Helmet Laws

Every year there are 38. 8 deaths per year and overall deaths of riders under 21 almost tripled due to motorcycle accidents, according to, The Insurance Industry Study in The Motorcycle Helmet Law a no-brainer — to both sides By Barry Millman, Staff Writer (Sun Herald / Venice, FL). Due to this statistic I think that there’s a big dilemma which has an obvious answer to it, people in many states are opposing the law that enforces motorcyclists to wear helmets they think it should be a choice but in reality what’s more important.Your safety or a choice, I think the helmet law should be enforced in every state it could be the one thing that saves you in a time that you really might need it. The no helmet law for motorcyclist is like a death sentence to those riding on these heavy dangerous machinery’s. Most people think that it is okay to cruise down the highway with a lot of other cars around them. Whether or not the motorcyclist’s riding without helm ets takes precautions while on the road you never know what can happen on the road. The cars on the road around you that are thousands of pounds can instantly kill you especially if you’re on a motorcycle with no helmet.One day you could be riding behind a car on the highway and the car all of the sudden the car in front gets in a wreck and flips and smashes the motorcyclist. And the next day you end up in a hospital unconscious or worse; dead. Another reason why the motorcycle helmet law should be required; is for head injuries. Most motorcyclist that end up in an accident and were wearing a helmet, are most likely too get a dangerous head injury including traumatic brain injury, which is the leading cause of death and disability in motorcycle accidents.Brain injuries can result in memory loss, loss of coordination, seizures, and inability to continue any hobbies, and or continue working. According too the article Motorcycle Accidents Relating to Brain Injuries by: Peter Ken t, â€Å"Motorcyclists, even those who wear helmets, are most likely to sustain non-penetrative injuries to the front of the head, damaging parts of the brain responsible for speech and higher functions. Those without helmets may also be susceptible to a penetrating brain injury, in which an object enters the head and skull, damaging the soft tissue of the brain itself.Helmets Essential to Prevent Traumatic Brain Injury† So see the reasons are there it up to you weather or not you want to take the responsibility and wear a helmet on the road. Another important reason why I think the helmet law should be enforced is because the people who are most likely to wear a helmet in a state that doesn’t require one is someone older and or with a little bit more common sense. By that I mean most young adults 18-30 will not wear a helmet if its not required.Some reasons for this might be that it doesn’t look cool or its uncomfortable, and they want to be able too feel free and be able to feel they’re face and hair. The reason I think this is so important is because if a rider were to get in an accident and be of 21 years of age and get a traumatic brain injury his life is over before its even started in most cases. When I was just the age of 12 I witnessed my father get into a really dangerous accident on the track.He races on his motorcycle on occasion for fun because its something he’s done almost all his life. He was wearing a helmet and he broke both hands had to have metal plates put in and surgery twice on the same hand. His helmet was crushed a little bit and the doctor told him that if he were not wearing a helmet he would probably not be here today. So that is why I think the helmet law should be enforced in every state because, no matter how many precautions you take on the road you never know what can happen.

Radio Music Essay

Music, I can say, has played an important role to the lives of every human. It has been a source of inspiration and leisure on past times. When you celebrate, music never gets lost and when you need to be calmed, music is also relaxing. As the years pass, along with it are the changes in trend. Characteristics of radio music by then are different of the radio music we have today. Several genres of music flourished from 1950s to 1960s. The birth of Rock and Roll is also dated back significantly in the 1950s. Right now, there is a question asked whether or not people would still listen to the radio despite of the latest gadgets for music are on hand. Listening to the radios are threatened by the latest technology including iPods and mp3 players. Aside from the radio, music is also presented by music channels in the television where music videos are accompanying the song. Radio is the major source of entertainment for the Americans having almost every household own at least one radio. 93% of the Americans owned a radio during that time. It was in the year 1954 that a rock and roll song landed the hit charts. Rock and Roll was a product of several genres including indigenous American jazz, rhythm and blues, swing, and the gospel style. Its roots trace back to the black culture of that moment (Faculty). Another music that was played on the radios is called â€Å"covers† (Faculty). Covering Family Name 2 takes place when a person or a group records again a song that was already recorded by another individual or group. This term’s roots dates back in the year 1966 (Online Etymology Dictionary). Songs back then that were originally sung by black artists were being asked to be covered by white artists. There were a lot of advantages that a â€Å"cover† has. First, they can outsell the original version due to having greater resources and second, the quality of the sound is much better than that of the original version. Rock and Roll had more specific genres which include Rock-a-Billy, Doo Wop, and the â€Å"West Coast† sound. â€Å"Rockabilly† was a mixture of rhythm and blues and country music. The â€Å"Doo Wop sound† traces its origins in the urban North. It has been fondly called and described as 1950s’ â€Å"street corner† music. Under Doo Wop are the characteristics of using â€Å"nonsense syllables† as background rhythm, having emphasis on its harmony, and a different range of voices or parts. Came 1960s and a new kind of rock and roll emerged called â€Å"California Sound. † California is the place where it first started. Rock and roll’s decline happened in the later part of 1950s since companies started to promote â€Å"teen idols. † The themes of their songs are mostly about love (Faculty). Some of the famous and promising artists during this time are the following: Dean Martin, Patti Page, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Eddie Cochran, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley- Don’t Be Cruel, Jailhouse Rock and many others, Arthur â€Å"Big Boy† Crudup, â€Å"Big Mama† Thornton, Hank Williams, Sr. , Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Every Brothers- Bye Bye Love, Roy Orbison, Ricky Nelson, The Marcels- Blue Moon, The Diamonds, Little Eva- Locomotion, The Shirelles- Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? , Neil Sedaka- Breaking Up is Hard to Do, and Paul Anka with his song Diana (Faculty). Family Name 3 At the present, since whatever the trend in America is being adopted by other countries, there are 17 formats that are now playing and being listened to. Ranking from the first, the following are Country, News/ talk/ information, Adult Contemporary, Pop Contemporary Hit Radio, Classic Rock, Rhythmic Contemporary Hit Radio, Urban Contemporary, Urban Adult Contemporary, Oldies, Hot Adult Contemporary, Mexican Regional, Contemporary Christian, All Sports, Alternative, Classic Hits, Classical, and Talk/ Personality (Radio Today). From Rock and Roll, it can be seen from the above information that the taste of music listeners have shifted to many other kinds. In my own observation, today’s folks are getting more acquainted with music that have lively danceable beats but not necessarily with high notes. A lot of the radio stations would play Pop, R&B and Hiphop. The young is the targeted market of these radio stations. Leading artists of today include Beyonce Knowles, Neyo, Chris Brown, Rihanna, Akon, Taylor Swift and many others who have hit the charts just like those mentioned artists in the year 1950s and 1960s. Works Cited â€Å"Cover. † Online Etymology Dictionary. 5 May 2009. < http://www. etymonline. com/index. php? l=c&p=28/> â€Å"The Rise of Rock ‘n Roll. † Faculty. 5 May 2009. < http://faculty. smu. edu/dsimon/Change-Music. html/> â€Å"Radio Today. † Arbitron. 5 May 2009. < http://www. arbitron. com/downloads/radiotoday07. pdf/>

Term paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Term Paper Example These customs may contradict with the common truth in a multicultural society. Some customs belonging to a particular community may appear to be evil or good in a different community. Therefore, a particular customary practice may have different consequences depending on the society judging the practice. The act of believing ones custom is the best or king over all customs is referred to as relativism (4). Customs define the morally accepted and morally rejected practices for a given society. Among the Japanese, bowing when greeting someone is considered to be a moral practice. This forces foreigners to forego their practices and adopt those of the locals. In Muslim countries, women have to veil their faces before appearing in public, and their hair should be covered always. Several societies consider keeping long hair and beard to be immoral. Customs upheld by communities define the right and wrong practices, which at times can be oppressive. In such cases, customs are considered to be the baseline of moral beliefs in the society. In Germany, the Nazis were against the Jewish religion and the leaders decided to execute them (6). According to Nazis, this was the accepted way of eliminating the Jews, but was considered to be evil by the Americans due to different customs. Individual values are gotten from parents, teachers, religious leaders, and historical books. Children internalize values learnt from different sources and form a sense of good or bad. This leads to the differences in moral values between different cultures. Ancient customs or cultures have different moral values, which are learnt by the children and subsequent generations. The conscience of a human being is also a product of the moral life. Conscience helps individuals identify wrong acts depending on personal and society values contributed to by culture. An individual picks up several values during childhood and along his or her lifetime that give the definition of a good human being (7). Cer tain individuals may adapt different values from other people within the same community due to external influence. In Germany, some Nazis rebelled, held out, and fled from the mass execution of Jews by Hitler. According to them, execution was immoral though it was being practiced by their fellow Nazis. Moral values can be influenced by external cultures and one’s own values cease to be superior to that of others. The society defines the morally acceptable values, but individuals may change their values depending on the influence. However, every individual or society believes to hold the highest values irrespective of their nature. Holding certain values does not mean they are the overall good, but they influence a person’s view of the right and wrong practices. This makes moral values to be relative to the society and the upbringing of an individual (9). The religion also determines the values regarded by an individual as good or bad. Some people believe that God revea ls the truth to human beings, which also defines the good and the bad. This forces them to line up their values according to the religious revelations and form a point of judging others. This makes them believe their values to be absolutely right and can act as the standard goodness. Some individuals do not believe in Godly revelations, therefore, their values are based on culture (11). Different objective points provide different justifications of moral assessments.

Laughter in The Heptameron (Navarre) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Laughter in The Heptameron (Navarre) - Essay Example In First Day, Story One, humor can be found in the way the wife of St. Aignan juggled her husband, the Bishop of Ses and Du Mesnil as her lovers. Navarre used the woman's servant to show the serving lady's critique on her mistress' sexual morality when she wrote; 'The good woman felt sorry for him (Du Mesnil). There he was, a good-looking, well-bred young man, so much in love, and so badly treated in return!' (Navarre 72). It could be noted that Navarre did not directly criticize the seemingly lack of sexual morality in her characters. The servant was her mouthpiece to point out the fact that Du Mesnil had no moral sexuality in pursuing her mistress. He was described as 'good-looking' and decidedly capable of finding suitable, eligible love interests. Since he chose to indulge in a married woman, he was partly responsible for the treatment he received when he had no access to his married lover. Du Mesnil had been made the comic fool by his persistent trust in the woman. He fell into her trap and was slain by St. Aignan's servants. It was funny how the wronged and weak brought destruction upon themselves. Navarre used a combination of dialogue and narrative to show showed how gullible Du Mesnil was; 'Off he went, never dreaming that she was planning to trap him, while she took his servant back to her house and gave him some supper.' (Navarre 73). It was not a surprise that the woman who lacked sexual morality was also lacking in moral scruples. The weak St. Aignan made a fool of himself when we read that he showed off his pretended valor when; 'he thrust his dagger a dozen or so times into the body of the man on whom he would never have dared lay a finger had he been alive.' (Navarre 74). St. Aignan made a comical figure with his false bravery. It was a critique on the weak huaband who could not comment nor do anything on his wife's moral sexuality while his Du Mesnil was alive. It was comical how events did not turn out the way the characters planned them. St. Aignan planned to get rid of his wife. Navarre's narration said that he made a wax doll to cast a spell of ill will on her because he felt that; 'It was she who was at the bottom of all this trouble, and he was quite certain she would never renounce her wicked ways.' (Navarre 77). He had no sexual morality because he did not want to preserve the sexual relations that bond him to his wife. The same could be said about the woman. She wanted to rid herself of the restriction that imposed sexual morality on her so she devised her own measures to save her skin while condemning her husband. Although she did get past criminal jurisdiction for her wickedness, she did not enjoy a good life thereafter. At the end of the story, Navarre revealed that the story teller was Simontaut, whose objective was to chastise women who lacked sexual morality. Navarre incorporated the critique on sexual morality in the form of a witty exchange amongst her story tellers, Simontaut, Parlamente and Oisille. Sinc e this story was a moral condemnation of a woman's marital infidelity, Navarre had set the stage for the next story teller, Oisille, who said she was compelled to tell a story to contrast with this and redeem the virtues of good women with good sexual morality. (Navarre 71-78).

Financial planning Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Financial planning - Assignment Example In the absence of the business knowledge, the company would not capable of competing effectively. 2. Investors are instrumental to economic growth. Dissatisfaction of the investors elicits disengagement from doing business in a given location (Taylor, 2012). The consequences of such moves include deterioration of economic growth. Thus, the interest of the clients comes first when designing policies that would affect business environment. Insensitive policies client’s demand often restrain investments. Similarly, clients often prefer to dissociate with businesses that fail to address their concerns. Good business policies affect investors as well as their clients. Conflict of interest is a critical concern to business growth because it affects the way investors would do business. Many investors are willing to engage in businesses that have limiting conflict of interests. 3. First, the business will be uncompetitive in the target market. Inappropriate advice limits the ability to address the needs of the consumers in target market resulting to lack of competitiveness. Second, inappropriate advice precipitates business failure because the company would be incapable of meeting the expectations of the clients (Taylor, 2012). The viability of the business largely depends on appropriate measures that it takes when handling the needs of the consumers. Lastly, inappropriate advice elicit inappropriate responses, for example, if the business does not receive appropriate advice on how to manage address the concerns of the employees it might end up loosing talented workers. Largely, the advise should be tailored towards addressing the business needs. 4. This strategy would change image of the business and consumer brand promise. The design of products tends to influence the image of the company in the eyes of the consumers. Improving the company’s products with respect to clients needs is one the mechanism of

706 week 13 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

706 week 13 - Assignment Example Some factors, however, cannot be measured or observed and this means inability to use evidence and data. Consequently, tuning in to the edge and intuition that offers a better understanding of factors for informed decisions is necessary. Tuning to the edge and intuition also offer a deeper understanding of the factors and integrating them with evidence and data that often identify relationships and their significance offers strong base for decision-making (Kerfoot, 2005). Turning to the edge and intuition, unlike sole reliance on evidence and data, also allows for generation of the ‘dissenters’ that are necessary for effective decisions (Pittman, 2013). Intuition played a role in my professional life when I identified unusual behavior in a colleague. His attitude had suddenly changed and he appeared stressed up. I imagined possible effects of his condition on his practice realized that he a risk to his patients through mistakes in care delivery. I decided to talk to him about his condition and convinced him into attending a counseling session. He later confessed the possibility of administering wrong medication during that period in which he was depressed. A possible dissenting voice to my project is that a free environment, in which practitioners enjoy autonomy over their approaches to care instead of such regulations as JNC guidelines, promotes creativity and can lead to better health outcomes. Need for tuning to the edge and intuition as well as dissenter concept could trigger opposition. Pittman, B. (2013). Bob Pittman of clear channel, on the value of dissent. The New York Times. retrieved from:

Globalization English Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Globalization English Paper - Essay Example The thesis can be seen at the end of the first paragraph of the article. â€Å"Third world countries† are countries that are still developing economically, are in war, to curb poverty. Third world countries faced with the problem of poverty, and most of their citizens are still struggling by doing odd jobs for survival (Divakaruni, 398). Maslow pyramid states that people will keep on working according to their needs and in each stage of life needs keep on changing. Divakaruni used Maslow theory to point out that people will keep on working in accordance to their needs. Therefore, the children will keep on working because of the hardships of life (Divakaruni, 398). Divakaruni suggests that children forced into child labor because; of lack of money to cater for the basics needs of their families, poor education systems and lack of enough schools and their governments being incapable of providing for its citizens. The use of rhetorical questions by Divarakuni is to ensure people get to understand why she is against the bill. In addition, she also wanted people to understand the reasons the children seek child labor. Paragraph three has been designed in such a way, causes of child labor and its effects clearly stated for better understanding of the life faced by the children. Divakaruni uses Nimai story to support child labor. Nimai came from a poor family; therefore, it was necessary to look for employment rather than starve to death. Nimai experience shows that children forced to seek employment to assist their families. Comparing Nimai and children in his village, he is much better since he can provide for his family and he is well treated by his employer (Divakaruni, 399). â€Å"The extra weight that capsizes the already shaky raft of their family’s finances† this metaphor meant that if the poor children taken to school and during their holidays, they return home they will be a burden to their already poor family. Divakaruni felt pity for t he village children because they suffer from hunger and starvation (Divakaruni, 399). Indentured as used by Divakaruni meant that the parents of the poor children took a contract that made children work in manufacturing factories. Inconceivable means that what the poor children are going through is unimaginable. Exploitation in this context means that the children were taken advantage in order to produce products to be used in the United States. Mired means a difficult situation like the one experienced by the poor children. Blithe means cheerful and happy (Divakaruni, 398). Javdani states her thesis in the second paragraph. The thesis developed by narration of two young men living in different worlds. Javdani thesis is about drugs and their origin. One man is living in poverty in an area where drugs are produced, and the other man lives in a rich neighborhood where drugs are sold. Colombian peasants support communist rebels, to protect their families and to earn money for upkeep. W hen the US government sends billions to Colombian government, they do not help the situation because the money used to fund paramilitary groups to fight against the rebels. Javdani solution to the problem is that the US can work from their country by cutting down the demand for the illegal drugs.

Responses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Responses - Essay Example This situation appears to have persisted for at least three years and the principal responded by encouraging the School Board’s dismissal of the teacher. An appeal to the State Secretary by the teacher was unsuccessful. According to Virginia Code SS 23-38 118, Miscellaneous Personnel Matters, the teacher’s tenure, promotions appointments are entirely up to the school. (Virginia Code ss 23-38, 118) In other words, the institution in which the educator is employed can determined for itself if the teacher is up â€Å"merit and fitness†. (Virginia Code ss 23-38, 118) Moreover, the teacher does not have a constitutionally protected right to employment as a teacher in the elementary school from which he was dismissed. In order to successfully appeal the decision or to take it to court the teacher is required under the Virginia State Code, to prove that the decision to dismiss him originated from an error, or that the discretion exercised by the principal and the authoritative bodies that supported the principal’s decision was an abuse of discretion, or that a civil right was contravened. Assuming that the only complained of was the right to teach, the elementary school teacher will fail on that ground since there is no constitutionally protected right to teach in a particular school. As for the finding of error, the teacher will have a difficult time substantiating this claim since the principal and assistant principal both observed the teacher ignoring the school’s curriculum. Moreover, the teacher was accused of making inappropriate comments to his pupils and when confronted he did not deny making them. It was therefore incumbent upon the principle to take some action, particularly if the comments continued. It is also highly unlikely that the teacher will be able to substantiate a claim that the principle of the school authorities abused their

The Impact of Just-in-Time Production Practices Essay - 5

The Impact of Just-in-Time Production Practices - Essay Example In the contemporary environment of highly competitive business, innovative managerial practices become critical for increasing profitability without major capital investment. The paper would, therefore, focus on how the improvements in product flow and product quality would impact on firms’ sales and profit. Productive flow broadly defines the streamlined process of manufacturing goods and services that have minimal defects. Thus quality products are important product outcomes of product flow within a manufacturing unit that greatly facilitate in meeting the demands of the customers. The streamlining of the various interactive processes becomes intrinsic to the quality control mechanisms that significantly help lower the overall cost of production. In the contemporary times of cutting-edge competition, Juran (2000) asserts ‘all quality improvement occurs on a project-by-project basis and in no other way’. This is the foundation of quality assurance techniques and application which the organizations follow in order to meet the challenges of the time and maintain or increase their profit and sales. Byrnes (2003) asserts that product flow management is a powerful ‘profit lever that can increase earnings while raising customer service levels’. Thus, the organizations continuously make effort to identify factors and issues that would help produce the desired outcome with efficiency and unmatched proficiency. The various processes that can reduce time span and efficiently deliver results are adopted to increase profits through quality products that corroborate with the changing customers’ requirements. Small and big organizations like General Motors, Samsung, Sony, Ford etc. have all redefined their strategic goals to meet the changing equation of global business that primarily focuses on customers’ preferences and their satisfaction.

Islamic Unit Study Guide Essay Example for Free

Islamic Unit Study Guide Essay In Arabic, the word â€Å"Islam† means submission or surrender, it is derived from the root word â€Å"salam† in which you can also derive the root words peace and safety. 2. What is Zamzam? The name of the holy well located in Mecca believed to be revealed when Abraham’s infant son Ishmael kicked the ground desperate for water. Millions of Muslims today drink from the well while performing their pilgrimage to Mecca 3. What is the Ka’bah? One of the most sacred sites in Islam, it is a large marble structure located in the middle of al Masjid al Haram (Sacred Mosque). It’s said to be built by Abraham and his son Ishmael to dedicate to Allah, and also houses the sacred Black Stone. No matter where you are, Muslims supposed to be facing the direction of Kaaba when in prayer. 4. Fully describe the role Abraham played in Islam. Ibrahim is considered to be the father of both Arabs and of Jews according to Muslims. It’s also believed that he is neither a Jew nor a Muslim, but somebody who is a hernif somebody who essentially and intrinsically knows that there is really only one God. Much of what Islamic tradition is about, along with rituals such as the Hajj stem from the pre-Islamic era and are translated into Islamic rituals through Ibrahim. The Kaaba was built because God spoke to Ibrahim about constructing a sacred house for God. 5. When was Muhammad born? 570 AD, Mecca 6. What did Muhammad dislike about his birthplace, Mecca? It was filled with idol worship and when he was assigned by God to call people to Islam per God revelation of Quran to him, the disbelievers disliked his views against discrimination. The people of Mecca were steeped in their ways and opposed Muhammad and his small group of followers in every way. 7. Describe the â€Å"Night of Power† and how Muhammad became the Messenger of God. The Lailat ul-Qadr or â€Å"Night of Power† is the night in which the Holy Quran is revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. At the age of 40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad received his first revelation from God through the Archangel Gabriel. Muhammad began to recite the words he heard from Gabriel and to preach the truth which God had revealed to him. . What is the â€Å"Night Journey? † Be sure to include in your answer a discussion of Isra and Miraj. The Night Journey starts out with the Isra, where Gabriel presents to Muhammad the heavenly winged steed called the Buraq. With the Buraq, he then journeys to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem where he met and prayed with Prophets Moses, Abraham, Jesus, and John. Gabriel then gives Muhammad the decision to dri nk the wine or milk, Muhammad chooses the milk which fulfills the prophecy. After this, is the Miraj, where Muhammad is ascended into heaven and passes the seven heavenly realms, where he meets God. 9. What is the significance of Medina? It’s considered the first Islamic Republic and is the location of the first Mosque built 10. Describe in detail the Five Pillars of Islam:  · Shahada : It is the declaration of belief in the oneness of God and acceptance of Muhammad as Gods prophet.  · Salat : The practice of formal worship to Allah  · Zawat :  · Sawm : Arabic word for fasting regulated by Islamic jurisprudence. In the terminology of Islamic law, the observance of sawm during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.  · Hajj : the pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim is required to make at least once in his life, provided he has enough money and the health to do so 11. Briefly describe the conflict between the Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims. The schism occurred when the Islamic prophet Muhammad died in the year 632, leading to a dispute over succession to Muhammad as a caliph of the Islamic community spread across various parts of the world which led to the Battle of Siffin. Sectarian violence persists to this day from Pakistan to Yemen and is a major element of friction throughout the Middle East. 12. What does â€Å"caliph† mean? The chief Muslim civil and religious ruler, regarded as the successor of Muhammad. 13. What is an â€Å"Imam? † The title of a Muslim leader or chief 14. Describe in detail the holy writings of Islam:  · Qur’an : the sacred text of Islam, divided into 114 chapters, or suras: revered as the word of God, dictated to Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel, and accepted as the foundation of Islamic law, religion, culture, and politics. Hadith : Hadith is the collection of the Prophet Muhammad’s statements and actions coupled with the statements and actions of his companions believed to have been collected 150 years after Muhammad’s death, and it is the basis of jurisprudence for Islamic or Sharia law. Muslims classify hadith in four different categories. The first three categories refer specifically to Muhammad. Awl are the transmissions of Muhammad’s statements, filiare the transmission of Muhammad’s deeds or actions, and taqrir are the actions or deeds of the Prophet’s companions or others that Muhammad has approved of. The fourth category of classification is qudsi, which are the Prophet’s words, inspired by Allah, that are not recorded in the Quran.  · Sharia : the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia deals with many topics addressed by secular law, including crime, politics, and economics, as well as personal matters such as sexual intercourse, hygiene, diet, prayer, and fasting. Though interpretations of sharia vary between cultures, in its strictest definition it is considered the infallible law of God—as opposed to the human interpretation of the laws 15. Describe in detail the Aqida. Be sure to include the six articles of the faith. 16. Explain the concept of Jihad. Be sure to include the meaning of the word â€Å"Jihad,† and the distinction between â€Å"Lesser Jihad† and â€Å"Greater Jihad. † 17. What is the meaning of the Star and Crescent Moon, the symbol of Islam? The crescent moon and star symbol pre-dates Islam by several thousand years when polytheism was the majority in the Middle East. The crescent and star are often said to be Islamic symbols, but historians say that they were the insignia of the Ottoman Empire, not of Islam as a whole. 8. What is the Aqiqa? Islamic practice of shaving the head of the newborn male and contributing the weight in silver for charity as well as 2 lambs. One lamb is slaughtered for a baby girl. 19. Briefly define the following groups:  · Nation of Islam : an organization composed chiefly of American blacks, advocating the teachings of Islam and originally favoring the se paration of races: members are known as Black Muslims.  · Wahabi : a follower of ? Abd al-Wahhab (1703–1792), who stringently opposed all practices not sanctioned by the Koran. The Wahhabis, founded in the 18th century, are the most conservative Muslim group and are today found mainly in Saudi Arabia.   The Twelvers : the largest branch of Shi’ite Islam. Adherents of Twelver Shi’ism are commonly referred to as Twelvers, which is derived from their belief in twelve divinely ordained leaders, known as the Twelve Imams, and their belief that the Mahdi will be none other than the returned Twelfth Imam who disappeared and is believed by Twelvers to be in occultation. 20. Define the following terms:  · Arabia Peninsula of southwest Asia between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. Politically, it includes Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Arabia has an estimated one third of the worlds oil reserves.  · Allah Islamic word for God  · Ishmael Son of Abraham  · Muslim A believer and follower of the teachings by the Prophet Muhammad  · Mecca City is Saudi Arabia, the religious centre for one of the five pillars of pilgrimage (hajj)  · Abu Bakr One of the close companions of Prophet Muhammad and the first caliph  · Khailifahs Muslim religion leaders or chiefs Mosque Muslim house of worship  · Ramadan The ninth month of the year in the Islamic calendar, a time of fasting.  · Hajj The religious pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the five pillars of Islam  · Sufism Islamic mysticism  · Ali Cousin and son in law of Prophet Muhammad, a caliph  ·  · Hidden Imam Twelver Shii doctrine holds that the twelfth imam did not die but went into a spiritual form of existence known as occultation, and will return at the end of time as a messianic Mahdi to restore justice and equity on earth. The sacred dress of Muslim pilgrims, consisting of two lengths of white cotton, one wrapped around the loins, the other thrown over the left shoulder.  · Kafir Infidel or pagan  · Id Al-Fitr A festival that ends the fast of Ramadan  · Id Al-Adha Commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael  · Sunnah The way of life prescribed by the normative of Islam  · Tawhid Asserting and maintaining the divine unity, Islams central doctrine.  · Ummah Means â€Å"the people† in Arabic, it refers to collective community of Islam peoples

Knowledge Management in Competitive Advantage

Knowledge Management in Competitive Advantage Introduction â€Å"A companys knowledge management strategy should reflect its competitive strategy: how it creates value for customers; how that value supports an economic model; and how the companys people deliver on the value and the economics. Also, competitive strategy must drive knowledge management strategy.† (Civi, 2000) Competitive strategy is described by Johnson et al (2008) as a firms focus on how to compete successfully in a market. The opening quote directs this essay to look at four areas: knowledge, knowledge management, innovation and acquisitions. The essay aims to display the interdependence of these issues, and demonstrate how they shape a firms competitive strategy. GlaxoSmithKline [GSK] is one of the leaders in the pharmaceutical industry, commanding a seven per cent share of the worlds pharmaceutical market (GlaxoSmithKline, 2009). GSKs mission is to develop innovative medicines and products that help millions of people around the world. As a company with a firm foundation in science, GSK have a flair for research and a track record of turning their research into powerful, marketable drugs. Every hour GSK spends more than  £300,000 on research and development (GlaxoSmithKline, 2009). Currently, a prevailing topic in the pharmaceutical industry is the acquisition of small biotechnology firms by the big pharmaceutical companies for their knowledge (The Economist, 2009). Innovation and acquisition are, therefore, fundamental to GSKs competitive strategy. For these reasons GSK is an ideal candidate as a reference to the discussion of this essay. Knowledge â€Å"At the strategic level the organization needs to be able to analyze and plan its business in terms of the knowledge it currently has and the knowledge it needs for future business processes.† (Civi, 2000). According to Civi (2000) the only sustainable advantage of an organization is what people know and what they do with it. The most crucial knowledge is that which is tacit. As Hamel (1991) states, tacit knowledge is highly personal, and hard to formalize. This makes it difficult to share with others and an elementary part of a firms competitive strategy, and complements Civis view that knowledge is needed for future business processes. Based on this, knowledge is the most important resource a company has. The Resource Based View [RBV] of the firm complements strategy, and is a determinant of competitive advantage (Porter, 1979). RBV assumes that the firm is a bundle of resources which are heterogeneously distributed. Researchers have theorized that when firms have resources that are valuable, rare, inimitable and non-substitutable, they can achieve sustained competitive advantage through implementing fresh value creating strategies which cannot be easily duplicated by competitors (Bar ney, 1991). This belief links directly back to our opening quote regarding value creation, and manifests how knowledge can be exploited and can shape the strategy of the firm. It allows managers and others to build new thinking in the firm, and is a particularly crucial capability in the pharmaceutical industry (Helfat, 1997). Knowledge management A goal of GSK is to build a learning organization by leveraging their knowledge. According to Chase (1997) GSK looks to achieve their goals by delivering innovative medicines to the market place and building core competences for the future through acquisition. This supports the argument that knowledge management plays a significant role in shaping the competitive strategy of GSK through innovation and acquisition. Unlike tangible assets, knowledge does not diminish in value, and through its role as architect shapes the competitive strategy and competencies of the firm, it therefore requires careful management. Knowledge management is a business and institutional process through which firms create knowledge, as (Daveport Prusak, 1998) articulate â€Å"knowledge management is a fluid mix of framed experience, values, and contextual information and expert insight that provides a framework for evaluating and incorporating new experiences and information†. Having come to recognition in the early 1990s, knowledge management was adopted by Glaxo Wellcome in 1997 when it launched a Senior Executive Programme whereby it united 300 of its executives. Its objectives were to share learning across boundaries, build new networks and to inspire entrepreneurial initiatives to stimulate business growth. As (Chase, 1997) stated â€Å"Glaxo Wellcome is rapidly building its knowledge infrastructure; lear ning from reflection and review; benchmarking internally and externally; and creating dynamic adaptive systems which respond to change.† This exemplifies the role of knowledge management in competitive strategy. It is further supported by Eisenhardt and Martin (2000) who describe strategic decision making as a dynamic capability in which managers pool their various functional, business and personal expertise to make the choices that shape the major strategic moves of the firm. As a resource, knowledge is considered as multi faceted, and is an essential starting point for the embodiment of knowledge within organizations, and their overall effective use of knowledge management (McAdam McCreedy, 1999). The ultimate objective of knowledge management is indeed its ‘use, wherein ‘use is the commercial value for the customer, and is easily attributable to innovation (Wilkinson Wilmott, 1994). Innovation â€Å"Innovation involves the conversion of new knowledge into a new product, process or service and the putting of this new product, process or service into use, either by the marketplace or other methods of delivery† (Johnson, Scholes, Whittington, 2008). In the context of intense global competition and the continuously increasing pace of technological development, innovation is considered as mandatory for survival in such a dynamic market environment (Nonaka Kenney, 1991). In this context, more than ever, companies are forced to renew their product portfolio. Only with new products can they sustain their competitive position, and linking back to knowledge management, many researchers believe that tacit knowledge forms the foundation for building a sustainable competitive advantage (Seidler-de Alwis Hartmann, 2008). Jean-Pierre Garnier realized that without huge innovation the company would be at risk from competition and be unable to sustain its market share. Garniers competitive strategy revolutionized GSKs drug discovery and innovation. He commissioned three new drug discovery factories in Madrid, the UK and Pennsylvania, costing $270 million. Each day these factories conduct over 300,000 tests, and have paved the way to speedier drug discovery, providing GSK with the ability to produce a drug in just 3 years half the industry average (Anon, 2004). As a result, in February 2009 GSK had 149 products in its pipeline, more than double the number of rival Merck who had just 74 (GlaxoSmithKline, 2009). This demonstrates the role of knowledge management in creating innovative capabilities, and highlights competitive advantage. Innovation is a key aspect of competitive strategy, and offers the direction for growth. One strategy used by GSK is open innovation. As (Johnson, Scholes, Whittington, 2008) confer â€Å"successful innovation is typically done through relationships.† At GSK, ten of their eleven top consumer healthcare brands began as collaborations with outside innovators (GlaxoSmithKline, 2009), Panadol is the number one over-the counter consumer healthcare product internationally, whilst Sensodyne ranks number two internationally in oral care (Wright James, 2009). GSKs consumer healthcare innovation portal appeals to external innovators and provides access to technology experts who nurture ideas into innovations that align with the companys competitive strategy. It is achieved through legal partnerships, which create mutually beneficial relationships, bringing new ideas to life (GlaxoSmithKline, 2009). A further example of such open innovation was GSKs announcement to share research and p atent portfolios for HIV drugs with its rival Pfizer in a hope of accelerating drug development in this area and create value for customers in less developed countries (The Economist, 2009). This merged business created revenue of $1.6 billion last year, and further exhibits how knowledge management and the pursuit of new knowledge can shape competitive strategy. Acquisition Acquisition routines bring new resources, and are a source of much sought after external linkages, which distribute knowledge and technology into the firm (Gulati, 1999). Two important acquisition incentives are those of market expansion and extending product portfolios (Atuahene-Gima Patterson, 1993). These incentives are today shaping GSKs competitive strategy under the guidance of Andrew Witty. In early 2009 GSK acquired Bristol-Myers Squibb Pakistan for $36.5 million. The deal meant that GSK acquired a portfolio of over 30 well established pharmaceutical brands and bolstered its position as the top selling pharmaceutical company in emerging markets. The portfolio is complementary to GSK, and provides a wealth of new opportunities in fast growing market areas to create value for both the firm and its customers (Bicknell, 2008). This once more exemplifies the role that knowledge management can have in acquisition, and therefore competitive strategy of GSK. â€Å"Strategies are both plans for the future and patterns from the past† (Mintzberg, 1987). This statement recognizes the need for knowledge management due to its inherent experience, values, and contextual information in crafting strategy. It also recognizes the need to identify current knowledge and that knowledge which it needs for future business growth. Powell et al (1996) found that knowledge creation processes that included external linkages in the form of alliances and acquisitions led to superior RD performance. As (Eisenhardt Martin, 2000) also found, external linkages were crucial to effective knowledge creation in their extensive study of the pharmaceutical industry. Glaxos  £9.1 billion acquisition of Burroughs Wellcome in 1995 was driven by expectations of cost savings , a strengthened product pipeline and improved market position as well as the challenges presented by the expiry of the patent of Zantac; Glaxos and the industrys first blockbuster drug (James , 2002). Thus, RBV emphasizes that successful strategy is based on a firms ability to identify, accumulate and deploy resources that match market opportunities and are difficult for competitors to imitate (Amit Schoemaker, 1993). Acquisitions can further help firms reconfigure their resources, allowing adjustment to a changing business environment; in GSKs case it strengthened their ability to deliver their mission, and ultimately the values behind their strategy. This further attests the role of knowledge management in crafting competitive strategy, and supports the need for acquisitions to maintain a competitive advantage. Conclusion Knowledge management should reflect the competitive strategy of the firm, and a firms competitive strategy must drive knowledge management. By exploring knowledge, knowledge management, innovation and acquisitions this work has evaluated knowledge as an asset integral to the firms competitive strategy. In the case of GSK, they have formed their own knowledge management strategy, and identified the importance of knowledge in guiding their innovation and acquisitions. Knowledge management, therefore, plays a major role in GSKs strategy. President John F. Kennedy once said: â€Å"In a time of turbulence and change, it is truer than ever that knowledge is power†. This essay has emanated Kennedys quote by identifying knowledge as the crux of new thinking and value creation, and therefore, economic power. As discussed, knowledge not only complements a firms strategy but also provides competitive advantage. At GSK this knowledge is transformed into powerful, marketable drugs. Shepard (2000) further supports this point by stating that knowledge, while difficult to quantify, and even more difficult to manage is a strategic corporate asset. Having recognized the importance of knowledge to the firm, this work then directed towards knowledge management. As was displayed, GSK adopted their own knowledge management strategy in a bid to encourage entrepreneurial initiatives and stimulate business growth through the release of knowledge. As (Halawi, McCarthy, Aronson, 2006) comment, â€Å"an organization managing knowledge well has the potential to create significant value, but only if it is linked to its overall strategy.† This reinforces the opening quote, and also provides the foundation not only to GSKs knowledge management, but also to their innovation and acquisition. The role of knowledge management is to find, understand and use knowledge to create value, thereby guiding a firms competitive strategy. Innovation is an encapsulation of the ‘use of knowledge management. It can be seen that knowledge management is the formulation of and access to knowledge, experience and expertise that encourage innovation. At GSK this is pursued both in-house and through open innovative relationships. As Halawi et al (2006) support â€Å"knowledge management pleads you to gaze at the informal networks and protocols, sharing experiences and know-how, in addition to cultural and technological elements that drive creativity and innovation.† The discussion finally examined acquisition as a strategy for creating external linkages and delivering new resources and that would not only improve the firms competitiveness but also RD and innovation. Glaxos acquisition of Burroughs Wellcome and Bristol-Myers Squibb Pakistan clearly illustrate this and show knowledge managements role as a driver behind GSKs acquisitions. Through detailing the four areas in this essay, and linking knowledge management and competitive strategy this work has shown that knowledge management can and does play an integral role in shaping the competitive strategy of the firm. It creates competitive advantage and develops core competences. At GSK, this has been achieved through its own knowledge management strategy, innovation and acquisition. It must be noted, however, that many organizations do not understand the strategic importance of their knowledge assets in building, and maintaining sustainable competitive advantage (Halawi, McCarthy, Aronson, 2006). Bibliography Amit, R., Schoemaker, P. (1993). Strategic assets and organizational rent. Strategic Management Journal 14 , 33-46. Anon. (2004). Innovation at GlaxoSmithKline: is it the safest way?: How to ensure creativity enhances your business without threatening the bottom line. Strategic Direction , 16-18. Atuahene-Gima, K., Patterson, P. (1993). Managerial perceptions of technology licensing as an alternative to RD in new product development: an empirical investigation. RD Management 23 (4) , 327-336. Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management 17 (1) , 99-120. Bicknell, S. (2008, December). BMS: Company News. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from Bloomberg: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstoryrefer=conewstkr=BMY:USsid=a7nwjjqlOaxc Chase, R. L. (1997). Knowledge management benchmarks. Journal of Knowledge Management , 83-92. Civi, E. (2000). Knowledge management as a competitive asset: a review. Market Intelligence and Planning 18/4 , 166-174. Daveport, T., Prusak, L. (1998). Working Knowledge. Harvard Business School Press , 35-90. Eisenhardt, K., Martin, J. (2000). Dynamic capabilities: What are they? Strategic Management Journal 21 , 1105-1121. GlaxoSmithKline. (2009, September 7). About GSK. Retrieved November 29, 2009, from GlaxoSmithKline Website: http://www.gsk.co.uk/about/index.html GlaxoSmithKline. (2009). GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare. Retrieved November 27, 2009, from Glaxo Smith Kline Website: www.innovation.gsk.com GlaxoSmithKline. (2009, February). GlaxoSmithKline Investors. Retrieved November 28, 2009, from GlaxoSmithKline Website: http://www.gsk.com/investors/product_pipeline/docs/gsk-pipeline-feb09.pdf Gulati, R. (1999). Network location and learning: the influence of network resources and firm capabilities on alliance formation. Strategic Management Journal 20 (5) , 397-420. Halawi, L., McCarthy, R., Aronson, J. (2006). Knowledge management and the competitive strategy of the firm. The Learning Organisation , 384-397. Hamel, G. (1991). Competition for competence and interpartner learning within international strategic alliances. Strategic Management Journal 12 , 83-102. Helfat, C. (1997). Know-how and asset complementarity and dynamic capabilty accumulation. Strategic Management Journal 18 (5) , 339-360. James, A. (2002). The Strategic Management of Mergers and Acquisitions in the Pharmaceutical Industry: Developing a Resource-based Perspective. Technology Analysis Strategic Management 14 (3) , 299-313. Johnson, G., Scholes, K., Whittington, R. (2008). Exploring Corporate Strategy. Harlow: Financial Times Prentice Hall. Mansfield, E. (1988). The speed and cost of industrial innovation in Japan and the United States: external vs internal technology. Management Science 34 (10) , 1157-1168. McAdam, R., McCreedy, S. (1999). The Process of Knowledge Management within Organizations: a Critical Assessment of both Theory and Practice. Knowledge and Process Management 6 (2) , 101-113. Mintzberg, H. (1987). Crafting Strategy. Harvard Business Review July-August , 66-75. Nonaka, I., Kenney, M. (1991). Towards a new theory of innovation management: a case study comparing Canon and Apple. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management 8 , 67-83. Porter, M. (1979). How competitive forces shape strategy. Harvard Business Review 57 (2) , 137-145. Powell, W., Koput, K., Smith-Doerr, L. (1996). Interorganizational collaboration and the locus of innovation. Administrative Science Quarterly 41 (1) , 116-145. Seidler-de Alwis, R., Hartmann, R. (2008). The use of tacit knowledge within innovative companies: knowledge management in innovative enterprises. Journal of Knowledge Management 12 (1) , 133-147. Shepard, S. (2000). Telecommunications Convergence. New York: McGraw Hill. The Economist. (2009, August 6). Big drug firms embrace generics. Retrieved November 29, 2009, from The Economist: http://www.economist.com/businessfinance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=E1_TQTSSVVJ The Economist. (2009, July 16). New initiatives to cure diseases of the poor world. Retrieved November 28, 2009, from The Economist: http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/displaystory.cfm?subjectid=531766story_id=E1_TQDPTQNQ Wilkinson, A., Wilmott, H. (1994). Making Quality Critical: New Perspectives on Organisational Change. London: Routledge. Wright, T., James, K. (2009). Innovation and Marketing Excellence. London: GSK.

Holiday Customs in Victorian England :: essays research papers

Holiday Customs in Victorian England Although Christ's Nativity has been celebrated since the 4th century, most of the English customs we are familiar with today are as recent as the mid-19th century. Many of the early ceremonies were started with pagan beliefs. â€Å"The Protestant Reformation condemned most of these pagan customs as superstitious and banned public celebrations of Christmas.† Michelle J. Hoppe. It wasn't until Prince Albert married Queen Victoria and brought many German customs with him that Christmas began to gain popularity again. â€Å"One of the first signs of Christmas was the arrival of the Christmas card in the post. John Calcott Horsley designed the first Christmas card in 1846 for Sir Henry Cole, Chairman of the Society of the Arts. Only 1000 cards were printed that first year and were expensive, but the pattern for the future was formed.† Encyclopedia. Then in 1870, postage was reduced. Thus began the real spread of the Christmas card. By the early 1870s, the custom had reached the United States. Christmas decorations sometimes appeared well before the holiday, also, but many still held to the old superstition that it was bad luck to put up a evergreen (Christmas Tree) before Christmas Eve. †The most favored plants were all 'magical' because of the mid-winter berries they produced--mistletoe, holly and ivy. The red berry of the holly was believed to protect one against witchcraft.† Encyclopedia. The sprig had to be carried into the house by a male, as the berry is on the 'male' holly plant. One use for holly sprigs was to decorate the Christmas pudding. The 'female' ivy symbolized immortality. â€Å"Mistletoe, because of its pagan origins, was not allowed in any church. Kissing under the mistletoe was English custom and only as many berries as were on the mistletoe, could there be kisses. For after every kiss, a berry had to be removed from the sprig.† English Customs. The Christmas tree can truly be called a Victorian innovation. The custom of a lighted tree began in Germany then made its way to America. â€Å"It wasn't until Prince Albert, of German descent, brought the Christmas tree to England in 1840 that it gained popularity there. By 1847, the trees at Windsor Castle were laden with presents as well as wax candles.† Michelle J. Hoppe. The tradition spread as English citizens followed the Royal example. The trees and other decorations were removed on Twelfth Night (January 6).

Confronting Death in Poetry Essay -- essays papers

Confronting Death in Poetry Raised fists and a fading smile usually follow the confrontation of death as we experience the first stages of denial in the grieving process. We not only grieve at the loss of a loved one, but at the loss of our own life as well. When death rears its ugly head, it demands this response. Whether through art or science, humor or ritual, mankind marks and confronts this passage with both defiance and trepidation that eventually turns into acceptance and submission. The fear of death seems to be based on two things: the finality of death and the uncertainty of what follows. Many works have been written on the topic, some to offer consolation, others hope, and still others to urge readers to correct their behavior during life itself. The conflicting views put forward by different societies may never be reconciled, since nobody comes back to tell of an afterlife. Robert Frost successfully delineates this process in his poem, "Out, Out -" as he describes how the boy in the poem experiences the first stage of impending death - that of denial. Frost paints a picture of school age children doing the household chores of adults. Death with children is especially disturbing because in our unconscious mind we are all immortal, so it is almost inconceivable to be openly confronted with the reality of death. For children, this thought is especially implausible because of their youth. It is much easier to turn our attention to less frightening possibilities. The boy states this to his sister after crying out in a rueful laugh, "Don't let him cut my hand off / The doctor. When he comes. Don't let him sister!" (Frost 25, 26) Step two and three of the grieving processes when confronting impending de... ...od's eternal reward. All three authors deal with and do a good job of portraying the stages of grief that impending death brings, no matter what form it comes in. There are allusions in all three poems of earlier years when life and death were narrower spans in time than they are today as our life expectancies rise. A true sign of the times each author lived in. Bibliography: Work Cited Dickinson, Emily. "I heard a Fly buzz - when I died." The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Francis Murphy. New York: Norton and Company, 1995. 1138. Robinson, Edwin Arlington. "Richard Cory." The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Francis Murphy. New York: Norton and Company, 1995. 1730. Frost, Robert. "Out, Out -." The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Francis Murphy. New York: Norton and Company, 1995. 1774. Confronting Death in Poetry Essay -- essays papers Confronting Death in Poetry Raised fists and a fading smile usually follow the confrontation of death as we experience the first stages of denial in the grieving process. We not only grieve at the loss of a loved one, but at the loss of our own life as well. When death rears its ugly head, it demands this response. Whether through art or science, humor or ritual, mankind marks and confronts this passage with both defiance and trepidation that eventually turns into acceptance and submission. The fear of death seems to be based on two things: the finality of death and the uncertainty of what follows. Many works have been written on the topic, some to offer consolation, others hope, and still others to urge readers to correct their behavior during life itself. The conflicting views put forward by different societies may never be reconciled, since nobody comes back to tell of an afterlife. Robert Frost successfully delineates this process in his poem, "Out, Out -" as he describes how the boy in the poem experiences the first stage of impending death - that of denial. Frost paints a picture of school age children doing the household chores of adults. Death with children is especially disturbing because in our unconscious mind we are all immortal, so it is almost inconceivable to be openly confronted with the reality of death. For children, this thought is especially implausible because of their youth. It is much easier to turn our attention to less frightening possibilities. The boy states this to his sister after crying out in a rueful laugh, "Don't let him cut my hand off / The doctor. When he comes. Don't let him sister!" (Frost 25, 26) Step two and three of the grieving processes when confronting impending de... ...od's eternal reward. All three authors deal with and do a good job of portraying the stages of grief that impending death brings, no matter what form it comes in. There are allusions in all three poems of earlier years when life and death were narrower spans in time than they are today as our life expectancies rise. A true sign of the times each author lived in. Bibliography: Work Cited Dickinson, Emily. "I heard a Fly buzz - when I died." The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Francis Murphy. New York: Norton and Company, 1995. 1138. Robinson, Edwin Arlington. "Richard Cory." The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Francis Murphy. New York: Norton and Company, 1995. 1730. Frost, Robert. "Out, Out -." The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Francis Murphy. New York: Norton and Company, 1995. 1774.

Multimedia The Wide Spectrum Essay -- Essays Papers

Multimedia The Wide Spectrum In this paper, I will endeavor to provide you with a basic overview as to what multimedia consists of. I will also delve into the visual aspect in the wide spectrum of multimedia to show what it consists of and for a better understanding as to how it fits in. Multimedia first began with games but Web pages, interactive courses, and catalogs with sound and video have now dominated the stage. Not long ago, the term â€Å"multimedia† referred to a room full of slide projectors, tape decks, and movie projectors. Multimedia presentations were hard to put together and even harder to run. Many of them took weeks of preparation and they were then shown only once (Curtin 217). The computer has changed all of that. With multimedia, it is easier to stitch together the various elements and, once finished, the multimedia presentation is available to be shown over and over again. Multimedia is widely used in the entertainment and education fields. For entertainment, you can play computer games that seem almost alive with sound and motion. In education, interactive multimedia programs allow you to study and progress at you own pace and branch into areas of interest when you want to. You can even be a multimedia developer simply by using traditional office applications. Sounds and videos can be embedded in spreadsheet or word processor documents so when recipients click an image or click an icon they get and explanation of key points. Multimedia has entered and clung to the mainstream because of its attention-holding capabilities and effectiveness. It is used everywhere from business presentations to museum exhibits. Holiday Inn, for instance, uses it to train employees. When they click on topics, the system â€Å"talks† to them. It has reduced training time on a new property management system from 14 to 6 days (Curtin 218). Though history, and over recent years, various media have been developed that inform or entertain: paintings, books, magazines, newspapers, movies, radio, and photography ("Multimedia"). Using computers, multimedia fuses two or more of these media together on the premise that the combination is better than any of the individual components. Hence the term â€Å"multi† media. Multimedia can be used for entertainment, corporate presentations, sales presentations, education, training, kiosks, digital publi... ...oth. When done as a series of steps, an animation shows the girl growing old. To make morphing realistic, certain areas of the image, such as the eyes, must be overlapped on the first and last images and locked into place. This way, other parts of the image seen to transform around these fixed points (Curtin 223). Works Cited Curtin, Dennis P., et al. Information Technology: The Breaking Wave. Boston: The McGraw-Hill Companies, 1998. Geiken, C. â€Å"Multimedia Design for the World Wide Web.† NCSA. 17 Dec. 1998. 1 Dec. 1999 http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/General/Training/AdvHTML/multimedia.design.html. Hajicek, Donald J. Design Post. 1 Dec. 1999 http://www.designpost.com/defaultflash.htm. â€Å"Integrated Services Digital Network.† Bell Atlantic. 1999. 3 Dec. 1999 http://www.bell-atl.com/federal/html/isdn.htm. â€Å"Multimedia.† PC Webopaedia. 1998. 2 Dec. 1999 http://webopedia.internet.com/TERM/m/multimedia.html. â€Å"Partial Project List.† Platinum Pictures Multimedia, Inc. 1999. 4 Dec. 1999 http://www.3dcafe.com/ppm/projects.htm. â€Å"Platinum’s 3D Art Gallery.† Platinum Pictures Multimedia, Inc. 1999. 4 Dec. 1999 http://www.3dcafe.com/ppm/gallery.htm.

Feminism of Poverty Essay

The feminism of poverty can be described as a movement in political, economic and social equality for women, and is closely related to Liberalism. Feminism sees discrimination as a distinction of unequal treatment from all social, political and economic access for women. Feminism of poverty reaches all women, Black, White, Asian or English. It has been around since the beginning of time. Women have taken the role of mother, maid, cook and lover. They did not have the right to vote, own property nor work. It was not until 1848, when women demanded the enfranchisement for the ballot (vote), became vociferous. In 1869 2when Black men were given the vote in the 15th Amendment, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton refused to endorse the amendment, because it did not give women the vote and to become equal to their counter parts. http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/suffrage/history.htm Even back then women were reduced to mere servants and those that did not have a family or husband lived in poverty both black and white. Women suffrage and poverty did not only exist here in the United States, these social political and economic inequalities were felt around the world; Such as in Great Britain, Europe, Finland and Africa, other third world countries also had social issues pertaining to poverty. Those most likely to live in poverty in the U.S. are women and children. This is referred to as the feminization of poverty; increasingly the poor included unwed mothers, separated and divorced mothers, serving as the head of households (Basirico, et al, 2010). It is Known that women are much more likely to be poor than men, and that the impact of fiscal policy on the distribution of income is the main reason that women in the U.S. are more likely to be poor than women in other countries www.questia.com/search/feminization-poverty In the United States, in many communities there are individuals who live in poverty and cannot take care of themselves and their children especially women. So they become homeless living in shelters, cars, cardboard boxes, live on the streets, sleep on park benches, doorways or in major cities they may sleep in subways, because they have no income to support themselves. For example women have become prostitutes and shoplifters in order to feed themselves and their family/families. Of the adult poor who do not, about forty percent work at jobs that pay so little that they fall below the poverty line and one-third of their children are poor also. Because they do not have viable jobs they cannot support their children or themselves, so they are still under the umbrella of the feminism of poverty. From 1951-2008 of the women who worked in the U.S. their pay gap was 64-71 cents for every dollar earned by men http://www.infoplease.com Women have fought for equal pay & rights since 1848, and as of 2009, 30 percent of women who are heads of families with no husband present have income below the poverty line. Demographics have shown that these individuals are the most likely group to be chronically poor. The U.S. Census, Labor and the Economics Statistics of the Department of commerce shows in a study that the trends and conditions of women( two to three tim es)are still lower than men and the feminism of poverty is still a growing concern today as of March 2011 (Basirico, et al, 2010). With these continued disparities we will continue to be faced with the Feminism of poverty, because society has turned a deaf ear on the issues of women and children, they look the other way when it comes to providing for those within their own country, but they are quick to jump on the band wagon in the plight for other countries. We as a society have our priorities mixed up; if we are rich the attitude is according to Newt Gingrich â€Å"I don’t care about the poor†. If we are middle class we have the mentality that I’m just surviving myself. And if we are already poor we have the tendency to share. The same can be said about the church every Sunday we go to church and take up a benevolence offering to help the poor and when they need help in most cases they are turned away. The church is supposed to help those in need through the giving of food, shelter, clothes and money. But we have become so modernized and have forgotten to obey God’s laws that we ha ve lost sight of the word give. From the many issues that involve the feminism of poverty the best theory that applies to this particular issue is the conflict theory a social theory that views conflict as inevitable and natural and as a significant cause of social change (Basirico, et al, 2012). The feminism of poverty relates to the two classes that Marx saw those who own the means of product (rich) and those who provide the labor (poor), in an economic system that supports inequality, the exploited eventually revolt. Women were submissive for so long that they began to demand equal rights just as their counter part and black’s had. They had a need to become their own person, but throughout history even though they made progress they still were under played, poor and were listed as most likely to remain that way as they are today. In the scope of feminism of poverty it can be said that society is ion a state of constant change. Male against female and workers against employer, those that have power, wealth and prestige will always be in conflict with others (poor) that do not. Because there are limited commodities and demand exceeds the supply, those that are in control of those desirable goods, services and resources will defend and protect their interest. Those who are poor and living in poverty especially (women & children) are a threat to the rich and middle class. So they are suppressed through the lack of jobs, education, money, welfare and healthcare. Women social status of wages disparities, ownership (men) and motherhood result from degradation and exploitation by men and eventually is/was a cause of the feminism of poverty. If our society (government) do not put in place laws that will protect, serve and help our women and children who live in poverty. Though more workforce programs, jobs, healthcare and education we will eventually become as other third world countries. If Canada can do this why can’t we the riches country in the world do so? Reference Basirico, L.A., Cashion, B.J. & Eshleman, J.R. (2012). Introduction to Sociology. (5th ed). Redding, CA http://www.infoplease.com/html http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/suffarge/history.htm www.questia.com/search/feminization-poverty

Maquiladora Industry in United States

In this paper I will discuss the history and practices of the Maquiladora industry. I will discuss its background, its problems, the benefits it offers to United States companies, and the impact the NAFTA has and will have on the industry. In addition, I will make a suggestion on a possible strategy the Maquiladoras can adopt in order to address the challenges brought on by the NAFTA, to ensure it remains a strong force in the future. Mexican agricultural workers had been granted temporary work visas allowing them to work in the United States† agricultural industries through a program called the Bracero Program until 1965 when this program was terminated. As a result of this termination, the unemployment rate had exceeded 70% in certain border cities. In May of 1965 the Border Industrialization Program was established as a replacement for the Bracero program. It was later renamed the Maquiladora Program. The program was established by the Mexican government to provide employment for Mexico†s rapidly growing population along its border with the United States. This program was utilized to keep Mexicans from entering the United States. The idea was that Mexican workers would be kept on the Mexican side of the border if they were given factory jobs on the Mexican side. The Maquiladora program also wanted to attract foreign manufacturing facilities, technology, and know-how by giving a permanent tax holiday to manufacturing companies that would set up â€Å"twin plants† on the Mexican side of the border. In the beginning of the program, all foreign-owned operations had to be located within a 20-kilometer strip along the US-Mexican border. Since 1972 they can be located anywhere in Mexico. In 1996 there were around 2,500 Maquiladoras – 35% of them were located in the interior states of Mexico. Last year there were over 3,000 and more and more of these operations are being located outside of the border regions. Each of Mexico†s 31 states has at least one Maquiladora. Maquiladoras, also referred to as â€Å"in bond† or â€Å"twin† plants, are allowed to temporarily import into Mexico (free of tax) machinery, equipment, replacement parts, raw materials, and just about anything that was used in the assembly or manufacture of semi-finished or finished products. Once assembled or manufactured, the Maquila products must be exported unless special permission is obtained to sell a limited amount of output in the Mexican market. When these products are imported back to the United States, import duties are levied on the foreign value-added only. If Maquila products stay in Mexico, the are subject to applicable Mexican duties. The largest issue surrounding the Maquiladora industry is the exploitation of cheap labor. The working conditions are often unsafe, workers are not compensated adequately for their labor, attempts to unionize are discouraged; and sexual discrimination and harassment are too common. The conditions in and outside the Maquiladoras are terrible. Workers perform tasks such as welding without protective masks, leather gloves, or goggles (in many instances) and industrial accidents and toxic exposures are common. This, along with malnutrition caused by low salaries, produce skin illnesses, cancer, irregularities in menstruation, abortions, tumors, intoxication and birth of undernourished or disabled babies. Of the employees, many are young girls and women ranging from the ages of 14 to 20. They work 6 days a week in 10-hour shifts. The average weekly salary for a Maquiladora worker is US$35 – $45 even though the average monthly rent for a house with public services such as running water and electricity is around $200 a month. For the most part, Maquiladoras are unorganized. In those that are organized, state-controlled unions represent the workers. Although some companies are unionized on paper, the unions, for the most part, function to reinforce management policies rather than for the benefit of workers. Then there are what are called â€Å"phantom† unions. These unions do not fight for the worker†s rights. The workers do not even know them and have never seen their union leaders. When a conflict arises in a factory, management informs the worker that their unions have accept these or those conditions. Not only are they not protected by existing unions, those that attempt to unionize and are often threatened or bribed by plant managers and the government. In many companies, discrimination against and harassment of the female employees is very common. Female job applicants are required to produce urine samples to be used for pregnancy test, while some have company doctors and nurses examine the applicants or ask confidential information concerning their contraceptive practices. This is done because pregnant women are refused employment. Sexual harassment is often the rule rather than the exception. Rapes occur frequently and few are reported because women fear being fired or blacklisted. Shame and humiliation also keep them quiet. In Mexico, men and women are equal before the law, but the law does not recognize discrimination as a problem to be solved. The Pollution Brought on by the Maquiladoras The increased pollution, accompanied by the dumping of tons of hazardous wastes, poses a serious health threat to the residents of Mexico as well as the resident of the bordering US states. There are several canals that are â€Å"black† with chemical wastes that have been measured at levels that greatly exceed permissible standards. One factory was caught dumping drums of paint, solvents, and shellac into a drain. In other areas there are abandoned lead smelters and air full of soot and dust from brick-making ovens and smoldering tire dumps. Main Advantages for the United States† Companies For the United States companies this was a great advantage since Maquiladoras operates at very low costs in places where the currency is weaker than the dollar–such as Mexico. The less a currency is worth, the more relative value the dollar has. Since Mexico†s peso is relatively week, companies can trade their dollars for pesos with which they pay workers and expenses. The products they manufacture, however, are sold for dollars, increasing their profits by huge margins whenever the local currency falls. They could enhance competitiveness, reduce their costs, and maintain quality by placing their labor-intensive operations in the less developed Mexico, benefiting from the lower wage rates there. For many US companies, manufacturing in Mexico has become necessary to battle overseas competition. Since many manufacturers are moving to â€Å"just-in-time† inventory systems, the quick delivery possible from Mexico†s border towns offers a substantial advantage over Asian alternatives. The NAFTA†s Impact on the Maquiladora Industry Traditionally, Maquiladoras offered foreign businesses several advantages over other forms of direct foreign investment. Since the signing of NAFTA, however, many of these advantages are either being phased-out or granted to all Mexican companies. The most significant advantages of operating as a Maquiladoras include: 100% foreign investment, operation without ownership of assets, tax sheltering of cost centers, and 100% duty-drawback or waivers for temporary imports. Furthermore, the NAFTA attempted to address the labor exploitation and environmental problems associated with the Maquiladora industry. One of the benefits of the Maquiladora program is 100% foreign investment of Mexican operations, which formerly was not allowed. However, Mexico†s Foreign Investment Law has changed through the years (most significantly in 1989 and 1994)-full investment is now allowed in most business ventures. Operation Without Ownership of Assets Another advantage that Maquiladoras have is that they can receive production materials and capital goods as loans from their parent and client companies. As a result, most Maquiladoras have little of no inventory of fixed assets, eliminating the need to pay the Mexican asset tax of 2% of all assets. In January 1995, the Mexican IRS reported that Maquiladoras would now have to factor the depreciation of â€Å"loaned† assets in price-transfer calculations, which is the first step toward phasing-out this advantage by 2001. When Maquiladoras are structured as cost center (providing manufacturing services for a foreign parent) the foreign corporation has traditionally paid the Mexican company for operating costs plus negligible profit. By doing this they avoid Mexico†s 34% corporate income tax, 10% mandatory profit sharing, and asset taxes. Now the Mexican IRS is changing the way Maquiladoras must declare assets. Over the next few years, Maquiladoras will be forced to raise their declared profit percentage to a rate that is comparable to that of two unrelated companies performing the same transaction at â€Å"arm†s length†. This is the type of transfer pricing procedure that is implemented by most trading blocks, like the EC. It will soon be effect throughout North America. 100% Duty-Drawback or Waivers for Temporary Imports Maquiladoras have always allowed Mexican companies 100% duty drawback or waivers in imported components that are exported as final goods. Since 1994, this has provided many Maquiladora programs a way to use non-NAFTA materials within products without the need to pay the corresponding duties over those materials when importing or exporting goods to other NAFTA nations. On January 1, 2001, Maquiladoras that manufacture goods for export to NAFTA partner countries will no longer be allowed to take the waiver. The waiver will still be available for goods that are going to non-NAFTA countries. In 1995 the NAFTA†s of Labor created the National Administrative Office (NAO) as well as the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC). Both were intended to stop labor abuses. The NOA was established to monitor labor complaints that NAFTA critic†s voice regarding unfair labor practices. The NAO can recommend â€Å"ministerial consultations† as well as imposed heavy sanctions against Mexico. Unfortunately, the side agreements proved useless. The NOA cannot force Maquiladoras to allow unions-the most they can do is recommend â€Å"ministerial consultations.† Sexual harassment and discrimination continues as well. The NAFTA has also created side agreements covering the environment. One of them is the North American Development Bank (NAD Bank). Its purpose was to finance wastewater treatment projects along the border in the poorer communities. However, the most important criteria that needed to be met in order to receive funds were meeting certain market considerations. With this program NAFTA â€Å"encouraged† growth without regard for the environment through its practice of placing market consideration above environmental protection. Another is the Commission for Economic Cooperation (CEC). The CEC was established to investigate governmental non-enforcement of environmental laws. Unfortunately it has no power to enforce ,they can only investigate-and they can†t even do that until Mexico collects the data on the pollution for them. Possible Strategy for the Maquiladora Industry As long as the Mexican currency is weaker than the US dollar I don†t think that the changes are going to dramatically effect the flow of US companies to the south. However, the Maquiladora industry cannot count on this for continued growth. By the year 2001 the Maquiladora industry as we know it now will have significantly changed when the phasing out is complete. Maquiladoras will no longer be â€Å"tax break† establishments; they will be just like other foreign investments. In order for them to fully compete in the near future they must become more efficient and leaner. The impact of globalization is forcing manufacturers to produce more rapidly and cheaply than ever before and to continuously improve. Because there will be no differentiation between the non-Maquiladora and Maquiladora industries I feel the inefficient producers will be wiped out. Therefor, Maquiladora employees will need better training, education, incentives as well improved working conditions and higher wages. Operations will also have to be streamlined in order to reap the benefits of economies of scale and scope. In addition, Mexicans as well as US citizens will start to demand more accountability from the Mexican government and the Maquiladora industry. They need to be more responsible for their actions. What will the U.S. corporations do when human rights activists and environmentalists start lobbying and protesting on their US sites? Do they want to risk losing their shareholders to this type of negative attention?

What is Post-Modernism, functionalism and Marxism?

What is Post-Modernism, functionalism & Marxism? What is ‘The Matrix'? And what have these three got to do with ‘The Matrix'? These questions are very difficult to answer some would say and others wouldn't have much of a problem. Firstly, Post-Modernism, some claim, is replacing modernity. It's being done by the loss of faith in science and rationality. These types of thoughts developed mainly from the 1980's onwards and increased sceptism about theories of a better future. However these thoughts are in a relativist position, which denies that there are absolutes in any area of human knowledge. People believe that social positions of the informer are informed. Secondly, Functionalism means â€Å"structures, which fulfil the objective to maintain a system†. This basically means functionalists try and maintain order and peace in society. Lastly there's Marxism. This is totally the opposite to a functionalist perspective. Marxism tries to create conflict between people and it always picks up on the negative views within society or organisations. You're probably thinking what has all this got to do with ‘The Matrix'? Well, ‘The Matrix' as we all know was one of the biggest hit films in America and the UK. It is all about the future and what the world is really like. How it's seen through selected individual's eyes. Keanu Reeves stars as ‘Neo' in the movie, and ‘Neo' means the one in a foreign language. The Matrix is known as a system, a computer. The Matrix basically being the Planet Earth. At the start of the movie ‘Neo' is an ‘everyday' individual, working with computers for his living until he begins to receive eerie messages on his PC and peculiar phone calls. This shows a functionalist and working class perspective as he's an ordinary guy and lives a normal life earning money for his living. After this Neo is given an instruction which said to ‘Follow the sign'. The sign being a white rabbit on a females shoulder. Here we can see that this is completely un-natural, who hacks into computers and telephone lines to show a dull message? At first he was totally against going further with the matter but then he didn't no what to do. This shows a Post-Modernism type of view as he's undecided in what he wants to do. However ‘Neo' was very curious and he decided to follow the sign. This again shows a form of Post-Modernism as he wants to know what's behind all these ‘Signs'. Having followed the white rabbit he's led to a club where he meets a lady called Trinity who begins to show Neo things he's never seen before. After all this Neo wakes up in his bedroom, as if nothing has happened but he still remembers everything. So this is a type of modern view, bringing Neo back to the ‘Truth' and ‘Reality' part of the universe. The following day he meets again with this lady named Trinity and she shows him ‘The One', Morpheus. Morpheus is the leader of the group at present. Neo is taken into a room where he is given two options, one where he has the option to take a red pill or the other where he takes a blue pill. The red pill keeps Neo in the ‘fantasy' land and the blue which takes him back to his normal life where he forgets everything. Neo decides to take a really big chance and stay in the land of fantasy and takes the red pill. This shows a major type of Post-modernism, wanting to know more, wanting to know about other realms, and basically being really curious. It also shows a modern view as it didn't take much time for him to decide what he wanted to do. Having taken this pill Neo is ‘Re-Born' in a totally different way and is picked up by this strange looking creature and is thrown down this shoot to the other crew members. A number of people would definitely say this is creating a Jesus like sense; being ‘Re-Born' and again this could cause conflict between some groups. So Neo decided to leave his ‘modern' style life and live in another ‘Realm'. A few tests are run on Neo and he is given the all clear through Morpheus. Neo meets all his other crew members, some of their names being Tank, A-Poc and Switch. After this Neo is taken to a computer program where he battles with his leader Morpheus, Neo begins to realise he can do things he had never done before, such as fighting Kung-Fu style. Some may argue that this is a type of conflict or Marxism as he is being taught how to fight. Neo is also taken into a computer program where he is told to jump between two buildings which a really high and really far apart. Morpheus shows him how to do it, Neo tries to believe he can do and jumps. However he was unsuccessful, so this is trying to make Neo believe something he cannot do at the moment. So he fails the jump but is still alive as it was only a computer program. Neo begins to believe even more. Neo is taken back to the crew where he sleeps. Later on Neo is taken on a mission with his crew into ‘The Matrix' where they are attacked by ‘Agents', these are people who are against Morpheus and would take any measure to kill any one of them. In a way this shows reality because there are some people out there who are willing to kill an individual at any expense. The group could be a Marxist group because all they want to do is create conflict between each other. Again some can argue that Neo's group are doing the same. Neo and the rest manage to escape excluding Morpheus, who is beaten and taken away with the Agents. Again this is a Marxist perspective as the agents are trying to create conflict. The only way of exiting ‘The Matrix' is by receiving a phone call on selected telephones. These phones take them back to the ‘Real World'. This is a post modernist point of view as this wouldn't normally happen in the world as we know it. Tank manages to get back safely and decides to cause a big problem. He agreed with the ‘Agents' that he would do anything to get out of the ‘Real world' and return to ‘The Matrix'. This is definitely a Marxist view, as he is trying to create conflict whereas the other crew members are trying to create some form of order in the ‘Real World' while they battle it out with tank. Unfortunately for tank he is defeated and the rest manage to get back safely. They all begin to panic about Morpheus because they know that if anyone dies in ‘The Matrix' dies in the ‘Real World'. Neo decides its time for him to shine and takes the matter into his own hands. This again can be seen as a functionalist perspective as he wants to create order but in order to do this he is going to create conflict. He returns to ‘The Matrix' along with Trinity and seeks out Morpheus. The two groups battle it out and finally they reach a result. Neo defeats the ‘Agents' and realises he had powers which he never knew he had. However, Morpheus dies and Neo takes over the role of being ‘The One'. Overall we can see that there are functionalist, Marxist and Post-Modern perspectives throughout the whole of the film. Some for good, some for bad, but which are which is for you to decide. At times it's about your own personal views or opinions.

Effects of syntax bill to student smokers of Mindanao University of Science and Technology Essay

It is our great honor and respect for those persons who acknowledge to our study about â€Å"The effects of Syntax Bill to selected student smokers of Mindanao University of Science and Technology, SY. 2012-2013†. That we researchers are very thankful to the following: To our English 20 professor Dr. Erly M. Maglangit, for helping we finish our study. And for giving also this very interesting topic with regards to the student smokers here in our School or in this University. To my group who gives their ideas about our research and for their cooperation and teamwork for us to finish our study. To overall students who gives their moral support with regards to this study. To my classmate Genevieve Tagolimot for allowing me to used her laptop. To the parents above all that who are very supportive to their sons and daughters and keeping those sending school every day in this constitution which is the Mindanao University of Science and Technology. Once again, we are very thankful to all of you, without your moral support our studies will not be finish. Abstract For the past days, weeks, and months, SIN-tax Bill has been the content of the news reports on television, radio, and newspapers. It also garnered different reactions and views from different group of citizens, smokers or not. This bill was called SIN-Tax Bill because it proposes additional tax collection to bad vices such as cigarette and liquors. The proponents of the bill have said that it will give large amount of profit to the country as per the Department of Finance. This study purposes to know what the possibilities effects of House Bill 5727 are or what we called Sin Tax Bill. This law was approved by the congress and our President Benigno Simeon Aquino III for this law gives a higher tax or price will be given to the liquors or alcohols and especially to the cigarettes. Our study focuses to the selected student smokers of Mindanao University of Science and Technology and asking question to them on what are the effects of Sin Tax Bill to them as a Smoker. Most of the student smokers of Mindanao University of Science and Technology are not affected of House Bill 5727 or what we called Sin Tax Bill implementation. We also found out that one of the effects of Syntax Bill is the reduction of cigarettes stick of the smokers. That Sin tax bill helps to minimize the students smoker in smoking due to higher price of cigarettes. Even if House Bill 5727 is implemented students smokers in this University are able to continue their studies while others are not able able to focused their lessons if they can’t smoke cigarettes or tobaccos. Lastly, researchers also found out that there is no significant effects of House Bill 5727 or Sin Tax Bill. Though, most of the student smokers passed in all their subjects, but it is wise for them to quit or leave smoking for their health’s sake. Since, Sin Tax Bill reduces spending of the student smokers it will better for them to quit smoking so they can save spent their money to a very important projects in school. Lastly, it will be better for the school administration to conduct weekly SMOKING SYMPOSIUM about the harmful effects of smoking.   When Sin tax Bill was implemented in the Philippines, tobacco and cigar consumers were stunned whether the said law is in full implementation. Of course, those whose puffs are unavoidable and uncontrollable might oppose to this law. The only interest on their part is the money spent for the cigar. Others smokers disliked the law for it means additional â€Å"TAX INCORPORATED IN THIS BILL BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO ESCAPE THE LAW. SMOKERS MUST COMPLY WITH THE LAW†. They are not banned to smoke but they will only compromise the increase or value of the cigarette. This is the only means to control the additional burden of the Philippine government. The Philippine government spends billion a year for medicine for those who suffer lung cancer cited from Manila Bulletin, dated January 14, 2013). Based from the DOST, second hand smoking is so dangerous that it will take only few months to notice cancer sickness. This means to say that cancer cells will be triggered when nicotine enters the body direct to the lungs. The usual sicknesses for those who smoke are lung cancer, throat cancer, prostate cancer and anal cancer. Mindanao University of Science and Technology where the study was conducted about the effects of Syntax Bill to the selected student smokers’ wherein the selected students’ of MUST are involved. Since, sicknesses and no matter how posts of information in TV and in school campus on SMOKE FREE ZONE school, still without the monitor of the school administration, students’ smokers continue their journey towards smoking and the unseen effect in the future. Syntax is a tax levied on a certain goods and services that are seen vices, such as alcohol, tobacco and the like. Syntax is used for taxing activities that are considered undesirable. These types of taxes are levied by the government to discourage individuals from partaking in such activities without making the use of the products illegal. Like other taxes, sin tax also provides a source of government revenue. According to our research, Syntax Bill is often called â€Å"SIN TAXES,† because these taxes are, likewise, aimed at trying to â€Å"dissuade consumers from excessive intake of these potentially harmful products. â€Å"There is no disputing the â€Å"what†: House Bill 5727 is a measure that seeks to unify and increase the excise tax rates for alcohol and especially for cigarettes. This is also incites and provokes different responses, simply because this bill, if passed, would mean different things to different people. Manufacturers argue against the measure, primarily, on the following points: (1) it is the low-income earning earner consumers (who can only afford the lower-priced products) who will feel the pinch; (2) the decline in sales (from this segment of the market) will result in decreased production; (3) and that the decrease in production will inevitably lead to massive lay-offs. Smoking is an important risk factor for the three diseases that cause most deaths: heart disease, stroke and lung cancer. It is responsible for around 80% of all lung cancer deaths and 20% of all cancer deaths. Smoking has also been linked to cancers of the mouth, bladder, kidney, stomach and cervix, among other. Smokers are also at increased risk at having reduced lung function from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Using tobacco has been linked a variety of 3 other conditions, such as diabetes, peptic ulcers, some vision problems, and back pain. Smoking in pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, still birth or premature birth. Statement of the Problem The following are the statements of the problem: 1. What are the effects of Syntax bill to the student smokers of Mindanao University of Science and Technology? 2. What are the effects of Syntax bill to the non-smokers of Mindanao University of Science and Technology? 3. What is their stand as to smoking and studying done simultaneously? 4. Is smoking not a problem of the student smokers’ studies? Importance of the Study Syntax bill is House Bill 5727 which means— a measure that seeks to unify and increase the excise tax rates for alcohol and especially for cigarettes. Is it important that we know the effect syntax bill to the selected student smokers of Mindanao University of Science and Technology. This study also asks the students on how the cigarettes, tobacco, and etc. affect their daily life, especially in the field of their studies.