Media comparative analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Media comparative analysis - Essay Example A media comparative analysis has a vital role in comprehending the various essential elements of the changing nature of the media. Such a media comparative analysis deals with the social aspects, the assumptions and logics, the industrial, the commercial contexts, the primary functions, etc of a particular media form, technology, process, or event in relation to the explicit or implied research methods, the critical framework and assumptions, the theories and logics, the methods and worldviews etc of a specific reading on media and media function. This media comparative analysis paper focuses on a comparative discussion of Megan Boler's "Introduction" to Digital Media and Democracy: Tactic in Hard Times in connection to a particular media form, i.e. an internet radio station. This paper deals with a comparative study of the explicit or implied assumptions about the nature, scope and role of media forms in each of the media discussions, and attempts to bring together the assumptions o f both the media reading and the media form. Megan Boler's main concern in the article is to bring about the connection between media and power and to contribute to the debates about media and democracy within the digital media landscape and the discussions about the internet radio station can help one realize the underlying elements of the media form. As an introduction to the vital assumptions of the discussion, Megan Boler presents his exchange with Tim Russert as illustrative of how the media in the contemporary world functions in terms of truth and power. From the platform of this account, the author goes on to make his significant assumptions about media and power as well as the debates about media and democracy within the digital media landscape. "The story of my exchange with Tim Russert highlights two key challenges about media and power: (1) how to alter the axes of domination so that those with little or no power have a seat at the table, and (2) how to conceive of media (whether dominant, grassroots, or tactical) with the capacity to intervene at the level of public perception, and that can challenge the perverse manipulation of 'facts' about something like global warming." (Boler 2008, 171). According to the author, there is an essential connection between media and power and there is a very scarce chance to gain reali ty through the power of media. Power in media tries to overtake realities about facts and there is fierce competition to accumulate power in media. The author is essentially forceful about the influence of power in media in the contemporary digital era of media where there is fierce competition and the raw material is no longer in short supply. In this background, realizing reality through digital media is much more complex. There have been significant opinions by experts in the field that media is more powerful than any bomb in the contemporary background and this can be realized on the basis of the famous maxim the 'pen is mightier than the sword'. The powerful influence of media over the lives of several modern human beings can be understood in this background. The major focus of the work by Boler is to

Workplace Motivation Essay Example for Free

Workplace Motivation Essay In this paper, I will examine many motivational strategies that affect productivity in a workplace. Another will include an explanation of organizational efforts to improve performance, employees’ resistance to increasing productivity and satisfaction, and management’s philosophy of motivation and its practices in the workplace. Motivation is one of the single driving factors in one’s work performance. Organizations take this very seriously and to waste time, and energy and the expense into training someone who is not motivated. Needs Theories, Goal-Setting Theory, Equity Theory and Expectancy Theory are the four specific theories that are used in motivational practice. In addition, I will identify and analyze the implications of applying any two motivational theories not currently used in my selected workplace and how they will influence both management and employees. Organizations are always looking for ways to increase productivity, especially in the growing competitive environment. It is a known fact that when employees are unsatisfied with their current job, productivity decreases, tension builds up in the work environment, and morale is low. Most organizations have motivational programs that provide useful tools to increase motivation, and reduce employee turnover. There are many strategies that are used to influence employee loyalty and these are intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation is one’s personal development, self-control over their work without reward. Whereas, extrinsic motivation is having external incentives, pay bonuses, time off, these are some common strategies used to motivate and individual to complete or do a task. I work for a organization mostly based on customer service and to provide nursing care for long-term residents and rehabilitation following a hospital stay; and assisted living communities. As an employee, I am a member of the nursing staff department. Some of the motivational strategies used at Trisun are competitive salaries, health benefits, sign on bonuses, and employee perks. Recently, their census has been very low, so now employees have to take longer lunches or downsized. Thus, they want employees to work shorthanded but at the same time still have the same responsibilities. This tactic only makes employees frustrated and unmotivated to be productive. Only when you reward employees, they become happier, stay longer, and become more productive at the workplace. Many organizations fail to recognize that money is not the biggest factor in motivating employees. An engaged employee comes in early, reaches out to other employees, smiles, and has great customer service. On the other had you have an disengaged employee and they come in late or absent, and doesn’t want to be bothered with and most always leaves right at five. Successful business should have only one kind of employee, engaged. The process is to reward, recognize, and keep those behaviors among employees. If you don’t recognize those behaviors, you won’t get them back. People think that more money is better than a closer parking space. That is not always true. Depending on what you do, even the smallest perk can be bigger than a bonus and would be more valued. There are whole ranges of factors that motivate people. Many organizations have surveys to find out what really motivates employees and learning their values. Are they motivated in intrinsic or extrinsic theories, do they like more money, status, rewards, or do they value what people think of their work instead. Management can sometimes be pulled in different directions, so it is good that other employees see you working hard and are recognized by your supervisors. The two motivational theories that are not used in practice in this workplace were the Goal-setting Theory and the Cognitive Evaluation Theory. Cognitive evaluation theory is the event in which affects individuals’ feelings and self-determination will affect their intrinsic motivation. By using this theory, it will help employees feel self-determined, competent, and intrinsically motivated. Secondly, Goal-setting Theory was not used in the workplace. This theory explains that individuals are able to reach a defined objective. Sometimes this is a reward in itself and primarily a goal’s ffectiveness is implemented by three factors; specificity, proximity, and difficulty. Another theory self-efficacy will enhance an individual’s to achieve the goal. By using the self-efficacy, it will give positive feedback and have impact on applying the goal-setting theory in management and increase productivity. The most noted theory would be Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. The Needs model is where each need is set on a basis of the strength of need. The human needs are physiological, Safety, Social, Esteem, and Actualization. Physiological need is the highest strength and is essential for survival. These form every human motivation and fulfilled more than any other human need. Motivation Strategies The highest levels of motivation for employees are individuals who empower workers, have an effective rewards system, redesign jobs, and create a more flexible work environment. Empowerment is to design the worker to become more responsible and encourage accomplishing a given task. Providing an effective rewards system is to reinforce employee behavior and the reward is when outcome is positive for the individual. There are two ways to receive rewards: Extrinsic rewards are common in the workplace, which are pay bonuses, promotions, time off, and verbal praises. Intrinsic rewards gives people a â€Å"natural high† when completing a job. It gives them a certain personal development and self-control over their work. Managers need to realize that all people are different; managers must provide a range of rewards, time off, recognition, and promotion. Redesigning jobs is a concept that will help employees not get bored with their everyday routine. One attempt would be job enlargement, which increases the job tasks decreases boredom. Job rotation is a practice which people can do different tasks and at the same time be exposed to new interest in the workplace. Job enrichment also includes tasks with more responsibility and authority. In today’s busy world employees value their personal time. Therefore, having a flexible schedule always helps employee’s needs. A full-time job is 40-hour workweek, so most employees get three days off which benefits the individuals lifestyle and give more leisure time and lowers commuting cost. Lastly, job sharing and twinning is when one full-time job is split between two or more people. Job sharing involves working only half a day, thus organizations benefit by employing people who wouldn’t otherwise be a unable to work full-time. In this paper, I explained different motivational strategies that affect productivity in the workplace, and analyzed two theories that are not in affect at my job. I explained organizational efforts to improve performance. By applying these theories and strategies will influence both management and employees to be motivated and be more productive at the workplace.

Stillness Seeking :: Personal Narrative Photographer Essays

Stillness Seeking Onto the terracotta patio I step silently Past lavender climbing twisting vines The honey drops sunlight sprinkled Golden My mother a paintbrush in her hand She touches color to canvas Soft yellow orange, light Emerges My father beyond resting seated A cat slumbers purrs on his shoulder A pen in his hand he touches white page Reflects light reflects Together Creating When I saw Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring about five years ago at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C., I felt something about the painting that I had never felt before when looking at artwork. I felt as if this girl, this young woman in the painting was real, hiding in the museum behind this canvas. She was in the flesh. Her skin was still dewy from three hundred-something years ago, the light across her face still glowing. She was in the round, her eyes followed mine, she was real. She was about to speak, she was in a moment of thought, she was in reflection. This girl was not crimson red or titanium white, she was flesh. Vermeer caught her, a butterfly in his hand. She was not just recorded on canvas, she was created on canvas. She was caught in a moment of stillness. Vermeer creates moments in his paintings. When viewing them, we step into a private, intimate setting, a story. Always, everything is quiet and calm. I realize now it is no wonder I had such a strong reactio n to Vermeer the first time I saw him: he is a stillness seeker. This morning I wake early from the light that creeps underneath my blinds and my bed next to the window. I wake floating on the streams of light, heated, like white wax spilled across the floor, dripping, soft. In bare feet I walk down the stairs, cold on the wood, and find my father in the kitchen, also awake early. Together, we leave the house, the house that my parents built with windows like walls, windows that show the water on either side of the island. We close the door quietly so as not to wake the sleepers. We walk down the pine-needle path, through the arch of trees, the steep wooden steps to the dock nestled in the sea-weed covered rocks. We sit silently on the bench, watch as the fog evaporates from the clear water. The trees and water are a painting in muted colors, silver and grays and greenish blue, hazy white above the trees.

Eudaimonia :: essays research papers

The Term 'Eudaimonia': 'Flourishing' or 'Happiness'? I have a number of very roughly-formulated things to say about eudaimonia in this essay. I hope that focusing later on other specific aspects of NE will help me to pull all this together better. I think the problems my sources discuss are the products of contrived readings; all of those sources recognized this fact, and cleared up the confusions accordingly. At the level at which I have so far studied, the Nicomachean Ethics seems unproblematic, though demanding in the sense that Aristotle seems to find so many of his connections too obvious to explain. I mention this by way of partial explanation of the naive way that I fill out the connections that Aristotle leaves for us to make on our own. A good place to start is with Ackrill's brief characterization of eudaimonia: eudaimonia "is doing well, not the result of doing well" (Ackrill, p. 13). Even though Irwin translates 'eudaimonia' as 'happiness', I will use Cooper's translation 'flourishing' instead. The reason for my choice comes mainly from Book X, where Aristotle tells us that eudaimonia is a process and not a state (1176b5). It is easier to keep this in mind if the word 'flourishing' is used, since 'happiness' names a state, rather than a process, in English. Furthermore, there is popular prejudice, especially among philosophers, against the idea that being happy is consistent with being virtuous. Hence, the use of the word 'happiness' psychologically weights the case against the credibility of Aristotle's doctrine, since he does think that eudaimonia is virtuous action (1176b5). His doctrine is at least rendered more worthy of consideration by such critics if they are first appeased by the more neutral term. Ackrill has different reasons for thinking that 'happiness' is not the proper translation. eudaimonia is the final end. While many things may be final ends, only eudaimonia is the most final end--the "one final good that all men seek" is happiness.(Ackrill, p. 12). This is where he sees the difference; what is true of happiness is not true of eudaimonia. Happiness may be renounced in favor of some other goal, but eudaimonia may not. In suffering in order to do the right thing, one sees one's life fall short of eudaimonia. But it is comfort that is renounced (Ackrill, p. 12). If this is true, then the idea of equating happiness with eudaimonia makes nonsense of Aristotle's discussions of the virtues.

George Orwell’s Shooting an Elephant: Insights on Imperialism, Ethical Conflicts and Fear of Judgment Essay

George Orwell’s essay â€Å"Shooting an Elephant,† introduces an interesting insight on imperialism, ethical conflicts and fear of judgement through the inner workings of a European police officer given the grueling task of dealing with an elephant in musk within Moulmein, in lower Burma. Imperialism, as defined in the Oxford English Dictionary, reads that Imperialism is â€Å"a policy of extending a country’s power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means.† Interestingly, Orwell shows imperialism in his work as a consensual hatred between the Burmese and a particular European cop causing a mutual negativity. The ethical conflicts raised in this essay root from the narrator, (who we can assume is the European police officer) who has been handed the task of dealing with a lustful and aggressive elephant who was a threat to the Burmese people’s land, possessions and lives. Ethical conflicts raised in Orwell’s work, tie to the narrators fear of judgement. It was because the narrator feared judgement so terribly, that he made the choice to pull the trigger on the elephant. When an elephant in musk escapes from his chains with his Mahout far out of reach, the narrator is called in to deal with this ravaging creature. He beings along his rifle and says â€Å"I had no intention of shooting the elephant, I had merely sent for the rifle to defend myself if necessary.† In essence, the pure reason for the rifle was for precautionary reasons, yet it had drawn a large amount of attention and excitement from a large crowd of â€Å"at least 2000 and growing every minute.† (Page 284) The narrator has an ethical dilemma, as â€Å"[he] knew with perfect certainty that [he] ought not to shoot him† (page 284). Orwell compares the elephant to a valuable, expensive piece of machinery. (Page 284) He watches the elephant acting with that â€Å"grandmotherly air that elephants have,† (Page 285) realizing that the beast is calming down and coming out of his lustful phase. This later contrasts with the narrator actually shooting the elephant due to the pressure of â€Å"the sea of yellow faces and their 2000 wills pressing [him] forward.† (Page 284) As the narrator was enroute to locating this lustful elephant, he learns that it had already â€Å"destroyed a bamboo hut, killed a cow and raided some fruit stalls and devoured stock.† (Page 282) In learning these things, Orwell makes it clear that the narrator feels he has legal justification for shooting the elephant even though he morally knew he was in the wrong. Interestingly, the narrators ethics in the matter of shooting the elephant are broken because of his fear of judgement. â€Å"[He] was hated by many people as a European subdivisional police officer in Moulmein. [He] was an obvious target and baited whenever it seemed safe to do so.† When the narrator was called in to deal with this elephant in must, he came to a point where he was surrounded by thousands of Burmese people, left with the choice to either shoot the elephant, or let him live. The pressure provided by the â€Å"thousands of yellow faces,† (page 284) and all of their hatred, left the narrator with no choice in his mind but to fire at this creature. After doing this, he wonders â€Å"whether any of the others (Burmese) grasped that [he] had shot the elephant solely to avoid looking like a fool.† (Page 287) This proves the narrators fear of judgement. Orwell does an excellent job in displaying the hatred between the Burmese and the Europeans, and the feeling that â€Å"imperialism was an evil thing.† (Page 281) He says that â€Å"if a European woman went through the bazaars alone somebody would probably spit betel juice over her dress.† (Page 281) Orwell uses symbolism to demonstrate the â€Å"evil† of imperialism. The ravaging elephant that the narrator was called in to deal with is a symbol for imperialism and its evils. The actual shooting of the elephant unveils that imperialism not only inflicts damage on one side, but on both sides of the relationship. Europe, who is supposed to hold control over the Burmese peoples, lost their control due to the pressure provided by the Burmese people in the actual shooting of the elephant. The Officer is put into a large authority position, but the hate he received from the Burmese, as well as the emotional pressure they put on him to shoot the elephant, puts a sense of power on the Burmese, and less on the â€Å"greater† European colony. Throughout this reading, Orwell demonstrates the evils of imperialism as well as the pressure that we as humans often have to succumb to based on societal pressures we face. He uses a story of a European police officer working in Moulmein who is faced with the pressure of the local Burmese people to kill an elephant who is in must and has done some damage to people’s property.

Free Essays on Omni Hotel

Omni Interlocken Resort Research Paper In 1958, Omni Hotels was founded by the Dunfey family of New England and later bought by TRT Holdings Inc. Omni Hotels is now a privately owned company headquartered in Irving, Texas, operating 40 first-class and luxury hotels and resorts throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. The company includes 35 owned and managed properties, four franchised properties and several properties under development. (Omni Interlocken Resort) In July 1999, Located at 500 Interlocken Broomfield, Colorado 80021, Omni Interlocken Resort opened after nearly spending $83 million dollars. This Four Diamond/ Four Star Hotel has 11 floors and 390 deluxe guest rooms or suites consisting of 270 Deluxe King Rooms, 107 Queen Rooms, 12 One-bedroom Suites, and 345 non-smoking guest rooms. (Resort Profile) The Omni caters primarily to corporate business traveler and the upscale leisure traveler. The mission of Omni Hotels is to exceed the expectations of our guests, inspire and reward our associates and provide superior financial results to those who entrust us with managing their assets. To go along with the mission Omni Hotel’s vision is to be a global, four-diamond hotel company offering consistent products and services in key business and leisure destinations. Our growth will be achieved through hotel ownership, management and selective franchising. We will be known for our innovation, exemplary service and superior financial performance. Omni Hotels is committed to being the employer of choice in the hospitality industry. (Omni Interlocken Resort) The Omni has four different luxurious guestrooms to pick from ranging from $100- 399 per night, but all guestroom are fully-stocked with amenities. Some of these amenities include: plush terry robes, evening turndown service available, triple sheeting on beds, choice of pillow, twice-daily housekeeping service, ironing board, hair dryer, complimentary USA T... Free Essays on Omni Hotel Free Essays on Omni Hotel Omni Interlocken Resort Research Paper In 1958, Omni Hotels was founded by the Dunfey family of New England and later bought by TRT Holdings Inc. Omni Hotels is now a privately owned company headquartered in Irving, Texas, operating 40 first-class and luxury hotels and resorts throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. The company includes 35 owned and managed properties, four franchised properties and several properties under development. (Omni Interlocken Resort) In July 1999, Located at 500 Interlocken Broomfield, Colorado 80021, Omni Interlocken Resort opened after nearly spending $83 million dollars. This Four Diamond/ Four Star Hotel has 11 floors and 390 deluxe guest rooms or suites consisting of 270 Deluxe King Rooms, 107 Queen Rooms, 12 One-bedroom Suites, and 345 non-smoking guest rooms. (Resort Profile) The Omni caters primarily to corporate business traveler and the upscale leisure traveler. The mission of Omni Hotels is to exceed the expectations of our guests, inspire and reward our associates and provide superior financial results to those who entrust us with managing their assets. To go along with the mission Omni Hotel’s vision is to be a global, four-diamond hotel company offering consistent products and services in key business and leisure destinations. Our growth will be achieved through hotel ownership, management and selective franchising. We will be known for our innovation, exemplary service and superior financial performance. Omni Hotels is committed to being the employer of choice in the hospitality industry. (Omni Interlocken Resort) The Omni has four different luxurious guestrooms to pick from ranging from $100- 399 per night, but all guestroom are fully-stocked with amenities. Some of these amenities include: plush terry robes, evening turndown service available, triple sheeting on beds, choice of pillow, twice-daily housekeeping service, ironing board, hair dryer, complimentary USA T...

Example of Personal Essay †English

Example of Personal Essay – English Free Online Research Papers Example of Personal Essay English I am going to help you to make a draft picture of my personality according to the way my most close friends or my family would describe me. I’ll focus on three traits which make who I am. First of all, it is necessary to know that when I was a child, I was treated as a king-child because I lived alone with my mother almost all my young life and because she was weak with me. I thus have to admit shamefully that I took most advantages possible and that I made a lot of whims. I obtained almost everything that I wished. I was really requiring and tyrannical with my mother but, believe me, I am not proud of it. Another facet of my personality consists in the fact that I am strongly determined. I have set the most ambitious goals and I am convinced that I’ll succeed. I’ll make all which will be in my power to reach my purposes. In order to give you an idea of my objectives I would say: â€Å"I want to become very rich, famous, well-known in the media and reach the highest spheres of the society.† It can seem paradoxical, nevertheless I am shy and I have a lack of self-confidence. I think that it began when I was between 10 and 14 years and as I was obese. For this reason, most of the guys laughed at me and annoyed me. I was the big little boy that nobody liked. But now that I grew and that I changed a lot, as you can see it, I try to cure my shyness and to open out myself. This period was the worst of my life, that’s why I think school didn’t prepare me well for adult’s life. In conclusion, I would say that they are not the only aspects of my personality. So now, I have said enough, it is your turn to discover who I am, if you want to. Research Papers on Example of Personal Essay - EnglishEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenComparison: Letter from Birmingham and Crito19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraStandardized TestingLifes What IfsThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Bringing Democracy to AfricaHip-Hop is ArtQuebec and Canada

Book Review Essay Example

Book Review Essay Example Book Review Essay – Book Report/Review Example College: Review of Ten by Gretchen McNeil â€Å"Ten† by Gretchen McNeil is a novel about teens that head out to an extremely secluded Henry Island vacation home. The Island is just off the Washington coat thus a spectacular place for a weekend-long party. One of the invited members called Meg was a senior and this trip for her presented a good excuse for a getaway, as well as, a chance to work on her writing skill while spending quality time with Minnie her best friend before she left for her first quarter at UCLA. However, there are invitation rules for this party.   Every individual that was invited got strict instructions not to disclose any information about the party to anybody else. Meg is a reserved person and thinks that this is not a good idea of especially lying to the parents. Nevertheless, Minnie thinks that it was wildly exciting, due to the fact that TJ is going to the party. After a terrifying ride on the ferry to the island, the students see individuals that are familiar with and other that they don’t know. After arriving and settling down, the revelers are horrified when a huge storm blows and cuts out all electricity on the island. This is immediately watching a creepy and a strange DVD and some weird words appear saying that somebody will take vengeance and that disaster was near. Coincidently, the next morning, one of the revelers is found dead.  After the discovery of one body, people start dying and nobody knew if it was an accident or murder. Additionally, it was not clear the person that was killing other and why.   The remaining people start suspecting each other since everybody is taking into account that the killer might be anybody amongst them. Moreover, these suspicions only make the situation more unbearable and it adds fuel to the already existing chaos creating a more dangerous state for everybody. The murderer was not going to stop until everybody is dead. The author cleverly places red herring as well as cal culated mistrust making it impossible to identify the killer until the very end.In conclusion, the characters created by McNeil perfectly hold the novel together in terms of syncopation from the friendships which eventually forms enmity and deceit and that takes place.Work citedMcNeil, Gretchen. Ten. New York, NY: Balzer + Bray. 2012. Print.

Religions of the World Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Religions of the World - Research Paper Example Just as each person is unique, so are the religions that they rely on to define who and what they are. As Stephen Prothero says about religions, â€Å"the worlds religious rivals are clearly related, but they are more like second cousins than identical twins. They do not teach the same doctrines. They do not perform the same rituals and they do not share the same goals.† Three of the world’s major religions, Mormonism, Christianity, and Buddhism, reveal the truth of this statement, and how even though religions may differ greatly from one another, they exist to provide insight into the world and the human condition. By investigating the unique goals of each religion, as well as their gods, doctrines and beliefs, and their perceptions of afterlife, the notion that religions are related while still standing out on their own can be brought to light. The Goals of Religion Differences abound in all of the religions of the world, setting them greatly apart from one another. T he first and most notable difference that can be picked from each religion is its goal, or the primary purpose that the religion prevails. The goal of Mormonism, for example, is for its followers to enter a state of holiness, which is also known as exaltation. Mormons strive to conduct their lives in ways that reflect the characteristics of God. When they succeed, upon their death they will enter heaven, gaining eternal life and an eternal family. The members of Mormonism who achieve eternal life are likened to lesser gods, a belief formed by the concept that God himself was once a flesh-and-bone human and became holy upon death (Smith, 2009). However, His followers that reach this state of holiness are placed beneath God the Father who presides over Mormonism. The goal of Christianity shares part of Mormonism’s goal, which is for its followers to become more like God by taking on His attributes. The difference between the goals of these two religions, though, is that followe rs of the Christian faith strive to become Godlike so that they can bridge the wide chasm that separates them from God as a result of the sinful nature of humankind (â€Å"The basics of Christian beliefs†). Humans are born naturally apart from God due to their inherent sin. The God of Christianity wants nothing more than to have a relationship with His people, but this relationship cannot be attained as long as humans continue to live in sin. As such, the major goal of Christianity is to have the sins of its followers forgiven so that they may become more Christlike, and thus establish a relationship with their creator. The primary goal of the spiritual path of Buddhism is for its practitioners to reach enlightenment, which is more commonly referred to as nirvana by those who actively practice Buddhism. This is the Buddhist concept of total freedom, to be liberated from the cycle of life and death and to attain an eternal body. To achieve enlightenment, members of the Buddhis t faith accept the Four Noble Truths, which outline that suffering is caused by desire, and follow the Noble Eightfold Path, which direct them in how to live a life that can bring an end to suffering. Suffering is brought to a complete end when enlightenment is achieved, and the person can experience the pure freedom, happiness, and clarity of nirvana (Hanh, 1999). Each religion strives to not so much make life easier for its practitioners, but to give their followers what they need to survive the hardships of life while maintaing a peace of mind and giving them something to strive for. In the process, the goals of these religions help their followers become better people. When these individuals are successful in reaching the goal of their respective

New Policy Statements- HIPAA Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

New Policy Statements- HIPAA - Assignment Example ompletely secured and information were accessed and misused from the computers without having the need to operate the computer physically from which the data was supposed to be accessed. Developments in technology were making the business operations and way of working easier whereas, at the same time those developments assisted in manipulating ways and misusing the information for one’s own benefit (Pesante, 2008). The organization or company whose policies regarding information security need to be reviewed is in the business of insurance and deals with health insurance. The review is proposed in order to make certain that it fulfills the regulatory obligations and meet up to the obligations of the associated standards as well as regulations. The company comes under the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) according to which any information regarding health requires to be protected. Taking into account the federal standards, patients should be capable of accessing information in relation to their respective medical records (HIPAA, 2007). Based on the nature of business operations, the company complies with the guidelines of HIPAA, HITECH, GLBA and PCI-DSS. In spite of abiding by all the relevant regulations, the policy regarding accessing information by a fresh user and the prerequisite for passwords are becoming a grave concern for the supervisor of the company. Although the present policy of the company ensures high level of security but still it should structure a new policy. According to the new policy the request to access information by the new user along with the personal details and signature would be initially taken down. According to the policy, access would be provided only to the particular information or area specifically requested by the new user. There should be a time limit mentioned in the policy for accessing information by a new user and once the limit is over, the access should be automatically denied by the

The Cost of Capital; Financial Leverage; Which Counts Most Term Paper

The Cost of Capital; Financial Leverage; Which Counts Most - Term Paper Example The high sale will result in higher profits and a reduction in variable costs signifies that the organization does not have to incur any extra expenses for each unit sold. An increased volume of sales will enable to company to save gain benefits from its fixed costs. The idea of operating leverage was initially developed for utilizing in capital budgeting. Operating leverage is a significant concept as it affects how responsive profits are to transforms into sales volume. â€Å"The Degree of Operating leverage is a function of the cost structure of a firm and is usually defined in terms of the relationship between fixed cost and total costs. A firm that has high fixed costs relative to total costs is said to have operating leverage. A firm with high operating leverage will also have higher variability in operating income than would a firm producing a similar product with low operating leverage† (Choi 20). Other things remaining the same, the high difference in operating income will guide to a high beta for the industry with higher operating leverage. It is helpful to recognize how operating profit will vary with a given change in units formed; operating leverage is helpful to decide the business risks. Operating leverage can also be understood as the degree to which an organization utilizes fixed costs in creating its goods or offering its facilities. A fixed cost contains advertising expenses, equipment and technology, administrative costs, taxes, and depreciation. However, it excludes interest on debt, which is an element of financial leverage. By using fixed production costs, an organization can raise its earnings. If an organization has a high amount of fixed costs, it has a high level of operating leverage. High-tech and automated companies, airlines, utility companies etc commonly have high amounts of operating leverage. The difference between variable and fixed costs is an old idea. This separation of costs by behavior is the basis for breakeven a nalysis. â€Å"The idea of â€Å"break even analysis† is based on the simple question of how many units of product or service a business must sell in order to cover its fixed costs before beginning to make a profit. Presumably, unit prices are set at a level high enough to recoup all direct unit costs and leave a margin of contribution toward fixed cost and profit† (Helfert 193). Once adequate units have been sold to accrue the total contribution required to offset every fixed costs, the margin from any extra units sold will become revenue unless a latest layer of fixed expenses has to be added at any future point to support the high volume. Understanding this attitude will enhance the insight into how operational features of a business involve the elements of financial projections and planning. This information is also useful in setting operational strategies, which, particularly in an unstable business setting might, for instance, focus on reducing fixed costs during outsourcing certain operations. Cost of Capital: The cost of capital means the required rate of return for making capital budgeting. Cost of capital comprises the cost of debt and the cost of equity acquired through different sources. Cost of capital is the average rate of return required by the investors for their long term investments such as equity fund, preference fund and long term capital. When the firm makes long term investm

Schizophrenia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Schizophrenia - Essay Example with schizophrenia is the reduction of the quality of life that they enjoy with lower rates of employment, disrupted marriages and the reduced ability to live independently (Frankenberg, 2007). Schizophrenia ranks among the top ten diseases that are responsible for causing disability among the population of the world. It affects all kinds of people irrespective of colour, caste, creed and culture, though there is a trend of higher prevalence in the developed world and among migrants (Saha et al, 2005). Estimates on the worldwide prevalence of schizophrenia put the prevalence rate at 1.1% making for about 51 million people suffering from the disorder around the world. The prevalence rate of schizophrenia in Australia is almost similar to the worldwide prevalence rate, which gives an estimated 285,000 people afflicted with the disorder in Australia (Schizophrenia Facts and Statistics). The aetiology of schizophrenia still remains an enigma, as there is limited clarity in it. Genetics and perinatal nutritional stress have remained the main postulated aetiologies of schizophrenia. The postulation of a genetic basis in the aetiology of schizophrenia stems from the studies conducted into schizophrenia in dizygotic and monozygotic twins, wherein it was found that the concordance for schizophrenia is nearly ten percent, whereas it was close to fifty percent in the case of monozygotic twins (Frankenberg, 2007). Nutritional deficiencies occur frequently during pregnancies. There is evidence to suggest that in utero exposure deficiencies in nutrition increase vulnerability to schizophrenia, as a result of disruption of neurodevelopment. This is the basis of the perinatal nutritional stress aetiology in schizophrenia. Evidence in support of this postulation has come from the studies into the association of the perinatal stress during the Dutch Hunger Winter of 1944-1945 and the severe famine in China. The nutrients whose deficiency is suggested to be associated with the

The Life of Oliver Cromwell Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Life of Oliver Cromwell - Research Paper Example Cromwell became Cambridge’s Member of Parliament, in 1628. However, he did not make any significant development, during his tenure as a member of parliament. This is because his tenure did not last long when Charles I dissolved parliament and ruled alone for 11 years before the Bishops of the Scott forced him to recall parliament due to lack of money (Carlyle & Sanderson 67). Cromwell returned to parliament and served only for three weeks as a member of parliament for Cambridge. This was called â€Å"the short parliament† because it existed for only three weeks. A long-term parliament was elected that same year and Cromwell returned as a member for Cambridge. He was forced to table ridiculous petitions before the house such as that of the release of John Liburne, who was arrested for importing religious tracts from Holland, because he owed his position to the elite, in parliament. Cromwell also linked himself to a religious group, which contained members from both the H ouse of Lords and House of Commons. On behalf of this religious group, he also tabled a motion for the abolition of episcopacy, which was called the â€Å"Root and Branch Bill† (Carlyle & Sanderson 76).The only experience Cromwell had in relation to military matters was the band training. However, he recruited his own cavalry troop and blocked a valuable silver shipment that was meant for the king. This was after his troop gained a lot of recognition and was formally incorporated into the formal army. to form part of the Eastern Association during the winter (Gardiner 8). Cromwell continued to gain a lot of experience by winning a few battles such as the battle of Gainsborough, which made him appointed as the governor of Ely and colonel of the Eastern Association. He entered the English civil war on the side of the parliamentarians who were nicknamed the â€Å"Old Ironsides† or â€Å"Roundheads† to become one of the principle commanders, in the New Model Army (B ritannica Concise Encyclopedia). Here, he played a significant role in the defeat of the royalist forces at the battle of Marston Moor. Cromwell’s military strategies though he had not undergone through any form of training were exemplary. His ability to train and lead his men and the invention of the close order military formation with his troops riding knee to knee made it more difficult for opponents to penetrate them (Carlyle & Sanderson 46).

Schizophrenia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Schizophrenia - Essay Example with schizophrenia is the reduction of the quality of life that they enjoy with lower rates of employment, disrupted marriages and the reduced ability to live independently (Frankenberg, 2007). Schizophrenia ranks among the top ten diseases that are responsible for causing disability among the population of the world. It affects all kinds of people irrespective of colour, caste, creed and culture, though there is a trend of higher prevalence in the developed world and among migrants (Saha et al, 2005). Estimates on the worldwide prevalence of schizophrenia put the prevalence rate at 1.1% making for about 51 million people suffering from the disorder around the world. The prevalence rate of schizophrenia in Australia is almost similar to the worldwide prevalence rate, which gives an estimated 285,000 people afflicted with the disorder in Australia (Schizophrenia Facts and Statistics). The aetiology of schizophrenia still remains an enigma, as there is limited clarity in it. Genetics and perinatal nutritional stress have remained the main postulated aetiologies of schizophrenia. The postulation of a genetic basis in the aetiology of schizophrenia stems from the studies conducted into schizophrenia in dizygotic and monozygotic twins, wherein it was found that the concordance for schizophrenia is nearly ten percent, whereas it was close to fifty percent in the case of monozygotic twins (Frankenberg, 2007). Nutritional deficiencies occur frequently during pregnancies. There is evidence to suggest that in utero exposure deficiencies in nutrition increase vulnerability to schizophrenia, as a result of disruption of neurodevelopment. This is the basis of the perinatal nutritional stress aetiology in schizophrenia. Evidence in support of this postulation has come from the studies into the association of the perinatal stress during the Dutch Hunger Winter of 1944-1945 and the severe famine in China. The nutrients whose deficiency is suggested to be associated with the

International Banking Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

International Banking - Research Paper Example Majority of the people use international banking services to protect their money from their native countries estate taxation and income. Other people use the international banking as a means of investing in the better world economies to make substantial profit than when they only stick to their home countries. A good number of individuals keep their treasure in offshore banks and other similar entities to avoid lawsuits. This does not incriminate these people at all; their main reason is to avoid encountering any loses or economic uncertainties. Exploring about International Banking helps us understand how this entity works, the benefits of International banking, globalization and common challenges facing international banking. In addition, focusing on international Banking reveals more on factors driving it as well as the effects of international banking. Each element gives satisfactory information, guiding us in understanding the whole practice of international banking. Moreso, it is through a thorough analysis of these factors that the impact of the global economic situation is determined. The wealth of information regarding international banking further enhances the understanding of social and political effects not only to individuals but also to business companies. This also supports the argument that virtually all environmental factors affect the direction of an individual has or company’s economic growth and stability This part focuses on possible ultimate propellers of internationalization of banking that include economic, political, legal, and technological changes that significantly influence the ability to maximize on profit. Global macroeconomic, regulatory, and financial environment fuels the need for international banking. Many countries have embraced international trade a factor that has promoted economic integration. Most countries no longer impose restrictions on foreign banking as a way of boosting

Literature of War and Peace Essay Example for Free

Literature of War and Peace Essay Sir Winston Churchill British statesman, orator, and author who was elected prime minister twice in 1940s and 1950s. He is regarded as one of the finest military leaders in history and is credited to rallying the moral of the British people during world war two and leading them from the brink of defeat to victory against the axis powers. How he did this was not only though his leadership but arguably through his speeches as well, one of Churchill’s greatest assets was his words and how he used them to inspire and motivate his people. Despite having a lisp throughout his career He was known for his excellent speaking, the speeches he made throughout his life in particularly dark times for the British were always inspiring, while presented in a way that made them understandable to any person no matter whom they were. Now this was seen particularly in Churchill’s speech â€Å"the defence of freedom and peace† which he presented in October 16th 1938 near the start of world war two in an appeal to British and Americna public to prepare for the strong possibility of war against Nazi Germany. In the speech the defence of freedom and peace Churchill uses a variety of persuasive yet simple literary devices such as allusion, rhetorical questions, imagery and Tricolon and wording to arouse, influence and encourage American and British listeners to ready themselves for a possible war against Germany. Now prior to this speech Britain’s foreign policy regarding Nazi expansion was one of appeasement. British Prime minister Neville Chamberlain believed that Germany had been unfairly treated by the allies after its defeat in the 1st world war. His view was that Germany had sincere grievances that needed to be resolved; he also thought that by agreeing to some of the propositions being made by fascist powers Germany and Italy such as the Munich agreement than Europe could potentially avoid the outbreak of another world war. Meanwhile in the United States a combination of events such as the great depression and the losses suffered in world war one had pushed the American opinion and policy towards isolationism. Many Americans argued that the United States shouldn’t intervene in European conflicts or politics that did not concern them. Churchill however believed that not only did Nazi Germany and Facist Italy pose a threat but that the rights, traditions and fundamental beliefs of western civilization were in jeopardy and so he made it his mission to ready the British people for war and appeal to the US for aide against this threat. Now in his speech the defence of freedom and peace Churchill utilizes a number of literary devices the first of which is Allusion. Allusion is a figure of speech that makes reference to a place, person or event real or imaginary and can refer to anything which includes artist paintings, opera, mythical figures and bible passages. Churchill uses this to grab his audience’s attention and engage them into the subject while also getting his message across to them without having to go through tedious details. The first example of allusion is when he states â€Å"he (meaning Hitler) must blood his hounds and show them sport or else like Actaeon of old, be devoured by them†. Here he is referring to an ancient tale in Greek mythology Actaeon was a man who was punished by the goddess Artemis for boasting that he was a better hunter than she as a consequence she turned him into a stag, and his hounds turned on him and killed him. What Churchill is trying to get across to his audience is that if Hitler does not constantly lead his allies and soldiers to victory, they will eventually turn against him, taking his power for themselves. Allusion was further demonstrated when Churchill states to his audience that the American people wash their hands of the whole buissness.

Marketing Strategies Used In Film Industry Bollywood Media Essay

Marketing Strategies Used In Film Industry Bollywood Media Essay Patiala House releases in Patiala, ironically the film has nothing to do with the princely state, Katrina Kaif in Lucknow studio of radio mirchi for Rajneetis Promotion, Silence is the promotion strategy for My Name is Khan a much talked film This paper investigates widespread marketing strategies used in Film industry popularly called the Bollywood both nationally and internationally. Film marketing is rapidly developing into a promising industry although the idea is its incipient stage in India. We have seen over the years that success of film now not only through its contents but varied integration of marketing strategies to promote the film. Today everyone in the film bazaar wants success but it is acquired by only those who have come out with some out of box strategy for their film. Films are much hyped before their release in the market so that they have great openings but some are bombed in few weeks and some are not even noticed due to lack of content. Films now are more than just an entertainment, but are a business. Marketing of a movie is not a new initiative it has its existence since films were introduced in India, but it is followed more rigorously in todays state of film affairs. The inception of this paper starts with introduction of the film industry followed with the strategies used to market the movies in the industry. This is also an interest area of the author, as being a movie buff. The other segment research will highlight the growth of this budding industry. The content of this paper also comprises with current inclination and variation that are common in the film industry. The methodology used in this paper has a literature review which will be the basis of the report. Due to non-availability of required data relating to the expenses on conventional and non-conventional media, the author has chose a case study approach. To indentify the consumption pattern of the consumer a research is conducted both with qualitative and quantitative analysis. The dissertation is ended with the inclusion of integrated marketing framework for Bollywood and the new means that for existing medium, those are being or could be deployed in the area of film marketing. Methodology: Before getting into details of film marketing the author highlights the area of conventional and non-conventional media and tactics to manipulate the viewers decision. Conventional media majorly includes Trailers and Commercials on Television, Posters, Radio promotion and Printed Ads etc. whereas, unconventional media comprises of SMS/MMS, Internet Broadband, BTL activities and events and social networking etc. In terms of number of movies produced India has the biggest movie industry. Around 800 movies are made and released of which 90% are bombed beyond the week at the box-office. (Indiaonestop, 2010) We can every day, every few hours, somebody, somewhere is launching a feature film in this country. (Bose, 2006) So its important for a film marketer to know which method or media would be appropriate for that particular film. While delineating conventional tactics for marketing films to the unconventional ones a clear example would be advertisement in theatre which is a conventional way but using technology or innovative techniques to market it qualifies to be an unconventional way of marketing. Taking in to consideration the number of flops annually the Bollywood gives, it is mandatory to understand the spending done on these mediums for promotion as it would give an insight to a new method which will be helpful for our dissertation. Film makers generally dont take into consideration what audiences want a few can be named as Ram Gopal Verma, Mani Ratnam etc. whose films like RGV ki Aag, Rakta Charitra and Raavan flopped in spite of having strong star cast. So in order to gauge consumer consumption pattern in terms of movie content, effects of promotional activities, change in the decision to watch a movie etc. (Chand, 2011) These factors will help in defining the timing of the movie to launched, content of the movie, Star cast, Publicity, unfriendly press and partner brands. Producers often forget the importance of the above factors in a hurry to give a clone of previous hits. All the film makers try to play safe, recover costs and try to move on and thus leave the impression to the general public that our film makers have run out of ideas. (Bose, 2006) Film makers these days are like businessman, they spread their losses by investing in several films simultaneously in the anticipation that at if one will work he can take care of the losses with it. A film-maker who has the resources and the ability to work and gamble on multiple projects is never let down by the law of probability. Mode of Study/Tools Used: A two pronged approach adopted in this report will help to understand all of the above and find a satisfactory answer for it. A secondary research will be conducted on the available data. A whole research framework will be gathered related to film marketing. This would not meet ones expectation entirely so we need a primary survey including both quantitative and qualitative analysis. Quantitative research would be done with the help of questionnaires targeting the urban crowds from the metros excluding the southern cities of India. Overseas city like Leicester and Wembley which has a number of Indian communities is also taken under the survey which will give a more holistic research. Approximately a sample of 50 respondents were targeted, though the number is too short for large topic like this; hence a figure ranging to 20,000 at a confidence level of 95% and percentage of 50% the confidence interval comes out to be approximately +/-3.5% which should be acceptable. Internet has been used as a medium to collect data from the respondents along with collecting data personally from the above mentioned localities in Wembley and Leicester. This medium saved cost and time. However response for the survey was not mandatory and it was completely at respondents discretion. The idea behind the selection of the metros for primary research is due to the beginning of the multiplex culture in these cities. Usual movie goers were targeted that includes families, teens, couples etc. The data obtained from this survey will be evaluated using factor analysis. This data will help us to understand the trend, interest of the consumers towards the unconventional media used to promote the films. As part of the research a case study of movie will be taken which was well marketed but bombed at the box office. This will give an actual scenario of the topic. Anticipated Output from the Research: Few questions would come up along with this dissertation: Whom should the producer communicate to? What appeals to whom? Which media reaches the most? What do the consumers want? Limitations of the Survey: This sample does not represent the entire India due to the limitation of the survey conducted in the taken geography. The area was chosen mostly as the region bestows majorly to the Hindi speaking population of the country. Another limitation is number of the respondents would be contacted through emails or social networking sites which leads to a possibility of fake response, half response or also data duplication. Review of Literature Overview: Hollywood has been dominant over the years in the international film industry but slowly Mumbai and Shanghai are emerging beyond providing the local language films and television into domestic and international markets. Los Angeles remains the largest cluster in the world with Mumbai following second in the lead. (PWC, 2010) Mumbai and Shanghais cluster increases between 2010 and 2040 while that of Los Angeles cluster decreases in size. This is because of shift of consumers towards alternative media options like video games and internet. (PWC, 2010) Indian and Chinese governments have realized the potential of the industry and so they are encouraging these industries to grow. However it is difficult to imagine a mainstream film audience opting for Chinese movies instead of Hollywood movies. In future this may change. In recent years Hollywood and Bollywood have realized the importance of regional cinema and so there is an increasing trend of dubbing popular movies of both the industry. E.g. Gurinder Chadhas latest film Its a Wonderful Afterlife was dubbed in Hindi and Punjabi. (PWC, 2010) As stated earlier the subject of this dissertation is to understand the Indian Film Industrys marketing strategies and its competitors. The aim of the literature review is to understand the method used for film marketing using conventional and nonconventional medium. Indian film marketing is in its incipient stage there is dearth of literature work. There are few reports and articles here and there which shed light on this subject. The literature review on the subject I found relevant to my research is as follows: Unraveling the potential: The Indian Entertainment and Media Industry, FICCI Frames, March 2006, by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) The report is published by FICCI and it looks as Entertainment and Media Industry as a whole but not only the film industry. However the overall percepts provided gives some important information for my research. Table 1: IRS 2005, Round 2 as quoted in Jagran Prakashan Prospectus filed with SEBI dated Feb 3, 2006 Urban India Films Reach in % age Reach in millions A1 30.6 2.43 A2 25.1 3.85 B1, B2 19.1 7.53 C 18.1 8.59 D 17.1 9.52 E1, E2 15.7 10.59 Source: Televisionpoint, Research, Media Industry, 2005 The above table shows how much penetration films have in the socio economic classes. It helps to target market segmentation and marketing campaigns according to the socio-economic classes and the reach of the medium. However the report shows the share of the film industry in the Indian economy which is not changing from 2005- 2010 as the share of film industry was 19 % in 2005 but has not increased in 2010. (FICCI, 2006) The report points out that film industry is among few growth drivers for the EM industry. Quoting directly from the report: Indians love to watch movies. And advancements in technology are helping the Indian film industry in all the spheres film production, film exhibition and marketing. The industry is increasingly getting more corporatized. Several film production, distribution and exhibition companies are coming out with public issues. More theatres across the country are getting upgraded to multiplexes and initiatives to set up more digital cinema halls in the country are already underway. This will not only improve the quality of prints and thereby make film viewing a more pleasurable experience, but also reduce piracy of prints. (FICCI, 2006) Faults Found Indian Film Industry is full of uncertainty and is unorganized. The outcome is bollywood has only 1% of share in the world film industry while at the same time US has 60% of the world revenue. (PWC FICCI, 2007) Table 2 Filmed entertainment revenues by country/region, US$ million, 2009 Country/region Revenue in US$ million Percentage of total USA 34,431 40.4 Japan 11,061 13.0 UK 5,599 6.6 Other Western Europe 5,151 6.1 France 3,763 4.4 Germany 3,646 4.3 Canada 3,330 3.9 Other Asia Pacific 2,681 3.1 Australia 2,562 3.0 Latin America 2,431 2.9 Italy 2,087 2.5 Central and Eastern Europe 1,982 2.3 India 1,899 2.2 Spain 1,688 2.0 South Korea 1,275 1.5 China 1,206 1.4 Middle East and Africa 345 0.4 Total 85,137 100.0 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers, Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2010-2014, June 2010 The above report shows the world film market is still dominated by the developed economies. (UK Film Council, 2010) In spite of Indian Film Industry having larger admissions ratio and population it still lags behind to Australia and Italy in terms of world market share. Films are today more than Art, its business. This showbiz business is the biggest money earner in the country. In last couple of years film industry has changed itself into fully professional business industry with innovative methods to promote a film. Time has changed and so are the promotional and marketing activities of a film. Awareness of film and its Star Cast is important in the competitive industry. (Merinews, 2010) Almost two to three movies releasing every Friday, to succeed the producer or directors have to something different to attract the audiences. Its all about creating brand identity. For e.g. during the release of 3 Idiots Amir Khan toured seven cities across India to connect to people and create an attention towards the movie. This proved to be very successful strategy and the movie broke all box office records. Today the actors have also understood the importance of marketing of a film. The author has found few gaps in the Indian Film Industry. Digital Movies Development in the digital technology will lead the industry in future. Digital movie assures to raise box office collections by increasing picture resolution, quality of the print and lower distribution costs. There are mixed reaction on the issue of piracy. Initiatives by producers like Bharat Shah and Manmohan Shetty have started initiative to increase digital cinemas. (Bose, 2006) Audiences distinguishing the promotions to be fake All promotion techniques like Coffee with the stars, Invitation to the premiere etc does not attract the audiences as they dont trust the promotional event. They simply think that at given sample of 10000 only 2-3 fans get a chance to meet the stars or invitation. Audiences do notice such events but percentage of participation is very low. Thus by using conventional medium to connect to people a major chunk of the pie rests untouched by the film makers. (Chand, 2011) BTL activities and its effects on films Below the line activities do engage the audiences with the campaign but at the end they fail to attract the audiences at the ticket booths and do not increase the ticket sales. A good here is of the film Aagey Se Right The campaign Win a Gun was woven with the story line of the film where the actor loses his gun in the film. It was launched online where the users could take home a gun by answering a simple question and the help the cop Waghmare, find his lost gun as well. The actor also visited seven cities of India and checked visitors purses and bags as a part of campaign. In spite of the innovativeness and spending on the campaign the film did not earn money to the producers. (Nautiyal, 2009) Competition from International Movies The international market is expected to grow at the pace of 18% annually with estimation at Rs. 7 billion but bollywood shares only 10% of its box office revenues in the international market. (PWC FICCI, 2007) There is a significant gap in the urban and rural demand due to growing middle class. The urban audiences demand Masala + Movies which cannot be met due to shortage of talent. Hence this demand gap is filled by international movies. Hollywood is gaining a reasonable market share with the help of better marketing techniques. Their target audiences are young Indians which amount 50% of the population. (Kukenshoner et al 2008) Surmises The above holes found in the working of Indian film industry surmises to the statement that: Traditional marketing strategies are vieux jeu, and more and more innovative techniques are used to attract the audiences for the Friday. Bollywood and the World Film Industry:Â   With the rise of new mediums and change in economic scenario of India more attention is diverted towards bollywood at the same time other film cultures attempting to Bucolize Hollywood. (Desai Dudrah, 2008) Bollywood prides itself with being one of the largest film industries in the world in terms of producing the films. Some around 1090 films compared to 607 in the year 2006. (Jones et al, 2008) The current dominance of Hollywood is largely due to advancements in marketing techniques, innovative, good content and an effective distribution channel. In terms of commercial success Hollywood dominated the world market but other countries were still making culturally important movies. (Jones et al, 2008) France and UK were major competitors of Hollywood. Modern Motion Picture was invented in France. It loses its leading position against Hollywood with the invention of sound in the film. The demand decreased due to the less French speaking people over the globe. Since the creation of television and film, Britain has been thriving due the film as it is a key part and driver of the mix of creative industries. (House of Commons, 2003) The industry experienced a constant brain drain to the Hollywood. (Jones et al, 2008) Chinese film industry although compared to India is small but is very organized. One area bollywood has to work on if want to be successful in the world market is the length of the film. Even the best film has 20-30 minutes more length. If bollywood wants to succeed in the global market the industry will have to invest lot in marketing and distribution of the film. (Pillania, 2008) Nollywood a dark horse of Africa is the new word in the world market at least in India. The world was minted by their inspiring counterparts namely Hollywood and Bollywood. It is one of the fastest and largest growing industries with over 872 films in 2006 (UNESCO, 2006) The African market is dominated by Nollywood. Compared to Hollywood, Bollywood and other film industries the film making style is cost effective as it uses digital cameras instead of film and movies are made in mere a weeks time with the less than 15000 USD. Movies are released directly through DVDs or CDs rather than in Theatres. It does affect the quality of the film; making it difficult to export overseas. Few western directed documentaries have spread some knowledge of Nollywood in the West. A part of the industry is working to improve the current scenario. (Mazzocco, 2011) Tollywood is the combination of wood from Hollywood and Tolly from Telugu language also known as cinema of Andhra Pradesh. In 2008 278 movies were released. Hyderabad is the center of all the work done and studios of Tollywood. (Vikram, 2010) The South Indian film industries produce half of the total number of movies of India. Breakdown of films in different languages of India is shown below: Languages No. of Films Hindi 222 Tamil 151 Telugu 155 Kannada 109 Malayalam 64 Marathi 25 Bengali 49 Assamese 17 English 23 Others 877 (Source: Central Board of Film Certification, 2003) Bollywood has over the years created an synthetic culture that appeals to a specific audience in India while regional cinemas are still rooted to their culture and language. Few regional films have been so popular that they had bypassed Bollywood films at the box office by selling more tickets in their respective states. E.g. A Tamil Super Star Rajikanths Film named Shivaji broke all records of Tamil film industry and at the same time breaking Indias Box office records. Even though the film was played on only 12 screens it was the first non-Bollywood Indian film to make it to UK Top Ten. Bollywood is mistaken as Indian Cinema by many non-Indian commentators and also by some Indians but the fact is something different. The challenge to bollywood is not only from overseas but also from the regional movies. (Stafford, 2008) The Integrated Marketing Framework Understanding Film Marketing Publicity: The strategic importance of publicity of any film is undoubted. It is oxygen for everybody who is connected in the film industry. It keeps you in the attention and guarantees the longevity of your career. An important role is played by both media and non-media public relations. Although here Bollywood lacks good publicist like they have in Hollywood. Publicist have failed to keep with pace of growth by the industry in past years. Publicist are increasingly becoming a necessity as the number of publication seeking coverage are increasing along with the technology which is expand bollywood beyond the borders. (Parimal et al 2009) Public always has an craving for gossips about domestic crisis, romantic linkages with a star or a sensational filmi story. So it always makes a sense for a film-maker to give media some masala news about the plot of the film, release of the music, clarification on controversies, celebration parties or location of the shoots. Film awards also boost chances of the actor/actress to get new films. For e.g. Producer Bimal Roys movie named Bandini was released in 1966. The film was running according to the course and was about to be take off the theatres, when suddenly the movie was nominated for Film fare awards and Presidents Silver Medal. It a new lease of life to the movie and the movie was a hit miraculously. (Bose, 2006) If a movie successfully touches the public emotion it is bound to be a hit. This happened with movies like Gadar and Laagan. These films touched the patriotic sentiment of the common man so got mouth to mouth publicity and enjoyed greater success after the first week of release. It is said that people from villages with trucks full went to the cities to watch these movies. Especially, Gadar. Quality of movie along with good music played an important role in success of these movies. (Pandey, 2010) Partner Brands: Over the years bollywood have successfully partnered with brands like Tag Huer, Rolex, McDonalds, Maybelline, Exide battery, Coca Cola, Pepsi, Hutch, Bournvita, Zandu, Ultratech cement, Nikon and so on. For e.g. In the movie Taare Zameen Par, In the drawing competition the participants were shown using colors of Fevicryl. The same color prints were gifted by the elder brother of the main character Darsheel Safari. (S Roy et al, 2009) Few e.g. of the brands partnering with the films are as under: Film Name Brand Name Om Shanti Om Mukta Arts-Production House, HMV, Exide Battery, Filmfare Awards, Tag Heur Watch, Maybelline Chak de India EXIM Bank, Australian Trade and Commerce, Aaj Tak, McDonalds, Britannia Marie, ESPN, Puma Partner Coco Cola, Marie Claire, Zoom (Media Partner), Pepsi, Pizza Hut, Toyota, ESPN, Boost, Hutch, Sony Vaio, Phuket (Tourism), Starbucks, Mercedes, Kawasaki (Water Boat), Nokia 6600, BPL, DFL, Bournvita, Sony Erickson Mobile, Go air, Nikon, Calvin Klein Namaste London Spykar Jeans, Western Union Money Transfer, Streax, MTV, Kingfisher, Bharatmatrimony.com, Indiatimes.com, HP (laptop), Bailey (Packaged Water), Ford (Tractor), Sony Camcorder Source: (Product Placement in Bollywood Movies, pp 56) Content of the movie: Most modern films that are high in style and locations but low in content fail to click at the box office. The movie-goer however motivated is no fool and can see through the content of the movie within the first 15 minutes of the movie. Honesty is the best policy. Honesty to the medium and honesty to the audiences does pay off. Audiences always prefer innovativeness in the content. Five Film on the freedom fighter Bhagat Singh was made in 2001 simultaneously, but only the one with protagonist Ajay Devgan in the lead role was a hit at box office mainly because of its narrative style. There are many such instances in bollywood where narrative styles of the movie have won producers accolades. (Bose, 2006) Star Cast: Making a film is all about team work. It consists of actors, crew members, technicians and artistes who contribute their skills and reputation to create a brand value for the film. These people used to be employees of the production houses hired on monthly fixed salary in late 50s. Time passed and so changed the working of bollywood film industry. With the wipeout of the studio system freelancing became the norm of the industry where stars soon began to call the shots. Their association with the production team and banner determined their success and reputation in the industry. Today the focus shifting towards the stars, camps have come up where Shah Rukh Khan belongs to the Karan Johar Camp. Actresses like Urmila and Antara Mali belongs to Ram Gopal Verma camp etc. They may be lucky talismans or loyalists to their respective camps but together they constitute a winning team that every distributor would like to bet on. The star system of bollywood signifies their value by their impac t on the industry. Lorenzen and Taube (2008) stress that inclusion of stars in the movie play a major role in the success of the typical film of the bollywood at the same time acknowledging that mere inclusion does not guarantee the success of the film at box office. The second largest movie industry of India is Tollywood which also has the same star system. At international level Nollywood the movie industy of Nigeria also has the same star system where the power is hold by the marketers and distributors. In contrast to most European film industries, Nigerian film industry is run on very industrial terms. (Kerrigan, 2010) Timing of the movie to be launched: As such there is no rule that films have to be released on Friday but the general reason behind is Friday is the last day working day giving the audiences to spend rest two days in recreational activities. Watching a movie is one of them. Another reason for timing a movie release is people dont come to theatres if there are exams or festivals or world cup event. Given an example is the current release of the movie Yeh Faasle. The current hysteria of World Cup and Board examinations the film is not having audiences in spite of strong star cast. (Pattni, 2011) Planning Campaign of Film Marketing: Film marketing is nothing but how the filmmakers and marketers position their film in the mind of the audiences in order to increase the consumption of their film. (Kerrigan, 2010) A marketing process must address few factors like PEST, cultural and competition to fit in the market place. The timing of this process is very important; filmmakers have realized its importance. Film marketing is done at three stages namely corporate branding, promotions events and traders and distributors.(Chand, 2011) Planning for a Movie: Film marketing starts at the moment the idea of particular film making is conceived. The target audience is also decided for whom the movie is made for. So effective planning is needed to contain all the section you need to address. More than 50% of all movie theatre tickets are bought by 9% of the population. The films first two weeks does the business of around 78% in the given market place. (Smith, 2011) The two key factors of your film planning are Positioning and Target Market: Positioning: Positioning is how a product appears in relation to other products in the market (Tutor2u, 2011) The whole marketing and communication strategy of the film is depended on the positioning of the film. The film positions itself in the mind of the audience through positioning. A target audience is to be pin-pointed by the marketers to appeal them through positioning elements (Kalra, 2002) For e.g. In Dharmendras Barsaat the film was intended to be the refreshing love story with two new star faces. But no key elements were expressed convincingly in the film. Two star faces were created in the industry but the film didnt do well in the box office. (Chand, 2011) Targeting: Every movie differs from other and so is the genre of the movie. The film cant be a hit unless the film maker knows it target audience. It is important for the film maker to know what the target audience want, what they have rejected in past and their habits. Target audience is defined by age, class, gender etc while elements like movie goers, race, socio-economic status, urban and rural audience are additional. Targeting can be done on the basis of: Age Gender Education Religion Ethnicity Nationality Geography Medium of Marketing: Be interesting, or be invisible. Andy Sernovitz There are so many options for marketing that marketers are confused over it. There are many boulevards for marketing in India. Many marketing tools are used for single film in the industry. Lets look at the most used platforms to attract audiences at the theatres. In the past the marketing campaigns were usually done by billboards designed to fit in magazines, newspapers ads, integrated into television ads and the same in theater trailers. Over the years the style of bollywood has changed so is its campaigning style the conventional marketing through billboards, print ads, TV ads and trailers have changed their approach. In todays scenario film campaigning is more targeted at various online demographics that suits the audiences demands and is more specific. (Miller, 2011) Gupta and Gould (1997) stated product placement as incorporating brands in films in return of money. Regional movies are also at par with Bollywood in product placements. E.g. A Telugu movie named Jalsa had a Coca-C ola brand incorporated in it. (Roy Bhattacharya, 2009) Print Advertisements: In contemporary India advertisements play many roles. Print advertisement are the most used and old techniques to reach the audiences. Full page ads and half page ads in a newspaper like Times of India, Dainik Bhaskar etc were regular norms till date. These ads are now shifting towards internet which has photographs usually taken during the shoots. To make the ad more effective and increase its credibility quotes from critics are added to the advertisements. (Chand, 2011) The Indian print industry is expected to grow at 7.4% over the period of 2009-14 and an estimated of Rs. 230.5 billion in 2014 from the current estimate of Rs. 161.5 billion in 2009. (PWC, 2010) Television Appearances: It was started just as an experiment by Yash Raj but this idea seems to be accepted by all in the industry to promote their respective films. Currently this medium is taken by film makers very seriously. Before it was reality shows on TV and now it is serials. Bollywood has found their new mantra to publicize their upcoming movies. Both big and small TV stars benefit from this new arrangement as this is the be

The Strong Character and Unavoidable Destiny of Oedipus Rex Essay

The Strong Character and Unavoidable Destiny of Oedipus Rex    Oedipus the King, by Sophocles is about Oedipus, a man doomed by his fate. Like most tragedies, Oedipus the King contains a tragic hero, a heroic figure unable to escape his own doom. This tragic hero usually has a hamartia, a tragic flaw, which causes his downfall. The tragic flaw that Sophocles gives Oedipus is hubris (exaggerated pride or self-confidence), which is what caused Oedipus to walk right into the fate he sought to escape. Oedipus' pride pushes him toward his tragic end in the initial journey, when he kills his father, in the episode of the sphinx, and in his adamant search for truth.      Pride like that of Oedipus has been the downfall of many great leaders.   Oedipus is blinded by his arrogance and won't accept the fact that he can't avoid his fate. His pride first affects him when he is told about what his fate has in-store for him. Oedipus explains to Jocasta that he was told that he "was fated to lie with [his] mother and show to daylight an accursed breed, which men would not endure, and [he] was doomed to be murderer of the father that begot [him]. When [he] heard this [he] fled" (Sophocles 45, 1.792-4). Ironically the pride that caused him to attempt to avoid his fate, put him on a path to it.    On his trip away from Corinth, he unknowingly met with his father, King Laius. When Oedipus tells Jocasta of his encounter he says that he met with a carriage at an intersection and they fought over the right of way. He also mentions one man (King Laius) struck him and said that: "He [King Laius] was paid in full and ... my stick had struck him backwards from the car and he rolled out of it. And then I killed them all"   (45, 1.801-13).... ...ppen. Oedipus' fate might have been avoided if Oedipus was not the type of person he was Oedipus was a tragic hero. Sophocles, instead of killing Oedipus in the end of the novel, chose to give Oedipus a fate worse then death. Oedipus found out who he was and that he killed his father and slept with his mother. His tragic end was a result of his hamartia, hubris. His pride was what caused him to attack the carriage and kill his father, which led to him marrying his mother. He could have ignored the mere right of way argument, but the person he was inside couldn't. His self-confidence and pride, turned into arrogance, and caused him to curse himself. Ironically the traits Oedipus had which led to him becoming a rich and powerful king ultimately led to his tragic end. Perhaps if Oedipus had been a different person inside, he might have been able to escape his fate.   

Socrates :: essays research papers

Socrates Socrates, as known by Renault, was a beautiful creature. Not physically beautiful, but internally and fundamentally beautiful. It was he who said: When you assume the show of any virtue, you open a credit account, which one day you will have to meet or go broke (pp. 398). According to Renault, Socrates taught children free of charge. He often walked and talked with children and young men in the market. They discussed, or more accurately argued in a calm manner, various issues ranging from the sciences to religion. Socrates, however, usually avoided the subject of government whenever possible. Socrates believed his role in life was to teach a new understanding of virtues, it was these virtues that revolved around much of the controversies. The citizens thought that Socrates poisoned the minds of children. Causing them to lose respect for parents and elders. It was said that he did not believe in conventional gods either. This is shown by Strymon on pp. 181 and 182, "I imagine the in your own circle of friends, what we have heard is nothing out of the way. Where the teacher (Socrates) does not even worship the immortal gods, but sets the aside for his new divinities, one can hardly expect in the pupil much reverence for age and kinship in mere men." Parents blamed the lack of respect for elders on Socrates. In truth Renault says that he was only giving them guidance so that they may guide themselves and be free of petty problems. This guidance and advice caused these young men to re-think their attitudes. Indeed Alexias, Xenophon, and especially Plato were all changed by Socrates. They loved Socrates like a mother or father: pp. 392, "In a word," said Xenophon, "We love him." This love for Socrates was often misinterpreted as love being lost for family, through argument. Parents were so afraid of losing children to him they made laws. One law stated that Socrates could not speak to anyone under thirty years of age. Socrates defied this law, and was not punished. However after a while all his defiance's and warnings caught up with him. He was given the choice of banishment or death. He chose death. Many of his students wanted to free him, but Socrates made the choice against it. In the end Socrates is holding the glass of Hemlock saying farewell with his students, and friends. According to The Encyclopedia, Socrates was born around 470 BC and died around 399 BC. He greatly impacted Western Philosophy through his influence on Plato. Socrates was born in Athens the son of a sculptor.

Proposition 19 Essay

The legality of marijuana has been the subject for debate and controversy for decades. With the new generation, the number of supporters of marijuana legalization has increased dramatically. In the United States, legalizing marijuana is a major concern because it is the most frequently used illegal drug. Nearly 98 million Americans over the age of 12 have tried marijuana at least once. Politicians have thought of legalizing marijuana to increase revenue by imposing taxes. At the forefront of this idea is California, which is currently the most populous state in the United States yet has the highest budget deficit of all states. Also, California has the 5th highest unemployment rates exceeding 12 percent. In 2009, the California economic crisis became severe as the state faced bankruptcy. This budget shortfall has caused the state to look for ways out. California’s way out of a huge budget deficit begins with Proposition [5] Proposition 19 also known as the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 would legalize various marijuana activities, allow local government to regulate these activities, allow for marijuana related government axes, and authorizes various criminal and civil penalties by local government. The California ballot for Proposition 19 opened on November 2, 2010 in California, hoping to change the fate of marijuana legalization in America forever. The bill failed, but only trailed the outcome by nearly 500 votes. 4] Among the arguments for the passing of Proposition 19 was that legalizing marijuana in California could reduce drug-related violence, based on a study conducted by the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy. In addition some believe that it would help alleviate the drug war in Mexico. Based on the theory adopted by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy that up to 60% of Mexican drug cartels’ profits come from sales of marijuana, legalizing the drug in nearby California would drastically cut their funding. As a result, supporters of this argument believed that legalization would lead to a decrease in drug-related violent crime in Mexico. [3] Also cited were a savings of $960 million per year in law enforcement costs, and a generation of $350 million a year in state and local tax revenues. Supporters also argued that passing the measure would result in additional benefits including tourism and spinoff ndustries such as cafes and paraphernalia. Based on California’s wine industry, proponents of this theory anticipated that legalizing marijuana in the state could generate up to $18 billion, including the creation of 60,000-110,000 Jobs. [4] Perhaps one of the most well-known arguments for the legalization of Marijuana is to treat conditions including pain and nausea caused by HIV/AIDS, cancer and other conditions. When presented with all the information above it’s easy to see why so many people can rationalize their decision to support Proposition 19. Increasing revenue and employment rate’s while decreasing law enforcement costs and crime, ll by providing the public with a safe â€Å"wonder drug† to aid in a variety of ailments. What could e better? Untortunately though all these claims seem viable none ot them can escape scrutiny. To address Marijuana as a potential drug, scientific evidence needs to be provided to substantiate the claims. To date the evidence is not sufficient for the marijuana plant to gain FDA approval, for two main reasons. First, there have not been enough clinical trials showing that marijuana’s benefits outweigh its health risks in patients with the symptoms it is meant to treat. The FDA equires carefully conducted studies in large numbers of patients (hundreds to thousands) to accurately assess the benefits and risks of a potential medication. [5] Also, to be considered a legitimate medicine, a substance must have well-defined and measureable ingredients that are consistent from one unit (such as a pill or injection) to the next. This consistency allows doctors to determine the dose and frequency. As the marijuana plant contains hundreds of chemical compounds that may have different effects and that vary from plant to plant, its use as a medicine is difficult to evaluate. However, THC-based drugs to treat pain and nausea are already FDA approved and prescribed, and scientists continue to investigate the medicinal properties of cannabinoids. Regarding the supposed economic benefits of taxing marijuana, some comparison with two drugs that are already regulated and taxed, alcohol and tobacco is worth considering. People dont typically grow their own tobacco or distill their own spirits, so consumers accept high taxes on them as retail products. Marijuana, though, is easy and cheap to cultivate, indoors or out, and Proposition 19 would allow individuals to grow as much as 25 square feet of arijuana for â€Å"personal consumption. â€Å"Why would people volunteer to pay high taxes on marijuana if it were legalized? The answer is that many would not, and the underground market, adapting to undercut any new taxes, would barely diminish at all. This bill also implied that marijuana would be regulated and controlled by the initiative. In fact, the law provides for no regulation or control, but leaves it up to local governments to initiate such controls and or regulations. In addition, there are no provisions to tax marijuana cultivation or use in the initiative. Instead, such taxation, f it ever happens will be left to local governments. In fact, a provision of the initiative specifically prevents the state of California from taxing marijuana sales any more than the usual sales tax in contrast to cigarettes and liquor. 1] Since the enforcement of locally enacted taxation will be next to impossible, there will never be any significant revenue produced through this initiative. Another major conflict is that this bill would create a state law that conflicts with federal drug laws. On the surface, this does not seem to be a big deal, since President Obama has stated that e won’t enforce the federal law in California. Howe ver, there is another issue that could cause the loss of billions of dollars to the state. Public contracts and grants require grantees to effectively enforce the drug-free workplace requirements (which includes marijuana use) outlined by the federal government’s Federal Workplace Act of 1988. Not only may schools lose their federal grants, but medical research institutions, could lose millions of dollars annually The current healthcare and criminal Justice costs associated with alcohol and tobacco far surpass the tax revenue hey generate, and very little of the taxes collected on these substances is contributed to offsetting their substantial social and health costs. For every dollar society collects in taxes on alcohol, for example, we end up spending eight more in social cos ts That is hardly a recipe tor fiscal health A recent Rand Corp. report, â€Å"Altered State,† found that it is difficult to predict estimated revenue from marijuana taxes, and that legalization would increase consumption but could also lead to widespread tax evasion and a â€Å"race to the bottom† in terms of local tax rates. Perhaps the biggest concern is safety on the roads. In 2010 a comment was made by a formal General Sergeant that â€Å"driving under the influence of Marijuana is much like being under the influence of Alcohol. In response an experiment was conducted by two local Los Angeles Journalists who decided to take a car and drive stoned. With the help from the California Highway Patrol the highway was closed to the public and several obstacles were arranged simulating how a driver might need to operate in heavy traffic. The experiment, said one of the Journalists â€Å"was to see how impaired I was after smoking pot† California has more drivers than any other state, 22 million of hem. So the big concern was if legalizing marijuana would make the roads less safe. The proponents of Proposition 19 insist it won’t. The common conception among supporters is that the impairment is rather slight like taking an antihistamine. The journalists certainly found that driving and drugs don’t mix. One of them nearly veered off the highway through a test course. â€Å"l wasn’t 0k, so that was kind of shocking to me† said one of the drivers. But safety seems to be a big reason support for proposition 19 dropped. 1 percent opposed and 39 percent supported in a poll conducted before the bill was denied in 2010. 5] To give credibility to the tests conducted by the Journalist’s we can explore the affects Marijuana has on the brain. When marijuana is smoked, THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body. THC acts upon specific molecular targets on brain cells, calle d cannabinoid receptors. These receptors are ordinarily activated by chemicals similar to THC called endocannabinoids, such as anandamide. These are naturally occurring in the body and are part of a neural communication network (the endocannabinoid system) that lays an important role in normal brain development and function The highest density of cannabinoid receptors is found in parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement. Marijuana over activates the endocannabinoid system, causing the high and other effects that users experience. These include distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and disrupted learning and memory. Because it seriously impairs Judgment and motor coordination, marijuana also contributes to accidents while driving. A recent analysis of data from several studies found that marijuana use more than doubles a driver’s risk of being in an accident. Further, the combination of marijuana and alcohol is worse than either substance alone with respect to driving impairment. As a recreational drug, marijuana is not quite as benign as most of its proponents would claim. Heavvy marijuana use results in long-term effects on the brain, including lower responses in those areas which are affected by THC. Although users are able to compensate somewhat through the use of other brain areas, the long term effects of his damage, as user’s age, has not been determined. This damage may be responsible for impairments noted in short-term and long-term memory, along with a host of possible other psychiatric illnesses. Regular use of marijuana use by young people can nave especially negative long lasting impact on the structure and tunction of their brains. A recent study of marijuana users who began using in adolescence revealed a profound deficit in connections between brain areas responsible for learning and memory. And a large prospective study (following individuals across ime) showed that people who began smoking marijuana heavily in their teens lost as much as 8 points in IQ between age 13 and age 38; importantly, the lost cognitive abilities were not restored in those who quit smoking marijuana as adults. [4] A proportion of marijuana users become addicted and suffer from classic withdrawal symptoms upon abstinence. For a minority of users, marijuana is a gateway drug, and they proceed to use and abuse more powerful psychostimulants. Besides its effects upon the brain, Marijuana raises heart rate by 20-100 percent shortly after smoking; this effect can last up to 3 hours. In one study, it was estimated that marijuana users have a 4. 8-fold increase in the risk of heart attack in the first hour after smoking the drug. This may be due to increased heart rate as well as the effects of marijuana on heart rhythms, causing palpitations and arrhythmias. Marijuana use can lead to increased risks for respiratory cancers and may have some adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular effects in some users. Marijuana smoke has been placed on the California Proposition 65 list of carcinogenic materials, as required by California law for materials proven to cause cancer. 5] Marijuana use during pregnancy has been shown to result in lower child intelligence, while increasing the incidence of mental health problems. The idea that marijuana is a harmless recreational pastime has been disproved through continuing scientific research. Although this bill was denied the continued support for legalizing Marijuana is great, ensuring that this is a topic that will be an issue of debate for years to come. In my opinion we don’t need all the problems that will result from the passage of Proposition 19 . This bill would established a legal â€Å"right† to use marijuana, potentially endangering the lives of thers through allowing intoxicated individuals to perform crucial driving Jobs. In addition, this bill could result in the loss of billions of dollars in federal grants and contracts to schools and hospitals, which would be unable to comply with federal drug-free workplace requirements. Contrary to the claims of proponents, Prop 19 would neither regulate, control, nor tax marijuana, but merely provides the legal right of local governments to create their own hodgepodge of local laws and ordinances, which would be virtually impossible to enforce. Although marijuana use does not egatively impact all users, it does have numerous adverse health effects on a significant percentage of individuals, which will result in increased medical and social costs to the people of California. This was a poorly written initiative that needs to make drastic revisions before it can be considered, in addition to the conduction of more scientific research needs to be done to determine future health risks for the users.