WA 6 RD Essays (555 words) - Batman In Other Media, Rachel Dawes

Christopher Brinson Basic English WA 6 RD November 14, 2018 WA 6 RD "I've never heard of that being used as a murder weapon before" Rachel said to James. James asks Rachel nervously, "will you call the cops on me?" Rachel responds No I will not. Now let clean this mess up." James runs to the bathroom in a hurry scrambling for towels and alcohol to clean up the stains on the wooden floor. James yells from the room " I CAN NOT FIND THE ALCOHOL" Rachel then bursts towards the hallway closet and finds the alcohol on the second shelf next to some rubber gloves. Now since Rachel has found the alcohol she rushes to the bath room and tells him that she has found it. They both rush back towards the dead body James starts to pick up the body and Rachel stops him and says "there are gloves in the closet go get them so your finger print will not be on the body." James agrees and goes to the closet. As he is going to the closet he starts to hear a car engine pulling into the drive way he then panics and grabs the gloves and rushes to put them on (they are not all the way on). Goes back to the body and picks him up and takes the body towards his car in the backyard, when he gets to the car Rachel pops the trunk and James throws the dead body in there roughly. Then James and Rachel hop in the car and drives off fast. The people who where in the car that pulled in the drive way walked in the house and sees blood on the floor and storms through the house looking for there dad and they can not find so they call 911. Eventually 911 comes to the house and the family tells them what had happened. The officer calls it in and now they have several cops in the area looking for anything suspicious. While an officer is a making is routine route through a neighborhood a couple block away he sees a speeding vehicle rides down a Main Street. The officer quickly turns on his lights and pulls James over. As the officer approaches up to the vehicle, he sees the bottom of James's hand and sees blood and questions him and James says "it's is paint, I was painting with my daughter earlier officer." So the officer believes Him and walked back to his car to make a ticket for James, while he is writing the ticket the dispatch comes on the radio and tell him about the murder that happened just a couple minutes ago. The officer quickly realizes it is the James and gets out the car and pulls his gun out and tell James and Rachel to exit the vehicle with there hands up. They both follow the officer orders and they both get arrested on sight. Later on they where both taken down to the jail investigators where questioning Rachel harder the James because they knew she would squeal.. Only after 10 minutes in the room Rachel told them everything she knew and that gave the officers clear view to arrest the both. The next Monday they went on trial and they both got 12 years.

Evo Devo in the Study of Biology

Evo Devo in the Study of Biology Have you heard anyone ever talk about evo-devo? Does it sound like some sort of synthesizer-heavy band from the 1980s? It is actually a relatively new field in the realm of evolutionary biology that explains how species, that start out so similarly, become so diverse as they develop. Evo devo stands for evolutionary developmental biology and has just started being included in the Modern Synthesis of the Theory of Evolution within the past few decades. This field of study encompasses many different ideas and some scientists disagree on what all should be included. However, all who study evo devo agree that the foundation of the field is based on the gene level of inheritance which leads to microevolution. As an embryo develops, certain genes need to be activated in order for the traits carried on that gene to be expressed. Most of the time, there are biological clues for these genes to turn on based on the age of the embryo. Sometimes, environmental conditions can trigger the expression of the developmental genes as well. Not only do these triggers turn on the gene, they also direct the gene on how to be expressed. There are subtle differences between the arms of different animals that are determined by how the genes that carry the trait for limb development are expressed. The same gene that creates a human arm can also create a sparrows wing or a grasshoppers leg. They are not different genes, as previously thought by scientists. Evo Devo and the Theory of Evolution What does this mean for the Theory of Evolution? First and foremost, it lends credibility to the idea that all life on Earth came from a common ancestor. This common ancestor had the exact same genes we see today in all of our modern species. It is not the genes that have evolved over time. Instead, it is how and when (and if) those genes are expressed that has evolved. Also, it helps to give an explanation for how the beak shape of Darwins finches on the Galapagos Islands could have evolved. Natural Selection is the mechanism that chooses which of these ancient genes are expressed and ultimately how they are expressed. Over time, the differences in gene expression led to the great diversity and large numbers of different species we see in the world today. The theory of evo devo also explains why so few genes can create so many complex organisms. It turns out that the same genes are used over and over again but in different ways. The genes that are expressed to create arms in humans may also be used to create legs or even a human heart. Therefore, it is more important how the genes are expressed than how many genes are present. Developmental genes across species are the same and can be expressed in a nearly unlimited number of ways. Embryos of many different species are nearly indistinguishable from each other at the early stages before these developmental genes are turned on. Early embryos of all species have gills or gill pouches and similar overall shapes. It is crucial for these developmental genes to be activated correctly at the right time and at the right place. Scientists have been able to manipulate genes in fruit flies and other species to make limbs and other body parts grow in different places on the body. This proved these genes control many different parts of embryo development. The field of evo devo reaffirms the validity of using animals for medical research. An argument against animal research is the obvious difference in complexity and structure between humans and the research animals. However, with such similarities on a molecular and gene level, studying those animals can give insight into the human, and particularly the development and gene activation of humans.

Stem cell research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Stem cell research - Essay Example First and foremost argument made by the scientific community is that human stem cell research is said to promise new life changing treatments and possible cures for many debilitating diseases and injuries, including Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, burns and spinal cord injuries (Young, 2-16)1. Human stem cells can be obtained from a number of sources. The first is IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) treatment, where surplus embryos (and unfertilized eggs for creating embryos) are donated for research with the consent of the donor rather than being destroyed following treatment. The second source is aborted tissue where stem cells are taken from the aborted foetus. Another is umbilical cord blood, rich in stem cells. These cells are harvested following the baby’s birth. The most controversial is perhaps therapeutic cloning, where cells are created for research that is genetically identical to the donor (patient). This is done by removing the nucleus of an egg and fusing this egg with any enucleated cell from the donor. This will create an embryo genetically identical to the donor. Cells can then be harvested from this embryo for treatment. Being an exact replica, there is potentially less chance of rejection following transplantation. Umbilical cord blood, the placenta and even the amniotic fluid have in fact been found to be rich in stem-cells (McGuckin, et al 245-255)2. Stem-cells have also been found in almost every body tissue such as the brain, pancreas, liver, skin, fat, muscle, blood, bone marrow, lungs, nose and tooth pulp (Fisher, 2005)3. The US President’s Council on Bioethics recently published a whole white paper on Alternate Sources of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells.4 Sometimes these cells could be taken from the recipient patients themselves, avoiding any immune-rejection difficulties. At other times they are

Structures Impacted by Tsunami Bores Research Paper

Structures Impacted by Tsunami Bores - Research Paper Example The study seeks to offer understanding into the ways by which the coastal areas can be able to prepare themselves to withstand dangerous hydrodynamic forces associated with large tsunami waves that are progressing to the mainland.The conduct of this study is based on the recent occurrences of tsunamis that have majorly hit parts of the world such as Japan, Philippines, and Chile. As a result, many human lives have been endangered out of the tsunami waves that have extended into the mainland, hence causing severe destruction of buildings. The economic loss attributed to these tsunami attacks are also enormous with the 2011 attack costing US$319 billion worth of damages. The current study aimed at showing that the design of buildings needs to be done in consideration of the hydrodynamic forces, especially in the tsunami prone areas. By developing new guidelines and recommendations, it is aimed that the same will be applied in hydrodynamic constructions. In testing for the interaction b etween the bore and the structure, it is determined that a zero level of water momentum results in an impulsive force being exerted in the upstream. Consequently, the study established that for narrow channel conditions, the run-up power can strongly be affected by the channels. These channels can be built through SPH method as shown in the figure 2 below. Therefore, the study recommends taking special care in interpreting the hydrodynamic forces following initial impacts from the bore.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE JURY MOST RELAIBLE FOR DETERMINING GUILT OR Essay

CRIMINAL JUSTICE JURY MOST RELAIBLE FOR DETERMINING GUILT OR INNOCENCE, LEGAL FACTORS THAT AFFECT JURIES DECISIONS, ARE THEIR DECISIONS RELIABLE AND VALID, - Essay Example (King, 1999) This was the only right that was agreed unanimously by the twelve participating states. Accordingly the trial jury acquired veto power over the law and became more powerful than any government official such as Judges. An appeals court in the United States described the power of a jury "unreviewable and irreversible" over that of a trail judge. (Jurors Handbook) The jury system has become one of the most important aspects of criminal procedures in many countries, though the procedures adopted differ from country to country and even within a country as is evident in the United States, nevertheless, the jury is perceived to bring in certain attributes of the communities to bear. In Australia, the jury list is made up of people who had been elected from randomly from the electoral rolls,2 same for the United States, where potential jurors are now randomly selected by a computer using electoral or driver's licenses records. (Doyle, 2004) The duties of a jury are to asses only the facts of a case in reaching a verdict, but there are certain factors that affect the conduct or predisposition of any potential or chosen juror. Juries can be influenced by the Judges, attorneys, defendants, their particular lifestyles and beliefs and many other possible factors. Various studies conducted have shown that jurors could be influenced beyond the scope of evidence by a defendants attributes e.g. race, status or sex. For example, in one of the studies conducted,(Decaire, n.a.) white and black male subjects were exposed to cases with defendants and victims of varied races, it was observed that in cases involving white victims the white subjects (jurors) showed bias, placing higher guilt against black defendants accused of crimes against white people, thus showing that jury recommendations can be influenced by their individual stereotype of crime and the alleged criminal. Judge decisions. Judicial influence over any jury trial is as important as the role the jurors play. Though it is the members of the jury who return the guilty or innocent verdict, the powers of a presiding judge also allows him to prevent the introduction of 'illegal' evidence or argument by counsels in support of both prosecution and defences. Judges do not tell jurors what to deduce from the evidence presented to them, but they have powers to prevent the jurors from hearing any evidence deemed not suitable to achieving a fair trial. For instance, if a jury is presiding over a rape case, the sitting judge might not allow the jury hear evidence of the rape victim's past sexual history. This is to prevent the jurors being influenced by facts outside the present case. Psychological or expert witness. The role of expert-witness in the criminal justice system is a person who has some special training or experience in a criminal behavioural area and can help the judge, lawyers and the juries arrive at the truth in the judicial process. (Yablonsky, 1998) Most of these experts are however paid consultants and present evidence that advance the case of their clients. They are therefore mostly perceived as 'hired guns' and their credibility questioned. Recently in the UK, Professor Sir Roy Meadow's name was struck off the

Financial Services Regulation Literature Review

Financial Services Regulation Literature Review Literature review on financial services regulation Consider whether flexibility in implementation of financial services regulation can undermine legal certainty. Does a move towards principles-based regulation of financial services presage a regulatory creep without a statutory grounding or does it allow regulators to keep pace with the financial services market? Introduction Regulation is often unpopular, and may be viewed as unnecessary. However, the existence of market failure is a reality in certain markets that needs to be corrected by some form of government intervention. In the financial services industry, for example, there is clearly a need for some kind of regulation as demonstrated by, for example, the Nick Leeson affair or the Enron scandal. Yet such cases also demonstrate the failure of regulation – the regulatory systems in place did not succeed in preventing these two debacles. Hodgson (2006:247) takes a positive view of regulation, or at least of the right kind of regulation, arguing that ‘[r]egulation can and should be a necessary, proportional and beneficial approach to the organisation of society. It lets us police the supply of goods and services and maintain standards and resolve complaints within a properly established legal framework, but without inappropriate political involvement or, in most cases, resort to the court s.’ Financial services regulation in the UK – objectives In the UK, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has four statutory objectives: market confidence (maintaining confidence in the financial system); public awareness (promoting public understanding of the financial system); consumer protection (securing the appropriate degree of protection for consumers); and reduction of financial crime (reducing the extent to which it is possible for a business carried on by a regulated person to be used for a purpose connected with financial crime). In addition, the FSA is guided by a set of principles to which it must adhere. For example, it must use its resources efficiently, and any restrictions it imposes on an industry must be proportionate to the expected benefits of the restrictions. Furthermore it should avoid stifling innovation where possible. This means that the FSA must allow for different means of compliance in order not to unduly restrict firms and industries from launching new products and services. In addition, the FSA should help to maintain the competitive position of the UK internationally. In order to promote competition among the firms that it regulates, the FSA should avoid creating any unnecessary regulatory barriers to entry or expansion in any of the markets it regulates. Hodgson (2006:251) explains that the ‘FSA was set up to do rather a lot of things: to promote market confidence and public awareness of financial services (meaning encourage savings), protect consumers and reduce financial crime. It is also required to maintain the international success of Britain’s financial sector, promote competition whilst minimizing any adverse effects, and weight the costs and benefits of its own actions. Plenty of scope for conflicts of interest there.’ An assessment of the move to more principles-based regulation must examine how such a move is likely to impact on all of the objectives of the FSA. Principles-based regulation and rules-based regulation Cunningham (2007) explains that since the Enron scandal and other debacles in the financial services industry, there has been a trend to categorise rules-based regulatory systems as bad, and principles-based regulatory systems as good. However, he argues that the distinction being made between â€Å"rules-based† and â€Å"principles-based† systems is false and misleading. Cunningham (2007:3) claims that while an individual provision in a regulatory system may be â€Å"rules-based† or â€Å"principles-based†, these ‘classifications are too crude to describe or guide the design of corporate law, securities regulation or accounting systems.’ That is to say the terms are not scalable to the level of an entire system. Instead, Cunningham (2007:4) points to ‘the necessity and value of combining rules and principles and the difficulty of designing systems warranting classification as rules-based or principles-based.’ While it may be the case that any regulatory system is necessarily a hybrid made up of a mixture of â€Å"rules-based† and â€Å"principles-based† individual provisions, that does not mean that some systems are not â€Å"more rules-based† or â€Å"more principles-based† than others. Indeed this notion ties in with the reality of the UK financial services regulatory system. As will be seen below, the system is already a hybrid of â€Å"rules-based† and â€Å"principles-based† approaches, and it is moving towards â€Å"more principles-based† regulation. Regulatory creep There are various definitions of regulatory creep. The Better Regulation Task Force (2004:3) define it as ‘the process by which regulation is developed or enforced in a less than transparent fashion and not in accordance with our five Principles of Good Regulation.’ The BRTF (2004:5) goes on to identify four examples of how regulatory creep may occur when regulation takes place without transparency. In the first place, ‘a lack of clarity about the intention of regulation, particularly goal-based regulation, both on the part of regulators and those being regulated, can lead to unnecessary compliance burdens.’ Secondly, the way that guidance ‘is developed and used can influence enforcement activity and compliance, again leading to unnecessary burdens that bring little benefit to those the original regulation was designed to protect’. Thirdly, it is argued that ‘enforcement activity can induce over compliance in those being regulated’ and finally, ‘ombudsmen’s rulings can have wider regulatory implications’. Jones (2004:6), on the other hand, points out that ‘there is a positive aspect to creep. Formal responsibilities may leave gaps in enforcement. Shifting priorities and creative interpretation of a regulator’s brief may be necessary to tackle newly emergent issues.’ Moving towards more principles-based regulation: the case of the UK The first point to make is that in the UK, Principles-based regulation has existed since 1990, and the eleven high-level Principles for firms (see box 1) have been in place since 2001 (FSA 2007a:4). The FSA is now talking about a ‘more Principles-based approach’. This shift is based on a move towards broad-based standards instead of detailed rules together with an increased focus on outcomes-based regulation and an increase in senior management responsibility. According to the FSA (2007a:4), ‘Principles-based regulation means, where possible, moving away from dictating through detailed, prescriptive rules and supervisory actions how firms should operate their business. We want to give firms the responsibility to decide how best to align their business objectives and processes with the regulatory outcomes we have specified.’ Moving towards more principles-based regulation: pros and cons There are clear advantages to a principles-based approach to regulation, but such an approach also carries certain risks (of which regulatory creep is just one). The challenge is to achieve the right balance between principles and rules. As the BRTF (2004:6) explains, ‘part of the attraction of goal-setting regulation is its flexibility and we do not want to discourage this. Nor do we want to discourage the use of guidance as a useful alternative to regulation for driving up standards. But where does guidance as a useful alternative in driving up standards end, and regulatory creep begin?’ In this section, I will review the pros of a move towards more principles-based regulation, and I will then outline the various risks or cons associated with such a move. One major advantage of more principles-based approaches to regulation is increased flexibility and responsiveness to innovation and market developments. de Serres et al (2006:32) find that ‘financial system regulation has a statistically significant influence on output and productivity growth as well as on firm entry, via the impact on industrial sectors relying more heavily on external sources of funding. The economic impact is also found to be substantial enough to matter, yet sufficiently small to remain credible.’ This highlights the need for financial system regulation to minimise unnecessary regulatory barriers to entry or expansion in the financial services market. According to the FSA (2007a:5), a principles-based system is likely to be more durable than a rules-based system precisely because of its flexibility. ‘Financial markets are constantly changing. Continuous innovation and new product development are important ways in which the financial services industry generates benefits for consumers and markets. It is important that regulation can respond rapidly to the pace of change in markets and so allow them to continue to develop for the benefit of their users. We believe regulation that focuses on outcomes rather than prescription is more likely to support this development and innovation. Any set of prescriptive rules is unable to address changing market circumstances and practices at all times, and it inevitably delays, and in some instances prevents, innovation.’ Another benefit of more principles-based regulation is that it should provide greater freedom for firms to develop their own approach to compliance. According to the FSA (2007a:7), a more principled-based approach does in practice mean ‘giving firms increased flexibility to decide more often for themselves what business processes and controls they should operate.’ In addition, a move to principles implies less need for detailed rules which leads to a simplification of the rules or handbook. The FSA (2007a:8) views a simplified handbook as a side benefit of a move to more principles-based regulation, rather than a key driver behind the move, additionally arguing that, ‘reducing the overall size of the Handbook, however desirable, does not in itself deliver principles-based regulation. Even a substantially reduced Handbook will still be regarded by many as a daunting prospect. We should therefore not measure our success in achieving principles-based regulation by the number of Handbook pages or the number of rules they contain, but by the effect that the Handbook review, together with other initiatives, achieves over time.’ Perhaps one of the most important potential advantages of a move to more principles-based regulation, if properly implemented, is a greater degree of substantive compliance as individuals and firms come to comply with outcomes and the general principles rather than on the detailed rules – as the spirit of the law is prioritised over the letter of the law. Another key advantage is the increased engagement of senior management. The FSA (2007a:12) explains that ‘Moving towards principles-based regulation has significant implications for how we work with firms on a day-to-day basis We are looking for firms to take greater responsibility for how they meet their regulatory obligations. This responsibility in many cases will be taken on at senior management and Board level, using the various materials that will be available and, where necessary, conversations with us†¦ Firms will see a difference in how we behave towards them. We will give greater recognition to firms’ own management and controls and this will be reflected in areas such as capital requirements and supervisory intensity. Well controlled and managed firms that engage positively and openly with us should expect to experience real benefits from our more principles-based approach in the form of a regulatory dividend, for example relatively lower levels of regula tory capital, less frequent risk assessments, greater reliance on firms’ senior management or a less intensive risk mitigation programme.’ Finally, proponents of a more principles-based approach argue that it should lead to more efficient solutions to regulatory problems. This, however, depends on the system for the resolution of any such problems and could in fact be more or less efficient with a more principles-based approach, depending on how that system is designed and implemented. A major risk associated with a move to principles-based regulation is the lack of certainty or predictability. This is a risk that needs to be managed carefully in order to ensure that firms and individuals understand their obligations in the absence of specific rules as to how they should act. The FSA (2007a:12) acknowledges the need to address this risk and explains that ‘with a less prescriptive Handbook we are convinced that we must go further than we have been inclined to in the past in responding to firms’ queries. We will need to work with firms and the practitioner panels to find the right balance in achieving this.’ Accountability issues are, arguably, also more likely to arise in the absence of detailed rules. Wilson (2007) explains that the FSA approach to accountability and governance issues has always been principles-based, explaining that ‘we take a strong interest in how firms govern and organise their affairs because we take the view that if you get this right, much else follows. In doing this, our approach is generally to ask for explanations as to why the structure put in place offers the necessary challenge and level of control, and where such explanations are unconvincing, to seek change that achieves a better outcome.’ There may also be certain legal obstacles to a more principles-based approach to regulation. Obviously any regulatory body needs to remain within the law, and in the case of the UK FSA this includes, for example, EU law. It is important to recap at this stage that a move to more principles-based regulation does not mean the abolition of all detailed rules. Indeed the FSA (2007a:20) cites European legislation as one of the challenges or constraints that will remain as they move in the direction of a more principles-based system of regulation. Finally, and most pertinent to this review, is the increased risk of regulatory creep with a move to a more principles-based system of regulation. The BRTF (2004:11) identify two principal means through which a principles-based approach may lead to regulatory creep. The first of these is through a possible proliferation of guidance and overzealous enforcement. ‘High level goal-setting objectives may need further clarification. Goalsetting regulation can leave a vacuum that Government, regulators and industry will seek to fill with guidance. The guidance may stray beyond the original intention and/or it may be applied prescriptively by regulators and those being regulated.’ The second occurs if insufficient thought is given to how firms will demonstrate compliance with the principles, or if compliance staff lack adequate skills. ‘Regulators argue that it is their job to prove noncompliance and that there is no legal requirement for duty holders to demonstrate compli ance. However, compliance should not be a guessing game. Those being regulated do need to understand what is required of them in practice.’ Conclusion Clearly there are some advantages to Principles-based regulation of financial services, but there are also some risks. There will always be a place for rules in regulation, and the key to successful Principles-based regulation is to know when it is appropriate to rely on Principles, and when to specify detailed rules. Reliance on principles requires the provision of consistent advice to firms, and a commitment to ensure the regulator’s accountability mechanisms are not bypassed. These requirements in turn point to the need to ensure that compliance staff are sufficiently skilled and trained. The OECD (2005:4) highlights the need to pay ‘close attention to the institutional setting, with a view towards fostering accountability, transparency and trust’ in order to achieve high quality regulation. This is the case whether a more rules-based or a more principles-based approach is taken. As the BRTF (2004:14) points out, ‘[i]t is not only goal-setting regulation that can lead to regulatory creep. A lack of clarity about the scope of any type of regulation can lead to regulatory creep.’ A move to more principles-based regulation has the potential to presage a regulatory creep without a statutory grounding as well as the potential to allow regulators to keep pace with the financial services market. The aim of any such move must be to realise this latter potential whilst avoiding the former. Bibliography Better Regulation Task Force (2004) Avoiding Regulatory Creep. October 2004. London: Better Regulation Task Force. Cunningham, L. (2007) A Prescription to Retire the Rhetoric of â€Å"Principles-Based Systems† in Corporate Law, Securities Regulation and Accounting. Boston College Law School Legal Studies Research Paper Series, Research Paper 127, 13 March 2007. de Serres, A. et al. (2006) Regulation of Financial Systems and Economic Growth, OECD Economics Department Working Papers, No. 506. Paris: OECD Publishing. FSA (2007a) Principles-based regulation: Focusing on the outcomes that matter. April 2007. London: FSA. FSA (2007b) FSA Handbook, Release 065, May 2007 Hodgson, P. (2006) The Rise and Rise of the Regulatory State. The Political Quarterly 77(2) April-June 2006. pp247-254 Jones, C. (2004) ‘Regulatory Creep: Myths and Misunderstandings’, in Risk and Regulation, No 8 Winter 2004 p.6 OECD (2005) Designing independent and accountable regulatory authorities for high quality regulation. Proceedings of an Expert Meeting in London, United Kingdom, 10-11 January 2005. Paris: OECD. Wilson, S. (2007) Supervision in a Principles Based World. Speech given to the FSA Retail Firms Division Conference, London, 27 February 2007 (available from http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Library/Communication/Speeches/2007/0227_sw.shtml)

Essay examples --

Archimedes was one of the last ancient Greek mathematicians, following in the footsteps of Plato, Socrates, and Euclid. Historians call him "the wise one," "the master" and "the great geometer". Although he was also a scientist and inventor, it was his work in mathematics that has ranked him as one of the three most important mathematicians in history, along with Sir Isaac Newton and Carl Friedrich Gauss. Further, he was one of the first scientists to perform experiments to prove his theories. Archimedes’ discoveries in mathematics continue to have an impact today. Historians do not know a great deal about Archimedes’ life. Archimedes was born around 287 B.C. in Syracuse, Sicily, which was part of Greece at that time. We know his father was an astronomer, which Archimedes mentioned in one of his works, "The Sand Reckoner". He had a close relationship with the royal family and was called upon by the king when he needed scientific advice. At 1...

Inside Job Documentary Film Essay

The ‘Inside Job’ film (documentary film) draws parallel views to the referenced text â€Å"Impact on Accounting† of this course coupled with the associated research executed during the past weeks with respect to understanding the cause of the financial crisis. The documentary film zeros in on the contributory factors of the financial crisis such as falling interest rates, securitization of home mortgages and credit default swaps (derivatives). Other stunning contributory factors expressed in the documentary film were greed in addition to the deregulation and an unsupervised financial industry by the Federal government. Snyder (2011) reported that, â€Å"There have been several deregulations in the financial and housing markets over the past 30 years. Some of these include The Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act, the Federal Home Loan Bank Board establishing adjustable mortgages, the 1982 Garn-St Germain Depository Institutions Act establishing a secondary mortgage market, the repeal of the Glass-Stegall Act allowing commercial and investment banks to merge, and the 2004 SECs deregulation of investment banks, allowing investment banks to increase their leverage ratio from 12:1 to 30:1.† (pages 1-16) After researching the cause of the financial crisis, though seemingly insignificant to some, one of the fastening screws that assisted in the great fall with respect to the financial industry was falling interest rates. During the early 2000s the United States economy began to slow down and in an effort to rejuvenate this downward condition the Federal Reserve introduced a stimulation project to cut interest rates to induce customer spending. Investors took advantage of this stimulus exercise as the return on mortgage backed securities was attractive and as a result there was a boost and desire to purchase such securities. Consequently, lending  institutions became very excited as the demand for mortgage backed securities increased and thus the quest began to write more mortgages. Hence, the qualifying standards for loan approvals were done away with allowing a prospective home owner getting approval with ‘zero-down’. The introduction of no payment down increased the likelihood of failure to pay by borrowers and this default risk thereof was disregarded. Another supporting aspect of the documentary film with respect to the cause of the financial crisis was securitization. Historically during the safe age, a home mortgage was a loan contract between the borrower and financial institution which was supported by tangible property used as collateral. Such loans would be held until the full loan obligation has been satisfied in the long term. Conversely to the days of old, financial institutions sought new innovative means to generate income and came up with securitization of home mortgages. In this sense, during the 1990’s, home mortgages were not held to maturity but instead the high risk home mortgages were, bundled, repackaged and resold creating mortgage backed securities whereby income is received when homeowners satisfied their home mortgage obligation. Despondently, when borrowers defaulted on their home mortgages, investors suffered dearly as losses were realized, consequently, financial institutions collapsed and unemployment rose above its usual average rate. Other research has concluded that derivatives also played a chief role in the financial crisis. Derivatives are financial contracts between two parties of which the value can derived with not affiliation to the good or service. For example, a buyer can purchase an option agreement to buy a good or service in the future at an agreed price within a specified time frame. Within the given period the buyer may exercise the right to purchase or chose not to upon weighing the benefits of the option contract with the current market conditions. One type of derivatives that aided in the financial crisis was credit default swaps (CDS) which allowed investors to participate in naked CDS purchases without having legal ownership of the insured property. CDS is an innovative and prevalent derivative which is similar to an insurance contract that permits investors to transfer risk to other parties who are more qualified and willing to bear it, thus making it very attractive risk mitigation tool. CDS became extremely popular and experienced an unprecedented demand up to the latter part of 2007. However, since the derivatives market was not regulated companies such as AIG which sold billions of swaps without collateral or reserves to satisfy potential losses. According to Hobbs (2011), at the end of 2007 AIG credit debt obligation totaled $562 billion which was shockingly ironic that an insurance company would fail to hedge such substantial risk. Charles Ferguson’s award winning documentary film ‘Inside Job’ narrated by Matt Damon surveyed the deregulation of the financial industry and explored how the lack of good ethical banking practices assisted in creating the financial crisis. This jaw dropping documentary in its fearless interviews and prying identified greed and deregulation by the Federal government as principle causes of the financial crisis. At the twilight of 1981 the Ronal Regan administration made the deregulation of the financial industry top priority and the highest order of business in an effort to restore economic prosperity. Froese (2011) stated that, â€Å"The campaign trend of deregulation was followed through by the Bill Clinton and George Bush administration team.† (p. 59-75). According to Maxwell (2011), â€Å"The documentary film sets out to prove the idea by first pointing to the 1980s, when deregulation of the financial industry in the US allowed banks and loan companies to begin taking bigger risks with depositors’ money.† (p.16) The documentary film exposed the recycling of top bank executives being integrated into key government positions even after having full knowledge of misconduct and unethical behavior driven by greed. The greed for lavish lifestyle such as having six airplanes, helicopters, yachts, beachfront homes and penthouses was evident in the documentary film. Apparently, the more money top bankers earned the more they seem to want. The root of this greed was driven by huge compensation and hefty bonuses. According to Ferguson (2010), Richard Fuld the CEO of Lehman Brothers actually was hardly ever seen on the trading floor as he went out of his way to avoid contact with other employees even to the extent of extent of installing a personal elevator that took him to his office undetected. These chief top guns even went to the extent to cheat the government of taxes by understating their  income. Sterngold (2011) reported that, â€Å" Oliver Budde, a former lawyer for the financial services firm Lehman Brothers, has charged that the bankrupt company’s former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard S. Fuld lied to Congress when stating the amount of his salary and other compensation from 2000-2007. Budde, whose duties included preparing Lehman’s financial statements on executive salaries, says that Fuld understated the amount of his earnings by hundreds of millions of dollars.† (p, 56-59). Under the Regan administration CEO of the treasury, ML Donald deregulated the Savings and Loans which created a platform for unsafe investments by allowing hundreds of financially dead institutions to continue to operate while making more risky loans. Within 10 years hundreds of Savings and Loans companies became insolvent which resulted in 124 billion dollars of tax payers’ money. Greenspan supported Charles Keating’s business plans verifying that they were sound, proficient and without risk. It was later discovered that Keating who owned one of the Savings and Loans companies in California, used investors’ money to support his personal company and eventually went to prison as a result. While on the other hand, Greenspan was promoted appointed as president of the Federal Reserve by Ronald Ragan and was reappointed by Clinton and Bush administration to police the big bucks. It was also alleged that Greenspan received a kickback of 40,000 for validating Keating’s report Keating afloat in the industry. Deregulation continued under the Clinton administration congress overturned the Glass-Steagall Act by passing the Gramm-Leach Bliley Act which facilitated the Citigroup merger. Further, despite the cries to regulate the derivatives industry, Alan Greenspan in addition to other congressmen brought about the Commodity Futures Modernization Act banning all regulation in the derivatives market. Other new theories that developed from the documentary film were economists, credit rating agencies and top executives have all contributed to the financial crisis. It was unthinkable that reputable economists failed miserably to disclose any conflict of interest regarding their economic research report concerning economic trend. According to Ferguson (2010), economist Frederic Mishkin stated in his economic research report that  Iceland’s economy had already adjusted to financial liberalization and that while prudential regulation and supervision was quite strong, however, the banking industry in Iceland exploded shortly after the report. Frederic was paid $124,000 by the Iceland government to write the report even though the report proved to be very wrong. Another economist, Robert Glenn Hubbard former head of President Bush council of economic advisors, when asked whether there is and conflict of interest of economists he avoided the question and stated that most economist are not wealthy people. The documentary exposed him for having an annual salary of $150,000 as a board member of Met Life and that he formally served on the board of Capmark Financial Corporation, a mortgage institution that went bankrupt during the bubble. The documentary film brought the curtains down on credit rating agencies as it provided undeniable evidence of their involvement in the financial crisis . The three credit agencies namely, Standard & Poor, Moody’s, and Fitch misrepresented the credit rating of companies such as Lehman Brother, Merrill Lynch, AIG and Bear Sterns as they were all given credit rating of AA and above just weeks prior to becoming bankrupt. Questions were put to the governor of the Federal Reserve, Frederic Mishkin whether he was aware of excellent credit ratings and as in the past he danced around the question without providing clear answer. In 2008 Frederic Mishkin resigned in the height of the economic crisis and said that this coward move was owed to him reviewing some university book. Investors depend heavily on security rating for decision making. Clearly if a security has been classified as AAA and AA ratings, they appear to be as safe as government bonds. Instead, investors were deceived into investing in insolvent companies as a result of the ratings provided thereof. Continuing, top executives were also woven in the fabric of the financial crisis whereby top Chief Executive Officers walked away with top dollars. It is said that follow the money to solve the crime. The documentary film listed top guns such as Lehman Brothers CEO, Richard Fuld who reaped in 485 million, AIG’s CEO went smiling with earnings of 315 million and Merrill Lynch raked in 161 million of severance bonus. Other culprits named were Bear Sterns CEO and especially Goldman Sachs top executives. Apparently, these top executives had much knowledge of their falling companies and cooked the books so that investors would believe otherwise. What come out of the documentary film was that executives were rewarded for selling subprime mortgage investments as if it was top priority. Below are exhibits A and B and key players in the financial crisis: Exhibit A Major Players identifies in Week 2 Exhibit B Major Players in Inside Job Film 1. Homeowners 2. Financial / lending institutions 3. Wall Street 4. Federal Government 5. Securities Exchange Commission 1. Homeowners 2. Financial / lending institutions 3. Wall Street 4. Federal Government 5. Securities Exchange Commission 6. Economist 7. Credit Rating Agencies 8. Top Executives The new players pulled from the documentary film are economists, credit agencies and top banking executives. Economists were apparently paid handsomely to produce favorable reports of which most did not disclose their connected conflict of interest. Credit rating agencies also provided falsified rating to dying institutions and as a result investors were misinformed and consequently realized losses which could have been prevented. Lastly top banking officials were recycled throughout the government and other top ranking banks. They were driven by greed and  received compensation of up to 485 million dollars. Bringing it all together, I strongly believe that they were all in it together with the object to rape the economy of its finances and so they did successfully without being prosecuted. APA Format References Global Economic Crisis Resource Center (2010). Global economic crisis: Impact on accounting. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning Snyder, T. (2011). How did deregulation and financial innovations impact housing, wealth, and output?. Journal Of Finance & Accountancy, Hobbs, J. (2011). Financial Derivatives, the Mismanagement of Risk and the Case of AIG. CPCU Ejournal, 1-8. Ferguson, C. (Director) & Marrs, A. (Producer). (2010) Inside Job [Motion Picture]. United States: Sony Picture Classics Froese, R. (2011). THE LIMITS OF INSIDE JOB: CRISIS, IDEOLOGY, AND THE BURDEN OF CAPITALISM. Studies In Political Economy: A Socialist Review, (88), 59-75. Sterngold, J. (2010). Who Cares About Another $200 Million?. Bloomberg Businessweek, (4177), 56-59. Maxwell, C. (2011). Inside the crash. Director (00123242), 65(4), 16.

Charles Dickens Great Expectations Essay Example

Charles Dickens Great Expectations Essay Example Charles Dickens Great Expectations Paper Charles Dickens Great Expectations Paper Essay Topic: Great Expectations In The Go-Between social status often defines the behaviour of the characters towards each other. Judgement is made on appearances, property and title, as this is seen as a reliable indicator of the quality of an individuals character. In this way, Marian and Teds relationship may be seen in some way as liberating, as they love each other regardless of social status and Marian without attention to the superficial country life in which she so actively takes part. In Great Expectations, Dickens presents a society where class and status do define attitudes and relationships. Yet Dickens, through successive examples, provides evidence that this is neither an effective nor fair judge of a persons calibre, and that an enlightened society would recognise the value of individuals by who they are, not simply in terms of monetary worth. Moreover, Hartley chooses to tell The Go-Between largely from the perspective of a shy, nervous, emotionally charged, vulnerable, boy whose school seems to have denied him the expression of his childhood, consequentially leaving his wild imagination to warp events and remain oblivious to the reality of his treatment. Leos childhood innocence portrayed as green naivety by Marcus and Marion. Despite this, Leo remains loyal to the upper classes until and even at the end, agreeing to be the messenger boy one last time; he remains subservient to the assumptions of class and status, even in there deteriorated, degenerate state a the close. On the other hand, Dickens tells Great Expectations from the point of view of Pip, a social upstart unprepared to merely accept his lot, instead aspiring to a way of life he is below. Pip would have remained contented in his naivety of social inequality, as even he said. Yet for Dickens, naivety is not a defence for the maintenance of the existing social order, as how can you be truly free if innocent of the truth? Although Pip is also nai ve, and the revealing and revolution of Pip from such does not do his character any good; Dickens may argue this Pip is more a product of the effect of existing social and class assumptions, that Gentleman must remain aloof. At the end, Pip is changed, his links with the working and lower classes in Magwitch and Joe have reformed him morally; the lower classes he distanced himself from have been his salvation. Once he stops daydreaming in the false reality of a match with Estella, understands and learns the lesson of what it is to be a real gentlemen as being beyond simple monetary value; he is able to understand the plot hes in and play an active role in changing it; in working out the mystery of Estellas parentage and trying to enable Magwitch to escape. Pip is no longer a slave to the class hierarchy and class assumptions, as shown by his sleeping in his own room at the forge again and working for his living; while Leo at the end of The Go-Between remains so chained. Dickens was a social reformist and self-made gentleman, who believed in universal education for all, and worked and campaigned to achieve this aim. In Great Expectations he may be seen to offer a stark criticism of an unequal society by implicating the world of the rich with that of the poor, arguing that the wealth, prosperity and comfort of the few is one supported by the poverty, struggle and suffering of the multitude. For example, Magwitch a convict, has the same lawyer as the affluent Miss. Havisham, in Jaggers; a morally repugnant character who is prepared to see a guilty murderess, Molly, become his housekeeper, while he is just as comfortable to see an innocent defendant locked up. For Dickens, the belief in irrevocable link between wealth and morality is tenuous to say the least, and Great Expectations challenges this widely held view. Dickens champions the Victorian work ethic that salvation and morality lie in hard-work. Dickens wished to shift the role of a gentleman to one of a gentle man; he wanted to shift the emphasis from one of a life of luxury, learning and polished manners, to one of a sense of duty and vocational commitment. Many of Dickens ideas even became integrated later into Disraelis paternalistic, one-nation conservatism. Nevertheless, Dickens may not wholly align himself with Burkes philosophy that Disraeli adopted: change in order to conserve. Dickens may be motivated by the attitude to change because it is right, rather than to change to conserve the existing social order. In The Go-Between Hartley presents a class based hierarchy under threat and challenged by a new society at the turn of the century. As in Great Expectations, Hartley also, like Dickens, uses retrospective first person narration, in The Go-Between to present a society in the novel very different from that which Leo rediscovers at the end. Although not a Bildungsroman as such, we see an event that changes the rest of Leos life. The use by both authors of retrospective narration enables them to present long-term change, Dickens in Pips transformation and Hartley in Societies, allowing the authors more scope for discussion of their viewpoints. Dickens uses Pips transformed view of society, and his place in it to put forward his position. Use of first-person narration in Great Expectations is a change from omniscient third person narration and is clever in lending immediacy to the action as we find out about events as the character does, we are not told in the retrospect. Dickens older narrator switches between detachment and involvement with the plot, at times stepping in to criticise his younger self with great gusto and censure. This is also used in The Go-Between, and along with Great Expectations, both narrators intrude into the novels narrative to at times criticise their past actions or build suspense and lend importance to a future event. In Great Expectations the Bildungsroman genre chosen by Dickens, follows a Pip transformed and shaped by the novels events, allowing him to portray a broad spectrum of society; from the landed estate of the wealthy Miss Havisham, the simple contentment of hard-working Joe at the forge, to the idle lifestyle of two gentlemen in the city. Dickens novel does not appear to discuss the aristocracy in great detail beyond the aspirations of Mrs. Pocket, instead focusing more on the lower classes with which Dickens was so fascinated. Hartley, unlike Dickens, choose to set his novel in the most part in the luxurious, aristocratic, setting of Brandham Hall. There is little plot elsewhere; there is a glimpse of a harsh, competitive, boarding school governed by strict rules of conduct, in which emotion is almost forbid and class and status govern how the boys deal with each other. Were through his curse on Jenkins and Strode, Leo earns the respect and increased status amongst his fellow pupils. The school itself is almost a hierarchy, with the strongest bullying the weakest, there appears to be some of Darwins survival of the fittest there. The boys admire strength and money, and live in fear of revealing emotion, seen as a weak frailty. It is Leos curse and the grand sounding name of his modest home; Court Place which he shares with his nervous, reticent, widowed mother, that gain him an invitation from The Maudsleys. Brandham Hall however, manages in some ways to cover a broader spectrum of society than Great Expectations display of country and city life. As although in essence, the focus is on the upper-echelons of society in the middle and upper classes, rather than those of lower status, whom we see but briefly in the cricket game and supper with the village. With Brandham Hall as his setting, Hartley is able to, and does, represent class distinction in action. Could it be that in the notable absence of regard for the lower classes in the world of the upper classes he is making a similar point to Dickens; that the wealth of the few is based on the exclusion of the many? For example, Triningham the gentleman farmer relies on the working farmer in Ted Burgess for his living, and that it is only on Leos return years later that he remembers the prettiest side to the house, when he was there he was more interested in the outhouses of the backyard. The distance between The Hall and The Village is separated not only by wealth and status, but also in the physical landscape there is distance between the two, which almost makes them appear to be separate entities or separate worlds. It is the impoverished middle class in Leo who makes easier the link between the two spheres, by being the messenger between Ted and Marion. This link; an abandonment of the rules that govern the hierarchical structure has devastating consequences, perhaps a warning from Hartley against abandoning the security and sense of place made known by the class structure for centuries. Clearly, Hartleys views on class and status are more ambiguous than those of Dickens, but overall I believe that Hartley conforms to class assumptions and tries to reaffirm the importance of class and status. Hartley, however, as we have and will see, has a very different approach to Dickens on the subject of class and status. Like Leo, Hartley seems to look with nostalgia on the long line of Viscount Trininghams, Hugh being the ninth of these, found engraved in the church. Set against the backdrop of the house of God, a sense of value is placed in the tradition and history that this image invokes. Perhaps even reflecting the feudal belief in Gods acquiescence and ordination of the nobilitys God-given right to rule. In Great Expectations there is no such argument present, church seems corrupted by its wealth and emphasis on social position and irrelevant to the working class people who attend every week, some more conscientiously than others. The lower classes such as Joe can not go as they are and as they are comfortable, appearance is important as a display of respect and diffidence. Dickens throughout the rest of the novel then attacks the superficiality of appearance as having any value or importance at all in the judgement of character. For Dickens there is no value in tradition for traditions sake; he was not an unbeliever, but wanted to transform the churches role from order and a means of class control but to real concern and compassion for the people. Dickens would attack appearance as either being a good basis on which to judge character or a good foundation on which to judge strength of Christian conviction. Hartley seems to admire the class distinctions found in church, while Dickens might view it as apposed to Christian belief. Dickens criticises those who aspire to titles as seen by his parody of the Pockets, while Hartley respects those who hold one such as Triningham, and criticises those who aspire to the lifestyle of those who want one in the Maudsleys. Triningham exemplifies all that was good about the aristocracy; gentle manners, grace and elegance, and treating Leo with the utmost kindness, whom he saves from embarrassment when explaining his title and when Leo is given an inappropriate tie. It is the middle class Marion who exploits and uses Leo, not Triningham, who makes it clear that Leo is a messenger for the Gods. Triningham is scarred from his patriotic fight during the lengthily and protracted Boer War, perhaps symbolic of a scarred, fatally flawed, yet loyal and patriotic, aristocracy. Trininghams early death may also foretell of doomed nobility, and in Marion, conquered by Ted, the working farmer, that in the future the lower classes will usurp the higher ones. This is again shown by the fact that the 10th and subsequent 11th Viscount Trininghams are descendants of Ted, not of Hugh, and so are illegitimate. The ancestral lineage has been broken. Whether or not this embodies the idea that the old aristocracy having survived, yet modified, by the events of a turbulent half-century and that the hierarchical order has prevailed even in the face of struggle; or whether this actually signifies a healthy merger of the classes (Anne Mulkeen) is a matter for debate. Some may argue that in the 11th Viscount Triningham we see an aristocracy besieged, and a shadow of what it once was. The 11th Viscount looks like Ted, a working farmer, and Leo notes none of Trininghams natural grace. The 11th Viscount avoids the past in Marion, rather than finding refuge and console in it as it may be seen that the 9th Viscount had, and the 11th is reduced to living in less that half the house, with the rest let to a girls school. While others may still see by the aristocracys survival, despite being found reduced in importance, as an enduring symbol of history and tradition and irrefutable evidence of its value. Even so, for Dickens, as found in Great Expectations aristocracy and the wealthy need to accept their place and duty toward wider society. Trininghams chivalric, but perhaps unreal sentiment that nothing is ever a Ladys fault is perhaps the reasoning behind his acceptance of a Marion already tainted by the touch of a man, saving her from disgrace, and explains his unsuspecting attitude before the relationship was revealed. Trininghams assumption of Marians innocence is charming, yet conceivably recognisable as ignorance. Marian seems to ridicule him almost, as even she admits his loyalty, whilst admitting that she was planning on carrying on her illicit affair with Ted whilst married to Triningham, and seeing his suicide as an expression of Teds weakness rather than of his accepting responsibility. Also Hartley portrays a caring, nervous and somewhat ineffective mother in Mrs. Colston, who perhaps fails to understand the boy she sees so little of. Tragically, if she had followed Leos confused intension in his instructions than the tragedy may have been averted, or at least Leo might not have lost his innocence and faith in the world of human emotions with which Ted explained his love for Marion and spooning. Presumably Triningham would not blame Mrs. Colston at all for Leos tragedy. Trininghams chivalry then is not rewarded and this outcome can perhaps be seen to be why Hartley may be criticising the destruction of good society. At the same time, Dickens aim in writing Great Expectations was to shift the meaning of being a Gentleman away from that of petty class distinction, polished manners and a life of leisure to one of social responsibility and vocational commitment; of gentlemen not just enjoying their position in society, but working to improve the position and welfare of others. This is shown by Pips dramatic transformation from Gentleman to gentle man, and the moral regeneration that is the result of Pip finding employment. Class and status are seemingly interlinked with, and the result of money from the start. The servants at Brandham are even deferential to Leo, who is not expected to pick up or fold his own clothes; Marcus even tells him not too! Leo is not rich in comparison to the Maudsleys but is in terms of society at the time, the social hierarchy must be obeyed. Hartley, in The Go-Between also presents the aspiring middle class in the Maudlseys whose social rise is the result of money. Although, arguably, Hartleys Maudsleys do not gain greatly from their rise, which contributes to the mental downfall of Mrs. Maudsley in Marions affair, with Denys and Marcus later dying in the Great War, the Maudsleys do not last, and it is a Triningham who holds possession of the house when Leo returns after his long absence. Despite the 11th Viscount being a descendent of Ted and Marion, the title has endured, the Maudsleys have not. Hartley thus argues that there is more to class distinction then money, more too aristocratic superiority than monetary wealth; indeed Triningham is less well off than the Maudsleys, however they still feel the need to defer to him, as if he were the head of the household. The Maudsleys not only feel insecure, but recognise Trininghams supremacy.

Free Essays on A.L.S

ALS Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also called ALS or â€Å"Lou Gehrigs disease†) is a classic motor neuron disease. Motor neuron diseases are progressive chronic diseases of the nerves that come from the spinal cord responsible for supplying electrical stimulation to the muscles. This is the stimulation that makes our body parts move. ALS is progressive and fatal. The usual causes of death of patients with motor neuron diseases are not directly related to the disease, but result from simultaneous additional illnesses which occur because of body weaknesses. It usually occurs most often in adults in the fifth through the seventh decades of life. It usually causes death in 2 to 7 years. All forms of ALS cause progressive muscle weaknesses and wasting. Spontaneous tiny local areas of muscle twitching, called fasciculations, are characteristic in most patients. These may be sensed by the patient as muscle cramping. Lower extremity muscle wasting (atrophy) and weakness generally follows wasting of the arms, hands, and shoulders. Spastic muscles can be present. Treatment measures in patients with motor neuron diseases are largely supportive, treating the complications, such as infections and general health. The treatment of ALS is also directed toward suppressing the immune inflammation felt to play a role in the degeneration of the nervous system. While there is no cure for ALS or a proven therapy that will prevent or reverse the course of the disorder, the U.S. FDA has approved RILUTEK, the first drug that has been shown to prolong the survival of ALS patients. Creatine is widely used by many athletes. Recent animal studies have shown creatine works twice as well as RILUTEK.... Free Essays on A.L.S Free Essays on A.L.S ALS Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also called ALS or â€Å"Lou Gehrigs disease†) is a classic motor neuron disease. Motor neuron diseases are progressive chronic diseases of the nerves that come from the spinal cord responsible for supplying electrical stimulation to the muscles. This is the stimulation that makes our body parts move. ALS is progressive and fatal. The usual causes of death of patients with motor neuron diseases are not directly related to the disease, but result from simultaneous additional illnesses which occur because of body weaknesses. It usually occurs most often in adults in the fifth through the seventh decades of life. It usually causes death in 2 to 7 years. All forms of ALS cause progressive muscle weaknesses and wasting. Spontaneous tiny local areas of muscle twitching, called fasciculations, are characteristic in most patients. These may be sensed by the patient as muscle cramping. Lower extremity muscle wasting (atrophy) and weakness generally follows wasting of the arms, hands, and shoulders. Spastic muscles can be present. Treatment measures in patients with motor neuron diseases are largely supportive, treating the complications, such as infections and general health. The treatment of ALS is also directed toward suppressing the immune inflammation felt to play a role in the degeneration of the nervous system. While there is no cure for ALS or a proven therapy that will prevent or reverse the course of the disorder, the U.S. FDA has approved RILUTEK, the first drug that has been shown to prolong the survival of ALS patients. Creatine is widely used by many athletes. Recent animal studies have shown creatine works twice as well as RILUTEK....

Major League Baseball Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Major League Baseball - Essay Example It uses a unique video editing information system as a product differentiation strategy that allows employees to produce highlights in just a few minutes, sending out about 200 highlights a day during the regular season and meeting a wide range of customer needs. The buyer’s volume and importance of the product are evident from its sales levels and demands for the MLBAM (Case Study 2). The product generates around $ 450 million a year in revenues, out of which fifty percent comes from fans with the balance generated from advertising that comes with online content. Supplier power Supplier strength for MLBAM is visible in its strong command and concentration in the online sports content business that has been hugely successful judging from the impressive revenue performance, satisfied users given the amount of information, updates received and convenience. The company has also succeeded in product differentiation because it offers the product in a unique way and targets niche ma rket. It also uses different technological platforms that apply a plug or a battery such as computers, laptops, and mobile phones to send clips of streaming video and text, thus creating utmost convenience informing viewers and fans about what they need to know. The product has capabilities to tap into the base by presenting multiple (camera) angles, on-demand video, and stats. Another aspect of supplier power for MLB is its specialty in providing a large amount of online information that is unavailable anywhere else or on any other device. Further, online content business has become a popular source of information for many users, thus creating immense business viability for suppliers who offer unique products and services with the objective to meet the needs of the different online customers. MLB has identified these needs and perfectly tried to meet them through their product. Increasing customer loyalty To maintain and/or increase customer loyalty, MLBAM should employ strategies that jealously guard its existing market share and also explore ways of expanding the customer base to grow revenue and increase business performance. Product differentiation based on customer segments is one of the strategies the company can use. Though it targets to introduce customized applications for certain models of cell phones, it can expand the scope to cover other handsets and also include other non-phone gadgets such as iPads. The company should also explore the strengths and limitations of its competitors by interrogating the soft spots of alternative products to strengthen its products. Other strategies may include going an extra mile to know its customers better, meet and exceed customer expectations, increase value derived by customers from its products, and endeavor to distinguish between needs and wants. Which of Porter's three generic strategies is MLBAM following? Porter’s generic strategies are: segmentation strategy (focus) for a narrow market scope, diff erentiation strategy for a broad market scope with competitive advantages of uniqueness and competency, cost leadership strategy for a broad market scope with advantages of low cost and competency. MLBAM seems to have adopted the differentiation strategy targeting a broad market but ensuring uniqueness and competency as the selling points. How can MLBAM use efficiency IT metrics and effectiveness IT metrics to improve

Human Resources Management, The Learning Process and Practice of Essay

Human Resources Management, The Learning Process and Practice of Training & Development - Essay Example But other organisations prefer the traditional one coupled with a new and modified system. In the manufacturing world, they call it ‘hybrid’. Although theorists seem to have faded, their ideas and theories which have long been formulated a long time ago remain significant and useful in the modern world. Training and development have to be applied in a systematic way. The organisation is viewed as a system, and training as a subsystem. We can find the usefulness of training as ingrained in the system through our different readings and in the literature. But I also want to add experiences and real-life situations from our organisation. We consider training and development as very significant for the success of our mission as an organisation and as individuals with careers to nurture, along with our respective families who expect from us and support us, as well. Knowledge of learning theory is indeed significant in workplace training in practice for we can use this as a bas ing ground for successes in training and development and the outcome of it. ... Training is a subsystem and looks up to the organisation as the reference point. It would then be easy for a comparison of the different sub-systems because all the other branches and departments are inter-related. The outcome of a particular training becomes easy to distinguish and measure whether it has been effective or whether the outcome of the training meets the objectives of the organisation. From this systems theory, Buckley and Capley developed the 14-stage model to expound the effectiveness of the systems theory, as against Harrison’s (1997) 8-step model. Background of my Organisation I belong to an organisation which is international in scope. At present we are tackling the challenges of globalisation and the effects of inter-culture and diversity in what commentators call the global village. Based from our initial approach of the systems theory, our organisation conducts periodic training but also a needs-assessment for training and development; meaning we also con duct training when the situation demands. For example, the organisation conducts cross-cultural training (CCT) annually. But there are times that aside from the regular CCT, we also conduct training when a manager or employees are being sent abroad or to a subsidiary, i.e. in addition to the regular CCT. Trainings are systematic, regular and conducted in accord with the organisation’s objectives. There is no regular period, or time frame, when a manager or employee has to be sent abroad, for there are various situations when a manager, or department head or employee, is needed in foreign countries. These situations include, a) when a branch has just been opened in another country, b) when a manager has just