International economics theory to real world issues Assignment

International economics theory to real world issues - Assignment Example It looks comprehensively at the issues plaguing international trade and its promise of increasing wealth for countries. International economics concerns itself with the effects on economic activity of global differences in productive resources and consumer preferences or tastes and the international institutions that affect them. The aspect of international economics seeks to explain the patterns and results of transactions and interactions between inhabitants in different countries. The aspect of international economics includes international trade, migration, and investment. International trade being one of the key pillars of international economics is supposed to be a voluntary exchange occurring with all the participating countries expecting to gain. Free trade increases access to goods and services that may be lacking in some countries (Enderwick 222). For this reason, in international economic, trade bridges the differences in terms of goods and services. It follows the laws and rules of supply and demand to cater for the demand of areas with low supply of certain goods and services from areas with a high supply of said products and services. International trade promotes specialization and the division of labor increasing output and consumption. As a result of international economic interdependence, economic conditions and policies in one country increasingly influence economic conditions in other countries. In addition, international trade abides by some fundamental international economic principles such as standard exchanges. The comprehension of international trade is important in critically understanding its importance and how it is the backbone of today’s increasingly globalized modern, commercial world. It helps in understanding how producers in various countries try to profit and benefit from an expanded market rather than being limited to the market within a single county. It

A holistic health care team

A holistic health care team Introduction When a patient is admitted into hospital a holistic health care team approach is essential to ensure the right measures are established for a successful recovery. This paper follows a case study of an elderly woman named Mrs. Win, who is post operative Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy. The paper will explore her pervious medical history and the impact that it may have on her current health. Possible nursing problems post surgery will be explored, with focus on one key issue. Through collaboration with allied health services these complications can be addressed holistically. A nursing care plan will be constructed in accordance to the case study in regards to giving the patient the highest quality of care whilst in hospital and after discharge. Body of assignment Mrs Win is a 66 year old female patient who is vacationing around Australia in a caravan with her husband. The patient has a medical history of hypertension which is defined as having a persistent high blood pressure, as well as osteoarthritis which is the breakdown of cartilage in joints causing pain on movement (Berman, et al., 2008). Both conditions she self medicates with Atenolol, Paracetamol and Glucosamine. Mrs Win has just undergone a Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy which is a procedure that involves the removal of the gallbladder through microsurgery. Using advanced laparoscopic technology it is now possible to remove the gallbladder through a tiny incision in the stomach, this has numerous advantages for the patients wellbeing opposed to the traditional open abdominal surgery. The patient may have had her gallbladder removed for several reasons, these may include cholelithiasis (gallstones), acute and chronic cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder) or gallbladder cance r (Herbert et al., 2007). Post surgery Mrs Win has moderate pain, with respirations above the normal limits, her blood pressure is still consistently high however her pulse and oxygen saturation are regular (Berman, et al., 2008). After Mrs Win Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy there are several skills expected of nursing staff to implement so the patient avoids potential problems post operative and furthermore to manage current issues that may be associated with the surgery. Pain management is paramount to the care of a patient. Mrs Win is experiencing pain 3/10 in her abdomen and 5/10 at her right shoulder tip. It is crucial that pain is managed effectively as it can have a detrimental effect on her physical and psychological state, which will impact on her daily functions (St Marie, 2002). Mobility may also become an issue for Mrs Win post procedure due to a variety of reasons which will be discussed in detail later in the paper. Nutrition and hydration are essential to fuelling the body with energy. Mrs Win is complaining of nausea and is only tolerating small sips of water which is inadequate to sustaining normal daily function. Lack of nutrition impacts on her activities of daily living, hampers wound healing, the capacity to fight infection and her general recovery (Dudek, 2001). Mrs Win is also at a risk of impaired skin integrity due to poor nutrition, restricted mobility and her age. Without proper nursing support many factors could work against the patient and begin to breakdown her skin. It is essential pressure area care is performed every few hours to prevent decubitus ulcers (Berman, et al., 2008). Impaired respiratory function is also a key nursing issue as complications can arise with Mrs Wins breathing. Mrs Win is on oxygen therapy of 3L per minute via nasal cannula and currently has a respiratory rate of 22 breathes per minute which is above the normal range 20 breaths per minute (Berman, et al., 2008).Other potential breathing problems can be initiated by the narcotics she is taking for pain management this includes morphine as it can suppress the respiratory system (Bullock Manias, 2011). Wound care is a crucial nursing issue for Mrs Win post surgery as she has four incisions in her abdomen with Verivac drains insitu. Maintaining clean wound sites is essential to help guarantee the site heals effectively without the invasion of micro organisms which can cause infection that may lead to further complications (Bowler, Duerdun, Armstrong, 2001). Constipation with Mrs Win can become a potential nursing issue whilst in hospital and after discharge. This implication can arise due to the gastro Intestinal track being lethargic after surgery because of general anaesthetic or the trauma received to stomach during the operation. Peristalsis may also be delayed as constant lying on the back can inhibit this movement of the bowel( Mattson Porth, Matfin, 2009) This would make Mrs Win feel uncomfortable and can be medicated with oral laxatives or suppositories (Bullock Manias, 2011). Mobility would be a major issue for Mrs Win during her hospital stay and furthermore after her discharge because she is travelling around the country by caravan. Mobility is defined as the ability of a person to move efficiently and effectively from one place to another with comfort and ease (Crepeau, Cohn Schell, 2003). A person being immobile can severely impacts on their activities of daily living and take away their independence, which can become detrimental to the persons mental wellbeing (Crisp Taylor, 2005).Post surgery from Mrs Win Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy her mobility would be significantly affected for various reasons. She is experiencing pain which will put off any movement as it would be uncomfortable furthermore she is nauseous and may not feel confident getting out of bed. Mrs Win may be dizzy and fatigued from the pain medication which may also restrict her movements. Additionally the patient is on oxygen therapy, an intravenous line and Verivac drains insitu the se factors may discourage movement. Anxiety of these restricting factors may also deter Mrs Win to ambulate. Impaired mobility can have detrimental affects the body physically and mentally. Without movement venous circulation slows down and the coagulation of blood increases causing thrombus and embolus (â€Å"Nursing fundamentals: the effects of immobility,† 2007) The respiratory system can be notably affected as hypostatic pneumonia may develop because immobile patients have pooling of chest secretions in the lungs and this congestion predispose the respiratory tract to infections (â€Å"Nursing fundamentals: the effects of immobility,† 2007). Other consequences from immobility include muscle atrophy due to lack of exercise and the formation of pressure sores if left in the same position for a prolonged time (â€Å"Nursing fundamentals: the effects of immobility,† 2007). Impaired mobility can hinder Mrs Win personal hygiene which can psychologically affect her if she feels she is losing her independence (Crisp Taylor, 2005). Allied health services would be of great assistance to help Mrs Win recuperate after her operation. Holistic care can be provided to the patient to help with her issue of immobility, the professionals that can help include: an Occupational Therapist, a Physiotherapist, Dietician and a Social Worker. An Occupational Therapist would be beneficial for Mrs Win to help her resolve the issues which hamper her undertaking activities of daily living. An Occupational Therapist considers the persons environment and implements strategies or equipment to help clients increase their independence with daily tasks including washing, dressing and getting in/out of caravan(Crepeau, Cohn Schell, 2003).The occupational therapist could asses her caravan and see if it is suitable for a person recovering from surgery who also has a history of osteoarthritis and if needed make changes to help Mrs Win cope with immobility (e.g. a rail to help her step up into the caravan). Physiotherapists endeavour to develop functional ability of physically impaired clients which will improve their quality of life. A Physiotherapist develops plans based on individual needs to help their clients ambulate with reduced pain and to restore the normal functions of body movement (Herbert et al., 2007). Mrs Win would profit from the help of a Physiotherapist because she is in pain and has decreased mobility following surgery, furthermore her osteoarthritis is contributing to her condition. Mrs Win would have problems with carrying out daily tasks so she can take benefit from care planning and exercises to assist the return of strength, normal function and mobility. An essential element to recovery from surgery is the consumption of a nutritional and healthy diet which is why a dietician would help Mrs Win recuperate post surgery. Dieticians have skills to personalise healthy diets and educate individuals on good nutrition (Dudek, 2001). Mrs Win would benefit from this service as she is not eating hence her meals need to be designed to give maximum nutrition to create the energy needed to facilitate a recovery and fuel mobility. A dietician can additionally educate Mrs Win on foods which stimulate the production of bile needed to break down foods. Bile production is crucial for Mrs Win as she no longer can store bile in her gallbladder so she may need to produce more to help with the digestion process. Incorporated into Mrs Wins care planning could be a Social Worker whose role is to improve the quality of living by assisting them to handle and solve issues with daily life (Payne, 2005). Travelling around the country in a caravan, Mrs Win is away from her support networks and may struggle to deal with daily tasks due to poor mobility. The social worker can organise coping mechanisms to help her deal with the immobility or alternatively arrange accommodation close by until Mrs Win is healthy enough to travel again. Conclusion This paper explored the case study of Mrs Win a 66 year old female post operative from a Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy. We explored her pervious medical history and defined the implications it can have on her current health and furthermore discussed the patients medical diagnosis. In relation to her medical diagnosis several nursing issues where identified with the emphasis on the key problem of immobility and what impact this has on Mrs Win. The paper proposed which allied health services could be beneficial to Mrs Wins recovery. Finally a care plan was constructed with the intent to better the patients health by setting health goals and plans to achieve them. An evaluation was made to determine whether these plans where effective in improving Mrs Win quality of living with all documentation supported with relevant and reputable information.

Spotted Horses vs. Mule in the Yard :: essays research papers

'Spotted Horses'; Vs. 'Mule in the Yard';   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  William Faulkner wrote two short stories, which are alike in many aspects. 'Spotted Horses'; and 'Mule in the Yard'; are short stories that both involve comic animal chases and financial transactions. Even though the stories are written by the same author, have similar characteristics, and share similar plot features, they are entirely different stories. The stories are both examples of interpretive literature, however 'Spotted Horses'; is a more interpretive short story than 'Mule in the Yard because 'Spotted Horses'; fits Perrine's profile of interpretive literature, and 'Mule in the Yard'; seems to replicate Perrine's profile of escape literature.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  According to Laurence Perrine in his seventh edition of Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense he states the definition of interpretive literature is 'Literature written to deepen and broaden and sharpen our awareness of life.'; Interpretive literature is not candy coated. It allows its readers to experience the trials and tribulations of life. By using graphically realistic plots and endings, which are consistent to those in real life, interpretive literature achieves a higher literary value than escape literature. Interpretive literature allows its reader too step out of the fantasy world they might be living in and focus on what the world is really about. One might say an interpretive story provides insight to understanding. Not only understanding of ourselves, but our neighbors, friends, family or anyone else we might encounter.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Escape literature is the complete opposite of interpretive literature. Escape literature is written purely for entertainment. Escape literature takes it's reader out of the real world and into a fantasy world where everything works and happens just like we want it to. This is a world where the ending always has closure. Escapist authors hardly ever end on a bad note. They want the reader to leave the pages of their story satisfied, and having a sense of contentment. Perrine's example of escape literature is Cinderella. Cinderella's life goes from rags to riches in one night. She marries a prince and lives happily ever after. According to Perrine the most common expectations of escape literature readers are the sympathetic heroes or heroines, the suspenseful plot which one exciting event proceeds another, the resolved happy outcome, and the theme. Escape literature themes confirm the reader's previous opinions of the world. Readers of escape literature read for ple asure not to gather knowledge on how to survive in the real world.

Effect of Online Gaming to the Students Essay

* An online game is a video game played over some form of computer network, using a personal computer or video game console. * â€Å"Online gaming is a technology rather than a genre, a mechanism for connecting players together rather than a particular pattern of gameplay.† Online games are played over some form of computer network, typically on the Internet. One advantage of online games is the ability to connect to multiplayer games, although single-player online games are quite common as well. A second advantage of online games is that a great percentage of games don’t require payment. Also third that is worth noting is the availability of wide variety of games for all type of game players. â€Å"Can video games make you smarter† begins with asking what you’re looking to gain by playing them. Did you know that: * Point: Video games are fun, but they’re not very productive or useful. * Counterpoint: One of the biggest benefits of video games and o ther interactive training techniques is that they offer a type of engaging and interesting activity that can help build and practice new skills * Point: Video games only train you in specific skills, which doesn’t impart any greater ability to approach new challenges or obstacles. * Counterpoint: The key here is in the design and goals of the game in question. Whatever the game aims to train is what you’ll learn. Games that take the problem solving puzzles and critical thinking exercises that most of us remember as schoolchildren and update them with an interactive and adult-targeted medium can still impart those skills to older players. The issue with many â€Å"brain training† video games is that they want you to believe that you’re â€Å"getting smarter† by increasing your cognitive ability, or somehow protecting your brain from decay or the effects of aging by playing them. That may not be true, but games carefully designed to build problem solving, critical thinking, and reading comprehension skills will help you build those skills. * Point: If games in general can help you learn specific skills, there’s no need for video games specifically. You can just pick up a crossword, textbook, or mystery novel and hone those same skills. * Counterpoint: The big difference between picking up the New York Timescrossword and playing the iPhone version, or playing Scrabble at a table versus with other people in an internet-connected game like Words with Friends, is really in the person who plays the game. Strictly, interactive media are an artifact of our time, and appeal to people who would otherwise reject those older mediums in favor of newer ones. In addition to catering to our desire to be constantly connected and our need for immediate feedback and rapid-fire puzzles and challenges, video games resonate with us in a way that other media doesn’t. That isn’t to say there’s no place for an old-fashioned mystery novel to challenge a reader to decipher an author’s carefully laid clues before they get to the last page, but there’s certainly room for both. There Are Psychological, Physical, and Therapeutic Benefits to Video Games, Too * In addition to the benefits of learning new things and developing new skills, video games—when properly applied—can have therapeutic and mental health benefits. If you play video games as a hobby or for relaxation, you likely already know that they can help you relieve stress and anxiety and help you relax. Negative effects of online gaming: * Since the advent of coin operated arcade games, video games have come a long way and spread to the homes of many children and teenagers, in both developed and developing countries (Bryant & Vorderer, 2006). On one hand, the fierce competitions among the gaming giants such as Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft can be blamed for this phenomenon; while on the other hand, the internet alone is responsible for placing a universe full of games at arms reach of anyone with a computer and a decent internet connection. However, many games are not suitable for certain age groups. These include games which contain material that is explicit in either the lyrics of its songs, its bloody and gory action scenes, or even scenes that are considered borderline pornographic (in the game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, the main character can enter strip clubs and receive lap dances) (Allofgta, 2008). Usually, many of the games containing significant amounts of violence are designed for mature audiences; nevertheless, their popularity among teenagers and children, who ironically constitute the largest contributors to the profits reaped from these games, is always on the rise. In Lebanon and many other countries in the middle east, no video game rating system or law exists, which allows children and teenagers to buy any game they want. Consequently, as Vorderer and Bryant explain (2006), â€Å"young video game players may be exposed to substantially more violent content than ever before† * Excessive violence in video games has many significant negative effects on children and teenagers. The nature of today’s gaming market doesn’t seem to help the situation at all. Every year, hundreds of new games are released into stores, adding to an already abundant library of blood and gore, which leads to a decrease in the price of previous years’ games. In addition, since the price of CDs and game related hardware is on the decline, it is becoming easier and more economical for children and teenagers to play these games in the comfort of their own home, instead of paying hourly fees at Local area network gaming centers * Other pro-violent video game activists take on a whole different approach in their defense strategy. * Three major negative effects are manifested in the majority of gamers who play violent video games. To begin with, gamers show a weakening in their pro social behavior, which include poorerrelationships and drug related problems. Secondly, users start to exhibit violent behavior which can manifest itself in their thoughts or physically. Finally, desensitization, the loss of proper response to violent images, also lurks behind these games. * Video games are the subject of so many studies, not to mention findings. Some suggest cognitive benefits, others behavioral issues that may or may not persist over time. Importance of the studies * The researcher also believes that not only the students will be benefited from the findings of the study but the instructors and the faculties as well. For they will be advised what to do to give more emphasis to the studies and the learning of the students. They will have an idea on how to get the attention of the students through their studies. Students most specially who has lower grades or failing grades. Definition of Terms There are terms of this study the student researchers defined to help the reader understand well the terms used. * Age. stage of life: a stage or phase in the lifetime of somebody or something length of somebody’s or something’s existence | * Dropped. lessen: to decrease to a lower level, rate, or number, or make something do this * Effects of on line games   * Failed. unsuccessful: unsuccessful, or not having done what is expected or needed * Gender. Gender is a range of characteristics of femininity and masculinity.[1] Depending on the context, the term may refer to the sex * Passed. be successful, or declare somebody successful: to be successful in a test or examination, or officially decide that somebody has been successful in a test or examination

Cisco Systems Essay

1. How have Cisco’s channels evolved in the last 10 – 15 years? Why have they evolved that way? What does the future look like? Cisco is the leader in the switches and router market. Cisco was described as a classic start-up fairy tale. Indirect sales and distribution through resellers was responsible for the small percentage of products delivered in the early 1990s. Cisco model was praised as a successful indirect sales and channel strategy. In 1995, Chambers (CEO) took the helm and the company played a leading role in the internet revolution. Market capitalization exceeded $500 billion in 2000. Cisco’s sales had crossed $18 billion and it boasted relationship with 600 VARs worldwide. The company’s sale took a hit after the telecom and dot-com crash in 2001. The company reported $1 billion loss in the same year. Due to the disaffection and dissatisfaction among the resellers the company was forced to review and revamp the go-to market strategy. Routers and Switches are the key components of Cisco. Its explosive growth and the growth of Internet were inextricably intertwined. Its router technology was a crucial component of the rapid internet buildout in the 1990s. This success was achieved from basic high-end connectivity, multilayer intelligent service switching solutions. The company has to evolve the goto market strategy and implement the customized pyramid so that new strategy doesn’t create inter-channel conflict determines the future of the company 2. What grade would you give Cisco for managing that evolution? Good or bad? Why? I would provide an A grade to the firm for managing the evolution. It was good implementation, when started the company sold whoever had an application on the technology however with the market exploded in the 1990s, the company relied on channel partners who added unique value, cost effectively. The company followed divide-and-grow policy, doubling the number of sales territories by cutting each in half and expecting the same business from each half. 3. Against the background of your answer to the above two questions, how should Cisco distribute VoIP products? Through voice VARs? Data VARs? or both? I would recommend the distribution of VoIP products through both voice and data VARs. Even though voice channel was considerably more consolidated than the data channel however it is agreed that voice needed to be added to the mix of already existing data VARs. In the data market, margins for the resellers where in the region 12%to 20% due to the channel competition. On one hand, it makes sense to stay with existing margin structure because the new technology delivered huge cost advantage for the end user. But the Voice VARs were entrenched with PBX firms and it would cannibalize introducing new product line. The maturing nature of the networking market and opportunity provided Cisco to expand their business and needed to the keep the productivity with the existing data VARs. 4. What are your reactions to the Pyramid model advanced in Fig.C of the case? What is the core concept of the model? Is there an alternative evolutional model that Cisco should adop? It was a completely different strategy adopted by Cisco when healthy profit margins on routers and switches were the norm in 1990s. This offered value addition to the resellers and sales volume was the key which showed Cisco’s intention to improve the market share. â€Å"Gold†, â€Å"Silver† or â€Å"Premier† status was awarded to the certified resellers who would in-turn get discount of 42%, 40% or 38% in the products for the categories respectively. The core concept of the model is higher the sales, greater discount and increased profit margins. Even though resellers could make 40% margin, in practice, because of intense competition, the gross margin boiled down to 5% to 18% across the industry depending on the product. Adding to the above, Cisco sold equipment through resellers that fell outside the pyramid structure but specialized in particular markets, on a sale by sale basis and through resellers that acted as product-fulfillment houses. This helped Cisco to quickly increase its share in the switch and router market to high extent. I don’t think there is an alternative evolutional model that Cisco would have adopted.

How Dogs are Helping Cheetahs

How Dogs are Helping Cheetahs Dogs have long been considered mans best friend, but their characteristics of loyalty and protectiveness have also earned them the lesser known title of cheetahs best friend. Thats right; dogs are being used more and more frequently to assist in conservation efforts to preserve the endangered cheetah both in captivity and in the wild. Dogs at the Zoo Since the 1980s, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park has assigned companion dogs to cheetahs that are involved in the zoos captive breeding program. Janet Rose-Hinostroza, animal training supervisor at the Park, explains: A dominant dog is very helpful because cheetahs are quite shy instinctively, and you cant breed that out of them. When you pair them, the cheetah looks to the dog for cues and learns to model their behavior. Its about getting them to read that calm, happy-go-lucky vibe from the dog. The primary goal of comforting cheetahs through this unusual partnership is to make them at ease in their captive environment so that they will be able to breed with other cheetahs. Shyness and anxiety dont bode well for a breeding program, so the inter-species friendships that the cheetahs are able to form with dogs can actually benefit the long-term survival of this rare cat. The dogs enlisted by the Park are typically rescued from shelters, giving these homeless canines a new purpose in life. My favorite dog is Hopper because we found him at a kill shelter and hes just 40 pounds, but he lives with Amara, whos our toughest cheetah by far. Its not about strength or overpowering. Its about developing a positive relationship where the cheetah takes her cues from the dog. Cheetah cubs are paired with canine companions at about 3 or 4 months of age. They first meet on opposite sides of a fence with a keeper walking the dog on a leash. If all goes well, the two animals are able to meet for their first play date, although both are kept on leashes initially for safety. Were very protective of our cheetahs, so the introduction is a painfully slow process but a lot of fun. There are lots of toys and distractions, and theyre like two cute little kids who desperately want to play. But cheetahs are instinctively hardwired to feel uneasy so you have to wait and let the cat make the first move. Once the cheetah and dog establish a bond and prove to play well without leashes, they are moved into a shared living space where they spend almost every moment together, except feeding time, when the zoos dogs get to gather, play, and eat together. The dog is the dominant in the relationship, so if we didnt separate them, the dog would eat all the cheetahs food and wed have a really skinny cheetah and a really chubby dog. Among the zoos crew of companion mutts is one purebred Anatolian shepherd known as Yeti. Yeti was recruited to help cheetahs and also to act as a sort of mascot, representing her cousins in Africa who have revolutionized predator management and saved many cheetahs from being killed in defense of livestock. Dogs in the Wild The Cheetah Conservation Funds Livestock Guarding Dog Program is a successful, innovative program that has been helping to save wild cheetahs in Namibia since 1994. While Anatolian shepherds in Namibia do not work in cooperation with cheetahs, they still contribute to the wild cats survival. Before the dogs were employed as conservation tools, cheetahs were shot and trapped by ranchers who were trying to protect their goat herds. Dr. Laurie Marker, founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, began training Anatolian shepherds to protect the herds as a non-lethal predator management strategy, and since then, wild cheetah populations have been on the rise.

Free Essays on Service Learing

Coaching at Deer Park Elementary School My service - learning project was working with elementary school students (grades k – 5) at Deer Park Elementary School in the Physical Education department. Going into this project I thought it was going to be a breeze and that my leadership skills were going to just erupt and shine right away. This assumption turned out to be far from right. My first time out to the school I was a little timid and shy. I was basically just sitting back and doing what the P.E. coach told me to. I wasn’t really interacting with the kids as much as I wanted to and I also think that I wasn’t interacting as much as they wanted me to either. My leadership skills were turning inside me just waiting to burst out but for some reason I wasn’t letting them. My second visit to the school I was like a whole different person. I had the feel for everything and everybody around me. I was much more active and interactive with the students. While I was working with the students I was not only displaying my leadership skills but I was also building close relationships with them. â€Å"There can be no friendship without confidence and no confidence without integrity† –Samuel Johnson (Covey 185). This quote is very true. Confidence is the key word in this quote. When a person has confidence in themselves as well as the others around them it makes for a good solid relationship. That quote not only made my confidence level rise it helped me understand how I could relate to the kids without necessarily having to be an authority figure. I told myself while entering this project that the first thing I will do is try to get the students to respect me as a person. The reason I wanted to do that first was so the students would trust me later in the class when I had to help them with drills and athletic skills. I also wanted them to be able to talk to me as if I was just another one of their friends and not a s... Free Essays on Service Learing Free Essays on Service Learing Coaching at Deer Park Elementary School My service - learning project was working with elementary school students (grades k – 5) at Deer Park Elementary School in the Physical Education department. Going into this project I thought it was going to be a breeze and that my leadership skills were going to just erupt and shine right away. This assumption turned out to be far from right. My first time out to the school I was a little timid and shy. I was basically just sitting back and doing what the P.E. coach told me to. I wasn’t really interacting with the kids as much as I wanted to and I also think that I wasn’t interacting as much as they wanted me to either. My leadership skills were turning inside me just waiting to burst out but for some reason I wasn’t letting them. My second visit to the school I was like a whole different person. I had the feel for everything and everybody around me. I was much more active and interactive with the students. While I was working with the students I was not only displaying my leadership skills but I was also building close relationships with them. â€Å"There can be no friendship without confidence and no confidence without integrity† –Samuel Johnson (Covey 185). This quote is very true. Confidence is the key word in this quote. When a person has confidence in themselves as well as the others around them it makes for a good solid relationship. That quote not only made my confidence level rise it helped me understand how I could relate to the kids without necessarily having to be an authority figure. I told myself while entering this project that the first thing I will do is try to get the students to respect me as a person. The reason I wanted to do that first was so the students would trust me later in the class when I had to help them with drills and athletic skills. I also wanted them to be able to talk to me as if I was just another one of their friends and not a s...

A Few Words about our Oldest Science

A Few Words about our Oldest Science Astronomy is one of those subjects that just reaches out and grabs you the first time you step outside under a sky full of stars. Sure, its a science, but astronomy is also a cultural practice. People have watched the skies since the first person looked up and wondered about what was up there. Once they got the hang of observing and noticing what was happening in the sky, it wasnt long before people figured out a way to use the sky as a calendar for planting, growing, harvesting, and hunting. It aided in survival.   Noticing Sky Cycles It didnt take long for observers to notice that the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Or, that the Moon moves through a monthly cycle of phases. Or, that certain spots of light in the sky move against the backdrop of stars (which appear to twinkle due to the action of Earths atmosphere).. Those wanderers, which look more disk-like, became known as planets, after the Greek word planetes. From Earth, with the naked eye, you can seeMercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. The others require a telescope, and are quite faint. The point is, these are things you can see for yourself.   Oh, and you can also see the Moon, which is one of the easiest objects to observe. Study its mottled surface and it will show you evidence of ancient (and recent) bombardments. Did you know that the Moon was created when Earth and another object collided early in solar system history? And, if we didnt have a moon, there might not be life on Earth?   Thats a fascinating aspect of astronomy that most of us dont think about! Star Patterns Help you Navigate the Sky If you watch the sky a few nights in a row, youll notice star patterns. Stars are more or less randomly arranged in three-dimensional  space, but from our point of view on Earth, they appear in patterns called constellations. The Northern Cross, also known as Cygnus the Swan, is one such pattern. So is Ursa Major, which contains the Big Dipper, and the constellation Crux in the Southern Hemisphere skies. While those are merely a trick of perspective, those patterns help us make our way around the sky. They add order to an otherwise chaotic-seeming universe. You Can Do Astronomy You dont need much to do astronomy: just your eyes and a good dark sky sight. Oh, you can add in binoculars, or a telescope to help magnify your view, but they arent necessary when youre getting started. For thousands of years, people did astronomy without any fancy equipment at all.   The science of astronomy began as   people went out and observed each night and made notes of what they saw. In time, they DID build telescopes, and eventually attached cameras to them, to record what they saw. Today, astronomers use the light (emissions) from objects in space to understand a great deal about those objects (including their temperatures and motions in space). To do this, they  use ground-based AND space-based observatories to study the far distant reaches of the universe. Astronomy concerns itself with studying and explaining everything from nearby planets to the earliest galaxies that formed not long after the universe was born, some 13.8 billion years ago.   Making Astronomy a Career To do Big Astronomy, people need a solid background in math and physics, but they still need a basic familiarity with the sky. They need to know what stars and planets are, and what galaxies and nebulae look like. So, in the end, it all still comes down to that basic activity of going out and looking up. And, if you get hooked, you can take it at your own speed, learning the constellations, the names and motions of the planets, and eventually peering out to deep space with your own telescope and binoculars.   Deep down, were all astronomers and were descended from astronomers. So, when you go out tonight and look up, think about this: youre carrying on a tradition as old as humanity. Where you go from there - well, the skys the limit!

Post Cold War Africa Inter State Conflict Research Paper

Post Cold War Africa Inter State Conflict - Research Paper Example The African continent has witnessed great disparities between the rich and the poor. Unemployment and social insecurities make it easy for any powerful individual to breed hatred and start intrastate wars. Despite this, there has been a progressive global decline in political violence since the end of the cold war probably due to the increased emphasis on peacekeeping and peace building activities3. Africa is a potentially volatile continent with a couple of unstable governments. The Berlin conference opened up the continent for division amongst major western powers who created artificial boundaries without considering the existent traditional modes of government. To consolidate their power, the colonialists destroyed the cultural and traditional symbols of power, but the large expanse of the African continent became ungovernable because of limited human and capital resources4. The divide and rule policy employed to control Africans sowed seeds of bitterness and discontent, which con tinue to cause major intrastate conflicts. Despite imposing the western culture and way of life on Africans, western colonialists did not empower Africans with the right quality of education, culture, and economic infrastructure for effective governance and stability5. After independence, most African countries lacked effective systems of governance, economic independence, and were left without direction. Africans lacked self-direction because they had been equipped with useless skills. They could not rebuild the traditional power structures nor institute economic and social development essential for stability. Artificial boundaries crammed diverse ethnic people with different traditional values, practices, and cultures together. The social strife experiences and lack of national economic opportunities deprived majority of Africans the bond of nationalism present in developed countries of the world6. A glaring example is countries colonized by the British who have failed to develop strong national identities, cultural integrity, and social cohesion essential for national stability and progress7. Majority of the African leaders who ascended to power after Africa got independence were unequipped and unsuitable for leadership. This has continued to date with majority of them being overly ambitious and corrupt. The absence of effective independent social and political institutions of governance has made political leaders too powerful, often exploiting their authority to amass assets for their own financial gain. Because of their past crimes, these leaders go to great lengths to remain in power at the expense of their people. In the past, they used single party leadership oppressing many citizens. Corrupt and inefficient regimes contributed to development of intrastate wars with many unnecessary deaths, pain, and suffering8. After independence, most African states created strong state police departments and military forces. Corrupt leaders and regimes illegally use these forces to consolidate their power through ruthless crackdown of any opposition9. Sustained oppression, lack of civil freedoms, and poor economic growth lead to instability due to gross violations of basic human rights10. Many African state police and military police do not uphold basic human rights for their people

Marketing among Baseball Players Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Marketing among Baseball Players - Essay Example The first major avenue that baseball players use to market themselves as sporting products is through product endorsements. Usually, players are approached by interested companies and then requested to endorse a certain product. This may be done by displaying the endorsement on television advertisements, on the cover/packaging of that particular product, through posters about the product or other media channels. (Howard, 2007) It should be noted that many baseball players may not be as enthusiastic about endorsement deals as other players in the market. Usually, basketball players, golfers and tennis players are greatly associated with this form of advertising in comparison to base ball players. Despite this low turnout, a few players have exploited this avenue. For instance, a number of magazines such as "Sports Daily" have been targeting sports marketing within the country. They have explained just how some baseball players utilize television advertisement to make themselves known throughout the entire country. The latter magazine has given the name of the following baseball players as some of the most marketable baseball players in the country. They include: The latter player is one of the most respected sports marketers in baseball. ... Nike is well recognized in the process of promoting sports players and in this case baseball players because their products directly target sporting enthusiasts. Additionally, this company is highly successful thus implying that their ability to meet player's prices is quite credible. (Howard, 2007) The latter player (Jeter) has also secured deals with Fleet Bank and Armour Hot Dogs. These two companies indicate just how versatile baseball players are in terms of reaching a wide range of companies. Not only do these players go for endorsements in sports affiliated companies, but they also venture in other types of companies that may have nothing to do with sports such as the food sector or the banking industry. The reason behind such an approach is that baseball players are trying to reach a wide range of audiences through their endeavors. The majority of baseball sponsors actually come from non sport related fields. Additionally, many supporters and fans also come from other sectors of the economy. This is why it is favorable to use this line of thought while marketing oneself. An example of one of the advertisements made by a baseball player was the Visa advertisement of 2004. In this advertisement, Yankees player Jeter is depicted as a baseball player who has wronged his team owner. The latter role was also played by the actual Yankees team owner. In this advertisement, the baseball player is asked just how he manages to go out all night but still play a good game of baseball. In response to this, the baseball player show his visa card and even opts to take the team owner out for a night out. When asked to comment about their use of the baseball player in their advertisement the Visa vice president Madam Silver claimed that the

Various concepts that revolve around knowledge Essay

Various concepts that revolve around knowledge - Essay Example New born babies have little to contemplate on. Due to interaction with the environment, they learn new things depending on their senses. In some instances, they imitate what others do and repeat familiar words. In this sense, it can be argued that knowledge has actually to have some foundations. It is through memory that people perceive about things. For example, one can be able to tell or predict existence of a lion even without seeing it by just hearing its roaring sound. This can be linked with past experiences where one saw a loin roaring. Therefore the past experience or encounter with a lion could act as a foundation of knowing what a lion is and how it roars. On the other hand, the past encounters with a lion and knowing that that was a lion can be linked with some past images seen on pictures or stories told by other people. Therefore, it can be argued that although one could have knowledge of what a lion is through other means, the personal encounter with it enriches the kno wledge. With this in mind, it is apparent that knowledge has to begin somewhere. The concepts and theories below are well articulated to bring out this argument to light. The philosophy of the social sciences is considered to have played a key role in the development and formation of the knowledge (Papanutsos and Anton 1968). Theories that explain knowledge does not have a sole issue to explain about. Instead, they present meta-theoretical debates. Meta-theory does not explain a specific object, event or activity; it involves a series of empirical real world practices as the object analysis. In early learning theories, main focus is on behaviorism. For people to be able to learn and remember new things, some things are... The paper tells that the philosophy of the social sciences is considered to have played a key role in the development and formation of the knowledge. Theories that explain knowledge does not have a sole issue to explain about. Instead, they present meta-theoretical debates. Meta-theory does not explain a specific object, event or activity; it involves a series of empirical real world practices as the object analysis. In early learning theories, main focus is on behaviorism. For people to be able to learn and remember new things, some things are considered to take place in the learning process. Some of these things are explained by behavioral and constructivism theories which focus their attentions on acquired factors that help the learner acquire knowledge. These two theories use idea of external factors that affects ones capacity to acquire and store the new knowledge. To these two theories, mental representations are the real images that we see around us which we perceive. The stor age and interpretation of those images would not be possible without our mental representations. The mental representations are the ones that help us learn, store, and remember the information. The principle of simplicity states that subjectivity is the best and simple hence economical than many competing and complicated theories that explain morality. Metaphysics is the branch of philosophical thought that deals with issues of fundamental nature of reality and what lies beyond the experience

The Dimensions of Inter-Professional Practice Essay

The Dimensions of Inter-Professional Practice - Essay Example The role of inter professional practice protective meal times in UK hospitals The term protected mealtimes can be described to imply periods within the hospital setting when there are completely no urgent issues or activities at hand. During these times, patients are able to take their meals without interruption and staffs are readily available to offer help to those who need it. Research shows that patients whose mealtimes are protected eat more and are better nourished with improved chances of recovery. Protected meal times can influence achievement of benchmarks including conducive environment, assistance to eat and drink, obtaining food, and food presentation, monitoring, and eating to promote health. Older people admitted to hospital have malnutrition on arrival and most of them are at risk of becoming malnourished or their current nutritional state worsening in hospital, if precautions are not taken. Facilitation of protected meal times Inter-professional working team should fa cilitate implementation of protected mealtimes through the following ways. First, is by ensuring that patients are served with all the three basic meals of breakfast, lunch and dinner. They have to follow each mealtime with a one hour rest period for interaction with visitors, relatives and supporters. The team should also alter the drug delivery time so that patients are given food only after taking their meals and allowed to have enough rest. No other activity should be scheduled during mealtimes to ensure that all patients dedicate their time to meals and no other business. The team should plan to enhance service delivery by recommending a balanced diet and enhancing availability of patient assistants to offer services to patients who are not able to eat by themselves or in need varying assistance. The team should recommend that an audit be carried out after every two weeks to verify whether these rules and procedures of protected meal times are being followed (Rolfe, Freshwater & Jasper 2001). The following measures will be taken by our inter-professional team: There should be medical staff moving rounds, radiology focusing lunchtime slots on other areas, nurse routine- nurses want to get everything done, junior staff reluctant to challenge visitors and staff. The areas intended to put more emphasis include surgical areas, considering how protected mealtimes will interact with theatre lists, and wards which have greater impact on other departments like radiology. This should be followed by an audit to measure and review success in all these areas. There should be an arranged meeting with the hospital management to collaborate and ensure that the whole process is implemented. The unique role of the Inter-professional officials in the Inter-Professional Practice team is both individual and collective in that it takes one’s own conviction and commitment compounded by knowledge and professional experience to mould together with others like minded profes sional colleagues in order to achieve a set collective objective; which in our context is superior delivery of service in protected

Research Methods Paper- Explore either Attraction or Procrastination Essay

Research Methods Paper- Explore either Attraction or Procrastination - Essay Example In particular, this research would dwell on the influence of physical looks in developing a romantic relationship. The study would use the normative survey technique under descriptive method of research. Descriptive normative survey is a fact finding study which goes beyond mere gathering and tabulation of data. This approach attempts to establish norms or standards based on a wide class of survey data. In addition, it is used to collect demographics data about people’s behavior, practices, intentions, beliefs, attitudes, opinions, and judgments. Since this research is concerned with commonality of some elements, the researchers would be able to gather adequate and accurate interpretations on the attitudes of young people’s valuing of physical looks when engaging in a romantic relationship. The survey method was chosen for this project since it is an inexpensive way of collecting even a large amount of data. However, a survey can also be a failure if the questionnaire is poorly constructed and the implementation of the survey was not well monitored. Also, participants may have ambivalent answers when confronted with an answer choice. It must also be taken into account that bias can also occur when the sampling is not properly considered. Nevertheless, the survey method would best fit the needs of this research since the subjects are high school students and their perception cannot be quantified. The instrument that would be used to collect data is the questionnaire. This was chosen because it gathers data faster than any other method. Besides, the respondents are high school students 13-16 who could easily read the questionnaires with ease and full privacy. Also, this method is easy to use for a large number of participants and can be arranged and quantified since it supplies standardized answers. Each question would be assigned a numerical code to ease the

Leading and Changing world Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Leading and Changing world - Essay Example I believe that involving workers in vital organizational matters would play a significant role in motivating them and increasing their dedication to achieving corporate objectives. It is also my ambition to be a charismatic leader, who prioritizes the welfare of his employees, by providing a friendly, fun and motivational work environment. I want to be a team-oriented leader, amply upholding work ethics, and influencing individuals to be both productive employees and diligent community members. After an in-depth analysis of management and its potent attributes, I acknowledge the fact that my prospective leadership should be channeled toward the right environment for the realization of the organizational goals. I, therefore, intend to be genuinely committed to following up on whatever has to be done to realize organizational goals. I will also be realistic when setting management objectives, in order to ensure that the specified goals and targets can be attained. My greatest leadershi p icon, from whom I get my inspiration, is the late Nelson Mandela. He was not just a charismatic individual, but also a highly influential leader. Mandela prioritized the interests of South African citizens, as opposed to his own; strongly advocating for the end of the apartheid and integration of the racially fragmented South African society. His inclusive and team oriented leadership, coupled with personality traits like humility, honesty, and diligence undoubtedly makes Mandela a leader worth emulating (YouTube n.pg). Being an avid advocate of positive leadership behavior, principles and standards, I will strive to continually improve my leadership attributes. Since an effective leader must always be ready to learn through accepting criticisms and owning mistakes, I intend to account for colleagues’ opinions in the attempt to improve my leadership capacity. Thus far, I have been able to embrace positive and negative feedback

Research Methods Paper- Explore either Attraction or Procrastination Essay

Research Methods Paper- Explore either Attraction or Procrastination - Essay Example In particular, this research would dwell on the influence of physical looks in developing a romantic relationship. The study would use the normative survey technique under descriptive method of research. Descriptive normative survey is a fact finding study which goes beyond mere gathering and tabulation of data. This approach attempts to establish norms or standards based on a wide class of survey data. In addition, it is used to collect demographics data about people’s behavior, practices, intentions, beliefs, attitudes, opinions, and judgments. Since this research is concerned with commonality of some elements, the researchers would be able to gather adequate and accurate interpretations on the attitudes of young people’s valuing of physical looks when engaging in a romantic relationship. The survey method was chosen for this project since it is an inexpensive way of collecting even a large amount of data. However, a survey can also be a failure if the questionnaire is poorly constructed and the implementation of the survey was not well monitored. Also, participants may have ambivalent answers when confronted with an answer choice. It must also be taken into account that bias can also occur when the sampling is not properly considered. Nevertheless, the survey method would best fit the needs of this research since the subjects are high school students and their perception cannot be quantified. The instrument that would be used to collect data is the questionnaire. This was chosen because it gathers data faster than any other method. Besides, the respondents are high school students 13-16 who could easily read the questionnaires with ease and full privacy. Also, this method is easy to use for a large number of participants and can be arranged and quantified since it supplies standardized answers. Each question would be assigned a numerical code to ease the

Economical Markets Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Economical Markets Paper - Essay Example Monopoly is an economic structure where there one participant which controls the marketplace. . In such a market the firm realizing business controls the price, but it is not immune to the law of demand and supply. The price is set at the quantity and price point which maximizes profit for a company.. The market demand is downward sloping, but the difference is that in order to maximize profits price is not part of the equation and the formula is determined by the following equation, MR=MC. An example of an intangible asset which allows the formation of a monopoly in Parkersburg is Water – City of Parkersburg Utility. The company is the only firm that produces water within the region, thus they are monopoly. Utility monopolies are at times received governmental incentives so that the basic utility services such as water and electricity become cheaper for the people living below the poverty. Another economic market structure is monopolistic competition. Monopolistic competition is a market structure in which there are lots of competitors and the players utilized differentiation in order to bring uniqueness to their produce offer discrepancies among similar products. In order to effectively compete in such a market it is important to differentiate the product. This can be accomplished though expert advertising, innovation or better production methods. The market demand curve in monopolistic competition slopes downward, thus the equation to maximize profits is MR=MC. Graphically to determine the price for this output the economist extends the quantity line to the demand curve. In Virginia a company that operates in monopolistic market structure is Dairy Queen Brazier. Dairy Queen is a company in the fast food industry which delivers a product that is unique for the industry. The offers classic burgers and hotdogs, but the company also offers gourmet dairy product such as fresh bread,

Maggi Brand Extension And Repositioning

Maggi Brand Extension And Repositioning This research paper deals with the study of Maggi brand which made its footprint in India in the year 1983. Maggi is a brand originated in India by Nestle India Limited. It has over the years become synonymous with noodles. This research paper tries to find out the new areas and the market where Maggi can enter. Also, Maggi has always tried to play on the platform of a Healthy Product. This paper analyses its success and the gives a picture of Maggi as in the eyes of the consumer. The introduction provides the company background, operational other important information provided by the company which would assist in taking the decision for the right brand extension strategy for Maggi. The industrial revolution in Switzerland in the late 1800s created factory jobs for women, who were therefore left with very little time to prepare meals. This wide spread problem grew to be an object of intense study by the Swiss Public Welfare Society. As a part of its activities, the Society asked Julius Maggi miller to create a vegetable food product that would be quick to prepare and easy to digest. Born on October 9, 1846 in Frauenfeld, Switzerland, Julius Michael Johannes Maggi was the oldest son of an immigrant from Italy who took Swiss citizenship. Julius Maggi became a miller and took on the reputation as an inventive and capable businessman. In 1863, Julius Maggi came up with a formula to bring added taste to meals. Soon after he was commissioned by the Swiss Public Welfare Society, he came up with two instant pea soups and a bean soup the first launch of the Maggi brand of instant foods in 1882 83. Towards the end of the century, Maggi Company was producing not just po wdered soups, but bouillon cubes, sauces and other flavorings. The Maggi Company merged with Nestlà © in 1947. Today, Maggi is a leading culinary brand and part of the NESTLÉ family of fine foods and beverages. Under the Maggi brand, which is today known worldwide for quality and innovation, Nestle offers a whole range of products, such as packaged soups, frozen meals, prepared sauces and flavorings. MAGGI BRAND IN INDIA Maggi Comes to India teething troubles Maggi noodles was launched in India in the early1980s. Carlo M. Donati, the present Chairman and Managing Director of Nestle India Ltd, brought the instant noodle brand to India during his short stint here in the early eighties. At that time, there was no direct competition. The first competition came from the ready-to-eat snack segment which included snacks like samosas, biscuits or maybe peanuts, that were usually the bought out type. The second competition came from the homemade snacks like pakoras or sandwiches. So there were no specific buy and make snack! Moreover both competitors had certain drawbacks in comparison. Snacks like samosas are usually bought out, and outside food is generally considered unhygienic and unhealthy. The other competitor, homemade snacks overcame both these problems but had the disadvantage of extended preparation time at home. Maggi was positioned as the only hygienic homemade snack! Despite this, Nestlà © face d difficulties with their sales after the initial phase. The reason being, the positioning of the product with the wrong target group. Nestle had positioned Maggi as a convenience food product aimed at the target group of working women who hardly found any time for cooking. Unfortunately this could not hold the product for very long. In the course of many market researches and surveys, the firm found that children were the biggest consumers of Maggi noodles. Quickly they repositioned it towards the kids segment with various tools of sales promotion like color pencils, sketch pens, fun books, Maggi clubs which worked wonders for the brand. Why the specific Brand positioning? Maggi was positioned as 2-minute noodles with a punch line that said Fast to cook! Good to eat! And this gave the implied understanding to the consumer that it was a between meals snack. The company could have easily positioned the product as a meal, either lunch or dinner. But, it chose not to do so, because the Indian consumer mindset did not accept anything other than rice or roti as a meal. Hence trying to substitute it with noodles would have been futile. The firm did not position it as a ready-to-eat meal either, as the housewife prefers to make a meal for her kids rather than buy it for them. And if she can make it in two minutes with very little effort, then obviously its a hit with her! Whats more, if kids also love the taste, the product is as good as sold! So the 2-minute funda coupled with the yummy taste worked! BRAND STORY Launched in 5 flavors initially Masala, chicken, Capsicum, sweet sour, and Lasagna Maggi had to fight hard to be accepted by Indian consumers with their hard-to-change eating habits. The packaged food market was very small at this time, Nestle had to promote noodles as a concept, before it could promote Maggi as a brand. It therefore devised a two-pronged strategy to attract mothers on the convenience plank and lure kids on the fun plank. Gradually, the market for instant noodles began to grow. The company also decided to focus on promotions to increase the brand awareness. In the initial years, Nestle promotional activities for Maggi included schemes offering gifts (such as toys and utensils) in return for empty noodles pack. According to analysts, the focus on promotion turned out to be the single largest factor responsible for Maggis rapid acceptance. Nestlà ©s managers utilized promotions as measured to meet their sales target. Gradually, sales promotion became a crutch for Maggi noodles sales. Later many of the Maggis extensions also made considerable use of promotional schemes. The focus of all Maggis extensions was more on below the line activities rather than direct communication. In addition to promotional activities, Maggi associated itself with main stream television programs and advertised heavily on kids program and channels. After its advertisements with taglines like mummi bhookh lagi hai, bas do minute and fast to cook good to eat Maggis popularity became highly attributed to its extremely high appeal to children. As a result, Maggis annual growth reportedly touched 15% during its initial years. Maggis Brand Extension In 1998, Nestle launched Maggis first brand extension, Maggi soup. At this stage, there was no organized packaged soup market in India. Nestle planned to create a market for packaged soup as it felt the category had a lot of potential. However, according to analyst, the company had introduced soups only to cash in on the Maggis brand name, and was never very serious about the segment. In 1993, Sweet Maggi, the first variant of Maggi noodles was launched. The company supported the launch with a huge advertisement outlay that amounted to 75% of the total yearly expenditure on the Maggi brand. However, the product failed to generate the desired sales volume and Nestle was forced to withdraw it. At the end of the year, Maggi noodles was generating sales volume of around 5000 tons and remained a loss making proposition for Nestle. To boost sales, Nestle decided to reduce the price of Maggi noodles. This was made possible by using thinner and cheaper packaging material, the company also introduced money saver multi packs in the form of 2-in-1 pack and 4-in-1 packs. As a result volume increases phenomenally to 9700 tonnes in 1994 and further to 13000 tonnes in 1995. Maggis euphoria was, however, short lived, as sales stagnated in 1995 at the previous years level. With soup business being threatened by a new entrant Knorr soups launched in 1995, offering 10 flavors against Maggis 4 the company started rethinking its strategies towards the soup market. In order to stretch Maggis brand to include Indian ethenic foods the company tied up with a Pune based Chordia foods to launch pickles under the year 1995. The company also tied up with Indian foods fermentation (IFF), a Chennai based Food Company to market popular south Indian food preparation such as sambher, dosa, vada and spices in consumer packs in Dec 1995. The company reportedly saw a lot of untapped potential in the market for ready to use south Indian market. In 1996, products from these two ventures received lukewarm response from the market; sales were rather poor in the regions in which they were launched. Analysts attributed the failure of these Maggi extensions to the fact that Nestlà © seemed to be particularly bad at dealing with traditional Indian product categories. Maggi noodles performed badly in 1996. Despite slow sales in the previous two years, Nestlà © had set a sales target of 25,000 tonnes for the year. However, Maggi couldnt cross even 14,000 tonnes. Adding to the company woes was the failure of Maggi Tonites Special, a range of cooking sauces aimed at providing restaurant-like-taste to food cooked at home. The range included offerings such as Butter Chicken gravy and tomato sauce for pizzas. Understanding these failures, and buoyed by the fact that the Maggi brand finally broke even in 1997, Nestlà © continued to explore new options for leveraging on the brand equity of Maggi noodles. The company realized that the kids who had grown up on Maggi noodles had become teenagers by the late 1990s. As they associated the product with their childhood, they seemed to be moving away from it. To lure back these customers and to explore new product avenues, Nestlà © launched Maggi Macaroni in July 1997. According to analysts, Maggi Macaroni was launched partly to deal with the growing popularity of competing noodles brand Top Ramen. Maggi Macaroni was made available in three flavors, Tomato, Chicken, and Masala. The company expected to repeat the success of Maggi noodles with Maggi Macaroni. As with most of its product launches, Maggi Macaronis launch was backed by a multi-media advertisement campaign including radio, television, outdoors and print media. The products pricing, however, proved to be a major hurdle. A 75-gm Maggi Macaroni pack was priced at Rs 11, while a 100-gm noodles pack was available at Rs 9. According to analysts, Nestlà © failed to justify this price-value anomaly to customers, who failed to see any noted value addition in Maggi Macaroni (packaging and flavor variants were similar to those of Maggi noodles). In addition, customers failed to see any significant difference between Maggi Macaroni and the much cheaper macaroni that was sold by the unorganized sector players. The biggest problem however was the taste of the new product. Since macaroni is thicker than noodles, Maggi Macaroni did not absorb the tastemaker well and consequently did not taste very good. The interest generated by the novelty of the product soon died out and sales began tapering off. Eventually, Nestlà © had to withdraw Maggi Macaroni completely from the market. Nestlà © had not even recovered from Macaronis dismal performance, when it learnt to its horror that Knorr had dethroned Maggi as the leader in the soup segment (end of 1997). The only saving grace for Maggi seemed to its ketchups and sauces, which were turning out to the rare successful extensions of Maggi. These products were supported by a popular advertisement campaign for the Maggi Hot Sweet sauce brand. These humorous advertisements, featuring actors Pankaj Kapoor and Javed Jafri, used the tagline, Its different. However, during mid-1997, HUL began promoting its Kissan range of sauces aggressively and launched various innovative variants in the category. Nestlà © responded with a higher thrust on advertising and different size packs at different price points. Though Kissan gained market share over the next few years, Maggi was able to hold on to its own market share. Meanwhile the operational costs of Maggi noodles had increased considerably, forcing the company to increase the retail price. By early 1997, the price of a single pack had reached Rs 10. Volumes were still languishing between 13,000-14,000 tonnes. Pricing and Product Development It was at this point in time that Nestlà © decided to change the formulation of Maggi noodles. The purpose was not only to infuse fresh life into the brand, but also to save money through this new formulation. The company used new noodle-processing technology, so that it could air-dry instead of oil-fry the noodles. The tastemakers manufacturing process was also altered. As a result of the above initiatives, costs reportedly came down by 12-14%. To cook the new product, consumers had to add two cups of water instead of one-and-a-half cups. The taste of the noodles was significantly different from what it used to be. The customer backlash that followed the launch of the new noodles took Nestlà © by surprise. With volumes declining and customer complaints increasing, the company began to work on plans to relaunch old Maggi to win back customers. In addition, in 1998, Nestlà © began working out a strategy to regain Maggis position in the soup segment. To counter the Knorr threat, the company relaunched Maggi soups under the Maggi Rich brand in May 1998. The soups were not only thicker in consistency than those produced earlier, the pricing was also kept competitive and the packaging was made much more attractive. However, Knorr took Nestlà © by surprise by launching one-serving soup sachets priced as low as Rs 4. HLL too launched two-serving sachets of Kissan soup priced at Rs 7. As Maggi did not have any offerings in this price-range, it lost a huge portion of its market share to Knorr. The relaunch prompted market observers to compare Nestlà ©s move with US soft drinks major Coca-Colas New Coke fiasco. However, the company disagreed, Its a hard-5 nosed strategy, that mixes nostalgia with the consumers voiced preference for the product it has been bred and rought up on. The reintroduction is Nestlà ©s acknowledgement of the loyalty of the Indian mother and the child to the original product. By May 1999, Nestlà ©s decision to bring back the old Maggi seemed to have paid off. Two months after the relaunch, the monthly average sales of Maggi noodles n the northern region rose 50% in comparison to the previous year. In July 1999, Maggi the brand, was promoted as the biggest brand in Nestlà ©s portfolio of brands in India, overtaking brands such as Nestum and Cerelac. Nestlà © believed that Maggi had immense potential as it was a very flexible brand under which regional variants could be introduced to meet various market needs. Company sources claimed that with reas onable price points and innovative products, Maggi could emerge as a top brand and a major growth driver for the company. To further support the brand, Nestlà © carried out various promotional activities as well. These included the August 1999 Fun-Dooz campaign and Jungle Jackpot campaigns. 6 As a result of the above initiatives, Nestlà © claimed to have cornered an 81% market share of the 20,000 tonnes noodles market by the end of 1999. Nestlà © sources claimed that Maggi noodles outsold the competition four times over and that more than four Maggi noodle cakes were consumed every second in the country. PRODUCT VARIENTS The product mix of Maggi is divided into various categories defined below. The company has launched various products under each category as mentioned below. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY OBJECTIVES à ¢Ã… ¾Ã‚ ¢ To understand the influence of Maggi as a brand on consumers mind set. à ¢Ã… ¾Ã‚ ¢ Sources of Brand equity of Maggi like Brand awareness, Brand image, Brand association, Brand recall à ¢Ã… ¾Ã‚ ¢ To understand the Brand performance of Maggi products. à ¢Ã… ¾Ã‚ ¢ To understand Brand Imagery, Brand Quality perceived by customers, Brand credibility, consideration, superiority and feelings. à ¢Ã… ¾Ã‚ ¢ Brand Extension of Maggi in terms of product diversity. à ¢Ã… ¾Ã‚ ¢ Analyse the repositioning of Maggi brand as a Healthy product and the consumers perseverance towards the same. RESEARCH PLAN Research Design: The research will be carried out in the form of a survey which will be done in areas near to Delhi (NCR region). The population has been segmented on the basis of salary Group and Age Group. Sample Design: The target population for our study is households. The sample will be selected by a simple random sampling method . Sample Size: The sampling unit is 150 which are divided as follows: |Number of respondents |150 | |Age-group |10 45 | |Monthly Household Income |25000 75000 INR | |Survey Locations |Delhi, Faridabad,Gurgoan,Noida,Greater Noida | |Salary Group |No income |25K 40K |40K 60K |60K 75K | |Number of Respondents |30 |50 |70 | |Age Group |10 25 |25 35 |35 45 | |Number of Respondents |50 |50 |50 | DATA COLLECTION PLAN Data Gathering: This study involves data collection (primary research) from different households in four different areas Delhi, Faridabad, Gurgoan, and Noida. Literature Review The research conducted as a part of our study would include Primary as well as Secondary research. Primary research would include a survey that would be conducted in selected localities of Delhi and nearby areas where the responses of consumers would be recorded through a designed questionair.Secondary research would include various aspects of Brand management through Internet , Journals, company reports , expert views etc. METHOLODOGY The research will be carried out in the form of a survey. This will include primary research in addition to secondary research as stated below. The survey research method will be descriptive research design. Each respondent will be interviewed through a Questionnaire. The sample will be selected by a simple random sampling method. The survey will address the following information area: Information Areas: The objective as spelt out can be elaborated into specific information areas to be studied. à ¢Ã… ¾Ã‚ ¢ How do customers perceive Maggi as a stable brand, their perception of noodles and how do they associate themselves with Maggi? à ¢Ã… ¾Ã‚ ¢ Are the consumers aware of Maggi Brand or they associate noodles with some other brand? à ¢Ã… ¾Ã‚ ¢ Do they consider noodle as a healthy product or they are aware of the companys strategy of repositioning it to a healthy product by the launch of some of the new products? à ¢Ã… ¾Ã‚ ¢ Which product from the entire basket of Maggi products do the consumers consider as the best selling product for Maggi and to which the consumers frequently buy? à ¢Ã… ¾Ã‚ ¢ Are the consumers willing to accept Maggi brand extensions to some other products like chocolate, juices, chips etc? SURVEY RESULTS: 1. Brand Associations: Sources of Brand equity like brand association of Maggi as a Brand was found highest with the age group of 10-25 and the product category associated with it was the noodles category ( see exhibit 1). Consumers in the age segment of 10-25 could easily relate Maggi to noodles. In the income wise category the brand association was highest with the income group of 25k-40k were more than 40 respondents associated Maggi with noodles ( see exhibit 2). The implications from the findings discussed above seem that Maggi has good brand association in terms of noodles. Consumers presume Maggi as Noodles and the companys philosophy of projecting the brand as noodles brand seem to be viable in this regard. 2. Brand Recall: From the Exhibit 3 4 given below it seems a clear trend that Maggi has a good brand recall as compared to its competitors like Top Ramen, Surya noodles etc. Consumers could easily associate Maggi with noodles. In the Age wise category, the respondents of the age group of 25-45 were highly cautious of Maggi brand and seemed to be consuming Maggi more as compared to other age segments. In the gender wise category the companys strategy of positioning of Maggi brand for working women seems to be adaptive and gaining shape as women respondents had a brand recall more than male. 3. Brand Awareness: From the responses of the respondents in the conducted survey it was evident than Maggis Brand awareness was very high in terms of noodles were around 65 %of the respondents associated maggi as noodles and only 20 % of the respondents knew ,Maggi as a Ketchup, 9% as soup etc. The trend indicated that Maggis brand extension strategy to increase its basket has not been quite successful in other food segments .This might be because of the larger share of market captured by the competitors hence Maggi has a high potential in markets like ketchup, soups etc. 4. Repositioning Maggi as a healthy product: The companys strategy to reposition Maggi as a Healthy product was not found conducive as per the survey results. The survey showed that consumers did not perceived Maggi as a healthy product with 53% of them consumed Maggis traditional products as compared to the rest who consumed other variants of Maggis brand that were positioned as Healthy products. From the pie chart given below it can be clearly seen that Maggi is still perceived as a non healthy products by the consumers and in spite of the efforts to position Maggi as a healthy product by the company the brand is still perceived as a ready to eat food brand that has a high market share in the noodle category in India. SWOT ANALYSIS OF MAGGI BRAND The SWOT analysis of Maggi brand clearly indicates the strengths of Maggi as a Brand in Indian market. The Brand was found to be a leader in its category of Noodles, with strong customer loyalty. Intensive distribution of Maggi as a Brand was seen in urban areas of the country. The major threats of the brand as shown in the figure below indicates that Maggi has made several attempts to revamp itself as a Healthy Product but till date its perseverance towards the tag line is low by the consumers. The brand is in the growth stage of product life cycle with a strong inclination towards the maturity stage. [pic] STPD ANALYSIS OF MAGGI BRAND Segmentation: Market Segmentation divides the heterogenous market into homogenous groups of customers who share a similar set of needs/wants and could be satisfied by specific products. Maggi Brand have segmented the market on the basis of lifestyle and habits of URBAN FAMILIES. Target: Market Targeting refers to evaluating and deciding from amongst the various alternatives, which segment can be satisfied best by the company. The Maggi Brand have mainly targeted the Kids, Youth, Office Goers Working Woman which falls into the category of convenience-savvy time misers who would like to get something instant and be over with it quickly. Positioning: Market Positioning is the act of designing the companys offerings and image to occupy a distinctive place in the minds of the target market. The goal of positioning is to locate the brand in the minds of consumers to maximise the potential benefit to the firm. Maggi has positioned itself in the SNACKS category and not in the meal category since Indians do not consider noodles as a proper food item. Therefore Maggi have developed its brand image of instant food products with positioning statements such as 2 minutes noodles and Easy to cook, good to eat. Differentiations: Points-of-difference (PODs) are attributes or benefits consumers strongly associate with a brand, positively evaluate and believe they could not find to the same extent with a competitive brand. The Maggi Brand have also differentiated its brand image from its competitors in terms of taste, flavours and packaging. Maggi have launched wide varieties of products in different flavours which can attract larger set of customers. Maggi products are also available in different sizes catering to different customer needs. CUSTOMER BASED BRAND EQUITY PYRAMID (CBBE) Maggis customer based brand equity pyramid seems to be equally strong on left hand side and right hand side, it is also strong from bottom to top enjoying the highest brand awareness of any fast food noodle brand in India as well as repeat purchase rate and high customer loyality. BRAND PRISM OF MAGGI CONCLUSION The food processing business in India is at a nascent stage. Currently, only about 10% of the output is processed and consumed in packaged form thus highlighting huge potential for expansion and growth. Traditionally, Indians believe in consuming fresh stuff rather then packaged or frozen, but the trend is changing and the new fast food generation is slowly changing. Riding on the success of noodles, Nestle India, tried to make extensions of the Maggi brand to a number of products like, sauces, ketchups, pickles, soups, tastemakers and macaroni in the mid-1990s. Unfortunately, the macaroni and pickles didnt pick up as expected. The soups and sauces did somewhat fine, gathering considerable sales volumes and have a satisfactory presence even today. Maggi Noodles itself faced a bit of difficulty with respect to taste, and nearly lost its position in the minds of Indian consumers in the late 1990s. When Nestle changed the formulation of its tastemaker, the ominous packet that came along with Maggi Noodles, a major chunk of consumers were put-off and sales started dropping. Also, Maggis competitor TopRamen took advantage of the situation and started a parallel aggressive campaign to eat into Maggis market share. But the company quickly realised this and went back into making the original formula coupled with a free sampling campaign. This helped Magg i to win back its lost consumers and pushed up its sales volumes again! Maggi Today The year 2008 saw India leading in world wide Maggi sales. The brand has grown to an estimated value of Rs 160-170 crore and contributes at least 8-9% to Nestle Indias top line. All the same, some FMCG analysts feel that the brand has not done much to expand the noodles category. Even after 25 years of its launch, the size of the instant noodles market is yet quite small at Rs 300 crore. But yes, the parent company, Nestle India Limited has certainly encouraged the brand to enter into other culinary products. RECOMMENDATION After the conducted study following recommendations could be sited for Maggi Brand. To gain maximum leverage in terms of profit the company should pay emphasis on segments with age groups 25-35 and above .Advertising is the key to success. Targeting these segments will not only enhance the companys profit margins but also it will leverage the brand image of Maggi. The company should advertise its products by depicting attributes related to Health like Nutrition values, % of Vitamins, Proteins etc.This would help in customers perceiving the product as Healthy. Foray into other food products like chips, chocolates etc under its sole brand name would not only help in Brand extension but will also enhance Maggis market share. FUTURE PLANS Nestlà © Indias objective is to manufacture and market the companys products in such a way so as to create value that can be sustained over the long term for consumers, shareholders, employees and business partners. Maggis aims to create value for consumers that can be sustained over the long term by offering a wide variety of high quality, safe food products at affordable prices. The company continuously focuses its efforts to better understand the changing lifestyles of modern India and anticipate consumer needs in order to provide convenience, taste, nutrition and wellness through its product offerings. LIMITATIONS: The present study is confined to a minimal sample size and may not reflect the opinion or response of the entire population in general. The results of our study are entirely confined to the responses of the Delhi consumers and might deviate in terms of actual population as a whole.Recomendations given after the study are entirely dependent on the survey and the secondary analysis done in the report.

Men and Women Playing a non-traditional Sport for their Gender :: Sociology Essays Research Papers

The Social and Cultural Costs and Benefits of Men and Women Playing a non-traditional Sport for their Gender The lines that separate the sexes in sport have been historically rooted in society's way of thinking. Though these lines have lately begun to fade, they are still embedded in the attitudes of the majority of the public. Women and men alike have been and still seated in their respective sports without much room or access to cross that gender line. These limitations take various forms, such as the availability of opportunities that are given to those that wish to enter certain sports to the media portrayals of athletes crossing these gender boundaries. The costs and sacrifices for an aspiring athlete entering a non-traditional sport for their gender are sometimes overwhelming and detrimental to their sport career. These athletes often experience the frustration of finding training facilities catering to their gender. More so, the lack of financial support from family or even endorsements hinder athletes from pursuing the best training available. Aside from financial considerations, finding willing mentors and coaches willing to blind themselves from the sex of the athlete doesn't come as easy as for instance, Diana in Girlfight. Most importantly, the emotional support that is greatly important in the mental preparedness of an athlete is often not existent. Young children are often discouraged and not offered opportunities to pursue desired sports if they are considered gender bending. In Billy Elliot, though Billy has a real passion and talent for ballet, it is after much time that his family accepts it. Billy's father and brother, employed in mining, a traditionally masculine field, are initially disapproving of his aspirations mostly because of the stigmas on sexuality placed on male ballet dancers. These stigmas appear throughout numerous sports; women who body build or play rough sports like rugby or hockey are often looked at as butch and thus characterized as lesbians. In Pumping Iron II, Bev appears to have been in the best shape, but she is deemed too masculine to win a body building competition. Similarly, men who ice skate or are cheerleaders are considered feminine or gay. On the same note, the strengths of men in these non-traditionally male sports are often doubted; it is speculated that the male might be weak and cannot handle "manlier" sports. Even women who enter male dominated sports are considered to be too tender to play.

Trapped by Society in John Updikes A&P Essay -- A&P Essays

Trapped by Society in John Updike's A&P      Ã‚  Ã‚   People often take their place in society for granted. They accept that position into which they are born, grow up in it, and pass that position on to their children. This cycle continues until someone is born who has enough vision to step out of his circle and investigate other ways of life in which he might thrive. One such person is embodied in the character of Sammy in A&P, by John Updike. Sammy is the narrator of the story and describes an incident in the store where he encounters a conflict between the members of two completely different worlds the world that he was born into and the world of a girl that captures his mind. Through his thoughts, attitudes, and actions, Sammy shows that he is caught between the two worlds of his customers at the A&P.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sammy's thoughts, as told to the reader in his narration, betray a deep understanding of the people he comes in contact with. When the girls walked into the store, he began to describe not only their looks, but also their attitudes and personalities without ever speaking to them. The one who held his attention was also the one he named "Queenie". On page one he says, She was the queen. She kind of led them, the other two peeking around and making their shoulders round. Sammy understood that she was the one in charge, and by saying that the other two made their shoulders round he showed that he realized their passivity was by choice; they followed her by their own wills.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sammy also understood how the "regulars" of the A&P thought and reasoned. He correctly interpreted the customers’ reactions to the girls, saying, "A few houseslaves in pin curlers even looked round after pushing their cart... ...ed what he did for them and wanting their appreciation for his attempt to disassociate himself from the people in the store. He called them "his" girls, trying to bring himself to their level in the social scheme as he saw it (3).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sammy was indeed caught between the two worlds that collided one day in the A&P, and he chose to pursue the one that was not his own. He was able to do this when others were not because he understood both worlds, his attitude toward each were completely different, and his actions were drastic enough to cut him free from the bonds that his world had on him. With two paths to choose from and only one to follow, Sammy took the path less traveled in that small town by the sea. He was, to use his own analogy, a wolf in sheep's clothing. Works Cited Updike, J. A&P. www.crown.edu/humanities/Wheatonj. 17 January, 2004. Trapped by Society in John Updike's A&P Essay -- A&P Essays Trapped by Society in John Updike's A&P      Ã‚  Ã‚   People often take their place in society for granted. They accept that position into which they are born, grow up in it, and pass that position on to their children. This cycle continues until someone is born who has enough vision to step out of his circle and investigate other ways of life in which he might thrive. One such person is embodied in the character of Sammy in A&P, by John Updike. Sammy is the narrator of the story and describes an incident in the store where he encounters a conflict between the members of two completely different worlds the world that he was born into and the world of a girl that captures his mind. Through his thoughts, attitudes, and actions, Sammy shows that he is caught between the two worlds of his customers at the A&P.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sammy's thoughts, as told to the reader in his narration, betray a deep understanding of the people he comes in contact with. When the girls walked into the store, he began to describe not only their looks, but also their attitudes and personalities without ever speaking to them. The one who held his attention was also the one he named "Queenie". On page one he says, She was the queen. She kind of led them, the other two peeking around and making their shoulders round. Sammy understood that she was the one in charge, and by saying that the other two made their shoulders round he showed that he realized their passivity was by choice; they followed her by their own wills.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sammy also understood how the "regulars" of the A&P thought and reasoned. He correctly interpreted the customers’ reactions to the girls, saying, "A few houseslaves in pin curlers even looked round after pushing their cart... ...ed what he did for them and wanting their appreciation for his attempt to disassociate himself from the people in the store. He called them "his" girls, trying to bring himself to their level in the social scheme as he saw it (3).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sammy was indeed caught between the two worlds that collided one day in the A&P, and he chose to pursue the one that was not his own. He was able to do this when others were not because he understood both worlds, his attitude toward each were completely different, and his actions were drastic enough to cut him free from the bonds that his world had on him. With two paths to choose from and only one to follow, Sammy took the path less traveled in that small town by the sea. He was, to use his own analogy, a wolf in sheep's clothing. Works Cited Updike, J. A&P. www.crown.edu/humanities/Wheatonj. 17 January, 2004.

Art of Living Essay

I remember when I was young, I’ve been wondering why people are living? Why we exist? Why do all these stuffs are here on earth? There are lots of questions filled up my mind yet I found no answer. I can’t think enough for these, I need answers; I have to know what is really the reason of one’s existence. I am very much sure that in millions or billions of people who are living, it’s not only me who became curious on this matter. Many of us are wondering but only few have really the intention to know. Knowledge on self exists; but sincere seekers are rare. We people are used to the concept of ‘routine’ that we do daily activities systematically and so we better not bother ourselves asking and just do what we have to do. But in the end of the day, you’ll still ask who am I? We all know that life is subjected to four laws: birth, disease, old age and death but letting go, and paying attention to what is always present naturally allows this divine life to overtake your existence. Existence of something does not only ends with the point that it exists but to what purpose and position it stands for. We people came from the Superior Soul, our God who has given us the life. We have a superior therefore we are the inferior. We are dominated and controlled as our position here. And our natural function is to render loving service to God as we serve in this world. Somebody told me there are two kinds of world: the material world which is made up of matter and subjected to perish, a world where nothing is permanent; and secondly the spiritual world or the â€Å"Kingdom of God† where there’s no night or day and full of bliss. Now, we are already living in the first kind of world, the question is how can we be in the second world? And that’s simply by being conscious or aware, the things being portrayed by Sat-Chit-Ananda and doing our real purpose which is to follow him and his instructions. Being a Christian we are told of two major instructions. The first and foremost is â€Å"Love God with all your heart, mind and entire being† and the next is â€Å"Love your neighbors even your enemies† Loving your enemies is something near impossible but not doing it is what we call ‘false Christianity’. For us to follow Him and do His instructions there must be selflessness or God-consciousness within us, and  one of the best things that shows selflessness is something portrayed in art works. Some would say, art is a way of expressing oneself but it’s not mostly like that. We would be selfish not selfless if we will make an art just to express our views, yet an artwork would be something great if it would be a catalyst of peace and other environmental issues. An artwork is beautiful because of its purpose that must connive with the natural function of the artist as a man-to serve God. We don’t just live here, we exist for a purpose and that is the art of living.

Bicycle motocross

Decide what you think. Write an opinion essay. Extremely Dangerous Extreme Sports: Extreme sports are high-intensity activities that involve both speed and stunts. For kids, these activities include snowboarding, snowmobiling, skateboarding, BMW blinking, skiing, and motocross. These sports pack big thrills. But they have also caused more than 4 million injuries since 2000. Many of these are simple fractures and cuts, but more serious Injuries are disturbingly common. Two winters ago, snowmobiles Caleb Moore was killed after a horrific crash.In 2009, Olympic-bound snowboarder Kevin Pearce suffered a permanent brain Injury after a fall during a practice run. These sports are dangerous at any age. But experts worry that young extreme athletes face special hazards. Part of the problem is that young people are less likely than adults to consider risks. â€Å"Kids tend to think about what Is an hour from now,† says psychologist Jesse Matthews. Inspired by video games or Youth clips , many beginners attempt stunts that are way beyond their skill level. Little wonder that one third of all skateboarding injuries happen to kids who have been skateboarding for Just here weeks or less.Unlike team sports, many extreme athletes Some kids have a need for speed. But is the thrill worth it? Hey fly down mountains on BMW bikes, flip and twist in the air on their skateboards, and soar off ski jumps on their snowboards. They are extreme athletes-?and there are more of them than ever before. There's no doubt that extreme sports are thrilling for many young athletes. The problem is that the thrills come at a high price: danger. In fact, a growing number of experts feel that some of these sports should be off-limits to kids. But would that be going too far? 28 story worksMike McGill/courts (Skater); ILLUSTRATION BY Lance Alexander Too Dangerous for Kids? Practice without the guidance of coaches, in skate parks and on mountains far from adult eyes. Another problem is that helme ts, which are routine in some extreme sports, are not required for skateboarders. As a result, these athletes are far more likely to suffer serious head injuries in a fall. Worth the Risk When so much could go wrong, why would Of course there are the obvious thrills of flying down a mountainside at 60 miles an hour, or soaring high on a trusted skateboard. But it's not all about the thrills.Extreme sports offer opportunities to millions of kids who What Think YES don't enjoy team sports. According to Matthews, extreme sports can let kids be more imaginative than sports like football or soccer. They are free to experiment and invent stunts of their own. Extreme sports can also build confidence and discipline. And like any sport, these activities help kids stay fit. Experts emphasize ways to make these sports less risky. Wearing proper helmets and pads is critical. So is learning from skilled experts and not attempting to become Tony Hawk on the first run down the half-pipe.The OTTOMH line: The right precautions could make extreme sports a little less extreme, especially for young athletes. N Should kids participate in extreme sports? Go back to the article and find information to support each side. Write the information on the lines below. They're great activities! NO They're too dangerous! 2 3 Study the points on both sides of the argument-?and think about your own opinion. State your opinion in one sentence below. It can become the thesis statement for an opinion essay on this topic. Find an activity sheet online! Storybooks. Scholastic. Com; 29 November/ December 2014