Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd. Case Study Research Paper

Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd. Case Study - Research Paper Example One is to remember that it is difficult to make use of one particular leadership style for different types of contexts. However, the leader may demonstrate the best style or a combination of styles for each exclusive leadership context. From the case study, it has been apparent that Sir Richard Branson is one of the most influential, successful and enduring business leaders. Among numerous leadership styles such as autocratic leadership style, participative leadership style and laissez-faire style as well as in terms of authentic leadership model, expert power and referent power models, it can be analyzed that the leadership style demonstrated by Richard Branson is a laissez-faire leadership style. He has been successful in genuinely serving his employees and customers by means of his leadership. He has been interested in empowering the employees that he leads in order to make a vital difference. Richard Branson has natural leadership gifts and, thus, he makes use of his natural abil ities. It has been apparent from the case study that Richard Branson always believed in building long-term relationships with people. Authentic leaders generally learn from their failures. Richard Branson has focused on preparing himself to have another attempt at any failed activity with the required knowledge that he gained from his previous failure. One of the well known facts regarding authentic leaders is that they draw encouragement from their own lives. Richard Branson seems to be inspired by his mother who taught him not to look back in regret but rather to move on to the next task. An authentic leader is someone who is not frightened to admit his mistakes and, therefore, makes efforts to overcome his limitations. By facing weaknesses and declining to compromise with them, Richard Branson tends to identify ways to beat the weaknesses, which helps him to become a strong leader. Richard Branson also seems to possess expert and referent power. He has been capable of influencing others’ behaviors owing to the recognized competencies, talents and knowledge. He is capable of influencing others because his employees respect, admire and like him as a person. Whenever Richard Branson experiences any kind of setbacks, he chooses to pick himself up and try again. His principles are based on the belief that entrepreneurs will only succeed if they have good people around them and they listen to the superior’s advice. Authentic leaders such as Richard Branson care for themselves as well as the people that they lead, and their compassion is genuine (Harvard Business School, 2012). Richard Branson practices self-discipline by incorporating balance into his personal and professional lives. While most of the executives focus upon serving their customers as well as stockholders, Richard Branson believes that the correct hierarchical system in any organization is to have ‘employee at the first position’, ‘customer next’ and ‘s tockholders at the end’. It is because of the effectiveness of Richard Branson’s leadership style that Virgin Group Limited has been capable of becoming a multibillion-dollar worldwide conglomerate and one of the most recognized brands in the world. It has been identified that most of the US leaders tend to have participative leadership styles. Therefore, it can be stated that although Laissez-Faire leadership style tends to

Business Past Paper Essay Example for Free

Business Past Paper Essay E of the following topics and write it in the space provided. (i) The changing role of women in the family (ii) The involvement of young people in organized sports Topic:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1. (a) State TWO reasons why a researcher would research the topic which you have stated above. (2 marks) (b) Suggest ONE objective on which a researcher may focus in doing a study on the topic you chose. (2 marks) (c) Based on the objective you suggested in 1 (b), write ONE research question. (2 marks) (d) State ONE appropriate method that may be used to collect data on the topic you chose. (1 mark) (e) Outline why a researcher should use the method you stated in 1 (d) above. (2 marks) Total 9 marks 2. (a) For the topic you have chosen, suggest TWO variables which a researcher may investigate. (2 marks) (b) Identify TWO groups from which a researcher may select a sample to get information on the topic you chose. (2 marks) (c) State ONE method of choosing a sample from ONE of the groups you identified in 2 (b) above. (1 mark) (d) Briefly describe the method you suggested in 2 (c). (2 marks) Total 7 marks 3. (a) Suggest TWO ways to display the data that may be collected on the topic you choose. (2 marks) (b) Explain briefly why the data should be displayed in the ways you suggested in 3 (a). (2 marks) (c) Name TWO statistical measures that a researcher may use to determine how numerical data, such as scores obtained in a study, are related. (2 marks) Total 6 marks Use the information in the passage below to answer questions 4 and 5. ALCOHOL AND FAMILY LIFE In a recent study done on the effects of alcohol on family life, the heads of fifty (50) low income households responded. The following information was obtained and analyzed. 30% of the respondents stated that alcohol consumption deprives some families from satisfying their basic needs, 60% indicated that it is a cause for domestic violence in the home while 10% claimed that it prevented family members from enjoying planned leisure activities. These findings have caused concern for many community groups. Leaders of these groups have indicated their desire to find some solutions to these concerns from the local authorities in their communities. 4. (a) (i) Display the findings obtained in this survey in a pie-graph in the space provided below. (4 marks) (ii) Write ONE statement about the data you displayed in the pie-graph. (2 marks) (b) State ONE characteristic of the sample used in this survey. (1 mark) (c) Name ONE research method that the researcher may have used to collect information. (1 mark) (d) Write ONE question that may be included in the research method you named in 4 (c). (1 mark) Total 9 marks 5. (a) Based on the data provided in the survey, write ONE research question. (2 marks) (b) Based on the findings you displayed in 4 (a) (i), suggest ONE recommendation that may be helpful to the community leaders. (1 mark) (c) State ONE change you would make if you were asked to conduct the study. (1 mark) Total 4 marks

Culture Essay -- Sociology, Hofstede

Hofstede (1997) defined culture as the â€Å"collective programming of the mind that distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from others† (p. 6). He referred to mental programming in order to explain patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting. Cultural manifestation is identified as symbols, heroes, rituals, and values as a learned programming that is dependent on a social environment. Values represented the deepest manifestations of culture and are considered culture’s building blocks (Hofstede, 1980). One well-known paradigm Hofstede introduced is called cultural dimensions that include four independent cultural dimensions: power distance, individualism/collectivism, masculinity/femininity, and uncertainty avoidance. After further research, he developed the fifth dimension known as long-term/short-term orientation (Hofstede, 2001). The following section will discuss five of the dimensions to identify the cultural differences between the United States, India, and Thailand. Power Distance The power distance index â€Å"is the extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and institutions accept and expect that power is distributed unequally† (Itim International, 2009). It is a fundamental structure endorsed by the societies’ followers and leaders in areas such as social status, wealth, and sources of power. A high power distance society embraces people with power. Powerful people are expected to have privileges, openly show their status and wealth, and are perceived to be good. On the other hand, a low power distance society embraces uniformity and minimizes inequalities. Those who hold more power in these societies attempt to look less powerful than they are (Albers-Miller & Gelb, 1996). Hofstede’... ...tinuous, ANOVA is the most appropriate method of analysis. Research Question The research question proposed there would be differences in levels of organizational dissent between India, Thailand, and the U.S. The ANOVA revealed significant differences in levels of dissent between the three groups. The means and standard deviations are displayed in Table 2. Overall, Americans are the most likely to express articulated dissent, with Thais being the less least likely: F(4, 1446) = 5.10, ï  ¨2 = .01, p Discussion The results revealed significant differences between Americans, Indians and Thais regarding the expression of dissent.

Animal and Human Nature in Steinbecks Of Mice and Men Essay

Animal and Human Nature in Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The relationship between animal nature and human nature in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is a major theme throughout the work. Lennie and Candy are connected with animals via their various individual characteristics, such as physical appearance, mental capacity, or emotional maturity. Other characters, such as Curley and Carlson, demonstrate their animal-like natures in their interactions with others. Despite the obvious connection between the human natures and animal natures of the characters in the work, some of the characters attempt to rise above their bestial nature by dreaming and seeking companionship. Lennie is perhaps the most obvious example of an animal-like character. The very first description of Lennie is as "a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws" (Steinbeck 2). This opening description of Lennie immediately connects him with a large animal, and for the rest of the novel, whenever his name is mentioned, the reader instinctively pictures a big, bear-like man. Lennie is also likened to a dog, just a few pages later, when he is compared to a "terrier who doesn't want to bring a ball to its master" (Steinbeck 9). This connection is further emphasized when, at the novelà ­s end, Lennie is shot with the same gun and in the same way as Candy's dog was shot earlier in the novel. Lennie is also connected with animals in his mental capacity and preferences. His "simplemindedness as well as his attraction to animals, especially the rabbits and the puppy, would seem to fix him as animal-like" (Johnson 16). Candy is identified... ...to live together as a family. Candy and Crooks eagerly volunteer to join George and Lennie in their dream in hopes that they can contribute to the welfare of the group and act as one unit, one family. George already shows this kind of selflessness throughout the book in his looking out for Lennie, and, likewise, Lennie's looking out for George. These characters escape their primal, animalistic tendencies to fend for themselves and chose to help each other. Of Mice and Men presents many interesting connections between the animal natures and human natures of its characters. Though most characters display characteristics that could qualify them as bestial, only a few exhibit the drive to rise above this base level of existence and distinguish themselves from their animal nature.    Works Cited: Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. New York: Penguin Books, 1937.

Coal industry of pakistan Essay

Pakistan has a very large coal reserve base only Thar coal can be used to make 40,000 MW of Electricity for the next 100 years. Regional powers like China are very much interested in the project and are willing to pour billions of dollars in these projects if the Govt. of Pakistan issues sovereign guarantee. Sector will essentially contribute to the wiping out of the difference in the electricity shortage. It would stabilise the economy as oil imports are going to decrease which contribute to $8 Billion of our imports. Coal can be exported to countries around the world. Many countries are shifting to coal as means of energy and this raises export opportunity for the coal exports too. The labour cost in the mining industry is very low as compared to other parts of the world and essentially have higher profit margins. The Tax rate is nil during exploration, mine construction and extraction phase. WEAKNESSES Serious lack of infrastructure facilities Many government restrictive policies and not much help provided by the government. Government not fulfilling there contracts. There is no consistency in Government policy. Low quality coal available mostly Too much capital required to extract the coal. Thermal energy would mean more pollution OPPORTUNITIES Expansion of energy base of Pakistan Expansion of export base and reduction of oil imports. Opportunity to boost lagging industries. Growing demand of Coal THREATS Foreign involvement which might restrict local development Restrictive policies and red tapism by government Control of reserves by only a few major players Oil Lobby being a very strong force in Pakistan. Problem faced by this Industry Lack of safety and security Pakistan’s image and political situation is a deterrent to investment Pakistan’s image and political situation is a deterrent to investment The industry sustained a stab back in the recent years. Lack of knowledge of the mineral potential. Lack of Labour Safety. Lack of Government vision. Development expenditure being used for crisis management purposes. The industry relies on the findings of the PCSIR laboratories.PCSIR labs do not possess the necessary tools and equipments for refinement of minerals. Not a convenient supply of coal and at times they have to revert to oil and gas for there production mostly the cement companies. Recommendation for the industry There has to be innovation in the sort of mining techniques being adopted in Pakistan. Adoption of modern exploration techniques like photo geology, satellite imaging, Underground Gasification can be useful for the industry. Information regarding coal reserves, grades and annual production must be maintained for the information of investors that may guide their future programme and work. And it must be easily available on Government portal. Mineral development fund to be created & spent by outsourcing the infrastructure programmes to private organizations. Allocation of funds from World Bank for mineral sector programmes. Due representation to be given to all the stakeholders from mineral sector i.e. laborers, Investors e.t.c. In order to for people to be interested in the mining sector, government has to provide facilities for the workers and management near to the mining facilities. Improve the efficiency of the emergency rescuers in case of an accident in a mine. Participate in international minerals exhibitions and fairs for creating awareness of Pakistan’s mineral potential to foreign investor. This would also built the Image of Pakistan. In most of the mining camps basic facilities of roads and other basic infrastructure facilities have not been provided. As a result the mine to market accessibility is very low and also increases the cost of mining. More degrees relating to the mining industry should be started as there are only 3 till date in Pakistan A separate board for mining be made involving technocrats. Train & improve capacity of all persons in minerals managements. Establish mini power plants on coal in the mining areas. Provide in service training to technical staff i.e. laborers. Establish machinery-pool to extend services on cost effective basis Provide soft loans in the mining Industry.

The eNotes Blog Scholarship Spotlightâ€March 2016

Scholarship Spotlight- March 2016 Every month, we select some of the best scholarships around and post them here on our blog. When you are ready to apply, check out our tips on  How to Write a Scholarship Essay. Visit   Essay Lab  if you’re looking for a writing expert  to review and provide feedback on your scholarship or college application essays! Dolman Law Group Video Essay Scholarship Amount: $1,100 Bi-Annual Scholarship Eligibility:  Must be currently attending or planning to attend a college or university during the 2016-2017 academic year.  Must be in good academic standing with your current educational institution.  For applicants under 18, you must have permission from a parent or legal guardian Requirements:  Must apply to the contest via email and provide your name, address, and the name of the institution you are attending or plan to attend.  Must provide your video essay (YouTube format preferred) by the deadline of 03/15/16. Essay Topic: In order to participate in the essay contest, applicants must present 2-3 minute video essay discussing the following issue: Much has been made about the potential of driverless and automated car technology in recent years, and many industry observers expect this technology to be widely available within the next decade. Technology is never perfect however, and  accidents involving driverless vehicles  have already occurred. Various legal issues arise when autonomous cars are involved in accidents, including determining who should be held liable for an accident. In your opinion, who should be held accountable when a driverless vehicle is involved in an accident? The owner? The manufacturer? The software developer? Explain. Due Date: March 15, 2016 Learn more and apply Couponing in College Scholarship Amount: $2,500 Eligibility:  Any U.S. resident enrolled in a university within the 50 states or the District of Columbia can apply for this scholarship.  Contestants must demonstrate both knowledge in couponing and saving money, while also demonstrating the technical aptitude to understand how to publish online (a skill we think is critical in todays economy). Requirements:  To enter, you must publish a 500+ word essay providing tips and strategies for utilizing coupons of any type (physical, digital, mobile) to save money while in college. The essay should be published on a blog or any website which allows the publication of articles. You must mention this contest in your published essay, and provide a link back to this contest page. Due Date: March 25, 2016 Learn more and apply QuitDay.org Scholarship Amount: $2,000, $700, and $300 to 3 winners Eligibility: The QuitDay Scholarship essay contest is open to undergraduate and graduate students who are 18 years old or older. Applicants must be accepted to, or currently enrolled in a college or university located within the United States  or in the District of Columbia.   Only one (1) submission per student is allowed. Requirements:  Applicants must submit a typed essay (1,000–1,500 words) answering the following questions: Why do you see smoking as a problem for individuals  and society? What is the best way  for  society to overcome the issue of smoking, and why? What would a smoke-free world look like, and  how would it differ from the world today? What message do you have for current smokers? The essay must include the word count and be signed with a full name (both first and last name), along with  the applicant’s email address, phone number and permanent address. The winning applicants will be determined based on the essay content, style and originality. Judges are looking for logically organized and well-supported essays. Due Date: March 31, 2016 at 5:00 PM EST. Learn more and apply Sleeklens Academic Scholarship Program Amount: $2,000 to 3 winners Eligibility:  To qualify for the scholarship, you must be an Undergraduate, a Graduate, or a High School senior with a legitimate acceptance letter from an accredited University or College.  The Sleeklens Academic Scholarship Program is open to people of all nationalities. Requirements:  Write an essay according to the instructions provided below and send it to Scholarships@Sleeklens.com. Fill in and submit the application form.  Write an essay that is between 1000 and 1600 words as per the following instructions. Students use social media and the internet in all kinds of ways, from keeping in touch with their friends to researching for and submitting assignments. One of the least thought about uses of social media is leveraging it to get a job after college. Discuss some of the ways that you could use social media to get a job after college. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using social media to get a job after college? Due Date: March 31, 2o16 at 11:59 PM EST Learn more and apply SuretyBonds.com 2016 Small Business Scholarships SuretyBonds.com is a small business that works alongside entrepreneurs and business owners everyday to help grow existing businesses or launch new ones. Theyve been a leader in the surety bond industry since 2009 and their success and growth would not happen without the successes of small business owners. The scholarship program is their way of giving back to the small business community and encouraging students to share their stories. Amount: $1,500 to 3 winners Eligibility:  You must be enrolled as a full-time student in a higher education program for Fall 2016 and you must have small business experience. Requirements: Write a 500 to 1,000-word essay on how a small business has influenced your life and how you plan to use that experience in the future. Email your essay to scholarships@suretybonds.com by March 31, 2016 and make sure to check our official rules and guidelines before submitting. The SuretyBonds.com Scholarship Committee will look at the submissions and select 10 finalists. From those finalists, three winners will be awarded the scholarships based on the amount of votes they get. Voting is open from May 1 to May 31 and the winners will be notified and announced on June 3. Due Date: March 31, 2o16 Learn more and apply

Cómo se paga y costo de fianza migratoria en EE.UU.

Cà ³mo se paga y costo de fianza migratoria en EE.UU. Si un familiar o amigo es detenido por Inmigracià ³n es posible que el ICE o un juez fijen una fianza y pueda ser liberado mientras espera que se resuelva su caso. La fianza la puede pagar directamente un amigo o familiar del migrante detenido o, si nadie cercano tiene recursos econà ³micos para ello, se puede recurrir a una agencia autorizada. Pago de fianza por amigo o familiar del migrante detenido En estos casos, el amigo o familiar debe encontrase legalmente en Estados Unidos, prefirià ©ndose que sea ciudadano americano o un residente permanente legal. El pago debe hacerse por la totalidad de la cantidad fijada como fianza por el ICE o por el juez de corte migratoria. Se acepta pago en dinero en efectivo o con bonos del Tesoro de los Estados Unidos (bonds, notes). Para hacerse efectivo el pago es necesario cerrar previamente una cita por telà ©fono con la oficina local del ICE (appointment to pay the bond). El dà ­a de la cita acudir al lugar que se ha indicado y a la hora seà ±alada. Es muy importante que solo se presente un familiar o amigo del detenido que tenga estatus legal en Estados Unidos, ya que de encontrase en situacià ³n de indocumentado podrà ­a ser detenido. Adems, debe llevar un I.D. vlido, tipo licencia de manejar del estado en el que reside habitualmente, pasaporte estadounidense, tarjeta de residencia, etc. Asimismo, debe llevar la tarjeta original de su Nà ºmero del Seguro Social. No se admite llevar una copia de la misma. Finalmente, ante un oficial el amigo o familiar del migrante que deposita la fianza debe firmar los documentos I-305 - original del recibo de haber pagado la fianza- y el I-352 -copia del contrato de fianza. Estos documentos deben de guardarse porque ser necesario para recuperar la fianza cuando finalice el proceso en contra del migrante. ​Pago de fianza migratoria a travà ©s de una agencia autorizada En ocasiones es conveniente pagar a travà ©s de una agencia de fianzas migratorias, que se conocen en inglà ©s como bond agents. Por ejemplo, porque los familiares y amigos no tienen estatus legal o porque no tienen todo el dinero que piden de fianza para hacer frente a la misma. En estos casos puede decirse con carcter general que el familiar o amigo que solicita la colaboracià ³n de una agencia autorizada debe pagar entre el 15 y el 20 por ciento del total de la fianza en dinero en efectivo y garantizar el resto con un colateral, como puede ser con una propiedad, con la nà ³mina, el auto, etc. Es muy importante saber cunto se tiene que pagar, cul es el colateral y otras condiciones econà ³micas, como monto de tarifas no recuperables. Tambià ©n conviene tener en cuenta que los bond agents suelen cobrar como comisià ³n por sus servicios entre el 15% y el 20% del total de la fianza. Asimismo, algunos agentes exigen para pagar la fianza que una vez que son liberados los migrantes lleven unos grilletes de monitoreo electrà ³nico con un GPS incorporado para saber en todo momento dà ³nde se encuentra el migrante. Algunos agentes llegan a cobrar a los migrantes $420 por mes en concepto de arrendamiento por el grillete. Por estas razones es conveniente contactar con varias agencias y comparar las condiciones ofertadas por cada una de ellas y tener mucho cuidado con lo que se firma, particularmente si est en inglà ©s y no se entiende el compromiso que se adquiere.  ¿Cul es el monto de la fianza de migracià ³n? El costo de la fianza depende de varios factores, entre ellos: la gravedad de la acusacià ³n contra la persona extranjerasu historial delictivosi tiene familiares en los Estados Unidossu estatus migratorioposibilidades de desaparecer y no presentarse en las audiencias en la Corte de Inmigracià ³n En là ­neas generales hay dos tipos de fianzas migratorias: las fianzas conocidas como departure bonds se fijan a partir de $500, dependiendo del caso.los deliver bonds tienen un monto que puede ir desde los $1.500 hasta los $10.000 o ms. Segà ºn datos de la Executive Office of Immigration Review, en el aà ±o fiscal 2019 el monto medio de las fianzas migratorias es de $8.000. Con los deliver bonds el migrante queda en libertad mientras sigue en trmite su proceso de deportacià ³n. Si falta a alguna cita en corte, pierde el derecho a la libertad y todo el dinero entregado en concepto de fianza. Con los departure bonds el migrante se ha comprometido a abandonar EE.UU. en un plazo determinado y pagando à ©l o ella por los gastos de esta salida. El migrante queda libre despuà ©s de pagar esta fianza para poder arreglar sus asuntos antes de salir del paà ­s. Si no cumple con el plazo establecido, el migrante pierde el dinero de la fianza.  ¿Cunto se demora ICE en regresar el dinero de la fianza? Cuando el proceso que se sigue contra el migrante finaliza o cuando el migrante abandona EE.UU. se puede reclamar al gobierno que regrese el dinero depositado en concepto de deliver bond o departure bond. Segà ºn ICE, estn regresando la fianza en el plazo de un mes a partir de la fecha en la que se reclama su devolucià ³n. Sin embargo, datos publicados por la Universidad de Stanford y la Universidad de California, Davis, muestran que frecuentemente la demora es mucho mayor y que, como consecuencia de ello, ICE tiene bajo su custodia $204 millones en finanzas. Adems, 18.000 personas jams han reclamado la devolucià ³n de la fianza. La complicacià ³n del trmite impide que muchos migrantes puedan hacerlo sin encontrar ayuda legal cualificada. Pago de fianzas migratorias La posibilidad de pagar fianza y su monto lo establece ICE o un juez de Inmigracià ³nEl pago de la fianza para liberar a un migrante de su detencià ³n puede ser realizada por un familiar o amigo con estatus legal o recurrir a los servicios de un agente de fianzas.Si se utilizan los servicios de un agente, comparar condiciones entre varios, particularmente cunto tarde en depositar la fianza, porcentaje de su comisià ³n, tarifa no reembolsable, quà © pide de colateral y si exige que el migrante liberado utilice un grillete electrà ³nico.No es fcil el papeleo para reclamar a ICE que regrese el dinero de la fianza. Es muy comà ºn que se necesite recurrir a los servicios de un abogado o de una persona con conocimientos sobre este tipo de fianzas. Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal. Fuentes: Flynn, Meagan, ICE is holding $204 million in bond money, and some immigrants might never get it back The Washington Post. April, 26, 2019.https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/ice-is-holding-204-million-in-bond-money-and-some-immigrants-might-never-get-it-back/2019/04/26/dcaa69a0-5709-11e9-9136-f8e636f1f6df_story.html?utm_term.7a18f948b630

Amusing Ourselves to Death Chapters 1-4 essays

Amusing Ourselves to Death Chapters 1-4 essays The author of Amusing Ourselves to Death, Neil Postman, made the world aware of public discourse in the age of show business. He used the books Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and George Orwells 1984 as examples of what technology has done to todays youth. Orwells views were that he had a fear of those who would ban books, deprive us of information, and what we hate will ruin us. Huxley on the other hand feared that there would be no reason for banning a book because people would chose not to read and believed that we would be swarmed with information and be reduced to submissiveness and selfishness (Postman vii). Huxley also thought what we loved would ruin us (Postman viii). In this book, Postman tries to prove that maybe Huxley and not Orwell were right (Postman viii). In the U.S. a main point for American spirit would have to be Las Vegas. Its like a symbol of a city devoted to entertainment. Everything in Las Vegas deals with some form of entertainment (Postman 3). Therefore we all move closer to amusing ourselves to death. The least amusing people are those who are professional entertainers (Postman 5). On a show staring Reverend Billy Graham, Reverend Green assured the audience that God loves those who make people laugh (Postman 5). He merely mistook NBC for God. On television, discourse is conducted largely through visual imagery, which is to say that television gives us a conversation in images not words (Postman 7). This book is an investigation into and expression of grief about the most significant American cultural fact of the second half of the twentieth century: the decline of printed works and the superiority of Television (Postman 8). The media of communication available to a culture are a dominant influence on the formation of the cultures intellectual and social concerns. Although culture is a creation of speech, it is recreated by every medium of communication. E...

Product market cyclicality exerts a powerful influence on a car Essay - 1

Product market cyclicality exerts a powerful influence on a car assembler's sales, value added, cash flow and profit performanc - Essay Example Marketing strategies are guided by the product life cycle stages. This is because as a product moves through its life cycle, competition, pricing, distribution, promotion, and market information strategies need periodic evaluations and alterations. The life cycle of a product begins prior to the product’s entry to the market. It involves the introduction, growth, maturity, and decline phases. 1. Introductory phase. This phase begins when a product is introduced in to the market for the first time. Initial sales for a product are usually rather small, and a high percentage of products characterise this phase. The product however receives approval from its producers followed by purchases from early adopters. â€Å"Satisfaction, reinforced by marketing communication, leads to repurchasing and, as soon as sales increase further, the product exits this phase† (Cant, Strydom, Jooste, and Du Plessis, 2006, p.242). 2. Growth phase. During this phase, sales in the target market grow mainly as a result of purchases by many early consumers, and increase in repurchasing. Greater force is impacted to the demand for the product, as competitors with similar products enter the target market. 3. Maturity phase. This phase is characterised by levelling of a product’s sales growth and demand. Additional competitors with similar products enter the target market. ... 4. Decline phase. During this phase, a rapid decline is experienced in sales and the target market. As a result of this, marketers may exclude some products from the product line, to remove products that do not earn profits. The product life cycle is very significant since it helps in the development of new products. This is because through a developed product, management is able to gain knowledge on how to develop a new product, or improve an existing product. It also helps in profit prediction, since the amount of profits depends on the amount of turnover. Therefore’ â€Å"the management can well predict the firm’s profits in different stages of the life-cycle of the product† (Bose, 2010, p.70). With good knowledge of the product life cycle, it is possible to prepare marketing programmes. This is necessary in order to highlight the different policies, procedures, and strategies needed to be applied at the different phases of a product life cycle. Influence of t he Product Market Cycle on Car Assembler’s Sales Sales and profitability of cars just like other products vary at every phase of their life cycle. By being aware about the market cycle of cars, car assemblers are able to take better advantage of their market positions on motor vehicle sales. Good knowledge of the car life cycles provides crucial indicators to car assemblers on when to launch new cars, when to move to new markets, and when to diversify their car models. This is because through the car life cycle, car assemblers are able to analyse categories of cars, their forms, brands and models. In recent times, there has been a move towards the manufacture and assembly of environmental friendly vehicles. Such vehicles have very little impact on the environment and are

Network Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Network - Essay Example Outsourcing is important to keep up with the competition in the global business in order to be able to drive the market share and profit (Burns 2009, p.62). It also gives your business the ability to concentrate on the main objectives such as customer service, banking and retailing. The company focuses on the increase in the use of smart cards in the Gulf region by supporting through giving their experience and expertise to the current and new clients. The current business environment is quite competitive that is why Network international has to keep up with the upcoming trends in the market through investing in the latest technologies, which will help the customers give a faster and more comfortable means of payment. According to Curtis Arnold, depending on the nature of one’s business, they have a variety of card and payment products and services, which will broaden one’s business opportunities (Network International). Network international has maintained a culture of encouraging innovations in order to give their customers extraordinary products and services to keep up with the competition in the business environment. Their trained, qualified and experienced staff plus a business which is customer focused promotes confidence in their clients to focus on their own business strategy. Working with network international gives business ideas that enhance loyalty in customers. EFQM model provides a groundwork that motivates hard work, which is needed in the competition on a global arena (Gomez, Costa & Lorente 2011, p.486). The model gives a broader view of the organization which can be useful in determining how different ideas come together to complement each other. EFQM model enables individuals to understand what its organization does and the results it achieves. The aim of the model was to enable organizations to be successful and sustain the success and respect. Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award- SKEA and Dubai Quality Awards- DQA depend on

Modern Times Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Modern Times - Essay Example Nevertheless, the final film of the series seems to be the most overtly political and inevitably then is the most controversial. Although chock-full of the brand of slapstick, physical humor which has become automatically associated with Chaplin’s acting career, Modern Times is often interpreted to be a representation of Chaplin’s own political affiliations and associations with the Left. However, certain aspects of the film make it quite apparent that Leftist politics hold no monopoly on its figurative content. The aforementioned fans of Chaplin who truly cherish his work cannot help but see through the depictions of poverty and suffering in the film, and see the Tramp urging the Gamin â€Å"to keep smiling†, and to see him relying upon his own values and skills to build a life for himself—ideals that are consistent with capitalism and the American dream. Even before the film starts, any attempt on the part of witch-hunters to tie Chaplin to the Left and condemn Modern Times as hidden socialist propaganda is, all at once, defeated.After the opening credits, superimposed on a clock that symbolizes the tyranny of mechanistic time, the words read: â€Å"‘Modern Times.’ A story of industry, of individual enterprise—humanity crusading in the pursuit of happiness.† Expressing the film’s entire thematic content in only a few brief words, such phrases as â€Å"individual enterprise† and â€Å"pursuit of happiness† give attention not to a Leftist political cause in the context of a Depression

Corporate Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Corporate Strategy - Essay Example nd names and private label brands under the Next name, including a variety of menswear, womenswear, child-focused clothing and accessories, and limited houseware products. Next has captured the attention of its target market, which is generally the 18 to 40 year old markets, by providing moderately-priced, contemporary clothing and accessory products that are comparable to the higher quality and higher priced merchandise offered by many High Street stores in the United Kingdom. Next has, since 1999, focused strongly on its online sales division, NextDirect, which recently provided the business 44 percent of its total operating revenues (Next Plc 2012). The business is strategically positioned in terms of service quality excellence, which is supported by considerable capital investments into improving convenience and the home delivery service processes (Next Plc 2012). The business utilises a focused low-cost strategy which allows the organisation to dedicate its service and product-c entric resources to specific markets drawn to the trendy and fashionable merchandise offerings that cater to the younger, contemporary target markets. In a hyper-competitive retail environment, Next is able to outperform even High Street stores and long-standing retailer brands, such as Marks and Spencer, by effectively meeting the needs of a narrower market segment. Many of Next’s competitors, which include Zara, Marks and Spencer, Debenhams, New Look and Matalan (to name only a few), operate in highly competitive retail environments and seek to utilise broad differentiation strategies to create an effective market position in the minds of desired target consumers. The difficulty that many competitors face in this differentiation strategy is that many marketing tactics under this strategy are easy to replicate, with product quality and pricing no longer being viable methods of differentiation (Bennet and Rundle-Thiele 2004; Nandan 2005). However, many of these competitors cater to

Writer's choice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 6

Writer's choice - Essay Example It has shifted from the less severe form into explicit content. The paper will analyze some of the characteristics of sex in the media. These characteristics are both beneficial and harmful at the same time. The media sexual content can affect the behavior of any age group. However, it is an accepted belief that adolescents are more vulnerable to media content than the rest. Adolescence marks the stage in which the gender roles and sexual behaviors are shaped. Adolescents easily imitate the behavior of their favorite pop idol; their dressing, and actions. The media has a lot of sexual content directed to them thus, influencing their sexual behavior. Teenagers at this stage tend to copy almost everything showed in the media as they try to develop their identity. Today’s media has been linked with several cases of early pregnancies among the teenagers. The media presents sex in a way that it appears casual. For instance, sex scenes are common in most films streamed by the mainstream media. It is made to appear as if not a big deal and that it is commonly done by everyone. However, the consequences such as an unplanned pregnancy and STDs are rarely shown. Sexual contents can remain in a teenager thought for a long time. The greater the exposure, the more they are likely to be affected by them (Brown, 2002). The media has failed to emphasize on safe sex. Studies show that the more the young people are exposed to sexual contents, the more they are likely to engage in unsafe sex. In the modern age, it is hard to reduce the exposure of the young people to sexual content. Most adolescents end up imitating the sexual behaviors and rely on the media as the sole source of sex education. These youths are most likely to have meaningless sex while disregarding the possible physical and emotional effects of such behaviors. The depiction of sex in the media provides a false expectation of satisfaction that may result in depression

Corporate Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Corporate Strategy - Essay Example nd names and private label brands under the Next name, including a variety of menswear, womenswear, child-focused clothing and accessories, and limited houseware products. Next has captured the attention of its target market, which is generally the 18 to 40 year old markets, by providing moderately-priced, contemporary clothing and accessory products that are comparable to the higher quality and higher priced merchandise offered by many High Street stores in the United Kingdom. Next has, since 1999, focused strongly on its online sales division, NextDirect, which recently provided the business 44 percent of its total operating revenues (Next Plc 2012). The business is strategically positioned in terms of service quality excellence, which is supported by considerable capital investments into improving convenience and the home delivery service processes (Next Plc 2012). The business utilises a focused low-cost strategy which allows the organisation to dedicate its service and product-c entric resources to specific markets drawn to the trendy and fashionable merchandise offerings that cater to the younger, contemporary target markets. In a hyper-competitive retail environment, Next is able to outperform even High Street stores and long-standing retailer brands, such as Marks and Spencer, by effectively meeting the needs of a narrower market segment. Many of Next’s competitors, which include Zara, Marks and Spencer, Debenhams, New Look and Matalan (to name only a few), operate in highly competitive retail environments and seek to utilise broad differentiation strategies to create an effective market position in the minds of desired target consumers. The difficulty that many competitors face in this differentiation strategy is that many marketing tactics under this strategy are easy to replicate, with product quality and pricing no longer being viable methods of differentiation (Bennet and Rundle-Thiele 2004; Nandan 2005). However, many of these competitors cater to

((((MYCROLAB)))) group project Report in subject of NEW PRODUCT Essay

((((MYCROLAB)))) group project Report in subject of NEW PRODUCT MAMAGEMENT - Essay Example Market segmentation, targeting and positioning are the three major approaches which are applied by the marketing departments in their endeavors to achieve organizational goals. Of the three steps mentioned above segmentation is the first one to take on. In market segmentation, segment variables are identified and the market is segmented accordingly. The segmentation allows the company to focus on the demands of the targeted market and fulfill its demands. It seeks to differentiate between various segments of a market and addresses to the needs and requirements of each market. In this way they make products and introduce services which are specifically meant for that particular segment of the market only. There are various approaches that can be applied in the segmentation of market. Company would thus, be able to create its identity in all its major market segments. Different marketing and communication strategies could be applied for each segment keeping in mind, the respective cons umers in the segments. (Dickensin, 1987) The market is segmented according to the Business market segmentation. The segmentation has been done according to the following bases: geographic segmentation, customer type and buying behavior. Geographic segmentation gives us secondary segment which includes metropolitan and regional hospitals. Customer types and buying behavior usage patterns blend together to give us the primary segment -who are medical practitioners and local GPs- and tertiary segment including medical charities and humanitarian support organizations. In market segmentation, we have grouped customers and non-customers with similar characteristics. These characteristics include similar economic, biographic and usage behavior. Biographics are considered because Mycrolab is a health related diagnostic system and is mostly used by people in health services or people with health issues or health conscious. Moreover product related segmentation have also

Grandparents Essay Essay Example for Free

Grandparents Essay Essay The bond between grandparents and their grandchildren is one that can never be broken and will always be cherished forever. They basically set up a bond as a parent would. They take care of them while their parents are at work, provide financial support, and providing much needed emotional support to make sure the children get the best childhood without stressing out which is bad for the brain and development. The presence of a grandparent helps stable a child throughout childhood and infancy giving that child support while the parents are not there. Research believes that an integration of the evolutionary, sociological, and economic accounts will be necessary to fully explain the impact grandparents have in their grandchildren’s development. Once the children have been exposed to the love and caring of grandparents they begin to treat them with isolation to help control what is to come with dealing with attachment. They are beginning to conduct disciplines to determine what it is grandparents do to prompt the development of their grandchildren.

Relationship Between Total Quality Management And Business Performance Management Essay

Relationship Between Total Quality Management And Business Performance Management Essay For many years, it has been discussed that Total Quality Management enhances the performance of business organizations. In latest studies, Total Quality Management established substantial notice and has also been proposed to augment the business performance. This research has been carried out to find the relationship between Total Quality Management and business performance. This research scrutinizes empirically the scope of Total Quality Management and business performance as well as the degree to which both of them are linked. This study will also enable to carry how Total Quality Management influences on several levels of business performance. Organizations are surviving in difficult situations except they create the complete competitive lead over their challengers and this is the result of such competitive environment which is taken out from liberalization and globalization (Adam et al., 2001; Samson Terziovski, 1999). By means of rising competitive environment with business pressures as well as the self-motivated verified customer-oriented environment, Total Quality Management is considered a most imperative and key issue which may create a considerable interest of managers and researchers towards it (Ahire et al. 1995; Benson et al. 1991; Flynn et al., 1995; Powell, 1995; Sousa and Voss, 2002). In 1980s, considering Total Quality Management as one of the successful mode of improving the competitive leads of any firm or organization (Keiu et al, 2001). It is also declared by the primary initiates of quality working in this area, for example Deming (1986) and Juran (1993) that competitive lead may be obtained through the provision of quality goods or services. Moreover, now days global marketplace demands high quality as an imperative competitive lead is considered by holding quality in such competitive global environment and market place (Eng Yusof, 2003). Additionally, Total Quality Management is measured as an effectual management gear which is used to provide businesses by means of development, stability and prosperity (Issac et al, 2004). The main advantages of quality development may not only be a sign of lessening costs but also to maximize business profit ratio. According to Freiesleben (2005), it is emphasized on maximize the profits and revenue generation in terms of reducing costs as well as enhancing quality but it should be influenced on quality and superiority to generate profit. Hence, this research on relationship between quality management and organizational performance is critically assessed for companies as well as to get the better understanding the effects of quality management on various dissimilar levels of firms business performances. So as to attain the entire requirements of quality, business organizations must have to spend time in addition to the efforts to execute Total Quality Management. Organizations will commence true quality management practices though communicating Total Quality Management principle or philosophy successfully. Additionally Total Quality Management and its applications might be implemented in order to enhance the association between organizations and their suppliers. Furthermore, the execution of Total Quality Management may also improve customer satisfaction by means of giving most excellent goods or services. By the stand spoint of CEO of Intel about quality that is displayed at Intels website and that is quality is considered as top six companys key values in fact. Additionally, Intel is determined for convincing the worlds top class quality by adopting or put one of its quality systems into practice. According to Otellini (2006), with this effort, Intel is dedicating itself to retain the superior quality, highest standards and distribute goods which fulfill the specified objectives of Intel. Preceding studies (for example AlKhafaji et al, 1998; Mandal et al, 1999) stated that philosophy of Total Quality Management is applicable for any organization, firm or company that involves service, manufacturing or information related organizations. Take the example of Taiwan and the mature growth of information technology businesses in Taiwan that has prepared it possible intended for stabilized world wide economy (Einhom et al, 2005). It has proved to be valuable to consider how Total Quality Management might be influenced on business performance, so as to make the information related business in Taiwan more competitive and flourishing. Aims and objectives Subsequent study is to find out the association between Total Quality Management and business performances of organizations. Based on this study, basic aim of this research is to gauge how Total Quality Management and business performance are interlinked and how different altitudes business performances are influenced by Total Quality Management. The key objectives of this study are To understand the concept of total quality management To investigate the total quality management models and theories from existing literature To study the total quality management approaches applied in Tesco To determine the effects of TQM implementation on the performance of Tesco To explore the challenges in the implementation of TQM practices at Tesco Research Question What are the influences of winning accomplishment of Total Quality Management on the performance of Tesco? Literature Review Advantages of Total Quality Management and its effective implementation may be studied along with three dissimilar angles. On the top, Total Quality Management practice is one of the emergent and hot subjects commencing the operational approach, and it may be used to apply enhanced performance and world wide competitiveness for both academia and business industry (Flynn et al, 1995; Samson Terziovski, 1999). The organization which applied successful implementation of Total Quality Management practices may be able to achieve internal advantages for example quality enhancement, improved productivity, or apprehending improved operating income (Corbett et al, 2005; Hendricks Singhal, 1997). According to Corbett et al, (2005) the second reason is from financial performance approach, vigilant design or execution of dependable, reliable and recognized Quality Management systems that can add value to high class performance of businesses imperatively. Moreover, at last b using the approach of knowledge management (KM), Total Quality Management practices and its implementation may also enable to improve and enlarge organizational knowledge that turns to facilitate supplementary consideration of how Quality Management practices can influence on organizational performances (Linderman et al, 2004). Both of management philosophies have various similarities when Total Quality Management and knowledge Management. According to Hsu Shen, (2005) Total Quality Management and knowledge Management can compliment each other in case of planning both of them properly. Latest researches have been able to found the association between Total Quality management practices and several levels of business performance (Das et al, 2000; Kaynak, 2003; Mohrman et al, 1995). However several preceding researches have been resulted and hold up the positive influences of Total Quality Management on firms business performance (Hendricks Singhal, 1997; Kaynak, 2003; Madu et al, 1995; Sun 2000; Samson Terziovski, 1999). According to Choi Eboch, (1998) different researchers have made their researches to found the execution of Total Quality Management that may escort to the ineptness of organizational performance. The cause to which outcomes of these researches have dissimilar most likely resulted from the temperament of research design for example utilizing Total Quality Management practices or organizational business performances as an individual entity. Through this research, the researcher will investigates the relationship between major seven attributes of Total Quality Management and several levels of organizational performance as well as how each of Total Quality Management attribute influences on other attribute and by the literature these attributes are Customer focuses Management leadership Design Management Process Management Data quality and Reporting Suppliers Management Human resource Management These are the main constructs on which this study is based. Hypotheses Development Depended on the outcomes of theoretical framework of this research, the seven above discussed elements are concluded to be the most driving strength intended for an effectual execution of Total Quality Management. These seven attributes are focus of the customer, management leadership, human resource management, supplier management, data quality and reporting, design management, and process management as well (Flynn et al, 1994; Samson Terziovski, 1999; Sousa voss, 2002; Kaynak, 2003). According to Samson Terziovski, (1999) for the execution of Total Quality Management practices customer focus is the groundwork theory for any organization. Since complete execution of Total Quality Management practices are highly influenced and authorized by top management. Thus devoted obligations from senior managemt regarding the completion of Total Quality Management practices are surely a necessity. Hence this study firstly proposed hypothesis that is Hypothesis One Customer Focus is absolutely correlated to the Management Leadership. Hypothesis Two Management Leadership is completely correlated to Human Resource Management, Supplier Management and Design Management. Hypothesis Three Human Resource Management is absolutely linked with Data quality Reporting. Hypothesis Four Quality Data reporting is absolutely correlated with Suppliers management, design Management as well as Process Management. Hypothesis Five Suppliers Management is directly and positively associated with Process Management, Design Management as well as Operating Business Performance. Hypothesis Six Design Management is optimistically relevant to operating business performance and Process Management. Hypothesis Seven - Process Management is correlated with Operating Performance Hypothesis Eight Customer Satisfaction is linked with Operating Performance as well as Financial Performance Methodology The proposed research will be a case study based on Tesco. Triangulation methodology will be adopted in the proposed research. Qualitative and quantitative research methods will be used to find the relationship between TQM and Business performance. Subsequent research is basically used quantitative approach. Likewise it a structured approach by using Quantitative method since the researcher will find out the concrete results from the opinion of several participants. Primary and secondary data will be incorporated in the research. It also low cost and provides quick responses from the respondents. Survey tool is used in this research to find the link between TQM and business performance. In this research, Tesco Retail Company is targeted to explore the effects of TQM execution. Outlets are specified to get the results of research questionnaire because of financial limitations and time minimization, all outlets are hard to visit and collect data from there. Questionnaire will be presented by considering seven above discussed attributes and hypotheses. These seven attributes are supposed to be more important for successful execution of Total Quality Management and thus recommended to form a survey Performa. Questionnaire is formed into three main sections that involves Background of organization Execution of Total Quality Management Particular questions designed regarding Total Quality Management practices Total Quality Management attributes will develop through suggested (proposed) research model. Judgment sampling method is used in subsequent study because this study requires those participants who have excellent prospect intended for accurate information. Close ended questionnaire tool is used in this study. Majorly two basic categories of data collection sources are utilized so as to access relevant data required for this study as in the view of fact that gathering data and all relevant information is a broad practice from all accessible sources. This study access insufficient primary data that is necessitate for research because of financial as well as time limitations but in this study secondary data sources are used widely. According to Dawson, Catherine, (2002); Kathori, C.R., (1985); Kumar Ranjit, (2005), primary data sources are considered as initial stage of data collection where secondary data sources are served together data and information in combining and interpreting data that is evaluated before. Scope of the research The outcomes of this research may be functional for the researchers well as practitioners in the field of Quality Management zone. This research enlarges the scope of Total Quality Management applicability athwart wide-ranging cultural as well as industrial environments for attaining higher customer demands and focus with improved customer satisfaction that leads to enhanced business performance. It also pressurizes the want intended for more logical researches on this topic. Factors of Total Quality Management for example philosophy of management, dimension and / or open organization all have imperative bonding with business competitive lead and hence impact on its overall performance. Limitations of the study Based on secondary data sources, this study has the main limitation of using the secondary data such as secondary data sources and evaluation of secondary data may imitate the queries as well as point of views of innovative researcher that can not accurately deal with the interest and queries by other researchers. It is most difficult part of the research to access all data that is useful and require for the research about organizations. So limitation of accessing the required information is a critical step as well as a biggest challenge for a researcher to conduct investigation. Limited financial sourcing and time limitation is considerably significant. Because of financial limitation, it is quite hard for the researcher to gain access to all paid journals and paid sources of books etc. so for this purpose e- libraries and internet references are used. Definitions used in this study Total Quality Management According to Hellsten Klefsjo (2000), total quality management is a system of management which consists of uninterrupted change and consistent values, tools methodologies that purpose is to enhance internal as well as external customer satisfaction within reduced quantity of resources. Performance By EFQM (1999), performance is a gauge of achievement which is attained by any individual, group, any procedure or any organization. Thesis structure Subsequent chart present the chapters of this dissertation and the study material with in these chapters individually. Apart of these chapters, dissertation also contains appendix or appendices which are presented at the end of thesis. Chapter one: this chapter entails introduction, study background, aims and objectives, purpose, research questions of respective study, definitions of vitals, limitation and structure of thesis basically. Chapter two: this chapter contains the theoretical framework of the study, like preceding research references on Total Quality Management and business performance, and their association as well. Chapter three: it will comprise of methodology of thesis. The research and its methodology, and research design, research approach, along with data validity reliability. Chapter four: data analysis will be presented in chapter four which will then show the procedure and results of data analysis. Discussions will also be a part of this chapter. Chapter five: this chapter will present the conclusion which will be taken out from entire research and suitable recommendations will be suggested for further betterment. Chapter One Introduction Chapter Two Literature Review Chapter Three Methodology Chapter Four Data Analysis Chapter Five Conclusion Figure 1 Thesis structure Summary From the entire discussion, it is stated that this research is proposed to investigate the relationship between Total Quality Management practices and business performance. It also explores several levels of business performance. Core objective of this research is to provide experiential evidences on the factor either implementation of Total Quality Management practices are influenced on several levels of business organizations performance. This research further contributed to suggest a model that may study Total Quality Management influences in more successful way and consequently, implement Total Quality Management in an effective approach.

Eulogy for Friend :: Eulogies Eulogy

Eulogy for Friend Georganna's admirers--and that's everyone who knew her--savor the mile we walked with her. Each of us has special incidents we want to recount. We have compiled a few of these memories that we believe best illustrate the unique personality of our dynamic friend. Georganna was always determined, sometimes outraged, but rarely sad. Enjoy these stories. As long as we have them in our hearts, we have George. At the Team Spirit Leadership Conference George roomed with Heather, Tatum and Erica. She was always the First one up--usually by 4:00a.m. BUT she was always the LAST one ready! On the French Trip to Louisiana George slept in those teal green, silk pajamas whiles everyone else slept in shorts or sweats! But that was George. She dressed up for school every day like she was going off to New York. Shawn always said George was in a time warp because he was wearing clothes from another generation! George was the "Debate Queen"--that's what everyone called her. On the bus trip to Louisiana George climbed over the seats to view her opinion on at least five different issues! She would never back down. When George started to go off about an issue during class or on the weekend, Ryan, Shawn, and all the guys would hiss (like the wind was blowing). Georganna would just roll her eyes at them and smile. Georganna loved to read. Everyone always teased her about those "smut" novels! She could read a different one every day. During Flag Core practice Georganna's freshman year, Katrina accidentally hit Georganna on the head with her flag--but Georganna really got upset and chased Katrina around the entire school with the flag pole! Georganna loved chocolate--and she'd get sooo hyper when she ate it! Taco Bell was also her favorite. She could be found there every weekend with different friends. Kenny Samples was bored one day and went through George's purse. He bit her drivers license and credit cards and actually left teeth marks on them. George often showed them to her friends and laughed about it. One night Tatum, Kristie, Daren, Micah, and George went on a yard-rolling spree. Amanda pulled into her driveway as they were rolling her yard. They were running off and George started picking up the rolls of toilet paper. She said, "We might can use them later!" She had also insisted on color coordinating the paper before it was bought! Eulogy for Friend :: Eulogies Eulogy Eulogy for Friend Georganna's admirers--and that's everyone who knew her--savor the mile we walked with her. Each of us has special incidents we want to recount. We have compiled a few of these memories that we believe best illustrate the unique personality of our dynamic friend. Georganna was always determined, sometimes outraged, but rarely sad. Enjoy these stories. As long as we have them in our hearts, we have George. At the Team Spirit Leadership Conference George roomed with Heather, Tatum and Erica. She was always the First one up--usually by 4:00a.m. BUT she was always the LAST one ready! On the French Trip to Louisiana George slept in those teal green, silk pajamas whiles everyone else slept in shorts or sweats! But that was George. She dressed up for school every day like she was going off to New York. Shawn always said George was in a time warp because he was wearing clothes from another generation! George was the "Debate Queen"--that's what everyone called her. On the bus trip to Louisiana George climbed over the seats to view her opinion on at least five different issues! She would never back down. When George started to go off about an issue during class or on the weekend, Ryan, Shawn, and all the guys would hiss (like the wind was blowing). Georganna would just roll her eyes at them and smile. Georganna loved to read. Everyone always teased her about those "smut" novels! She could read a different one every day. During Flag Core practice Georganna's freshman year, Katrina accidentally hit Georganna on the head with her flag--but Georganna really got upset and chased Katrina around the entire school with the flag pole! Georganna loved chocolate--and she'd get sooo hyper when she ate it! Taco Bell was also her favorite. She could be found there every weekend with different friends. Kenny Samples was bored one day and went through George's purse. He bit her drivers license and credit cards and actually left teeth marks on them. George often showed them to her friends and laughed about it. One night Tatum, Kristie, Daren, Micah, and George went on a yard-rolling spree. Amanda pulled into her driveway as they were rolling her yard. They were running off and George started picking up the rolls of toilet paper. She said, "We might can use them later!" She had also insisted on color coordinating the paper before it was bought!

Just Another Veterans Day Essay -- Personal Narrative Essay Example

Just Another Veteran's Day    My grandmother and I stopped in DC before we met up with my parents to go on a trip. The fact that we were there on Veteran's Day was only a coincidence. True to my historically disinterested generation, the crowds of people as we left the hotel to walk towards the mall perplexed me. Only momentarily, of course; the hundreds of predominantly middle-aged men, defiantly strutting, proudly adorning their wheelchairs and various prosthetics, required little introduction and less explanation. Amidst them I, not yet 15, variably slithered with ignorance, the inexperience of war; and alongside, my Belgian-bred grandmother, veteran to a war these men could not know.    Uncharacteristically, I fell prey to tourist trappings: photographing the Lincoln Memorial, vainly attempting to hunt down and shoot the one angle of the Reflecting Pool that no one, in the history of history, had yet to see. Others swarmed... ...e there than I; their lack of respect condemned them to a hell in which I do not particularly believe. In an attempt to capture what we all saw but were unable to comprehend, they obliterated the very purpose of this apotheosis. These soldiers, soulfully searching the black mirror for a prosthetic for their soul, their sanity; a glimmer of sense in an event that defined madness: they deserved silence, solitude, peace. Instead, capitalism and greed spat in their face.   

Critical Thinking in Homeland Security Essay

Critical Thinking in Homeland Security Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Homeland Security is an essential part of the security organs that are very crucial in ensuring the protection of the country’s sovereignty. Just as other nations in the world, United States faces significant threats from the external and internal factors. The US established Homeland Security Department in 2003, in an effort to address the external threats and aggression like the September 11 terrorist attacks (Pruitt, 2003, â€Å"The 9/11 Commission,† 2005). Therefore, the main objective of the department is to prevent terrorist attacks in the US. Additionally, the department has to minimize the exposure of the nation to terrorism and minimizing the injuries that results from the attacks, if attacks occur.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To achieve its mandate the department applies several skills. These skills are aimed at determining the likelihood of a threat and establishing the credibility of the threat as per the information provided. Among the skills used is the critical thinking. By definition, critical thinking refers to the ability by the department personnel to make clear, rational judgments (Paul & Elder, 2009). This means that the decisions regarding security should be arrived through a well thought out processes (Pruitt, 2003). Critical thinking under homeland security focuses on crucial elements of thought and asking the relevant questions. This means that the department has to evaluate every piece of evidence at their disposal in order to develop appropriate security solutions to the country. The discussion put forward below will aim at establishing what critical thinking method model is appropriate for the decision-making within the structures of homeland security (â€Å"The 9/11 Commission,† 2005). The reason behind this inquiry is highly dependent on the fact that there are different critical thinking models. These models are very useful in the since they help to find the best and effective solution in homeland parameter. However, different models offer different results. Discussion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The September 11 attack brought about unprecedented need for good, efficient and effective security apparatus. With the introduction of the Homeland Security Department, the country was placed at a position to deal with the terrorism threats. The terrorism activities are currently very dynamic and in return there is a need for the solutions that might meet these challenges (Pruitt, 2003). As a consequence, the homeland security personnel is require to meet the ever rising need for increased demand of the security services as well as meeting the high placed accountability standards. To achieve these requirements they have to learn to become highly skilled in their level of thinking, as well as reasoning abilities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The fundamental reason for the need to improve skills is that the employees have to analyze all the massive information, understand it, identify the problems and offer solution (Paul & Elder, 2009). However, the processing of this massive information comes against the race of time. Homeland security department has to make timely decision that would help to preempt any threats that may arise or control the already existing threats (Pruitt, 2003). Additionally, the strategies employed by the terrorist are changing day in day out, and as well these changes must be encompassed in the decision which the department is undertaking. For instance, before the September 11 attack, the defense apparatus restricted themselves to biological and chemical threats. Moreover, the use of airplane as a tool to carry out terrorism strikes was covered by defense agencies like the Pentagon (â€Å"The 9/11 Commission,† 2005). On the other hand, the threat of airplane strike was not addressed as the security agencies believed this would result to giving the terrorist an additional tool to their disposal.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The example about the use of airplane as a tool of terrorism indicates an ineffective manner of using the available information to mitigate the terrorist attacks. In this regard, critical thinking is very essential in manner in which the homeland security handles the information they acquire to handle security issues or threats (Paul & Elder, 2009). This is mainly because critical thinking offers the prediction and diagnosis analysis for security issues. Prediction depends chiefly on the ability of the security organs to be able to think ahead. Thinking ahead, as part of critical thinking, dictates that the security organs are able to establish the likely causes of terrorism and probable outcomes (Kiltz, 2009). Diagnosis means the analysis of previous threats which in turn helps to extrapolate the likely future events. In this regard, security organs are able to identify their past failures and in turn making amendments. Additionally, the organs are able to replicate past successes to the future. Best Critical Thinking Model   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While understanding the importance of the critical thinking skills, there are several critical thinking models at the disposal of security organs to address any homeland security issues. It is very crucial to put a lot of emphasis on the fact that critical thinking is basic requirement for security decisions facing the country (Paul & Elder, 2009). Therefore, to identify the best critical thinking model it would be prudent to learn the two factors that will play a very major role in determining the best model. Critical thinking in the context of homeland security is fundamentally dependent on the most important factor for good decision-making and the nature of the homeland security context (Browne & Keeley, 2007). 1. Decision making   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Critical thinking is fundamentally aimed at arriving at appropriate decision. Every decision made or arrived at should be able to offer solution in the context of homeland security. In this light, the decision of the security apparatus should be able to effectively prevent the threats that arise as well as minimize the damages is events occur (Kiltz, 2009). Thus, critical thinking plays a pivotal role in decision-making process. On the same note, the best decision-making model is exceedingly reliant on the right questions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The right question are said to be the main factor that enable effective decisions to be made in all the fields of the society, security being inclusive (Kiltz, 2009). Questions are a good guiding factor while looking for the appropriate results. One, right questions create a structure that our thinking relies upon; that is to say, right questions are essential in finding the suitable materials or information that are essential to the decision or solutions. Secondly, right questions play a vital role of determining the course of our thinking. In this regard, the right questions are crucial element of individual thinking (Kiltz, 2009). This indicates that the right questions part of the homeland security parameters, in that they would help the decision makers in this context will arrive the best solutions possible to the various security challenges. 2. The nature of homeland security   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The processes and the activities surrounding decision making in the parameters or the context of the homeland security are substantially complex. The complexity comes in two levels: one, there amount of data or information being processed is extremely large and second, there are a lot of dynamics and variables in homeland security decisions (Paul & Elder, 2009).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Therefore, the decision-making process has a higher requirement of exhaustive scrutiny of all the probable accompanying implications of any decision made. In addition, the scrutiny extends other available options prior or before the enforcing any decision passed. A good example relates to diversion tactics that are highly employed by terrorist (Davis, 2012). This is where a threat is identified in a particular location while in reality the actual threat is in another place. Without appropriate critical thinking capabilities, the security apparatus are expected to put enough emphasis on areas which are reported to have the threat while leaving the other places vulnerable.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Understanding the nature of homeland security is pegged on homeland security operations and the past failure. Past failures help to understand what part of the process failed and how efficiently and effectively did homeland rise from their falls. For instance from the example above, if the severity of a homeland security event was increased by the misjudgment stated above, in future homeland security would put all efforts at protecting all places equally while still putting emphasis on any information gathered (Paul & Elder, 2009). That fact encompasses a crucial part of the critical thinking in such a security decision-making process.In effect, the most effective critical thinking model should be all-inclusive. Inclusivity means that all the available alternatives should be taken into account while simultaneously evaluating the possible outcomes associated with each likely action. The module applied is similar to a game theory model (Davi s, 2012). In such a model, the homeland security is supposed to establish every strategy available to them as well as those available to the opponents, the terrorists. This would help to preempt most if not all, of the threats posed by various terrorists groups. Therefore, every strategy has probable action, which in turn will deliver results. It would be the aim of homeland to select the most applicable strategy and take an action that would offer the best-expected outcome (Paul & Elder, 2009).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For example, through information and intelligence gathering, the security organs in the United States had all the necessary, adequate and relevant information to indicate that an attack was eminent. This information was prior to the September 11 attack, which detailed the Al Qaeda plans to attack the US. This shows that the security organs had the available strategies of the opponents. However, the organs failed to select the best strategy and their actions failed to meet the required results (â€Å"The 9/11 Commission,† 2005).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The time constraints also play a critical part in undertaking any security decision. The reason behind this is that despite the large volumes of information that need to processed, the uncertainty of when a homeland security event is likely to occur needs timely decision-making. Using the September 11 example, it can be observed that the security organs failed to meet the timely decision requirement (Kiltz, 2009). Although all the information processed indicated the likelihood of a terrorism incident in United States, no timely action was taken to preempt the threats due to the argument that the decision process was at its preliminary stage.Additionally, homeland security should be in a position to predict the opponents’ likely cause of action and also putting a lot of effort towards preventing the threats preempting the homeland actions. This is attached to diversion tactics, where the threats mature to events in places other than those indicated in the threats information. This was the strategy that was employed by the Al Qaeda to beat homeland security at their game in September 11 (â€Å"The 9/11 Commission,† 2005). Prior to the attack, the information gathered indicated that the threats were highly in United States departments and agencies that were beyond borders. The fact that overseas parts of homeland security were threatened, the homeland skewed its efforts towards the external offices and agencies. Consequently, the Al Qaeda anticipated the moves of homeland security, and they counteracted by attacking the internal departments (â€Å"The 9/11 Commission,† 2005). Critical thinking should help to homeland security to fill all the available loopholes that may expose their operations, and the country was vast. 3. Right Questions Model   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As stated earlier, there are several models at the disposal of the homeland security, but among them asking the right questions takes the reign. There are several factors that have heavily tilted the odds towards the right questions model of critical thinking (Browne & Keeley, 2007). First, the model plays a pivotal role in addressing the various loopholes found under the nature of homeland security. For instance the failures that were capitalized by the Al Qaeda in the September 11 attack (â€Å"The 9/11 Commission,† 2005). The right questions model aims at querying all the information available. The inquisitive nature of the model allows the various security issues to be determined as well as determining the necessary conclusions. The conclusions are highly dependent on the reasoning, assumptions, and clarity of words.There are numerous benefits that accompany this essential model of right questions. To begin with the model is hig hly useful in offering a well detailed analysis of the decision made as well as the cause of actions undertaken. When comparing this model with the other models such as the elements of thought thinking model, right questions model outranks them all in enabling homeland to meet its objectives or targets (Browne & Keeley, 2007). Furthermore, it is established that the model has other models easily inbuilt. Mainly, homeland security establishes the positive elements of the other models and encompasses them in the right questions model. As a consequence, the models offer comprehensive and well-contained solutions out of all the available alternatives.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In addition, the said model is highly interactive as it offers an all rounded analysis of the various situations. The analysis is crucial in timely and effective decision-making as well as in actualization of the actions set. Additionally, the model allows homeland to identify the instances of fallacies in reasoning (â€Å"The 9/11 Commission,† 2005). Well thought out decision should not be guided by a belief, myth of misconceptions. This allows homeland security process of verification and validation of evidence to be thorough and unbiased. If some essential information is missed, the model would results to different alternatives. Right questions model bases its success on availability of possible alternatives. Therefore, the model puts a lot emphasis on the available information which helps decision makers to arrive at the best possible alternative. On the other hand, the other models have some constraints in their operations (Bro wne & Keeley, 2007). For instance, the Element of Thought thinking model success is highly dependent on the emphasis given to some four aspects of decision-making. Using the Model   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Several failures have been seen under the dome of homeland security. These failures are highly attributed as the indirect contributors of past events like the September 11 attacks. The right questions model can easily address these past challenges (Browne & Keeley, 2007). Moreover, the model is the key to providing support to the homeland security decision-making process as well as creating and enhancing the credibility of the actions undertaken by homeland security.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The right questions model is dependent on an extensive spectral analysis. This analysis is the foundation of critical thinking. As a consequence, the right questions model helps to evaluate all the possible alternatives and their accompanying actions; which aim at getting the best possible solution. The model has been extensively used under the homeland security context to eradicate and lessen threats like the September 11 attacks. For example, prior to September 11 attacks the United States intelligence had gathered that there were several threats directed towards the United States institutions outside the country (â€Å"The 9/11 Commission,† 2005). Lack of a wider spectral analysis, the homeland security failed in its job (Browne & Keeley, 2007). In dependence to the information, the homeland security strengthened the security agencies beyond borders and failed to do so with the domestic agencies. As a consequence, the Al Qaeda us ed this loophole to carry out the attacks in the US soil (The 9/11 Commission, 2005). Under right questions model, an in-depth analysis would have taken place prompting homeland security to reinforce all the security agencies across the board. Such analysis would have enabled homeland security to alleviate the September 11 attacks. The alleviation would have been achieved through the fact that the homeland security would have easily identify and eliminated all the security exposures that faced the United states at large without overemphasis on the overseas institutions (Browne & Keeley, 2007). The fallacies of logic resulted to this misguided conclusions. While combating the Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, there was a belief that the US turf was safe from the Al Qaeda actions. This resulted to homeland security ignoring the domestic security need for dealing with terrorism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Additionally, there were not efforts to fill the information gaps that were there before the attacks. There were poor statistics since there were limited activities that were undertaken by security agencies in the United States (â€Å"The 9/11 Commission,† 2005). The model selected put emphasis on identifying the missing information which in turns increases the chances of obtaining the best strategy and the appropriate cause of action to be employed. For instance, the evidence provided that an attack was imminent, but there were no prompt actions that were undertaken to mitigate these threats. Also, despite the availability of evidence that indicated that there were terrorist threats facing the US, no security actions were undertaken in time (Browne & Keeley, 2007). The claims behind the lack of actions were that the decision process was still at preliminary stages, indicating the rigidity of the security operations. The selected mo del offers flexible and dynamic solutions to challenges. Through the right questions model, appropriate decisions would have been arrive at early enough to mitigate the threats. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Critical thinking is crucial for the undertakings of the homeland security department. This is because there are significant complexities of the decisions and accompanying actions. The critical thinking models are several, but one outranks the others; the right questions model is very essential in establishing the right decisions and cause of actions. The model employs a wider spectral analysis strategy with an aim of achieving efficient, effective and timely solutions. Looking at the applicability of the model against the events of September 11 attacks the model would achieve better-desired results (â€Å"The 9/11 Commission,† 2005). References Browne, M., & Keeley, S. (2007). Asking the right questions. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall. Davis, V. (2012). Use Critical Thinking to Overcome Personal Biases. IN Homeland Security. Retrieved 22 January 2015, from http://inhomelandsecurity.com/use-critical-thinking-to-overcome-personal-biases/ Kiltz, L. (2009). Developing Critical Thinking Skills in Homeland Security and Emergency Management Courses. Journal Of Homeland Security And Emergency Management, 6(1), 1-20. Retrieved from http://www.innovative-analytics.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/DevelopingCriticalThinking.pdf Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2009). The miniature guide to critical thinking. Dillon Beach, Calif.: Foundation for Critical Thinking. Pruitt, K. (2003). Modeling Homeland Security: A Value Focused Thinking Approach (1st ed., pp. 1-236). Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio: Department of the Air Force, Air University. Retrieved from http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/afit/pruitt_vft_hls.pdf The 9/11 Commission,. (2005). The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (1st ed., pp. 1-400). Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved from http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-911REPORT/pdf/GPO-911REPORT.pdf Source document

The Effects of Lsd

LSD was first synthesized on November 16, 1938 by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann at the Sandoz Laboratories in Basel, Switzerland as part of a large research program searching for medically useful ergot alkaloid derivatives. LSD's psychedelic properties were discovered 5 years later when Hofmann himself accidentally ingested an unknown quantity of the chemical. The first intentional ingestion of LSD occurred on April 19, 1943, when Hofmann ingested 250 mg of LSD. He said this would be a threshold dose based on the dosages of other ergot alkaloids.Hofmann found the effects to be much stronger than he anticipated. Sandoz Laboratories introduced LSD as a psychiatric drug in 1947. Beginning in the 1950s the US Central Intelligence Agency began a research program code named Project MKULTRA. Experiments included administering LSD to CIA employees, military personnel, doctors, other government agents, prostitutes, mentally ill patients, and members of the general public in order to study thei r reactions, usually without the subject's knowledge. The project was revealed in the US congressional Rockefeller Commission report in 1975.In 1963 the Sandoz patents expired on LSD. Also in 1963, the US Food and Drug Administration classified LSD as an Investigational New Drug, which meant new restrictions on medical and scientific use. [ Several figures, including Aldous Huxley, Timothy Leary, and Al Hubbard, began to advocate the consumption of LSD. LSD became central to the counterculture of the 1960s. On October 24, 1968, possession of LSD was made illegal in the United States. The last FDA approved study of LSD in patients ended in 1980, while a study in healthy volunteers was made in the late 1980s.Legally approved and regulated psychiatric use of LSD continued in Switzerland until 1993. Today, medical research is resuming around the world. Lysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25, also known as lysergide (INN) and colloquially as acid, is a semisynthetic psyche delic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synesthesia, an altered sense of time and spiritual experiences, as well as for its key role in 1960s counterculture.It is used mainly as an entheogen, recreational drug, and as an agent in psychedelic therapy. LSD is non-addictive, is not known to cause brain damage, and has extremely low toxicity relative to dose. However, adverse psychiatric reactions such as anxiety, paranoia, and delusions are possible. LSD was first synthesized by Albert Hofmann in 1938 from ergotamine, a chemical derived by Arthur Stoll from ergot, a grain fungus that typically grows on rye. The short form â€Å"LSD† comes from its early code name LSD-25, which is an abbreviation for the German â€Å"Lysergsaure-diethylamid† followed by a sequential number.LSD is sensitive to oxygen, ultraviolet light, and chlorine, especially in solution, though its potency may last for years if it is stored away from light and moisture at low temperature. In pure form it is a colorless, odorless, tasteless solid. LSD is typically delivered orally, usually on a substrate such as absorbent blotter paper, a sugar cube, or gelatin. In its liquid form, it can also be administered by intramuscular or intravenous injection. LSD is very potent, with 20–30  µg (micrograms) being the threshold dose.New experiments with LSD have started in 2009 for the first time in 40 years. Introduced by Sandoz Laboratories, with trade-name Delysid, as a drug with various psychiatric uses in 1947, LSD quickly became a therapeutic agent that appeared to show great promise. In the 1950s, officials at the U. S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) thought the drug might be applicable to mind control and chemical warfare; the agency's MKULTRA research program propagated the drug among young servicemen and students.The subsequent recreational use of the drug by yo uth culture in the Western world during the 1960s led to a political firestorm that resulted in its prohibition. Currently, a number of organizations—including the Beckley Foundation, MAPS, Heffter Research Institute and the Albert Hofmann Foundation—exist to fund, encourage and coordinate research into the medicinal and spiritual uses of LSD and related psychedelics. LSD can cause pupil dilation, reduced or increased appetite, and wakefulness.Other physical reactions to LSD are highly variable and nonspecific, some of which may be secondary to the psychological effects of LSD. Among the reported symptoms are numbness, weakness, nausea, hypothermia or hyperthermia, elevated blood sugar, goose bumps, heart rate increase, jaw clenching, perspiration, saliva production, mucus production, sleeplessness, hyperreflexia, and tremors. Some users, including Albert Hofmann, report a strong metallic taste for the duration of the effects.LSD is not considered addictive by the medi cal community. Rapid tolerance build-up prevents regular use,[citation needed] and cross-tolerance has been demonstrated between LSD, mescaline[ and psilocybin. This tolerance diminishes after a few days after cessation of use and is probably caused by down regulation of 5-HT2A receptors in the brain. LSD's psychological effects (colloquially called a â€Å"trip†) vary greatly from person to person, depending on factors such as previous experiences, state of mind and environment, as well as dose strength.They also vary from one trip to another, and even as time pass during a single trip. An LSD trip can have long-term psych emotional effects; some users cite the LSD experience as causing significant changes in their personality and life perspective [citation needed]. Widely different effects emerge based on what Timothy Leary called set and setting; the â€Å"set† being the general mindset of the user, and the â€Å"setting† being the physical and social environ ment in which the drug's effects are experienced.Some psychological effects may include an experience of radiant colors, objects and surfaces appearing to ripple or â€Å"breathe†, colored patterns behind the closed eyelids (eidetic imagery), an altered sense of time (time seems to be stretching, repeating itself, changing speed or stopping), crawling geometric patterns overlaying walls and other objects, morphing objects, a sense that one's thoughts are spiraling into themselves, loss of a sense of identity or the ego (known as â€Å"ego death†), and other powerful psycho-physical reactions. Many users experience dissolution between themselves and the â€Å"outside world†.This unitive quality may play a role in the spiritual and religious aspects of LSD. The drug sometimes leads to disintegration or restructuring of the user's historical personality and creates a mental state that some users report allows them to have more choice regarding the nature of their o wn personality. If the user is in a hostile or otherwise unsettling environment, or is not mentally prepared for the powerful distortions in perception and thought that the drug causes, effects are more likely to be unpleasant than if he or she is in a comfortable environment and has a relaxed, balanced and open mindset.LSD causes an altered sensory experience of senses, emotions, memories, time, and awareness for 6 to 14 hours, depending on dosage and tolerance. Generally beginning within thirty to ninety minutes after ingestion, the user may experience anything from subtle changes in perception to overwhelming cognitive shifts. Changes in auditory and visual perception are typical. Visual effects include the illusion of movement of static surfaces (â€Å"walls breathing†), after mage-like trails of moving objects (â€Å"tracers†), the appearance of moving colored geometric patterns (especially with closed eyes), an intensification of colors and brightness (â€Å"spa rkling†), new textures on objects, blurred vision, and shape suggestibility. Users commonly report that the inanimate world appears to animate in an unexplainable way; for instance, objects that are static in three dimensions can seem to be moving relative to one or more additional spatial dimensions. Many of the basic visual effects resemble the phosphine seen after applying pressure to the eye and have also been studied under the name â€Å"form constants†.The auditory effects of LSD may include echo-like distortions of sounds, changes in ability to discern concurrent auditory stimuli, and a general intensification of the experience of music. Higher doses often cause intense and fundamental distortions of sensory perception such as synesthesia, the experience of additional spatial or temporal dimensions, and temporary dissociation. The potential uses of LSD end of life anxiety, alcoholism, pain, cluster headaches, spiritual, and creativity. These are the potential adv erse effects: adverse drug interactions, mental disorders, and suggestibility and also psychosis.