is going your way. Its a fantastic motivator if you use it the correct way. You need to make sure that your passion doesnt cloud your judgement and get in the way of ethical solutions. Overall, I think the movie showed the importance of teamwork in the medical field. While it is important to be passionate about what you do, it is also important to be reasonable. John and Dr. Stonehill showed passion in different ways. John showed passion in finding a cure as his childrens lives were depending on the cure and he was running out of time with them. Dr. Stonehill showed passion in his research and finding a treatment to help those who had the disease. The scientists in the movie were the more responsible, logical characters. The scientists, while wanting to find a treatment, also knew the importance of following policy. They didnt want to pursue a study if there were not going to be any results. They knew the FDA regulations, and wanted to make sure that they were followed. As much as they wanted to help find a treatment, they wanted to make sure they were not overly optimistic and there was a successful outcome in the end. This movie is a direct indicator that humanit ies are important in not only the medical field, but any science field, and as long as people work together and combine their knowledge and the humanities, they can make a difference in the medical field.

The World Consensus GameTM :: Communication Technology Philosophy Papers

The World Consensus GameTM The World Consensus GameTM allows anyone to contribute to the creation of a world consensus on issues that divide people. Participants can look up positions that have been taken on topics that people disagree on and can contribute to the discussion of these topics. Participation is easy to do. Once you identify a question that interests you, a map is provided that shows the positions that have been taken on that question along with definitions of positions. You can examine arguments that have been provided for a position, including the argument judged best by philosophers and the argument favored by the general public, and you can express your judgment on positions and arguments. Finally, you can contribute new positions, new arguments, and criticisms of other individual's arguments. The world consensus game is like a huge symposium of the world's people with you as a participant. The World Consensus GameTM can be used in a classroom setting, a conference setting, by Fax, or by compu ter. Signing in to using the World Consensus GameTM After accessing the World Consensus Game through "Peacegames.com" participants are asked to sign in. This is necessary if participants want to vote or make comments, so that their vote or comments are recorded as the vote of a philosophy student, a professional philosopher, or a member of the general public. Groups can have individuals sign in b according to any identity typed in such as member of an organization, etc. Professional Philosopher Philosophy student Public voting for First Choose an Issue A, B, C A The first thing you do is identify the area you want to examine. Areas include the traditional areas of Philosophy (Moral , Social Philosophy, 1etc..) in addition to issues relating to world order, protection of the environment, and any other types of issues anyone wants to discuss. Just click on the issue that interests you. The current World Consensus Game is problems oriented, but could be redesigned to include a historical perspective. World Order Issues Global Survival Issues Moral Philosophy, Maps, Definitions, Simulation Social Philosophy, Map and Simulations Political Philosophy Map The Criminal Justice System Theory of Knowledge Metaphysics Philosophy of Religion

Grendel Vs. Beowulf Essay -- Epic of Beowulf Essays

Grendel   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the most compelling and highly developed characters in the novel Grendel, written by John Gardner, and the poem Beowulf, written by an anonymous poet, is the monster, Grendel. Even though these pieces show two different sides to Grendel they are similar in many ways. Grendel evokes sympathy toward the hideous monster by making him seem like the victim, while Beowulf portrays him as being the most loathsome of enemies. The reasons behind Grendel’s being, his killing, and finally his death make him one of the most controversial and infamous monsters in literature. Grendel is the man-killing monster that Beowulf portrayed him as being, yet he is also the lonely victim of a judgmental world. Grendel is a descendent of Cain and is forced to live with the inherited curse of being denied God’s presence. Cain’s lineage has been known to spawn monsters, trolls, giants, and other undesirable beings, all of which were rejected from society. Beowulf and Grendel both speak of Grendel’s ancestor Cain, almost as if using it as an excuse for his rash and murderous actions. Beowulf told of a Grendel that mercilessly attacked Hrothgar’s meadhall killing men without reason. Grendel also speaks of this evil monster, but in a more sympathetic and excusable manner. Grendel is thought of as “the guardian of sins'; and is the physical equivalent to a man that has been shunned by God. He is des...

Learning Disabilities Essay

Children that are dealing with learning disabilities have a difficult road ahead of them. If the disability is neglected or overlooked for too long, the probability of the child falling behind in school as well as social aspects in their life is very high. However, properly identifying the problem and determining the best steps to assist in managing the disability will be vital in their young lives in helping them to achieve their goals. Life can be difficult and sometimes cruel for children, let alone children that are dealing with learning disabilities. A learning disability is a neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to process and respond to information. Cognitive theory and children with learning disabilities have a close relationship. When talking about children who have learning disabilities, it is safe to say that they are not always identified in its earliest stage, which then can lead to long term problems in an individual’s life. From physical, emotional, and social obstacles, all of which they will encounter at some point in their lives if the necessary measures are not taken to help these children. Not having the organizational abilities to acquire the knowledge as it may be taught, limits the ability to properly learn. From the articles I have selected, Children With and Without Learning Disabilities: A Comparison of Processes and Outcomes Following Group Counseling, Analogical Problem Solving in Children With Verbal and Nonverbal Learning Disabilities, Working memory functioning in children with learning disabilities: does intelligence make a difference?, The Inhibition of Exogenous Distracting Information in Children with Learning Disabilities, and Cognitive functioning as measured by the WISC-R: Do children with learning disabilities have distinctive patterns of performance?, I will provide insight on how, why, and what the resolutions  are for these children. My chosen theory is relevant to my topic because a learning disability is a neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to process and respond to information. A child with a learning disability may not have any major sensory problems yet they may still struggle to keep up with people of their age in functions of learning and regular daily activities. Through our development process, we become equipped with skills in order to grow, succeed, and evolve into our adult life. When a development stage, cognitive development stage, shows that the basic listening, comprehension, writing, reading, speaking, and the ability to reason are not present, someone needs to identify and address the situation as early on as possible in order for the child to have a chance to grow in all other stages of development. â€Å"Children With and Without Learning Disabilities: A Comparison of Processes and Outcomes Following Group Counseling† article will help to shed some light on the events that occur during the counseling process. â€Å"Analogical Problem Solving in Children With Verbal and Nonverbal Learning Disabilities† will help me explain how the children struggle with problem solving when dealing with a learning disability. In the article â€Å"Working memory functioning in children with learning disabilities: does intelligence make a difference?† will identify the importance of having a good, functioning ability to memorize and how children that have learning disabilities usually lack this ability. Cognitive Theory and Learning Disabilities Cognitive theory and children with learning disabilities have a close relationship. When talking about children who have learning disabilities, it is safe to say that they are not always identified in its earliest stage, which then can lead to long term problems in an individual’s life. From physical, emotional, and social obstacles, all of which they will encounter at some point in their lives if the necessary measures are not taken to help these children. Not having the organizational abilities to acquire the knowledge as it may be taught, limits the ability to properly  learn. A learning disability is a neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to process and respond to information. A child with a learning disability may not have any major sensory problems yet they may still struggle to keep up with people of their age in functions of learning and regular daily activities. Through our development process, we become equipped with skills in order to grow, succeed, and evolve into our adult life. When a development stage, cognitive development stage, shows that the basic listening, comprehension, writing, reading, speaking, and the ability to reason are not present, someone needs to identify and address the situation as early on as possible in order for the child to have a chance to grow in all other stages of development. An example of the theory and condition where the two are intertwined would be when a child is in school and could be having difficulties with what other children take for granted as being simple skills that have been learned through development and interaction with parents, teachers, etc. In this child’s situation, he/she does not have the ability to understand the story that he had just read, and now has the task of answering questions about the story in writing. His cognitive development stage for some reason has not evolved the way it should have, which now has left him battling a learning disability that may have gone unnoticed by his parents. In this situation, it is now up to the teacher to be able to identify what is taking place and to make sure that the child receives the necessary attention and evaluation in order to help him/her overcome and cope with what they are struggling with. The difficult part in the whole process is identifying learning disabilities early on and being able to treat them appropriately and in a timely manner. With children, unless significant signs are present, the struggles early on could be attributed to just being a child if one isn’t familiar with the signs of a disability. Once the disability is diagnosed, many options and opportunities are present to help assist in the overcoming of the problems. However, if the disability goes undetected or ignored for too long, a life  of challenges lies ahead for the individual. Literature Review -Children With and Without Learning Disabilities: A Comparison of Processes and Outcomes Following Group Counseling. Authors name: Leichtentritt, Judith; Shechtman, Zipora. Publication date: Mar/Apr 2010 Title of publication: Journal of Learning Disabilities Summary: This study compared outcomes and processes in counseling groups of an expressive-supportive modality for children with learning disabilities (LD) and without them (NLD). Article relevance: This article provides and inside look and results into determining what the best form of counseling is for children with learning disabilities. -Analogical Problem Solving in Children With Verbal and Nonverbal Learning Disabilities. Authors name: Schiff, Rachel; Bauminger, Nirit Publication date: Jan 2009 Title of publication: Journal of Learning Disabilities Summary: In this study, they investigated the analogical problem-solving differences between children with verbal learning disabilities (VLD), nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD), or non-LD. Article relevance: This reference will help to show the struggles that LD children have in problem solving and the great disadvantage that they must overcome with this disability. Working memory functioning in children with learning disabilities: does intelligence make a difference? Authors name: Maehler, C; Schuchardt, K. Publication date: Jan 2009 Title of publication: Journal of Intellectual Disability Research Summary: The present study explored several functions of working memory. A working memory battery with tasks for the phonological loop, the visual-spatial sketchpad and central executive skills was presented in individual sessions to 27 children with learning disabilities and normal IQ (ICD-10: mixed disorders of scholastic skills), 27 children with learning disabilities and low IQ (intellectual disabilities), and a control group of 27 typically  developing children with regular school achievement levels and normal IQ. Article relevance: To show a comparison on how the functions of the brain are affected when dealing with a child with a learning disability. -The Inhibition of Exogenous Distracting Information in Children with Learning Disabilities. Authors name: Censabella, Sandrine; Marie-Pascale Noà «l Publication date: Sept/Oct 2005 Title of publication: Journal of Learning Disabilities Summary: This article reports on an experiment examining the capacities of children with LD to inhibit exogenous interference, such as automatic, prepotent responses and distractor interference. Article relevance: To support the fact that children with LD have interference with there working memory and to explain the possible solutions. -Cognitive functioning as measured by the WISC-R: Do children with learning disabilities have distinctive patterns of performance? Authors name: Amedeo D’ Angiulli; Siegel,Linda S. Publication date: Jan/Feb 2003 Title of publication: Journal of Learning Disabilities Summary: Patterns of performance on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) have been proposed as useful tools for the identification of children with learning disabilities (LD Article relevance: Support in the findings that children with an LD show a pattern in performance that can be determined in early stages in order to counteract the disability. Conclusion The reality of the situation is that learning disabilities in children will always be around. The hope is that someday, with improving knowledge and experimentation, we will have a solution in the process of treating the disability that will allow for the children that have the issues to not feel isolated. The fear alone of a child falling behind in school and in their social life is a stressful situation for that child. Identifying the  disability early and treating it properly is the key to a life without handcuffs.

Heritage and Health Essay

With cultural differences evident among the human population in the world today, it could be noticed that the different approaches also differ from one culture to another. Having the knowledge that people are usually shaped in life through the traditions that they were particularly brought up with, some definitely use these traditional ways of health maintenance to suffice their need for better health status. In this paper, understanding such differences among human individuals at present and how well they are able to withstand the challenges of modern health issues that face the human society at present through the implications of traditional ways of health care procedures shall be discussed and clarified. Personally, the author of this paper has seen the different ways by which his culture imposes the different procedures of healthcare approaches among the ancestors and older generations that he has lived with. Considerably, seeing them and the process by which they deal with health emergencies and the emerging issues that pertain to the said need of being healthy, taught the author himself to face certain health situations in the same manner. Most of the procedures used by the author’s ancestors are based on the process of using alternative routes to healthcare maintenance. Instead of actually being able to find the most important approach to health issues through medical ways, the family line of the author tends to find cure from regular herbal solutions. Traditional as it is, his ancestors believe that it is only through this process that they would be able to find the most demanded cure without having to worry about the many possible side effects of the process that they are going to adapt to. This is the reason why most of the author’s family members try their best to do away with synthetic medicine and vitamins offered in the market today. Having the chance to meet to other families from other cultures, the author himself found out that the entire process of maintaining health from his side of the family may be a little bit different from that of the process to which other cultures view the said need to protect one’s health. For one, the implicative manner by which the other family from the west naturally brings about the welcomed possibility of accepting new age medicine without any doubt. Likely, that family was particularly raised in a society of continuous change and development. Their intense belief that change is for the better makes them well acquainted with the different developments in medicine that brings about the possibility of dealing with health issues in a much convenient and faster way which they think is most effective not only for their health needs but also for the lifestyle that they are living. Meanwhile, another family attests to the use of rituals for the sake of saving a family from any health phenomenon that may arise in the human community that they are living in. They also depend on rituals and prayed-for oils that are believed to have a great chance of healing someone with an illness or even with a terminal health case through the collaborative use of touch and prayer. As much as they believe in alternative medicine, they also believe that their gods would be able to help them get through life especially during trying times including the need to deal with serious health cases. Seriously, up to these moments, the two families and the family of the author himself have a great connection with traditions especially when it comes to health issues and the need to deal with the situations concerned with the said matter. Terribly, there are some occasions when too much tradition makes a family member’s life be subjected into serious dangers. This is the reason why the author himself decided to take nursing as a career, a path that he knows could both protect his family’s health and allow culturally deepened families to see the differences of the procedures of modern technology and modern medicine to bring ease to the health needs of the human society. Knowing how these people feel about their connection to their culture certainly makes it easier for the author of this paper to see through the situation and be able to decipher the health cases he is supposed to handle later on and still be able to find the most effective procedure there is to manage giving them the health care assistance they need without completely bypassing their cultural traditions just so to be able to save the lives of people in an ethical yet strategic way. It is through this process that the author believes that he would be able to successfully applied what he has learned within the four walls of the classrooms and laboratories along with the things that he learned and would be continuously learning from actual medical practice to meet the needs of the people who are culturally loyal to their traditions when it comes to health maintenance needs. True, some of these cultural or traditional procedures help well in the idea of keeping a good grip on keeping one’s health protected. In fact, it could not be denied that there are those medical experts who retrying the avenue of alternative medicine as suggested through traditional procedures of healing, however, for certain terminal health cases, there must be a careful balance on the given attention towards health safety and traditional loyalty to the ways that one or a family has been particularly accustomed to. Truthfully, this fact leads to the idea that nurses need to be flexible enough to know and recognize the need for health safety and cultural respect in dealing with healthcare issues.

Nissan Corp Swot Essay

Global interdependence: possible new marketsGovernment regulations: abroad in other countries as well as US and the US; global warming, CAFE standards, safety issues Growth of existing market: widen market New entrants: threat of potential inclusive of generation X,Y and baby boomersnew competitors Strong economy: economy not faltering;Changing market tastes: need for consumers still buyingcontinuous innovation to appeal to ifferent segments Nissan’s reputation: leads the industryShortage of resources: workforce in reliability, performance, and design dissatisfaction, hiring good talent Emerging technologies: innovative through the development of technologies for improving fuel economy and reducing fuel emissions Introduction This Case Paper will examine accessible information about Nissan Corporation and determine its position in the world market through a business SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats). Through this analysis, we hope to see where the Nissan has been and make suggestions as to where the corporation should go to improve their bottom line, increase market share, and plan for future products to ensure their viability in the world automobile marketplace. Market Analysis Nissan’s focus in establishing a multi-cultural company begins with regaining global market share. The company has learned from past mistakes and is determined to succeed, developing a common vision and a global ompany culture that will need to be a main driver for continued strength (Associated Press, pgs. 1-8). For instance, establishing a brand name and personality that is sensitive to nationalistic cultures. Strategic alliances and joint ventures are growing in importance in the automobile industry and Nissan is no stranger to the competition. Nissan’s mission statement delivered by Mr. Ghosn in the Automotive News World Congress in 2001, is evidenced in how the company exploits synergie s to create positive alliances with other manufacturers (Ibid). For example, Nissan’s announcement to venture with Ashok Leyland to build small trucks and other light commercial vehicles in India gives them an opportunity to enter a market that in recent years has been dominated by its competitors, Toyota and Honda. This venture will produce at least 100,000 vehicles annually for sale in India and for export, as it will facilitate the construction of a plant near the southern Indian city of Chennai to manufacture and export compact cars to Europe. The deal with Ashok Leyland will broaden Nissan coverage in the Indian market in addition to providing new LCV (lightweight commercial vehicle) products for emerging markets which will sell for around $3,000. 00. Ashok Leyland’s strengths in large and mid-sized trucks combined with Nissan’s strength in smaller vehicles creates a positive synergy (Ibid). According to Mr. Ghosn, partnering globally is an opportunity and the Chinese market is no exception. China is Nissan’s third largest single market, after North America and Japan. Vehicle production has grown over the past ten years. However, the major source of growth has been the production of passenger cars (The Business Review, pg. 7). Passenger car production has doubled in the past ten years. This shift is in response to a change in market conditions and in a desire for Chinese manufacturers to enter the global auto passenger car market. Consumer demand is also increasing and in order to satisfy this demand, auto production has been increasing. The demand for autos is expected to continue (Ibid). According to the Wall Street Journal, the car craze in China has just begun. There are two factors that create possible opportunities for Nissan: 1) the country has the world’s largest population and as incomes rise, so will the hopes of buying an auto some day. 2) the market may grow to 8 million vehicle sales annually by 2010. Nissan’s new line of cars in China will be designed and engineered in Japan, based on a common â€Å"B† platform shared with Renault that centers on smaller engines. Annual sales of the entire family of cars are expected to reach 200,000 units globally and will be launched in other markets over the next couple of years (Financial Times, pg. ). However, the threat of inadequate roads and the government’s changes in regulating how autos are purchased will make the costs unpredictable. On a financial scale, the banks are under pressure to control credit, so auto loans may not be easy to acquire. North America accounts for nearly 40% of Nissan’s global sales, and in each of the past years sales have exce eded those in Japan, with the gap widening each year. Nissan is spending several billion dollars on new models, and the U. S. assembly plant in Canton, MS is aimed at maintaining momentum (Ward’s Auto World, pg. 1). The most significant automotive development in North America is continuing growth in the luxury segment and the increasing popularity of cross/utility vehicles. Nissan is on track to rebuild its image and regain brand value. In the past, customer satisfaction was good, but the model lineup was limited. Now, with the Q45, M45, G35 sedan and coupe and the FX models, the market has begun to recognize that Infiniti provides a range of real luxury models (Ibid). According to Bloomberg, Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. led Asian automakers’ U. S. sales gains in September as Toyota Motor Corp. posted a third straight decline. Accord helped boost sales by 9. 4 percent. Toyota’s 4. 4 percent drop marked the first time since 1995 that Japan’s largest automaker logged three consecutive months of lower U. S. sales. Sales of the five year-old Corolla model, Toyota’s second-most popular in the U. S. , dropped 8. 5 percent and demand for the company’s light trucks declined amid rising gasoline prices. Industrywide U. S. sales fell for a fourth consecutive month, by 2. 9 percent to 1. 31 million light vehicles (Bloomberg. com, pgs. 1-3). Toyota’s old models like the Corolla are dragging down while Honda and Nissan have brand-new models. Nissan reported a 6. 7 percent increase in sales (Ibid). Nissan, sixth in the U. S. , sold 94,269 vehicles, helped by higher demand for midsize Altima and Versa compact cars. Nissan’s market share edged up 0. 7 percentage point to 7. 2 percent. The Japanese are becoming more aggressive in terms of incentives and pricing, which makes them more competitive against South Korea’s largest automaker. The company faces tough competition from Japanese and Korean auto makers like Toyota, Honda and Mitsubishi, which are rapidly gaining ground in the European markets. Asian manufacturers are continuing to fortify their position in the crucial North American and European market. It can also expect stiff competition from Toyota and BMW (Ibid). Nissan believes that growing the business means introducing new products and has created the Nissan Revival Plan to realign their cost structure. Significant amounts of money are funneled back into product development, mostly going towards the North American market. This means there are opportunities for new innovations that will bring the company in line with a mix of vehicles that are currently on the road. Its R&D costs in FY 2006/2007 stood at JFY 464,839 million, an increase of 3. 9% when compared to JFY 447,582 million in FY 2005/2006. The company increased its investment on R&D activities to launch a host of new products throughout the year (Ibid). In 2007, Nissan launched a new version of its minicar, namely, Pino E, which is a 2WD model and equipped with a three-speed automotive transmission. It is claimed to offer a fuel economy of 21. 0 km/1. Furthermore, the model is considered safe and environmentally friendly, as it features anti-lock braking system (ABS), brake assist (BA) and electronic braking force distribution (EBD) systems. It is low emitting, complying with the 2005 emissions regulations in Japan. In March 2007, the company also developed a new engine technology that helps balance between responsiveness and fuel efficiency, high power and low emissions (Ibid). Today, Nissan stands behind its offerings; that fundamentals of the business are strong, products are attractive to customers, and the company is poised for sustained, profitable growth. Environmental Concerns In researching the issues of automakers in regards to the environment, many nations as stated in The Wall Street Journal, are concerned about climate change and energy security. One of the most important issues all automakers are faced with on a global scale is the reduction of emissions, more specifically carbon dioxide or CO2. Concerns for the future in the minds of the majority are setting new goals for automakers of vehicles with internal combustion engines to become more efficient if they are to remain profitable or even in existence, which is further backed by a global treaty known as the Kyoto protocol (Wall Street Journal). In the protocol’s drafting of new rules they are intended to cap emissions of CO2, the gas widely blamed for global warming can potentially pose a major threat. According to scientists, it is reported that the rise in the earth’s average atmospheric temperature is largely due to this major contributor CO2 which will bring changes to the global environment, and therefore affect our daily lives (Ibid). According to the Wall Street Journal, a debate is raging in the US over how much time automakers actually need to boost fuel economy, and whether setting stringent targets will compromise safety by encouraging car makers to use lighter materials. Additionally, the US has not adopted the Kyota protocol and is under less pressure to reduce CO2 emissions as they are in Europe. Therefore, Nissan’s global prominence puts the auto manufacturer in an â€Å"opportunity† position by making concentrated efforts in advanced technology to reduce carbon dioxide emissions at every stage of the vehicles life cycle and their corporate activities, from manufacturing and transportation to use of Nissan’s vehicles by its consumers. Nissan, currently the third largest automaker out of Japan has opportunity to grow stronger from the threats of one and two automakers Toyota and Honda respectively, who lead the market in alternative fuel development (Wall Street Journal). According to Nissan’s Green Program, it is Nissan’s view that internal combustion engines will continue to be the main power source of vehicles globally in the years ahead. Therefore, Nissan therefore takes a stance of reducing CO2 emissions through the development and widespread adoption of advanced technologies for improving the fuel economy of gasoline engine vehicles. Currently in the works for Nissan is the development of cleaner diesel engine vehicles that run on biofuels made from plants and other reusable sources (Ibid). Nissan estimates that over half of the vehicles they sell by 2050 will need to be electrically powered if they are to reach their long term goal of reducing CO2 emissions. Nissan’s threat has been its major competitors in developing hybrid electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles and electrical vehicles. Other companies such as Toyota are setting the bar in alternative fuel sources which makes them a profitable industry leader with the obvious threats of gas prices that change virtually on a daily basis (Ibid). Nissan History and Innovation Nissan Motors’ history dates back to the 1930s when Jidosha Seizo Co Ltd was established in 1933 in Yokohoma City, Japan. Its beginnings as a munitions company was short lived when the company was renamed to Nissan Heavy Industry Co Ltd and introduced the first Datsun, manufactured after World War II. After the company began exporting the cars to the US in 1958, it gained popularity due to its small size and high fuel efficiency. Subsequently, in 1980, Nissan Motor established Nissan Motor Manufacturing Corp. USA to strengthen its market potential in North America (ABI/INFORM Global pg. 1). Today, Nissan supplies a widespread customer base classified across regions, namely, Japan, the US, Asia, Europe and General Overseas Market, which includes Mexico and Canada. This market includes 150 dealers and 2,500 outlets worldwide (Ibid). This is the age of globalization and the worldwide interdependence of resource supplies, product markets, and business competition. Nissan has succeeded in meeting its challenges due to its focus in valuing diversity both in its workforce and through understanding customer needs. This is evident in how the company plans ahead and is always looking for new ways to improve current performance. For instance, the company learned from past mistakes; failure to recognize changing customer focus in non-growth sectors, and being competitively focused rather than market focused. Also, finding the right people and the right plan to maximize growth is key (Nissan News, pg. 8). Shiro Nakamura Nissan’s automotive designer is known as â€Å"The man behind the Nisan Look† and has developed some up-to-date, eye-catching designs that have no resemblance to the old models, and the company is optimistic that sales will increase once the current plan to launch 28 new cars during fiscal year 2008. Most of the changes are defined to the upper body and adjusted to make it more like the Altima (Business Week, pg. 1). Nissan’s innovations stem from producing a product that their customers want. Their philosophy is that investing in a product that will bring value and satisfaction to its customers will build loyalty as well as expand that market base. Nissan’s models include Maxima and Sentra cars, Altima and upscale sedans, Frontier pickups, the 350Z sports car, and Xterra and Pathfinder SUVs. In 1999 French automaker Renault took a 37% stake in Nissan, and installed president and CEO Carlos Ghosn (nicknamed â€Å"Le Cost Killer† based on his talent for turning red ink black) who has since returned the company to profitability. Renault now owns almost 45% of Nissan. According to Hoovers, Nissan fiscal year end sales in March were in millions, $80,583. 7. Net income in millions was $4,427. 8, and 1 year net income growth was 7. 0%. Their top competitors were General Motors, Honda, and Toyota (Hoovers. com, pg. -2) Generation â€Å"X† consumers can identify with the sports world, ESPN’s X Games. Games showcase the world’s most dangerous events. The â€Å"X† generation is also playing a big role in the fashion world, thus the automotive industry has been one of the leaders driving the â€Å"X† growing trend. Jaguar’s Web site prominently features a glowing X to promote the new â€Å"Jaguar X-Type: a car for a new generationâ⠂¬ . And Nissan has scored big with the model Nissan Xterra. This trend is enabling Nissan to tap into a pool of younger car buyers. The vehicle has attracted many new buyers, some of which have never purchased a Nissan before. The Xterra is aimed to attract 25 to 35 year old drivers. Marketing tactics fill viewers with scenes of athletes doing extreme outdoor exercise, and pushing their SUVs to the extreme. Polls cited that men were most affected with the advertisement than women. 13% to 9%. According to the Gallop polls, the ads scored highest among those 30 to 39 years old, which is right where the company was trying to segment. The 25 to 35 year old target market (USA Today, pg. 2-3). Baby Boomers on the other hand are most attracted to the Nissan Murano, or Nissan Bevel. Nissan’s long term vision for 2015 is that future vehicles will save lives by installing a series of sensors that can detect sobriety of a driver and can immobilize the car. Other features include detecting operational changes, such as drifting out of a lane, at which time the system navigation system alerts the driver with voice message alerts and the seat belt is tightened. Nissan is currently testing an on-board breathalyzer and road sensors to help reduce accidents. Other plans to develop an Intelligent Transport System Project and road sensors will help reduce accidents (Nissan. com, pg. 1-2) The company understands the importance of agility in a dynamic 21st century market and is continuously reinventing itself to stay ahead of the competition. Sometimes, this means taking risks. Most recently, the company made an announcement that it was moving its headquarters from California to Tennessee. The new facility will accommodate 1300 plus employees and favorable for business, not to mention contributing to the infrastructure and supporting the community with more jobs. It’s inevitable that there could be some unforeseeable threats perhaps with current labor force. Some issues could be that they are not in agreement with the transfer and choose to leave the company, thus the need for new hires. Other potential threats are the risk of new competitors in the area, and developing a new sense for the new market. The California population may not have the same tastes and likes as the Tennessee population, thus Nissan could expend additional resources to substitute products and services (Tennessean. om, pg. 1-4). A strategy for the future that Nissan could consider would be to offer a motorcycle product. Exploring and pursuing this opportunity would allow them to remain competitive and also to offer products to meet different needs. Honda, BMW, and Suzuki, all of whom offer cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles, Nissan too should visit the idea of offering a motorcycle. Over the years Nissan has developed quality products that are dependable, hi ghly functional and desirable; this being an advantage for Nissan. Along with remaining competitive, the high price of fuel recently would make a Nissan motorcycle more appealing. The motorcycle would alleviate fuel expenses and consumption. The Nissan motorcycle would also be appealing in geographic locations such as Japan, China and major cities in the United States that do not have the space on roads for larger vehicles. Nissan plans to offer a concept vehicle that resembles a car and a motorcycle. This vehicle is called â€Å"Urge† and offers state of the art gaming systems that allow the driver to use the gas and brake pedals to play. When considering the pricing of a Nissan motorcycle and remaining competitive, Nissan should consider that Honda and Suzuki offer motorcycles at reasonably affordable prices. Suzuki offers several types of motorcycles to include cruisers, motocross, and sport bikes all at reasonable prices ranging from $6,000. 00 to under $10,000. Honda also offers cruisers, motocross, and sport bikes. Honda motorcycles range from $3,000 to $13,000. In order to lure prospective buyers into purchasing a Nissan motorcycle, Nissan should strive to offer its motorcycles at reasonable prices, similar to Suzuki and Honda. The price range for motorcycles made by BMW is slightly higher starting at $8,000 to $15,000. BMW has offered a motorcycle since 1923. Its tenure along with the fact that consumers have learned to trust the German made motorcycle are what keep BMW competitive. Offering reasonably priced and desirable styles similar to BMW, Honda and Suzuki is a great opportunity that has not been approached by Nissan. The cruiser styles offered by Honda, Suzuki and BMW resemble that of a Harley –Davidson motorcycle without the high cost. The market for Nissan motorcycles is positive with the increasing cost of fuel and the ages of future drivers. Most of the baby boomer generation have become accustomed to the quality of Nissan vehicles and would be approaching retirement age in the next few years. Nissan’s release of motorcycles would segment the soon retired baby boomers as a fun and recreational of transportation. The Nissan motorcycle would also segment the new drivers of today which in a few years will be the young generation to market to. Nissan would have to be conscious of expenses in marketing and production of the motorcycle, a product never offered and could use the business model already established by its competitors offering both motorcycles and automobiles in the industry. According to Analysts, the economy is not faltering and people are still hopeful for the future. It is a race to the finish line, and who ever gets there first wins. It will be interesting to see how automobile manufacturers will implement new strategies (Economy Today, pg. 1) Nissan Technologies –Past and Future New technologies were as important to Nissan’s past as they are to Nissan’s future. Nissan has always addressed environmental issues, including the development of clean power sources for vehicles and recycling of natural resources. Nissan has been able to release one new model after another with fuel-efficient direct-injection gasoline engines and direct-injection diesel engines since 1997. This has led to the expanding application of the Hyper CVT (continuously variable transmission) , the Extroid CVT, the Tino Hybrid and the two-seater Hypermini electric vehicle in the early part of 2000 for efficient fuel economy (Nissan global. om). Nissan’s history goes back to an automobile factory started by Masujiro Hashimoto in 1911 called the Kwaishinsha Co. In 1914, a box-type small passenger car was completed and in the following year the car made its debut on the market under the name of Dat Car. Another predecessor of Nissan was Jitsuyo Jidosha Co. , Ltd. , which im ported machine tools and components from the U. S. , and was one of the most modern automobile factories of its time. Kwaishinsha Co. and Jitsuyo Jidohsa Co. merged in 1926 to form Dat Jidosha Seizo Co. , and two years later to the establishment of Nissan Motor Co. Ibid). In preparation for post war capital investment in Japan, Nissan developed two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities leading to the advancement of motorization and increased traffic accidents; and contributed to the problem of air pollution. Nissan developed its first Experimental Safety Vehicle (ESV) in 1971 and over the years created a reputation for excellence in engineering and advanced technology. Nissan has developed weight-reducing materials, engine management systems for controlling combustion, and using CAD/CAM systems and industrial robots (Ibid). Recently, Nissan has also been localizing R;D operations, which has now advanced decision-making through the regional headquarters in North America and Europe. Nissan’s local operations in their respective regions oversee product development, manufacturing, procurement, fund-raising and mutual complementation of parts between companies (Ibid). Nissan’s Vision Nissan is developing corporate activities centered on automobile manufacturing based on their vision of â€Å"enriching people’s lives. In order for cars, which provide mobility, to truly become reliable partners for our customers, a number of issues including global environmental issues, traffic accidents and congestion problems must be tackled as part of a long-term vision (Nissan global. com). The global automotive industry is entering an era that will change almost every facet of the car in the future to come. Nissan’s global vision includes the pursuit of environmentally sustainable technologies creating one of the greatest engineering competitions in history that has the potential to deliver significant benefits to humanity (Ibid). To realize our vision, Nissan is developing technologies based on a framework called the â€Å"Orchard† concept. † This concept allows Nissan to embrace technologies in a comprehensive manner (Nissan global. com). In order to create a distinct value in order for customers to choose their cars, Nissan is likening its approach to the management of a fruit orchard in which â€Å"fruit† is planted and raised. The process has three phases, one – the Harvest Plan, two – Seeding and Growth and three – Soil Enrichment. The Harvest Plan takes into account social needs and market demands for the commercialization of technologies and the timing of releases. Seeding and Growth will implement strategies for the realization of the Harvest Plan and to formulate development of schemes. Lastly, Soil Enrichment will create value for the long term by researching reliability improvement and analysis technologies (Ibid). Some of the proposed solutions are more efficient fuel-cells for electric cars, bio-fuels, advanced diesel fuels or combinations of these solutions. However, the most effective solutions will not be decided by engineers. It will be decided by consumer demand, which is the most powerful force for global environmental progress. Every new car buyer in every country gets a vote by exercising their right to choose, thereby dictating both the pace of future change and its direction (Ibid). Nissan’s vision is to invest massively in R&D in pursuit of new technologies. This has not always been the case. Due to perilous financial decisions, in 1999 Nissan could not afford to invest in the core of its brand identity – technological innovation. Today, Nissan’s R&D budget is much healthier than the level of 1999 due to significantly increased efficiency of their R&D activities. This has led to an environmental blueprint known as Nissan’s â€Å"Green Program 2010†. Also taking advantage of the alliance with it’s parent company, Renault, Nissan is able to focus on specific promising technologies – such as advanced lithium-ion batteries and other areas, such as clean diesels. Nissan’s vision includes the determination to be the leader in environmental progress. It is Nissan’s belief that motoring can be both green and fun allowing consumers to expect new technologies that will enhance dynamic performance (Ibid). Some of the latest technologies being embraced by Nissan are the X-Trail Fuel Cell Vehicle, Ultra-low Friction Diamond-like Carbon (DLC), the Super Motor, and the Compact Lithium-ion Battery. Nissan continues to raise the practicality of FCVs, which are being developed as the most eco-friendly vehicles. The X-Trail FCV provides increased cruising range. (Nissan global. com). The FCV also provides improved acceleration. The new model features a Nissan-developed fuel cell stack that is more efficient than the previous stack resulting in maximum power of 90 kw compared with 63 kw in the 2003 model. Ultra-low Friction Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) is Nano-technology based on ultra-low friction technology. Nissan has substantially reduced friction between engine parts by developing the first technology in the world to combine a hydrogen-free diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating with special oil. Energy is lost due to friction that arises between the hundreds of parts that comprise an engine. This ultra-low friction technology uses nanotechnology in order to reduce friction by approximately 40% compared to conventional engines. The DLC works by use of a hydrogen-free DLC coating, improves binding with the engine oil, and results in the formation of a firm ultra-low friction film when special oil additives are added. It is now possible to reduce overall engine friction by 25% (Ibid). The Super Motor and Compact Batteries Nissan has independently developed the Super Motor based on an all-new concept. One motor provides output through two shafts, enabling it to function as both a motor and a generator. This innovative technology has a wide range of potential applications (Nissan global. com). The Super Motor can dramatically reduce the size and improve the efficiency of the drive unit compared with the use of two conventional motors. Independent control of the power obtained from the two shafts. The Super Motor has rotors positioned on both the inside and outside of one stator, enabling power to be delivered through two shafts by use of a new technology to apply compound current to the Stator coils (Nissan global. com). Nissan has succeeded in independently developing a laminated lithium-ion cell that displays an exceptionally high output characteristic. This cell is the result of many years of lithium-ion battery research that began in 1992. The laminated cell is featured from the 2003 model X-TRAIL FCV (Nissan global. com). The laminated cell design and high-power electrode technology improve power output by 1. 5 times and reduce the volume by more than half compared with the conventional cylindrical cell. The thin cell construction also enables a thin module design for a substantial improvement in battery ooling efficiency. Locating the battery under the floor achieves compact and highly efficient vehicle packaging, including a low, flat floor, among other advantages. Compared with the cylindrical cell, the laminated cell has fewer components and is extremely compact and lightweight. Moreover, Nissan has succeeded in achieving higher power output through material improvements made to the lithium manganate positive electrode and the carbon negative electrode (Nissan global. com). Executive Summary Like any other automobile manufacturer, to stay competitive in today’s world markets, one must consistently innovate and stay one step ahead of the competition. In the past, automobile manufacturers have been first in presenting more fuel efficient vehicles, increased gasoline mileage rating through body redesign, and have introduced new safety features for the yearning public marketplace. Nissan current project in India is to try to regain market share from its competitors Toyota and Honda by creating Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV’s) which are small cars that can be sold for around $3,000. 00. This innovative idea can create a brand new market segment of customers who could not, up until this point, afford to purchase and operate a vehicle. Along with being fuel efficient and maintaining competitive, Nissan’s offering a motorcycle would be an added strategy to pursue. Dealing with the myriad of different cultures across the globe is also a major focus of Nissan’s Chief Operating Office Carlos Ghosn who realizes that the creation of multi-cultural company can flourish and grow through exploiting it synergies, believes that feeding off each other’s strengths, and minimizing its weaknesses are key. Automobile manufacturers like Nissan can never be â€Å"one size fits all†, but they can certainly try to understand and adapt to different cultures to maximize desired commonalities and maximize profits. These days, partnering globally cannot be realized without including China. China is Nissan’s third largest single market (only after North America and Japan). Although vehicle production has significantly increased over the last ten years, passenger car production has actually doubled in the last ten years due to market conditions and Chinese automobile manufacturers ntering the car market. China has a great position in the future manufacturing of automobiles because of increased income and an already over-inflated population. However, threats of inadequate roadways, governmental regulations on how automobiles are purchased, and pressure on Chinese banks to â€Å"control credit† may temporarily slow the process. North America has captured 40% of Nissan’s global sales and has caused an ever-widening gap with Japanese sales which has been increasing each year. Nissan has recently spent several billion dollars on new models and a new U. S. ssembly plant in Mississippi to ensure that this momentum continues. Nissan believes that growing this business means introducing new products while realigning cost structures. Large sums of money are being placed back into product development – most geared towards the North America market. Although the United States never signed onto the popular Kyoto protocol which planned to significantly reduce the amount of carbon emissions in the world, many other nations did because of the ever growing concerns of climate change on a global scale which many believe poses a worldwide threat. Nissan, however, has proactively realized this concern and has taken advantage of this opportunity by making concentrated efforts in advancing technology that reduces carbon dioxide emissions â€Å"at every stage† of the vehicle’s life cycle. Nissan is vigorously working on the creation of cleaner diesel engines that run on biofuels made from plants and other renewable sources. The threat to Nissan has been its competitors who are developing hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles. Toyota has lead this aspect of the automobile industry, and has been setting the bar in alternative fuel sources making them the very green and very profitable company that envisions change in the industry. Nissan began exporting cars to the U. S in 1958 and gained popularity because of its small size and great fuel efficiency. Today, Nissan has developed new eye-catching designs that do not resemble older models. Nissan is very optimistic that sales will increase significant once these 28 new models are launched during the 2008 year. But the look of new models alone isn’t all Nissan is after. Safety features such as installing a series of sensors that can detect alcohol levels in the driver will alert the car to slow and/or become immobilized. Corporate agility is also a key factor as is shown when Nissan moved its headquarters from California to Tennessee, which accommodates over 1300 employees, supporting the community with more jobs, and reducing significant overhead. New technologies developed at Nissan have addressed environmental issues including clean power sources for its vehicles and recycling of natural resources. Nissan has envisioned that the future of their company will greater enrich peoples lives through global environment issues, and reducing traffic accident and congestion problems. Some of Nissan’s proposals include more efficient fuel-cells for electric vehicles, bio-fuels, and advanced diesel fuels. The most important facet that Nissan realizes is that effective solutions will be decided by consumer demand, not engineers. Nissan has constructed a â€Å"Green Program 2010† which has become their environmental blueprint for success in the industry.