As I walked through the ghostly streets of my pind (village), I felt as if someone was following my every footstep Essays

As I walked through the ghostly streets of my pind (village), I felt as if someone was following my every footstep Essays As I walked through the ghostly streets of my pind (village), I felt as if someone was following my every footstep Essay As I walked through the ghostly streets of my pind (village), I felt as if someone was following my every footstep Essay As I walked through the ghostly streets of my pind (village), I felt as if someone was following my every footstep. With each of my trembling paces the terrifying sounds behind me intensified rapidly, increasing my tension to the limit. By now my heart was beating faster than a train at full speed, which forced me to run as fast as possible and turn into the next alley way. Frightened as the raged man stopped about a metre away and looked around, terrified that he would find me I held my breath and closed my eyes. As I gradually opened my eyes I watched the person sprint off into the mist. After being sure I was safe, I let out a sigh of relief and started to walk out of the alley but before I could take one step out, a shadowy figure grabbed me from behind, with one of his hands covering my mouth, and his wild hair over my face, he dived his other hand into each of my pockets and stole all of my belongings, after which he through me into the wall whilst ripping my chain from my neck , after he ran off I became unconscious because of hitting my head on the wall. Once I regained consciousness I slowly got together the courage to rise to my feet thinking of what to do next and where to go after a while I realised that I could go home and crush my hopes or I could follow my dreams where ever they lead me. Subsequent to that incident all my confidence of continuing had been demolished so I decided to return home, while I was walking home I could not stop wishing that Babuji had not found out yet. With the feeling that Sharan-jeet would tell Babuji any minute now about all my previous plans and that I had run away, I ran as fast as I could not worrying about anything else but as I reached home I realised that Babuji had already found out as I saw him throwing all my belongings, clothes and pictures out of the house, while swearing at me uncontrollably with mother trying her best to stop him. Once I saw and heard how much Babuji hated me, I hastily became enraged whilst being emotionally fragile. I ran off towards the bus stop increasing my confidence all the way while being haunted by the images of Babuji throwing my belongings away, enforcing tears to flow down my face. While still being upset, I reached the bus stop and got on the bus to Mumbai while wiping the tears off my face. As usual the bus became packed at the next stop, hardly having any space to breathe I tried to keep my mind away from what Babuji did, even though being squashed at the back of the bus I still could not stop thinking about it. Soon a conductor arrived and got on at the front of the bus. He stated asking for tickets, very slowly pushing his way through the crowd, making me panic as I had no money. Unfortunately after many stops, he reached me and asked for my ticket, I looked around pretending I did not hear, but from that he knew I had no ticket. Like a strike of lightning he clutched my colla r, lifted me up and pushed through the crowd and took me to the door, whilst blowing a ferocious whistle to stop the bus. Just as the bus stopped he threw me out of the bus with all his strength. I was in extreme pain, I still had my courage and I decided to continue towards Mumbai by foot. After many gruelling hours I reached Mumbai, each day I went to different movie studios asking for a role in a movie but many times I was thrown out by security or told to get lost, youre too young and there are no roles for you. Due to this I never earned any money and I starved each and every day in the unforgiving heat, feeling death coming closer each day, while sitting in the same spot all day losing energy and seeing the amount of garbage and dirt mounting. Each night became hell when each Bollywood movie came to life as I watched people getting their brains shot out and the numerous gang wars, barely surviving each one. Virtually dead I was found by probably the last surviving kind-hearted person, who helped me return from the clutches death by caring for me like a son. As soon as I recovered I started to work with him as a chai-wala (someone that gives tea) for local movie studios. Months passed by doing the same things each day again and again, but fortunately one day on my way to a studio, lonely and depressed, slowly walking remembering mother, and being worried by her whilst being disturbed by the terrifying memories of Babuji, when a Natak (theatre) audition poster caught my eye, remembering my past dreams and hoping for the best I entered. As I stood waiting in the stretched queue waiting my turn, I developed new dreams of becoming the SRK (Shahrukh Khan) of theatre. Next as I was called in I started to become nervous but I still entered and performed. Although I gave a magnificent performance I still only got the role of an extra, even though I was happy to be selected the role was a bit too small. Years passed and I slowly made my way up the ladder from an extra to the lead role. After 2 years of hard work and dedication I finally became what I wanted the SRK of theatre. After many shows we decided to do a Mumbai tour of 8 shows. While on the Mumbai tour I was approached by the god of movie makers Yash Raj Chopra and offered a role in his latest movie, obviously I said yes while thinking of my family and how I was mocked when I said I wanted to be a movie star. Once I got signed for the movie and fulfilled my dreams, I decided to return home. Again I walked through the ghostly streets of my pind on my way home, whilst being followed by those disturbing memories, and being held back so I did not retuning, but this could not stop me as I am not that foolish anymore. As I continued childhood memories came back, with the rocky sand seeping into my shoes and the mist collecting with the laughter of children in the distance as I entered my house. The whole house looked exactly the same as when I left. Not even one thing had changed, while remembering all the good times I searched the whole house for mother, Sharan-jeet and Babuji, as I could not find then so asked around and found out that Sharan-jeet had got married 6 months ago, which broke my heart because I was not their for her special day and she would never forgive me for that, but tears started to flow when I found out that Babuji had passed away 3 months ago and mother 2 weeks later due to shock. After the bad news I was shattered and emotionally unstable, but I made t he decision to continue my life as before because I would be hurting their souls if I stayed like this, so I continued with my movie career with them always in my heart.

Miracle Movie Review Essays

Miracle Movie Review Essays Miracle Movie Review Paper Miracle Movie Review Paper The film is pretty easy to follow and has many breathtaking moments, s long as you enjoy sports. When the US hockey program Is falling to be at Its best, Coach Herb Brooks Is brought in to give the team some direction. Coach Brooks lost his shot at beating the number one team in the world before, and he knows that this could be his last chance. When Coach Brooks chooses his perfect team of hockey players from all around the country, they seem to be in dire need of some discipline. Many of the boys are more interested In settling old rivalries rather than working together to become a team. Herb pushes the boys to the Max until the entire team wants to feat the Intimidating Soviets Just as much as he does. The team practically becomes family as they prepare towards playing the most important hockey game of their lives. In the final moments of the Olympic Games, the film becomes a suspense filled seat clenches. The miracle on ice gave the country hope in a time when it needed it most. The film did a great Job portraying the true story of the US Olympic hockey team in 1980. It showed what was going on at the time In history and how It was affecting everyone. Despite the war going on, the movie stays focused on he amazing talent of the two hockey teams and doesnt make the movie too politically focused as the two teams compete for the gold medal. The united States hockey team that was chosen was full of talented hockey players who know the game well. The movie seems to show Coach Brooks focusing more on training their attitudes off the ice rather than training them on ice for the game. He obviously is an amazing coach on the Ice, however, the movie wanted the audience to see Just how Important It was to really be a team and know what It takes to win the game. The USIA in the movie really helped suit the setting. Showing how close the team had grown, they celebrated Christmas together. The film played songs such as White Christmas and Rocking Round the Christmas Tree. The movie plays a variety of classical musical instrument tunes. These types of songs are great to emphasize how the team is doing in the game. The music is fast paced and has very low and very high parts which make watching the game more Interesting. The closing credits played the song Dream On by Aerostatic. This song Is a perfect song, and makes o feel the happiness that the team is experiencing after their big win. Not just the happiness of winning, but for conquering something that no one believed was possible. It includes the amazing line, Dream until your dreams come true. This is a perfect song to conclude the movie. As the film is a true story, the writers of the film could not leave out the history taking place outside of the Olympics. The country was at war Witt ten soviet Nylon won also napes to nave ten worlds greatest hockey team. The background history seemed to make the film more homeland as it showed how much the country needed a win in the Olympics to give the country a chance to believe again. However, the history can be considered a downside as well seeing as much of the targeted audience was not born in this time period and may not be interested in the Cold War. The film seems to be targeted at the audience of young boys and young men who dream of becoming hockey stars as well as chasing their dreams. The film may be a bit on the boring side for the younger viewers. Besides fans of hockey, it is difficult to determine if the movie loud be interesting to the general public. The hockey players in the movie are all advanced hockey players who were brought in to beat the best team in the world. The games that take place in the movie move very fast leaving no room for learning. However, knowing the story and the hard work leading up to the game may be enough to captivate the viewer, whether they are familiar with the game or not. The director of Miracle, Gavin OConnor puts a lot of emphasize on the character of Coach Brooks. The team may have been playing the game, but the film did an amazing Job wowing the effort and strength that Coach Brooks had to make it all possible. Kurt Russell did an amazing Job portraying the main character Herb Brooks. Coach Brooks knew Just what to do to get the team at their A game level, even if it meant torture. His determined and aggressive attitude could not have been played out any better than it was. Although the boys of the hockey team are not very recognized faces, they portray the correct personalities of any hockey player ready for the Olympics. Watching the boys on their Journey from day one leading up to the Olympics proves he story to be that much more inspiring. The newly team of boys were going to be playing the Soviets who had been playing together for 10 years. It was time for the 20 men from around the country to become one. For anyone who watches the film that has been part of a team, they may recognize the feeling of the classic team bonding. The film was a very captivating story that could inspire anyone to go after their dreams. The movie Miracle is an all around great film for people who love hockey. However, it is not too hard to follow for someone who is unfamiliar with the name, and could even turn out to be a favorite film. Kurt Russell did an amazing Job acting the role of Coach Herb Brooks. While there was a lot of history taking place as far as the Cold War, the film could turn out be a bore for some of the younger crowds. This is an amazing film for any aspiring hockey players as well as an all around great film for Just about any age group who has somewhat of an interest in hockey. Watching the unbelievable story of the US hockey team in 1980 is exciting and inspiring. It is a story that relives its beauty as you watch it from your television screen.

Barbican Centre Description and analysis of motivations behind the Essay

Barbican Centre Description and analysis of motivations behind the planning scheme - Essay Example Then, the effects of the site on the social and economic life of the local community should be identified, as possible. Also, the resources available for the realization of the particular planning scheme have to be taken into account. In current paper another aspect of urban planning schemes is explored: the motivations that can exist behind such schemes. Particular emphasis is given to the potential influence of modern and postmodern culture on the planning schemes developed within cities. The case of Barbican Centre in London is used as an example for checking the interaction between urban planning and culture. The literature developed in this field is reviewed aiming to show that urban planning is not independent from the cultural environment of modern cities. However, the level at which an urban planning scheme is affected by culture is not standardized; the practice followed in other urban planning schemes developed locally is commonly used as the basis for defining the cultural characteristics of urban planning schemes. In the case under examination the above finding is explained as follows: the designers of the Barbican Centre were based on cultural trends used in the high majority of similar buildings across UK. Of course, differences between Barbican Centre and other sites of similar use have not been avoided, a fact that it is related to the personal perceptions of its designers but also to the needs that the specific Centre has to cover. In addition, through the years, the alterations of certain of the Centre’s initial parts have been necessary under the influence of postmodern culture, an issue discussed analytically below. 2.0 Barbican Centre as a planning scheme reflecting modern and postmodern culture 2.1 Barbican Centre – Description and key characteristics The interaction between the Barbican Centre and the modern/ postmodern culture can be understood only by referring primarily to the key characteristics of Barbican Centre, meani ng especially its construction elements/ structure both in its initial phase, in 1982, and after its two refurbishments, in 2006 and in 2012. The Barbican Centre in the City of London can be characterized as an exceptional architectural work. The idea for the Centre’s establishment can be identified in 1955 but it was quite later, in 1982, that the Centre was finally completed;1 the Queen was invited to open the Barbican Centre in 1982, an invitation to which the Queen responded positively.2 At that time, the Barbican Centre was thought to be an exceptional work, not just in aesthetic terms but also in functional terms: the Centre included not only theatres and cinema but also ‘a library and a series of galleries’.3 Figure 1 – Photos of Barbican Centre, as in 1982 (E-architect 2013) The cost of Barbican Centre has been estimated to ?153m.4 In 2006 the refurbishment of the Centre was considered as necessary so that certain functional weaknesses of the Centr e to be addressed; the works done on the Centre in 2006 reached a cost of ?14m.5 Today, the Barbican Centre is the largest complex of buildings dedicated to art.6 The Centre is consisted of a series of buildings of different size; the London Symphony Orchestra is one of the most important buildings of Barbican Centre.7 The annual visitors of Barbican Centre are about 1.5million.8 An important characteristic of the construction process has been its duration.9 In fact, when the Centre was finally completed its main construction material, ‘the concrete hulk, had fallen out of fashion’.10 The access to the Centre is rather strange: ‘at street level the available connections are limited’.11 Instead, the Centre can be accessed easier by ‘

Diabetes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Diabetes - Essay Example Exercise plan is ideal for patients with this condition provided they do not fall in the following scenarios, which make them at risk of aggravating cardiovascular diseases. First, they should not be older than 35 years and should not have suffered from type 2 diabetes for more than 10 years. There should be no other risk factors for coronary artery disease. The patients should not have proliferative retinopathy or nephropathy microvascular disease such as microalbuminuria, peripheral vascular disease or autonomic neuropathy. Scientific research has produced enough supportive evidence that a gradual drop in fitness and muscle mass and strength in diabetics could be reversed through regular and moderate exercises. It has also been established that lack of physical activity results in the decrease in insulin sensitivity in middle-aged type II diabetics. Noticeably, physical inactivity is more widespread in populations at risk of contracting type II diabetes. Middle-aged patients have been targeted in many recent studies on the effects of regular and moderate exercise on diabetics. Hence, mild and regular exercise is highly recommended for middle-aged type 2 diabetics (American Diabetes Association, 2007). According to the American Heart Association, the two-pronged exercise for middle-aged type II diabetics should involve swimming and walking, which are aerobic activities associated with the strengthening of muscles, lungs and the heart. Walking and swimming controls diabetics’ blood pressure and sugar besides making their arteries flexible. The other effect of aerobics is weight loss and shedding of excess body fat (American Diabetes Association, 2007). Through their effects on responses to insulin, swimming and walking helps improve the health of a type II diabetic. The recommended exercise include walking and other moderately intense exercises that run for

Fire Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Fire - Essay Example These aspects will include appropriation, crowding, privacy, territoriality, and personal space. A hospital setting needs to be spacious to allow patients to feel well accommodated and enhance visiting process by their friends and relatives. People in hospitals need personal space to feel at home. According to Sommer, personal space means an emotionally tinged zone around the human body that people feel they own it. The zone varies according to internal states, culture, and context (Sommer, 2002). There is need to design a cubical for each patient to give them enough personal space. In case of a fire originating form one of the cubicles, it is easier to contain it, control it, and put it off before it spreads to other cubicles. This is unlike a situation where many patients share same room. A territory is another aspect of human interaction with the environment. According to Griffon, territoriality is a pattern of behaviour or attitudes held by a person attempting to control a physical space by marking, personalisation, defence, or physical occupation (Brown, 2005). In a hospital setting, persons will tend to defend their territories for a period of time they will be in the hospital. It will vary by characters of person’s gender, and age. Therefore, designing places that people of differing characters can call their own when in the hospital will allow nurses to give them care in a convenient setup. However, it is necessary to take care not to put lockable doors on the cubicles. In case of fire, it is easy to remove curtains on the doors and evacuate patients through it other than breaking in if there was a door. Every human being needs privacy, which include access to self and one’s group. In a hospital setting, patients, nurses, and visitors need privacy as they attend to each other. Nurses need a quiet workplace with social places where they can connect to each other outside work. Additionally,

Assessing The Scope Of Competitive Rivalry

Assessing The Scope Of Competitive Rivalry Scope of competitive rivalry mainly deals with a global focus, however, local computer makers should also be considered. For the large corporations, having a presence in foreign markets is essential. Companies like Dell, HP, Lenovo/IBM, and Acer all compete in multiple international markets. If individuals in a particular country are capable of buying a PC, the top competitors all fight for their purchases. Competition is not cut throat per-se, but if a company like HP falters in any one of its multiple segments, Dell could come in and take its market share. Stage in Industry Life Cycle The thing about technology is that it constantly changes. The personal computer, servers, printers, and data storage devices have existed for decades, but constant RD is employed to make these high-tech machines smaller, run faster, and operate more efficiently. Computers and their peripherals will likely remain in the growth stage for a very long time. Though growth has slowed in developed countries like the United States, it has increased in other developing countries like Brazil, India, and China. On that note, the idea itself has reached maturity. For example, servers (as well as personal computers) can offer long usage time if they are properly serviced over the years. Computers configured four years ago, if built with quality high-end components, can still compete with ones coming out today. New technologies make adding performance to personal computers and servers effortless, which furthers the life of the machines. Degree of Vertical Integration According to Thompson and Gambles research, There were too many technologies and manufacturing intricacies to master for a vertically integrated manufacturer to keep its products on the cutting edge. Therefore, the industry has a very low degree of vertical integration. Companies search for the best manufacturers of parts and services and combine them to create a name-brand computer. Providers need to be accessible for when they are demanded. If they fail, companies like Dell and HP can switch as quickly as living creatures blink. Ease of Entry/Exit Because the industry has long been established and defined by the current competition, ease of entry/exit is not exactly easy. In fact, it would be nearly impossible for a start-up firm to enter. A long established company like Sony, for example, was able to enter late in the game because of their existing company structure and size. Only already established large companies would be able to enter the market, unless some entrepreneur discovered a way to enhance existing business models which maximized efficiencies in nearly every aspect of the venture. Technology Innovation The industry is highly characterized by innovation, considering it is nothing but technology. New products are constantly developed, daily in fact. Intel, for example, releases computer processing units (CPUs) every three months. As a result, costs decline .5% weekly. These CPUs are among the main components of the computer. Since technology is evolving at a rapid rate, computer companies always look for ways to reduce inventory carryover while still having enough in inventory if demand spikes. Product Characteristics Defining the product characteristics is rather complex, as not only are the computers intricate in nature, but the number of products associated with this industry colossal. Looking at the main composition, the industry includes computers (servers, desktops, laptops), peripherals associated with the computer like wireless routers and printers, and external storage. Focusing on the computers and depending on the price, they vary in terms of processing speed, hard drive capacity, number of video display outputs, number of channels of surround sound, and amount of random access memory. Economies of Scale As with most industries, the name of the game is getting the best products for the best price. Gray areas do exist, however. CPUs for personal computers, for example, are only made by two competitors (AMD and Intel). Other manufacturers like SIS and Centaur exist, though they are not as well known and certainly not trusted enough to be in name brand PCs. The same goes for video cards. Many manufacturers do exist, but there are only two significant competitors in the market (Nvidia and ATI). Most manufacturers of video cards actually incorporate the chipsets of the two top competitors into their own models. There is a substantial amount of marketing and advertising that goes into the products of the top competitors. The public must be constantly reminded which computers are the best to buy. Because of cost cutting (as well as international expansion), many companies have some, if not the majority, of their processes outsourced. To further reduce costs, inventory carryover is kept low. Learning and Experience Curve Effects The industry is highly characterized by the philosophy of learn by doing. For example, Dell has been improving efficiencies in their business model for the past eighteen and a half years (as of 2008). As a result, they are a leader in many aspects of their value chain. The competition follows suit, but they do not have as much experience as Dell does in this instance. Capacity Utilization Once again, as with all industries, it is important to have high capacity utilization in order to maximize efficiencies. Because there is little markup on computers and their components, companies need to squeeze savings out of every aspect of their operations. Industry Profitability If a company is well managed and knows what its customers want, then industry profitability can be high. Once processes begin to fall short or crumble, company profitability can go from black to red in a short amount of time. Compaq (before it became HP) was an example of a company with poor management structure. Executives ran the company into the ground because they were not finding ways to be profitable. Despite holding a large portion of market share, the company operated in the red for many of its quarters. Industry Driving Forces Though the industry possesses many driving forces, three come to mind as being most prevalent. For one, increasing globalization plays a big role in analyzing company size and strength. Outsourcing processes to many different countries leads to cheaper manufacturing costs across the entire value chain. India, for example, is a common location for technical support call centers. As the world grows smaller, having a well established brand name in multiple markets will keep top competitors successful. A second driving force is the diffusion of technical know-how across more companies and more countries. Just like in increasing globalization, outsourcing helps to locate the best RD opportunities in the least expensive country. The more minds there are on a project, the more opportunities there are for innovation. As a result, emerging countries may have different thought processes and needs compared to developed economies, so new ideas may be generated. A third driving force is changes in cost and efficiency. As mentioned earlier, it is imperative for companies in this industry to master the Just in Time strategy. Computer components are decreasing in price weekly and are becoming more energy efficient. These changes ultimately lead to newer and better products than those of three months ago. Key Success Factors Just like the driving forces, there are many key success factors that relate to this industry. For one, top competitors most certainly have an expertise in a particular technology or specific research (in this case, computer designing). They hand select the best components (or cheapest depending on the business model) for customers to choose from. After all, the quality of components defines the quality of the computer. A second key success factor is the proven ability to improve production processes. This includes the aforementioned industry-wide decrease in days of inventory holdings, and lessening vertical integration improves competitiveness. As computer components become cheaper to manufacture, the prices decrease. As a result, computer prices fall. Improving production processes are effective methods of keeping profitability high. A third key success factor is quality control know-how. No matter what the problem is with ones computer, it is always the fault of the manufacturer. If HP or Dell builds unreliable computers, buyers will simply switch to another brand with little hesitation. Therefore, it is imperative for the top competitors to maintain their quality control in the factories. If a certain component of the computer keeps failing, then it is likely the fault of the component manufacturer, and not the brand name computer creator. Other key success factors include product performance, reputation/image, and customer service capabilities PORTERS FIVE FORCES MODEL OF COMPETITION Dell has been able to remain innovative in their approach to building computers. They proved throughout their years of existence that providing differentiated, customizable computers with exceptional customer service at reasonable prices is possible. During the early years, Dell was able to undercut the competition by substantial margins. When they developed their strategic plans to sell computers internationally, they were quickly able to capture some of the market share once held by super-giant IBM. As a result, in 2007 International sales accounted for over 41% of Dells sales. To expand upon their business model, they diversified their product offerings to include Dell branded speakers, printers, and ink cartridges. Though not all diversification efforts were successful, Dell proved they could be innovative in their approaches to reaching customers. Michael Dell knew exactly what he wanted to do with his business when he first started his venture, and sticking to that vision has c reated one of the most successful computer ventures ever. Rivalry Among Competing Sellers Dells rivals include more than PC manufacturers. They compete and tally revenues in the following product categories: desktop PCs, mobility products (laptop PCs and workstations), software and peripherals (printers, monitors, TVs, projectors, ink and toner cartridges), servers and networking hardware, consulting and enhanced services, and storage products. Principal competitors amongst these categories include HP, Lenovo/IBM, Apple, Acer, Toshiba, Sony, Fujitsu-Siemens, Sun Microsystems, EMC, Hitachi, Cisco, Broadcom, Enterasys, Nortel, 3Com, Airespace, Proxim, Lexmark, Canon, Epson, Accenture, and EDS. Rivalry among competitors is fierce. If one company falters even the slightest bit anywhere along the value chain, other competing companies will enter and capitalize on the transfer of market share. For example, in the first quarter of 2008, Dell had 15.7% of the total global market share, which is up from 14.8% in the fourth quarter of 2007. The rest of the competition outside of the top five competitors (HP, Dell, Acer, Lenovo, and Toshiba) lost 5% of the total market share. These numbers vary from quarter to quarter, but when the top five competitors see increases in market share, it is clear who dominates. Dell happens to offer a highly differentiated product. They pride themselves on providing high quality computers at better prices points than the competition as a result of directly selling to customers. Prior to Dell, no company successfully offered such a business concept. Sales and promotions are targeted toward special bundle packages (like monitor, printer, and computer in one purchase) and slightly dated computer designs. With Dells premier account, for example, businesses and schools are encouraged to buy specially configured computers (which can be further customized). Savings tend to be larger when consumers purchase computers bundled with an anti-virus package, and Dell warranty, and interest free payments for six months if customers own a Dell premier credit card. Though competitors like Sony offer similar incentive programs, none of them can match Dell. Though Dell was strictly direct-to-consumer oriented for the longest time, they were losing significant market share to Apple as a result of not offering their computers in stores. As a result, they agreed to a contract with Best Buy and Wal-Mart. Though customers would technically pay for the markup at Best Buy or Wal-Mart for the same computer they could purchase through Dell, this tactic helped to keep Dell from losing market share to HP and Apple. In addition, Dell began offering white-box PC solutions in 2003 which helped them achieve an additional $380 million in revenues. Though critics were skeptical of the decision to move into this segment, most saw it as an effort to take on white box dealers in China. Potential New Entrants The threat of potential new entrants is minimal if even possible. There is a considerable presence of sizable economies of scale in production and other areas of the operation include the following: a substantial amount of marketing and advertising that goes into Dells products and the ability to outsource areas of the business they cannot make profitable by locating in the US. In addition, Dell is the industry leader in minimizing inventory on hand. In addition to the economies of scale, the learning and experience effects curves have to be taken into consideration. Dell has followed the simple model of learn by doing. As a result, they have been improving efficiencies in their business model for the past eighteen and a half years (as of 2008). The competition cannot match Dell. As with any industry that has been defined for decades, there is a strong brand preference and somewhat high degrees of customer loyalty. Because Dell is focused on being the lost-cost leader in the industry, they need not worry about customers switching purely on price. Customers want an established brand name that has the proven ability to withstand the test of time. As a result, HP, Dell, Acer, Lenovo, and Toshiba will remain the top competitive global competitors for the years to come. Though Apple is a leader in the US, they will not be able to compete in price conscious countries. Because the market share is dominated by the big five, any completion will fight for the remaining half that is crowded with hundreds and thousands of un-established brands. As with most industries that have long been established, there would be extensive capital requirements for a new company. Entry would likely cost millions, is not billions of dollars. As a result, the same brand names have existed for decades. On top of that, striking deals with distributors and retail stores would prove to be difficult. What basis would new consumers have for trusting a brand new computer company? That is why Insignia failed. Assuming the company has these issues sorted out, they would still have to deal with restrictive regulatory policies and tariffs and international trade restrictions. A new threat will only exist if the company can figure out how to succeed at every one of these difficult situations. Substitute Products Substitute products are becoming an issue within the industry. As technology progresses the products of yesterday become obsolete. The smart phone is becoming the biggest threat to the personal computer. Though they are much smaller and fit in the palm of the customers hand, they are capable of doing many of the tasks that a computer can do. For users that compute on larger scales such as film makers, musicians, and reporters, the computer can never be replaced. As a result of the smart phones popularity, computer companies are now competing in this segment. Supplier Bargaining Power The supplier bargaining power through Dell is mainly weak, though there is some slight flexibility. For example, Dell cycles through the top two CPU suppliers (Intel and AMD). Because they are in fierce competition, they continue to make quality products and are normally differentiated only by price. When Dell switched to AMD in 2006, they switched because AMD was able to provide Dell with a better performing chip for a better price. Similar situations occur with peripherals like printers (switch from HP to Lexmark then Dell branded), several speaker offerings from Altec Lansing and Dell branded, and different suppliers for the motherboard. Dell will switch to the best supplier for the best price as long as component quality does not suffer. Buyer Bargaining Power Buyer bargaining power, on the other hand, is high. There are a variety of products to choose from at lower price points than the competition. Purchasing items in bundles leads to greater saving, especially if customers have a Dell premier account. In addition, refurbished or customer-returned computers are offered at even greater discounts. Because technology continually evolves, buyer preferences change, ultimately leading to product adaptations. Customers demand the best product at a better price than the competition. If Dell fails at their own mission statement, they will lose the market share they currently possess. INTERNAL ANALYSIS: SWOT STRATEGIC COST ANALYSIS Value Chain Analysis Dell aims to provide low prices on a diversified line of customizable personal computing solutions by selling direct to customers. In addition, they have an efficient supply chain and manufacturing process that allows them to maintain a leadership position in the industry. As a result, they can sell premium quality products at price points their customers can afford. Just recently to compete with Apple, they have extended their product offerings into retail stores like Best Buy and Wal-Mart. When surveys were conducted in 2008, Dell was found to be deficient in the laptop market segment. As a result, they began contracting part of their assembly process to manufacturing facilities in Asia. Once the basic assembly was completed in the Asian facilities, the half built computers were sent back to the US for final product completion. The problem was that this incurred more costs than if they outsourced the entire operation. As a result, laptops became 100% built overseas. Other cost reduction techniques include minimizing the number of days of stocked inventory. By 2002, Dell was able to minimizes their supplies to anywhere between 2.7 and 4 days. These low stocking days in addition to their purchasing model put Dell at a great advantage. When customers configure their computers online or at the kiosks, they are required to pay in full before their computer can be built. This puts Dell at a great advantage because they have the money for the computer (or other products) before the customer even has the tangible product. They also offer special deals for professional organizations, schools, and other preferred Dell account members. Because they keep a close relationship with their customers, they can create value in other areas like expanded product offerings and 24/7 customer service. Additionally, Dell runs several tests throughout the build process of the computers. Multiple levels of testing reduce the number of manufacturing errors, which furthers their cost reduction efforts. By the end of the manufacturing process, the computers are pre-loaded with an operating system and several programs to enhance buyer value. In short, when the customer receives their computer, they simply have to turn on the unit to begin us e. Dell believes that maintaining close relationships with their suppliers leads to better computers, which will improve customer satisfaction and keep costs low. Once customer satisfaction is high, they will likely buy additional products from Dell such as printers. Further, by providing twenty-four hour technical support, Dell can continue to emphasize the importance of their customers in their eyes. By outsourcing operations like laptop manufacturing and customer service call centers, Dell has found ways to produce products at better price points. Similarly, if Dell produced their own PC components, they would never be able to maintain their competitive edge. Costs for RD and production capacity would eliminate profit margins, even possibly putting Dell into a troubling situation financially. Updates to current model offerings are employed every couple of months. They include improved performance, new input device technologies (like eSata and USB 3.0) and increase energy efficiency. Benchmarking Activities In most industries, Benchmarking tends to have at least some importance in creating better products and improving efficiencies. In any technology driven industry, however, it is essential in order to survive. Dells goal is simple; they keep prices low by allowing customers to create a complete personalized computer according to pre-defined specifications. Doing this enables Dell to avoid carrying pre-configured computers in inventory. Though they do offer refurbished models for discounts, it is not a substantial part of the business. Because their business model is so unique, they can provide customizable solutions that minimize costs, eliminates much of the need for inventory carry-over, and requires customers to prepay (or set up a preferred payment account) before receiving the computer. By cutting out the middleman, Dell can pass on savings to the customer. In addition, by continually searching for ways to improve the manufacturing process, how customer orders are filled and ship ped, and how employees are trained, Dell can retain its competitive edge. Activity Based Costing Dell breaks down its individual activities of the value chain into several components that will provide cost estimates and capital requirements. Categories include advertising, researching, development, technical support (hardware and software related), selling, general, and administration, engineering, and logistics. When one activity is altered, its effects can be felt through the other activities throughout the chain. Once Dell establishes their cost estimates, they can analyze their competitiveness with companies like HP, Lenovo, and Acer. From there, they can make the necessary adjustments to maintain success. Competitive Strength Assessment Analyzing Dell for the competitive strength assessment is analyzed over two criteria. First, how does Dell rank relative to competitors on each of the important key success factors that determine market success? The second, does Dell have a net competitive advantage or disadvantage versus major competitors? Dell understands that in order to remain competitive, they must not lose sight of their business model. The continually search for ways to reduce costs along every aspect of the value chain. As a result, they fair well in the competitive strength assessment. They continue to satisfy their customers by providing total computing solutions. This assessment includes the comparison of the pre-defined industry key success factors against the top competitors: expertise in a particular technology or in scientific research, proven ability to improve production processes, and quality control know how to other competitors. In addition, other strength measures will be weighted. Included measures are product performance, reputation/image, and customer service capabilities. Once the key success factors are reviewed, the weighted overall strength rating will be determined. Weightings rank from highest (strongest) to lowest (weakest). This assessment helps pinpoint which areas Dell excels. Similarly, it also illustrates where they should improve. As illustrated by the competitive strength assessment, Dell still remains stronger than HP, but not Apple. But just because Apple ranks higher does not mean they sell more units. In 2007, Dell shipped (US) 19,645,000 units whereas Apple shipped 4,081. On a worldwide outlook, Apple is not ranked whereas HP shipped 50,526,000 and Dell shipped 39,993,000. Apples product line, however, is priced higher overall than the competition. Their theory is that extensive RD must be made to determine which parts work best together. Apple spends a great deal of time researching components to find out which ones talk best to each other. Their customers believe Apple computers tend to be more stable and last longer than the competition. Whether this is purely an advertising gimmick or legitimate fact has not been proven, but customers seem to believe this is the case. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS BUSINESS STRATEGY ANALYSIS: PORTERS GENERIC STRATEGIES Best-Cost Provider Strategy By late 1997, it was clear that Dell was defining their position in the market. They had become a low-cost leader that was discovering new ways to harness efficiencies from their direct sales business model. They wanted to provide quality computers at price points lower than the competition, and they succeeded. This strategy gave them the upper hand in the industry, and as a result, they are a top competitor with a high percentage of the overall market share. Dell achieved their best-cost status from the ability to provide customers with customizable computing solutions at lower than expected prices by cutting out the middleman. By employing this strategy over multiple product offerings, they were able to target a wide range of computer users from the business end to personal home users. Owner Michael Dell achieved this status by constantly benchmarking company performance. He continually searched for ways to improve all aspects of the business, which includes ongoing improvements in the assembly efficiency, improved quality control, enhancing partnerships with suppliers, adopting just-in-time inventory practices, website rebuild, customer service/technical support improvements, and placing Dell computers in retail stores. As a way to enhance value, Dell held forums that gave senior management the opportunity to listen to their best customers for determining future needs and expectations of buyers. In 2007, Dell began enhancing customer value through IdeaStorm, a website that allows customers to post suggestions for ways to improve the company. Improvements yield great reward, as Dell was rated number one (in 2005) for providing exceptional customer service to large enterprises. Vertical Integration When the industry was relatively new, it was essential for a PC manufacturer to be at least partially integrated. If they were not, customers did not receive their product well. That logic shifted over time, however, to the point where being vertically integrated would be detrimental to long-term company success. To not be vertically integrated is the best way for Dell to mass-produce computers. Today, Dell has an arms-length relationship between specialist suppliers, manufacturer/assemblers, and end users. It is unlikely for Dell to ever revert back and become even partially integrated, as the industry as a whole is becoming less integrated daily. Transaction Cost Economics Dell aims to keep transaction costs low and continually searches for ways to save. There are no surprises for customers when they visit the Dell website, unless medications have been made to the layout. Customers expect low prices for quality computers, and that is what they receive. Improving bargaining power between suppliers is highly unlikely, due to the fact that discounts on technology can only go so far. They are typically regulated and controlled, and have even been scrutinized for selling components for more than they are worth. Dell accepts PayPal, MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover credit cards in addition to their own premier account credit card. They believe that having multiple payment methods encourages customers to purchase more goods. In addition, other typical transaction cost economics include the time it takes to configure a computer online (or at one of the newly introduced kiosks), the time it takes to research what components fit customer needs the best, the time it takes to actually place an order, and the time it would take if customer service/technical support is needed. Cooperative Strategies Michael Dell believed that partnerships with suppliers would be better for the company than if it were to integrated backwards and manufacturer its own components. As a result, they have relationships with processor manufacturers Intel and AMD, hard disk drives manufacturers Seagate and Western Digital, speaker manufacturers Altec Lansing (often rebranded as Dell), and multimedia component manufacturers creative technology ltd. Other suppliers for parts like RAM, motherboards, fans, and DVD drives change depending on who supplies parts for the least amount of money. When Dell agrees to purchase components from suppliers, they are required to purchase a certain percentage of stock per order. As a result, Dell is able to demand products when needed. They can expect timely shipping and service from the suppliers as well. Suppliers often have locations within close proximity to Dells manufacturing facilities. In addition, these suppliers are often treated as Dell family members. Finally, these partnerships help drive down costs. Offensive Strategies Dells suppliers act offensively daily. They have to in order to keep up with changing technology. Coming from Dells perspective, they too act offensively. Though they are not necessarily pioneering new and better technologies, they demand the latest and great from suppliers at the quickest rate possible. They refresh their product line every few months to make it seem as though they are revamping their product line often. In addition, if there are new technologies that exist for determining ways to lower costs along the assembly line, they investigate and incorporate. They have been the leader in direct-marketing of computers and will likely remain at the top so long as they remain offensive. After all, they are the low-cost leader. Defensive Strategies Though Dells attempts at defensive strategies have not always been positive, they nevertheless attempted to fill a void in their product line. Responses to the changing marketplace include Dell televisions and Mp3 players. Though these products were highly competitive, they were never able to reach customers hands the way existing products could. This is one instance where Dells direct selling strategy proved to hurt their business model. A positive defensive strategy, however, was the release of the Inspiron notebook. Dell began outsourcing their entire laptop manufacturing operation to cut costs and maximize efficiencies. As a result, they were able to remain competitive and increase the market share that had began to lose. The global recession has also affected Dell, but most businesses have seen some sort of negative change from it anyway. First-Mover Advantages In 1984, Michael Dell began his journey of creating custom built computers sold directly to customers. This, in itself, is the first-mover advantage of the entire industry. No competitor has been able to match the success of Dell in terms of direct selling to consumers. They have had far more years of experience operating in this manner than any of the other competitors. It is for this reason Dell will likely remain the top competitor in direct-to-consumer computer sales. CORPORATE STRATEGIES: DIVERSIFICATION Beca

The Etiology and Treatment of Parkinson Disease Essay -- Health Aging

Parkinson Disease There exists a group of people who live the final years of their lives in glass boxes. They are perfectly capable of seeing outside, but incapable of reaching out to the world around them. Their emotions can not be shown through facial expression, and as their condition continues, speech also becomes difficult or even impossible. These people are men and women of all races and geographical areas, constituting one percent of the world’s population over 50 years old. Parkinson disease is their affliction. Although Parkinsonism has been around almost as long as recorded history, there is yet to be found a cause or a cure. Medications tame the symptoms and prolong life, but are incapable of reversing the disease progression.. Diagnosis relies exclusively upon clinical signs and symptoms, because almost all laboratory and radiography tests are normal in the Parkinson patient. For this reason early diagnosis is very difficult. The fact that early signs of Parkinsonism can easily be overlooked as normal aging, further complicates diagnosis. Therefore, primary care physicians of the middle-aged and elderly population must be extremely sensitive to patients’ outward appearance and changes in movement ability. Most signs and symptoms of Parkinson disease correspond to one of three motor deficiencies: bradykinesia, akinesia, tremor, and rigidity. The first two qualities are usually present before tremor, but often attributed to aging by the patient and even the physician, and thus the disease is rarely diagnosed until tremor becomes evident much later. An average of 80% of the nigrostriatal neurons may have already degenerated by the time Parkinsonism is diagnosed, which complicates treatment (Fitzgerald, 130). Bra... ...ed. Bailliere Tindall. London: 1985. Kandel, E. R., J. H. Schwarz, and T. M. Jessel. Principles of Neural Science. 3rd ed. Elsevier. New York: 1991. Korczyn, A. D. "Autonomic Nervous System Disturbances in Parkinson’s Disease." Advances in Neurology. Vol. 53, 1990, Pp., 463-468. Langston, J. W. "Current Theories on the Cause of Parkinson’s Disease. " Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. 1989, suppl. ,pp. 13-i7. Lees, AJ. "The On-Off Phenomenon." Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. 1989, suppl. ,pp. 29-37. Lieberman, A., "Emerging Perspectives in Parkinson’s Disease." Neurology. April 1992. suppl 4.. Pp. 5-7. Rowland, L. P., ed. Merritt’s Textbook of Neurology. 7th ed. Lea and Febiger. Philadelphia: 1984. Walton, Sir John. Brain’s Diseases of the Nervous System. 9th ed. Oxford University Press. Oxford: 1985. The Etiology and Treatment of Parkinson Disease Essay -- Health Aging Parkinson Disease There exists a group of people who live the final years of their lives in glass boxes. They are perfectly capable of seeing outside, but incapable of reaching out to the world around them. Their emotions can not be shown through facial expression, and as their condition continues, speech also becomes difficult or even impossible. These people are men and women of all races and geographical areas, constituting one percent of the world’s population over 50 years old. Parkinson disease is their affliction. Although Parkinsonism has been around almost as long as recorded history, there is yet to be found a cause or a cure. Medications tame the symptoms and prolong life, but are incapable of reversing the disease progression.. Diagnosis relies exclusively upon clinical signs and symptoms, because almost all laboratory and radiography tests are normal in the Parkinson patient. For this reason early diagnosis is very difficult. The fact that early signs of Parkinsonism can easily be overlooked as normal aging, further complicates diagnosis. Therefore, primary care physicians of the middle-aged and elderly population must be extremely sensitive to patients’ outward appearance and changes in movement ability. Most signs and symptoms of Parkinson disease correspond to one of three motor deficiencies: bradykinesia, akinesia, tremor, and rigidity. The first two qualities are usually present before tremor, but often attributed to aging by the patient and even the physician, and thus the disease is rarely diagnosed until tremor becomes evident much later. An average of 80% of the nigrostriatal neurons may have already degenerated by the time Parkinsonism is diagnosed, which complicates treatment (Fitzgerald, 130). Bra... ...ed. Bailliere Tindall. London: 1985. Kandel, E. R., J. H. Schwarz, and T. M. Jessel. Principles of Neural Science. 3rd ed. Elsevier. New York: 1991. Korczyn, A. D. "Autonomic Nervous System Disturbances in Parkinson’s Disease." Advances in Neurology. Vol. 53, 1990, Pp., 463-468. Langston, J. W. "Current Theories on the Cause of Parkinson’s Disease. " Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. 1989, suppl. ,pp. 13-i7. Lees, AJ. "The On-Off Phenomenon." Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. 1989, suppl. ,pp. 29-37. Lieberman, A., "Emerging Perspectives in Parkinson’s Disease." Neurology. April 1992. suppl 4.. Pp. 5-7. Rowland, L. P., ed. Merritt’s Textbook of Neurology. 7th ed. Lea and Febiger. Philadelphia: 1984. Walton, Sir John. Brain’s Diseases of the Nervous System. 9th ed. Oxford University Press. Oxford: 1985.

Islamic Influences in the Philippines

Barter trade, equivalent exchange, and financial agreement, these words fall to the similar idea of agreeing to a set amount of items to exchange between two or more parties. A very underrated type of business, but very effective in the world of today. People see the world of business as a meaner to earn and make the most out of exchanges in order to buy more and more things for themselves, rather than the idea of getting the most out of a certain item purchased or traded.Barter in the Philippines had first been recognized in the lower regions such as Gambling, Zebu and Taw-Taw. The Filipinos there would encounter numerous people from around the world but most commonly would be the Chinese and the Muslims. The Muslims would often be known to be trading spices and silk to the Filipinos for fruits and rice, which became a very common trade throughout time. With this more and more Muslims even styled and taught many Filipinos the concepts Enid Trade and Commence between countries and cu ltures.Barter trade was an Islamic influence towards the Filipinos as it was a very common practice within the Middle East. Spices, Silk, Fruits, and Cattle were commonly traded among travelers in order to refill their stocks or to try new items. More so, Barter was a way of life in the early civilizations due to the fact that it allowed surplus foods and items to be traded for more useful items. In modern day Taw-taw, Gambling and Zebu, barter trade practices can still be en throughout the shores and towns along the coasts.Many countries such as the neighboring Malaysia have found these cities to be a well loved tender to all their needs for trading. Studies show how even families have relatives from both the Philippines and Malaysia due to the trade industry between relationships of the trading parties. The naturalistic relationship of the neighboring countries has brought many influences into the Philippines. Barter trade being one of the many, such as theIslamic religion, the sp ices in meals and the use of silk in clothing to name a few, have been significant markers to the development of the Filipino Culture. Even as the Philippines has been colonized multiple times by Spain, Japan and the United States, it still is a known fact that the Islamic culture has made quite an indention on the culture that is of the Filipino. Reference: http://pH. News. Yahoo. Com/Islamic-culture-barter-bind-Filipinos- Malaysian-134516022. HTML

The Count of Monte Cristo1 essays

The Count of Monte Cristo1 essays Type of literary work: Adventure Drama The main point that Alexandre Dumas is presenting in this novel deals with judgement. Those who are good to others will be rewarded in the furture. Those who are sinfull will be punished. The action in this novel takes place in Marseilles, Paris, France in the 1800's. The era of the novel is set during the Napoleonic era. The ciites in which this novel takes place in are, Marseilles, Paris, and Rome. Most of the scenes are in the cities but others take place on the countryside, and Edmond Dantes was a young and handsome sailor. He had a lot of things that people would dream of. The two main people that were jealous of him were a man named Fernand Mondego and a man named Monsieur Danglars. Fernand was in love with Dantes' fiance Mercedes, while Danglars was jealous that Dantes was to receive the rank of Captain that he didn't have. These men (as well as two others named Gaspard Caderousse and Monsieur de Villefort) form a conspiracy and arrange for Dantes to be arrested and sent to a dreadfull prison named the Chateau d'If. After a couple years in the Chateau d'If he met Abbe Faria who became Dantes' intern father . Dantes met Abbe Faria through a secret passage way they both had builtt. Faria taught Dantes many things in there years together in prison. One of which was the secretly kept treasure of the Spada family. The two friends had planned an escape, but Faria dies before they can carry out there escape. Dantes once again becomes filled with grief and sadness, but he thinks up a plan. He thought only the dead leave the Chateau d'If, decides to replace Faria's corpse with himself. He places Faria in his own cell in bed facing the wall. He sews the shroud back once he is inside it. He is then thrown into the sea as all the corpses were of the Chateau d'If are. That is how Dantes made his great escape. Dantes is picked up by a ship of sm...

Joints and Body Movements Essay Example

Joints and Body Movements Essay Example Joints and Body Movements Paper Joints and Body Movements Paper Purpose: What is the purpose of this exercise? In this exercise I will exam how joints function and thereby discover how they allow for movement in the body. Joints are where two bones come together. The joints hold the bones together and allow for movement of the skeleton. All of the bones, except the hyoid bone in the neck, form a joint. Joints are often categorized by the amount of motion they allow. Some of the joints are fixed, like those in the skull, allow for no movement. Other joints, like those between the vertebrae of the spine, allow for some movement. Most of the joints are free moving synovial joints. In this exercise I will exam how joints function and thereby discover how they allow for movement in the body. Are there any safety concerns associated with this exercise? If so, list what they are and what precautions should be taken. Basic lab precautions, including keep a clean workspace and washing your hand when dealing with raw poultry. In order to ensure that this occurs layout the equipment beforehand in a clean sterile environment and follow safe work practices. Exercise 1: Questions A. As you observe the skull, explain how the structure of the sutures between the cranial bones is related to the overall function of the cranium. Children’s heads needs to squeeze through the birth canal during delivery, humans during infancy have evolved with a soft skull composed of many different bony plates that meet at regions called cranial sutures. These sutures also allow the skull to grow rapidly during the first year of life, at which time the bones start to slowly fuse together. This allows the skull to continue to protect the skull during early development. B. Why are synarthroses an important component of fibrous joints? These joints are weight bearing and the joints provide stability and cushioning. Synarthrotic joint is to provide a stable union between bony surfaces. The suture and synchondrosis actually become more stable when ossification of the joint takes place. Exercise 2: Questions A. Cartilaginous joints exhibit amphiarthroses. Why is this important? Amphiarthroses provides an articulation between bony surfaces that permits limited motion and is connected by ligaments or elastic cartilage, such as that between the vertebrae. B. Structurally, how are cartilaginous joints similar? Cartilaginous joints are connected entirely by cartilage. Cartilaginous joints allow more movement between bones than a fibrous joint but less than the highly mobile synovial joint. Cartilaginous joints also form the growth regions of immature long bones and the intervertebral discs of the spinal column. Exercise 3: Questions A. Which type of synovial joint has the least amount of movement? Plane joints permit sliding or gliding movements in the plane of articular surfaces. The opposed surfaces of the bones are flat or almost fat, with movement limited by their tight joint capsules. B. Why are diarthroses important for synovial joints? Diarthrosis permits a variety of movements. All diarthrosis joints are synovial joints and the terms diarthrosis and synovial joint are considered equivalent. C. Which synovial joint is most movable? A ball and socket joint is a joint in which the distal bone is capable of motion around an indefinite number of axes, which have one common center. It enables the bone to move in a 360Â ° angle. D. What are the four structural characteristics that all synovial joints share? Synovial joints all have synovial fluid, articular cartilage, articular capsule, synovial membrane, capsular ligaments, blood vessels, and sensory nerves. Exercise 4: Questions A. Which of the body movements was the most difficult to perform? Why? Inversion which is a gliding joint and provides little movement. B. Hinge joints like the elbow and knee have limited movement. Why are these types of joints more prone to injury? Hinge joints in the elbow and knee contain a lot of anatomical structures packed into a tiny space and when challenged with heavy and constant use, it thus especially prone to injury and infection. C. When performing flexion on the arm, the biceps muscle (on the anterior of the arm) contracts. What happens to the triceps muscle (on the posterior of the arm) as this action is performed? As you perform flexion on your arm the triceps muscle relaxes. D. Both the shoulder and the hip are ball and socket joints. Why does the shoulder have a greater range of motion than the hip? The muscles and joints of the shoulder allow it to move through a remarkable range of motion, making it the most mobile joint in the human body. The shoulder can abduct, adduct rotate, be raised in front of and behind the torso and move through a full 360Â ° in the sagittal plane. Exercise 5: Observations Sketch your chicken wing: Label the bones, muscles, tendons and joints. Exercise 5: Questions A. What effect will the tearing of a tendon have on its corresponding muscle? The corresponding muscle will shrink due to the decreased activity tendon. This is because when the tendon is torn the area around the tendon will not be in very much use until the tendon is repaired which can take a good while unless professionally handled. The muscle will go back to its original size once the tendon heals and the muscle is used more. B. Why are ligaments harder to heal than tendons? Tendons heal faster than ligaments. The reason is that tendons are connected to the muscle, which will allow them to receive a larger blood flow. Ligaments are connected to bone which supplies less blood. Blood is the key -what carries nutrients in order to repair the tissue. C. Compare and contrast tendons and ligaments. Ligaments connect bone to bone and tendons connect bone to muscle. D. What is the function of fascia? It is responsible for maintaining structural, provides support and protection, and acts as a shock absorber. The function of muscle fasciae is to reduce friction to minimize the reduction of muscular force. Fasciae: a) Provide a sliding and gliding environment for muscles. b)Suspend organs in their proper place. c) Transmit movement from muscles to bones, and d) Provide a supportive and movable wrapping for nerves and blood vessels as they pass through and between muscles. [ E. What effect would the loss of articular cartilage have on a joint, its bones and their corresponding muscles? It causes the breakdown of the cartilage in joints. It also called degenerative arthritis. Cartilage is the joints cushion. It covers the ends of bones and allows free movement. If it becomes rough, frays, or wears away, bones grind against each other. As a result, the joint becomes irritated and inflamed. Sometimes the irritation causes abnormal bone growths, called spurs, which increase swelling. Conclusions Explain how skin, bones, and muscles are related to each other. Why is this relationship important to the understanding of the skeletal and muscular systems? Joints are where two bones come together. The joints hold the bones together and allow for movement of the skeleton. All of the bones, except the hyoid bone in the neck, form a joint. Joints are often categorized by the amount of motion they allow. Some of the joints are fixed, like those in the skull, allow for no movement. Other joints, like those between the vertebrae of the spine, allow for some movement. Most of the joints are free moving synovial joints.

Final Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Final Project - Essay Example The reason for taking up the diversity consciousness course was to acquire more knowledge about diverse cultures. The topic diversity attracts me or influences me a lot as I belong to the East African originating from Ethiopia and reside in the United States. The cultural differences, the approach and the differences in value helped me to understand and focus on personal growth by staying in between the people of diverse culture (Azcentral, 2013). The diversity course has influenced my mindset and my behavior towards the people of different cultures. I have now started to identify and respect the people of different cultures. The course is helping me in understanding the values of the diverse culture, religion and the behavior. Moreover, the awareness regarding diversity has helped me in understanding the fact that people are different and their attitudes and ideas should be respected. The awareness assists me in appreciating the fact that individuals of different places are â€Å"not like us† and hence have learnt to respect the differences instead of complaining. The diversity awareness has helped me in understanding my peers better, improve my communication and avoid the level of confusion. The prominent reason for the conflicts is differences hence the awareness regarding diversity helps in avoiding the conflicts faced, usually when we are new to the country (McLauren, 2009; The Pennsylvania State University.). The understanding of the diversity in the culture and communication has affected my thought process to a great extent. The differences of cultures have made me more tolerant and allowed me to respect the diverse cultures and their differences in opinion. The understanding of the differences has helped me in understanding the uniqueness of the person. Before identifying the importance of diversity, I thought the USA to be a

RFID and online shopping Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

RFID and online shopping - Assignment Example This gives leverage to exploit hackers and online criminals to exploit the age of the internet. Technology is moving into human bodies quickly (Keenan, 2014). Humans are gradually becoming slaves to technology. Software and machines know the most intimate secrets of a person. Apps and devices track blood-sugar level, heart rate and blood pressure. It won’t be hard for a hacker to sell medication to diabetic patients after obtaining this useful information. One does not even need to be that illegal to exploit internet privacy. Studying shopping habits is becoming a science in itself. The internet has provided so many in-depth tools to marketers that they can explore shopping behaviors by regions (towns, suburbs etc.) and persons. A shopper might put in some key words in the search engine and in just a few seconds he might see banner ads selling the exact or a relevant product to this person. This precise form of marketing is frightening. It reveals how much activity of a person can be tracked over the internet. One study conducted on online shoppers showed that the privacy concern is a major impediment of truthful and deep online interaction (Flick, 2009). Shoppers are always concerned about their information security. Different credible shopping websites have to show a licensed banner for the online security of their fund transfers. News of identity theft, credit card scams, online stalking and threats over social media are not new. The surprising part is that not everyone engages so much over the internet to become a victim of cybercrimes. Internet privacy is among the most widely discussed subjects in print and electronic media (Chamorro-Premuzic, 2014). A significant number of people are now informed of this menace. People are not comfortable giving sensitive information online. But modern lifestyle almost demands engagement with technology and modern shopping trends. People are outsourcing their lives to