Kahaani and Mumbai Diaries Film Review

Dhobighat and Kahaani Film reviews [Student Name] [Course Title] [Course Supervisor] Film reviews Introduction: The Indian film industry has never been popular for its art films. Art films in Indian cinemas usually try to portray a particular aspect of the Indian culture and norm. These movies avoid all the glitz and glamour normally found in Indian movies. No glitz or glamour usually restricts these movies to a low budget nor are these movies able to attract a large number of audience to the cinema.Directors that usually make such movies try to get a point across to the audience using the cinema screen to portray their view of a particular issue within the community. Dhobighat The movie starts off showing Arun (Amir Khan) moving into a shabby apartment in an old locality of Mumbai. The film depicts Arun as an artist who meets Shia (Monica Dogra) an American investment banker at one of his exhibitions. The two fall for each other and end up spending the night together.Shai expects A run would commit to their new found relationship but instead Arun makes it clear that he is not interested in a long term relationship and their night together was nothing more than a one night stand. Shai angry at Arun’s attitude leaves the apartment (Gurbaxani, 2011). This scene depicts a cultural trend that has greatly influenced the modern Indian society. Indian women are known to be conservative. They are forbidden to have premarital sexual relationships. However influenced by western culture, more and more Indian women have been engaging in premarital sex (Dhawan & Kurup, 2006).Spending the night with Arun highlights the western influence that has been a part of the Indian society for quite some time now. Whereas getting angry at Arun for his lack of commitment portrays the conservative Indian side that has been a tradition with in the Indian society. Munna (Prateik Babbar) is the laundry boy for Shai and Arun. Munna aspires to become a famous actor. Munna has a brother who has links to the underworld and his brother tries to use his links within the industry to try and get Munna a break even though Munna is against his brothers activities.Later on in the movie Munna’s brother is murdered probably because of his ties to the underworld (Gurbaxani, 2011). The movie in this scene highlights the underworld influence that has made its way to the Indian film industry. There have been many instances and incidents where mob bosses from the Indian underworld have funded and backed various producers. Anyone who has refused to work in mob backed movies has received threats and sometimes even been targeted by the underworld. Initially the mob bosses were just like any other fans of bollywood superstars.However all that changed when one of these mobsters started financing movies of an actress he fancied. Soon the rest of the underworld got on the idea. Refusal of banks to invest in Indian cinema forced the producers to accept offerings made by the mob b osses (Corliss, 2002). Munna arrives at Shai’s apartment to collect her laundry and the two soon become good friends. Munna offers to become her guide and in return Shai promises she would prepare a portfolio for Munna which he plans to send out to various producers. Munna soon starts developing feelings for Shai but is unable to express his feelings for her (Gurbaxani, 2011).India has been a country where people have been divided into different castes and creeds. From ancient times the caste system has defined the social, financial and economic lives of the Indian people. Marriage of an individual is limited to his or her caste, castes are defined by birth and a person’s caste decides the job that person is best suited for (Callaham & Pavich, 2011). The movie cites Munna’s lower caste and the difference of financial status as the main reasons as to why he doesn’t confess his fee lings to Shai. Meanwhile Shai gets obsessed wit Arun and starts stalking him .The building opposite to Arun’s apartment is under construction and the builder happens to be Shai’s father. Taking advantage of this fact Shai uses the building as a means to take Arun’s pictures without his knowledge. Arun on the other hand has his mind set on the tapes that belonged to the previous tenant of the house. The tapes contain messages from a woman named Yasmin (Kriti Malhotra) to her brother. Arun watches those tapes and soon starts drawing inspiration from them (Gurbaxani, 2011). It is normal for artists to draw inspiration from daily objects.Different artists gain inspiration from different day to day objects and people. These inspirations can be from friends, family or even a song they like (Barnett, 2012). The movie cites the tapes by Yasmin as a means of inspiration for Arun’s work. To make a living and promote his dream of becoming a movie star Munna works as a laundrier by day and kills rats for different localities by night time. On ce while taking some pictures Shai comes across Munna while he is on his night job working as an exterminator. Shai takes his picture while Munna is working. Angry and confused Munna makes a run for it.Arun watches the last video left by Yasmin in which she confesses that her husband is in fact having an affair and shows signs that she would probably kill herself. Feeling frustrated Arun leaves the apartment for good. Shai gets hold of Munna and asks him for Arun’s new address. Initially Munna hesitates and lies about not knowing the where abouts of Arun but eventually gives her Arun’s new address (Gurbaxani, 2011). The film depicts Yasmin as the narrator and uses her experiences of Mumbai to portray the famous landmarks of the city in a completely new perspective.The narration of Yasmin’s experiences gives Dhobighat the shape of a love letter written to the city of Mumbai. The movie uses various situations to provide a comparison of the physical and mental diff erences amongst the various sects of individuals living in Mumbai. An example is a scene from the movie in which Shai wants to conduct Munna’s photo shoot outside the studio. However Munna being a native of Mumbai does not find the sights and sceneries of Mumbai as fascinating as Shai does (Gurbaxani, 2011). Normally Bollywood films are very expensive and can cost up to $20 million (The Economist, 2000).Up until the 1990s the sets, costumes and special effects used were mediocre in quality. The popularity of Hollywood movies in India forced the directors and producers to improve the quality of their movies (The Economist, 2000). However Dhobighat cost a mere $1. 8 million a fact that astonished and amazed majority of Indian and international film critics (Pillai, 2010). Indian filmmakers find that shooting in foreign countries draws the public to the cinema. Various foreign locations have been used in the past to make the movie more appealing to the masses.Either film makers choose foreign locations to get away from the crowd or they argue that it is the need of the script that makes them choose those foreign locations. Incentives given to the indian film industry by the government also attracts various film makers towards the idea of shooting at foreign locations (Trivedi, 2012). Dhobighat was produced using guerilla techniques in which multiple localities of Mumbai were used to make the movie. The director Kiran Rao didn’t use any kind of set at all. Kiran wanted to Dhobighat to be a tribute to the people of Mumbai (OutlookIndia. com, 2010).Most of the parts in the film were in English something that troubled Kiran and Amir Khan. Majority of indian population had a hard time understanding English a factor that most likely would have affected the film’s business. The production team decided to dub the English scenes in Hindi (Pillai, 2010). The distributor of the movie for United States and India was UTV. UTV a subsidiary of Walt Disney h as been one of the major distributors of Indian cinema and has been one of the prominent entities in bringing Indian cinema to the world. The last decade or so has been the turning point of the company.UTV took up movies that changed the way movies were made in Bollywood. A number of these movies were hits. Peepli live, Rang De Basanti and Brfi are examples of some of the great films that UTV Motion Pictures have worked on. Senior Vice President at UTV Motion Pictures U. S. A dubbed the movie as being different to what Indian movie fans are used to. He was also critical about the reception the movie was going to get. Despite the Academy Awards taking place on the same date UTV released the movie on 21st January 2011 in United States and India.The release date couldn’t be delayed because India was hosting the world cup and the film crew wanted to release the film on the same date to prevent the production of pirated copies. UTV gave preference to the Indian fans because the mo vie mainly targeted the Indian audience. UTV were encouraged after the Dhobighat got positive response at the Toronto and London film festivals (Sydney, 2011). Dhobighat was a success at the box office. Despite everyone’s expectations Dhobighat was liked by the Indian population raking in more than $2. 6 million in India.The film did fairly well in United States, United Kingdom and Dubai making more than $780000. Internationally the movie did quite well making a whopping $1. 6 million. The success of Dhobighat pleased the lead star and producer Amir Khan. Amir Khan further commented and dubbed the movie as a success because of the type of movie it was. Kahaani The movie starts at Kolkata metro rail where a gas attack takes place killing the passengers on board. Fast forward a few years a pregnant woman named Vidya Bagachi (Vidya Balan) arrives in Kolkata from London during a religious festival.Vidya is a software engineer who is searching for her missing husband. During her v isit to the local police station Vidya meets Satyaki Rana Sinha (Parambrata Chatterjee) a police officer who agrees to help Vidya in finding her husband. The two visit National Data Center where Vidya claims her husband worked (Dhaniwala, 2012). In India the police are usually considered incompetent and inefficient. They have frequently been criticized by the mass population for not taking their jobs seriously, accepting bribes and folding after being pressurized by top officials.However the movie shows Indian police in a positive light and in particular the character of Rana playing the role of a true police officer and helping Vidya in her quest to find her husband (Pagnamenta, 2013). At the NDC office Vidya and Rana are perplexed when human resource department at NDC deny having employed Vidya’s husband. However the head of the human resource department suggests that Vidya’s husband resembles a lot like an ex-employee, Milan Damji (Indraneil Sengupta). The head of t he HR department is murdered by a hitman named Bob Biswas (Saswata Chatterjee) before she could share Damji’s records with Vidya.Vidya and Rana break into the records of NDC to get more information on Damji. While searching for Damji’s records Vidya and Rana have a close encounter with Bob. The two barely escape with their lives. Vidya meets an intelligence bureau officer Khan (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) who is investigating the gas attack of Kolkata. Khan warns Vidya about the dangers of the case and informs her that Damji is wanted fugitive who is the prime suspect of the gas attacks. Khan advises Vidya to back off and leave Damjee to the police. However Vidya completely ignores Khan’s advice and visits the address stated on Damjee’s records (Dhaniwala, 2012).Indians believe that when a woman sets her mind to it she can achieve anything for the sake of her husband. These acts of courage by women originate from the story in Ramayana of a king named Dasaratha a nd his queen Kaikeyi who showed courage in the face of fear and saved her husband from imminent death. The movie depicts Vidya in the same manner as Kaikeyi who besides the fact being pregnant is willing to risk her life and the life of her child to find her husband and ensure his safety. Kahaani isn’t the first movie to depict such actions from Indian wives.Over the years there have been numerous films that have shown Indian wives going to great lengths to protect and obey their husbands (Murthy, 2001). Upon reaching the stated address Vidya and Rana meet an errand boy working at a small tea shop. The errand boy recognizes Damjee and gives Vidya the name of R. Sridhar an officer of NDC who frequently visited Damjee during his stay at the apartment. Bob on the instructions of Sridhar makes an attempt on Vidya’s life but dies in the process. The examination of Bob’s phone gives Vidya and Rana an IP address.Vidya confronts Sridhar at his office. A scuffle breaks o ur between the two and Vidya eventually ends up shooting Sridhar. The death of Sridhar angers Khan who wanted Sridhar for questioning. Vidya procures a phone number from Sridhar’s computer and dials it. It is revealed that the number belongs to Bhaskaran K. (Dhritiman Chaterji) an Investigation Bureau officer and Khan’s superior. Vidya informs Bhaskaran that she has some sensitive documents left behind by Sridhar and threatens him that if he does not cooperate she could use those documents to send him to jail.Bhaskaran tells Vidya straight up that he is not associated with any of this. However a few minutes later Vidya receives a call asking for the documents in return for the safety of her husband (Dhaniwala, 2012). Suspecting the call was from Damji Vidya agrees to meet the caller at the place of his choice with Khan and Rana on her trail. The caller turns out to be Damji and during their talks Damjee attacks Vidya. Damji menacingly points his gun at Vidya who uses h er prosthetic abdomen; she was using to fake her pregnancy, to knock the gun out of his hand.Vidya kills Damji and flees the scene. It is later revealed that Vidya was in fact Arup Basu’s (Abir Chatterji) wife. Arup was killed in the gas attack and she had returned to India to seek revenge of her husband’s death (Dhaniwala, 2012). Again Kahaani isn’t the first movie where women have been shown seeking revenge for themselves or for the death of someone they loved. Bandit Queen is an example of such a movie where a poor woman who is raped and abused by high caste men in her village. She joins a gang of bandits and seeks revenge upon all who did her wrong.Another story is that of ek haseena thi where a man takes advantage of a simple woman and frames her for drug possession. Upon her release from prison she sets out t find the man who framed her to seek her revenge (rain singer, 2011). The film director and the co-writer of the script Ghosh had trouble finding prod ucers for Kahaani. His film Aladdin was a flop despite having a star studded cast and the producers were reluctant in investing in his future ventures. The idea of a pregnant woman as the lead actress and small time actors in supporting roles were also factors that discouraged the producers from financing the movie.The low cast of shooting in Kolkata and the small budget attracted Ghosh to the idea of shooting the movie in Kolkata (Zee news, 2012). The script writer Adviata Kala did some extensive research for the film. She based most of the story on her personal experience of the city when she was searching for her boyfriend. She stated that even though there was a difference in the culture and the language barrier existed the people were very hospitable and welcoming something that can be seen in the movie (Mitra, 2012). To prepare for her role Vidya Balan visited a doctor to consult about the prosthetic belly.Vidya also consulted her doctor of how a pregnant woman was to act and how what troubles would a pregnant woman normally face. Vidya claimed that she used to portray as a pregnant woman in her college days which helped her out in her out in the film (zee news, 2012). Like Kiran Roa Ghosh used the technique of guerilla filming for his movie. The director admitted that guerilla shooting in the busy city of Kolkata during the festival was not easy. Frequently the participants of the festival stare directly into the camera or in the faces of the actors (Movie Talkies, 2012).Ghosh shot different localities of Kolkata without the public’s knowledge. Ghosh thought it would be easier to shoot without any hassle brought on by the crowd and without the need of crowd control. The shooting of the film and of Durga Pooja festival was completed in 64 days. Ghosh wanted the character of Bob to be of a hitman that would easily blend into the crowd. Ghosh briefed Chatterjee over his role and told him to portray Bob as being polite. To make the character seem mor e believable Ghosh gave him a bald patch and advised Chatterjee to frequently rub his nails, as Indians believe rubbing ones nails prevents hair loss.Bobs character received remarkable praise from the critics and from the viewers. His famous one liner from the film became hit on the internet with individuals quoting him on different social networking websites. The young generation of India was really impressed by Bob and some of them even approached Ghosh with the idea of a graphic novel based on Bob. It is also rumored that some one has approached Ghosh with the idea of a television series based on the life of Bob (Mukherjee, 2012). The main distributors of Kahaani were Viacom 18 Motion Pictures.Viacom 18 Motion Pictures has been around for quite some time now dealing with Indian movies. Some of the famous movies that have done business with Viacom are Players, Son of sardar and Tanu weds Manu. The movie was a success at the box office. Initially during the first week the movie exp erienced a poor response. The film made $370000 in the province of Bengal in the time span of three days and during that time the seat occupancy rose from 47% on the first day to 94% on the third. The movie generated $4. 4 million in the first week passing its production cost of $1. million. By the end of the second week the movie made up to $7. 9 million in India alone. Box office India dubbed the movie a super hit just after two weeks (Box office India, 2012). Oversees the movie did reasonably well being able to generate the revenue of $1. 5 million from United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan and Malaysia. Hindustan times estimated that Kahaani had generated $19 million world wide within 50 days of its release (First Post, 2012). Kahaani’s success brought on a new trend among Bollywood producers and directors.Kolkata became a favorite location for the industry. The use of Kolkata as an opening scene was completely different from traditional Bollywoo d movies that had been using Mumbai and Delhi as their prime locations for shooting. The city’s colonial buildings and the hand rickshaws all added to the magnificent scenario that was presented by Ghosh in the movie. The release of the movie also had a significant impact on the tourism in Kolkata. In particular the guest house used by Vidya in the movie has attracted a lot of tourists (OneIndia. com, 2012).Ghosh plans to produce a sequel for Kahaani and use Vidya Balan as his lead actress in the same recurring role. The shooting of Kahaani 2 is to take place in 2013. The film industry has already seen the making of Kahaani in Tamil and Telegue. Conclusion The success of low budget art movies like Dhobighat and Kahaani shows a change in the trend that has been found amongst the Indian viewers. Viewers have now grown tired of all the love stories and senseless action movies that has been the recipe for a successful Bollywood movie. The viewers now want to watch movies that hav e a strong plot and have good stories.The success of Kahaani and Dhobighat despite their unknown actors is proof that indian viewers want to watch movies with a good plot. Expensive movies such as Agent Vinod and Rush are proof that a big budget and a star studded cast does not guarantee the success of a movie. Using real locations instead of expensive sets is another factor that separates Kahaani and Dhobighat from other movies. Instead of using foreign locations these movies opted to use popular areas of Indian cities to shoot their movies significantly reducing the budget needed for the movies.Art movies in the past decade or so have generated a great deal of revenue not only in India but overseas as well. List of References Barnett, L. , 2012. Top artists reveal how to find creative inspiration. [Online] Available at: http://www. guardian. co. uk/culture/2012/jan/02/top-artists-creative-inspiration [Accessed 8 April 2013]. Box office India, 2012. Agent Vinod Average Opening Kaha ani Extraordinary Week Two. [Online] Available at: http://boxofficeindia. com/boxdetail. php? page=shownews&articleid=4192&nCat= [Accessed 10 April 2013]. Callaham, T. amp; Pavich, R. , 2011. Indian caste system. [Online] Available at: http://www. csuchico. edu/~cheinz/syllabi/asst001/spring98/india. htm [Accessed 8 April 2013]. Corliss, R. , 2002. Married to the Mob. [Online] Available at: http://www. time. com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,361780,00. html [Accessed 9 April 2013]. Dhaniwala, M. , 2012. Kahaani Review. [Online] Available at: http://www. koimoi. com/reviews/kahaani-review/ [Accessed 10 April 2013]. Dhawan, H. & Kurup, S. , 2006. Pre-marital sex: Girls like to keep mum. [Online] Available at: http://articles. timesofindia. ndiatimes. com/2006-10-24/india/27785487_1_report-sexual-debut-indian-women [Accessed 8 April 2013]. First Post, 2012. Kahaani: What’s the story behind the numbers? [Online] Available at: http://www. firstpost. com/bollywood/kahaani-whats-the- story-behind-the-numbers-253056. html [Accessed 10 April 2013]. Gurbaxani, A. , 2011. ‘Dhobi Ghat’ Is A Sparkling Debut. [Online] Available at: http://mumbaiboss. com/2011/01/21/%E2%80%98dhobi-ghat%E2%80%99-is-a-sparkling-debut/ [Accessed 8 April 2013]. Mitra, I. , 2012. Vidya's journey was my own: Advaita Kala. [Online] Available at:

How the Digital World May Change Essay

The rapidly changing societies with constantly improving technology and occurrence of social digital technologies dramatically changed the way people communicate and interact with each other making them either â€Å"digital natives†, â€Å"digital residents†, â€Å"digital immigrants† or â€Å"digital visitors† based on their generation or familiarization with technology. More and more people today perceive the world as the complicated and mature network of computerized and online applications that help to communicate, search for, exchange and share information, make business with international partners, play games on distance, and many other purposes. Though, the question is whether digital natives and digital residents are the same in their perception of the world, behavior and life habits in the future? Behavior of Digital Residents Since personally I was born before 1994, I am related to the category of digital residents, who were born before the occurrence of social digital technologies. Such people like me learnt the computer and Internet-related skills either in schools or universities and have an opportunity to compare life and perception of the world before and after the digital world. Despite I am not a digital native, my behavior as a digital resident is already influenced by numerous technologies I am using daily like cell phone, computer, DVD player, iPod, etc. With occurrence of cell phones, for example, people became more flexible and mobile in their behavior, actions, plans and ability to communicate with their family members, friends and colleagues. Moreover, many people combine conversations by cell phone with other activities like cleaning the house, working on the computer, shopping or driving a car (Palfrey and Gasser, 2008). Recently more and more people, including me, prefer to make their personal or business calls while driving to the office, shop or gym. It might be a good way to use time efficiently, though at the same time might cause problems and distract a person from driving and being careful on the road. In one of his first video chapters Robert Schrag (2010) addressed exactly this issue when young people got used to talk by phone and type text messages while driving. Though, the main difference in such behavior between digital natives and digital residents is that the last ones are more careful, reasonable and less dependent on the technologies than digital natives are (Palfrey and Gasser, 2008). It might sound crazy, but computers, cell phones and other technology-related products became a mandatory and integral daily part of their lives. While as a digital resident I am less dependent, or better to say, obsessed with technology, the changing world of education and business requires being constantly aware and familiar with the latest technologies, either to learn the updated and useful information for my personal and professional development or to keep pace with younger people whose knowledge of languages, computers and technology-related applications make them more competitive at the labor market. Conclusion  As for the future behavior as a digital resident, it is rather hard to predict since more and more innovations enter our lives. For example, nowadays a debate exists concerning two main issues: human cloning and brain chips. Personally, I do not support either of these ideas since with their occurrence and legacy people will be controlled by those who created such innovations while the human being is independent self-thinker who is responsible for his/her own actions, has personal wishes and dreams and is unpredictable in his/her behavior. While digital world gives me more and more opportunity to learn the world and communicate with other people, at the same time it controls me more and more shaping my behavior in the way innovators and digital world creators want. I personally think that technology should be wisely and within certain limits without suppressing and eliminating the natural things and personal communication between people.

Assess the Global Role and Local Impact of Multinational Companies.

Assess the global role and local impact of multinational companies. A multinational company is often defined as a corporation whose operations and investments are broaden across a number of countries. They are also referred to as transnational companies. Therefore given this definition it would be expected that if a company operates over such a large territory that it would indeed have many effects and impacts, locally and globally, and its role would also be quite significant as it can have a direct influence on an economy, the environment and general effects on society. However, changing the way they run things in order to accomidate society could break there business down and they could eventually have no impact on society so looking at the situation is they impacts worth the change? ‘Theory has evolved over the years regarding social concerns, society’s expectations and corporate responsibility. Indeed, early management and economic theorists viewed the corporation as having a strong fiduciary responsibility to shareholders, but stopped short of considering any real obligation to other stakeholder groups’ (Friedman 1962; Teece 1984) (Corporate social responsibility, Accountability and Governance; Istemi Demirag). This statement I think is very true, due to the fact that, as time continues people’s opinions of what is deemed socially responsible in both corporate and everyday society varies, as it is a sensitive topic that is very opinion based. Corporate social responsibility is when companies realise that their activities have economic, social and environmental influences. However, to put it simply it can be divided into two broad categories; one-off activities and larger issues of policy and strategy. One-off activities basically cover things such as charitable donations of money and time given to charities or community projects, all of which are at the discretion of the owners of the company. Larger issues of policy and strategy is where the company needs to have a much more devoted awareness to the firms moral, social, ethical and environmental acts within its operations. This requires the company to take a look at other external influences that directly affect the business, such as pressure groups. This could be seen as a type of contingency planning as it helps a firm avoid future conflicting interests with the outside world. Acting socially responsible brings many benefits to both the company and society, if the correct approach is used. So by a firm accepting social responsibility, everyday problems can be reduced such as unemployment and pollution. Therefore you would also see a vast improvement in the quality of life, as society would be factored into the day to day decision making process of the company. A business which includes this approach is most likely to see more of a tangible outcome, as they will probably benefit from increased financial performance from activities such as reduced operating costs from recycling instead of waste disposal. The company could also enhance its brand image from a good reputation and gain the ability to attract capital and trading, so will therefore see the benefits from increased sales and customer loyalty. However, this could also be a case for firms to not accept this responsibility, as they can suffer from lack of customer interest if they haven’t found the right approach for them. This is because various businesses see corporate responsibility being relatively constricting, as in some cases it has lead to products having a lack of sales, or makes the product less profitable. This is due to the fact that introducing some of these socially responsible policies into a firm is very costly, so this can lead to an increase priced products for the customers or a smaller profit margin on the product for the company. However, during the recent economic crisis companies are less likely now more than ever to not act socially responsible as they are more focused on profit and survival. On the other hand there could be a contrasting theory as corporate responsibility can just be used by a firm as a marketing ploy, as a company’s overall strategy is to make profit by responding to what their consumers want, so they may just use this method in order to maximise their product life cycle therefore increasing its revenue. Contradictions of corporate responsibility have been seen many times over the years within companies such as; ‘Barclays Bank CLAIM: We have the skills, resources and determination to make a positive and lasting contribution to the communities in which we operate. ’ (Barclays social review, 1999) ACTION: Barclays bank closed 172 branches in April 2000’ ‘Proctor & Gamble CLAIM: An employee should be able to answer â€Å"yes† to the questions: is this the right thing to do? With this action uphold p&g’s reputation as an ethical company? (Proctor & Gamble code of conduct) ACTION: Proctor & Gamble continues to trade in Burma, while other companies have pulled out because of the appalling record of the Burmese government on human rights. ’ ‘BAT (British American Tobacco) CLAIM: its corporate social responsibility report defines targets for reducing energy use, water consumption and waste products, and describes its commitment to enlightened employment practices. ACTION: it markets its tobacco products ruthlessly to young people – it was caught on television handing out packets of Benson & Hedges cigarettes to teenage volley ball players in the Gambia. ’ (All three examples used is from AQA AS Business studies, John Wolinski & Gwen Coates) Number of companies using corporate social responsibility reporting, 1994 – 2006 Source: EarthTrends, 2008 using data from UNPE, 2008 The chart above does in fact show that business are starting to realise the importance of corporate responsibility and meeting their customers’ needs by adapting to it. As the chart show continuous growth overall from 1994 to 2006 which does show the significance of the topic to society and the business world. Overall, positive externalities are created for society by companies that except corporate social responsibility as well as direct benefits to the firm. However, a lot of multinational companies are based in more of the westernised countries, so there main offices are seen as socially responsible some of which could be just due to the law in which it is governed by. Some of these companies may on the other hand have ‘back offices’ from outsourcing operations in counties such as China and India, where it is not ensured that these socially responsible factors are being kept, which is an increasing problem as more and more companies do it each year. Multinational companies also have to be aware of their global role in terms of business ethics. Business ethics can be defined as the entwining of ‘morals or a principle of what is right or wrong in human behaviour’ (business and society, Edmund Marshall) into a business’s activities. Every company starts with some kind of ethics whether intentional or portrayed by the owners or employees. These ethics are what help structure the way the business is run, even if they are not generally the right ones for society. However, all firms do have to have ethics which coincide with the law of which it is governed by. This does in fact make it trickier for multinational companies to obtain ethics which both abide by the laws of each country its company occupies, and have them be socially correct so that they are morally respected. Although, not doing so could have major effect on the businesses reputation, as multinational companies are more commonly known as they are generally larger. Therefore, it could result in heavy dents in their consumer base which would later affect the company’s revenue. Throughout recent years businesses have been forced to notice their participation and effects on the environment, mainly due to societies pressure to do so. However, responding to such pressures can give a firm many advantages such as, marketing opportunities, financial advantage and human resource opportunities. When a company is being ‘Environmentally friendly’ it portrays t its customers a very good reputation which is a very positive marketing tool. This can help achieve brand recognition more powerfully and even persuade a customer to choose them over a competitor. So could overall increase a business’s sales as well as give them stronger brand loyalty. This could even give a firm the opportunity to increase their products profit margins, so that the costs occurred from the change that would benefit the environment will be covered. However, although this change can have a beneficial effect on a company they do have to make vast changes on their operations so that it doesn’t have adverse effects on the environment. Such as, such as the use of raw materials and energy, many companies use finite resources like coal and oil as they are cheaper, but they will eventually run out and leave negative chemicals behind. So firms need to find more of a renewable energy resource that suits them. Another environmental impact that occurs often is the disposal of waste and by-products. Currently gases may be released into the atmosphere, liquids into rivers and solids into landfills all of which are extremely harmful to the environment. On the other hand, I do see that it is costly to find other ways of disposal so i think the company should focus more on changing the ways the waste is produced so that less is created. Also when obtaining environmental responsibility, a company needs to make a contingency plans, mainly so that negative externalities do not occur. By doing this if an environmental disaster occurs they can minimise risks and costs so that both the company and society will have less of an effect from t. However, if multinational companies are to take this seriously they are also to look at how their day to day operations effect the environment, such as using private jets instead of flying with normal airlines. They could also offer company cars that give out less carbon emissions. Therefore large companies like multinationals will most likely benefit from environmental audits. Overall, over recent years society has began to realise that all businesses have effects on the world locally and globally, even more for multinational companies. Although businesses already realised this, but have just began to take notice more increasingly due to the pressures of society and recent changes in the law. Every aspect of a business has a knock on effect and not just on the economy which some people is lead to believe. The ethics of how the company is run or the ethic they portray are being mirrored on to society. So for the general public to react is not that uncommon whether it is positive or negative. However, I do think that people should force a company to have corporate responsibility; so that they know their actions will not just be affecting society without any consequences. Finally, I think that multinational companies have one of the biggest influences on society as they are both global and local too many countries as they are transnational. Therefore they should respect the people of the community they are in and try there hardest to impact lives positively not negatively. . However, changing the way they run things in order to accommodate society could break their business down and they could eventually have no impact on society at all, so looking at the situation is they impacts worth the change? References Books Harvard Business school press, Harvard business review, business and the environment Edmund marshall, Business and society Hans, gunter, transnational industrial relations Istemi demirag, corporate social responsibility, accountability and governance, global perspectives Sally eden, environmental issues and business, implications of a changing agenda John wolinski & gwen coates, a2 business studies, aqa John wolinski & gwen coates, as business studies, aqa

Mid term Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mid term - Assignment Example The concept helps the countries reduce the time and money spent trading among the countries. Starbucks faced three major risks in the competitive market. The first was the saturated market condition in the USA. The company started with 17 coffee locations in Seattle and over 5000 outlets in more than 20 countries. Seattle has a population of over 9000 people, which the company considers as the upper limit of market saturation. The second risk is the loss of customers due to few product options. The risk of global expansion poses risks for Starbucks due to increased competition (Graham, Cateora and Gilly 300). Starbucks can reduce the employee destruction to improve the quality of service. Product repositioning will help Starbucks win back their lost customers. Since coffee is the primary product, Starbucks should focus on improving the quality of the product. Starbucks overall corporate strategy is facing challenges due to a mismatch between consumer expectation and company strategies. They believe that having more outlets increases the sales volume. Starbuck concentrates on increasing the number of outlets without analyzing consumer satisfaction levels. The company does not apply the use of price differentiation strategy making it difficult to attract the younger generation. Product and service reposition will aid Starbucks improve their profits in Japan. The Japanese people are less conscious with the price, and look for quality. Even though they hesitate to spend, they do so only for high quality products. The Japanese are cultural oriented hence the marketing strategies of Starbucks should relate to the cultural aspects to gain more audience (Graham, Cateora and Gilly

Organizational Analysis on Wal-Mart Research Paper

Organizational Analysis on Wal-Mart - Research Paper Example The prime intention of the organization of Wal-Mart is to offer best products at lowest price so as to make its customers happy and contended. It mainly targets the customers of modest incomes rates but desiring to live a better life. Due to which, the organization expanded its operation by opening numerous stores in different countries. Wal-Mart comprises of almost 11,000 stores in more than 27 countries that helped the organization to amplify its customer base and distinctiveness in the market among others (Wal-Mart, 2014). The organization of Wal-Mart always desires to offer best quality of products to its customers in order to amplify their reliability and uniqueness in the market among many other rival players. This is done, in order to save the revenue of its target customers that may amplify its brand image and reputation. Moreover, by offering the products at a competitive price, the organization of Wal-Mart desires to enhance their life style and living standard to a significant extent. By doing so, the level of dependency and switchover costs of the customers might get reduced thereby amplifying their profitability and productivity of the organization of Wal-Mart among others. However, in order to become the leader in the segment of retailing, the organization of Wal-Mart need to offer best products at an effective price. Only then, it might become successful in amplifying its dominance and position in the market among others. But in order to fulfill the mission statement of the organization in an effective way, the human resource management offer significant concentration over certain areas such as planning, staffing, human resource development, compensation, employee relations, safety, security and risk management. This means, in order to offer best products, the organization tries to satisfy all the needs and demands of its employees effectively such as presenting

On Golden Pond Film Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

On Golden Pond Film - Essay Example The chief protagonist’s roles are played by ace actor and actress – Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn. ‘On Golden Pond’ is based on an affectionate and loving couple who spend their twilight years with each other and the different experiences that come in the wake of their life. The film portrays the difficulties faced by this couple in old age and how despite these difficulties they maintain their dignity and respect right through the end of the film. The thing that makes the film all the more interesting is that the audience can easily relate to it and identify themselves in similar situations. The inherent sentiment in the film is greatly enhanced and reinforced through the visual metaphor of a beautiful sunset over the Golden Pond. The breathtaking beautiful natural scenery of New England highlights the concept of emotional sentiment between the elderly couple and how they interact towards each other in specific situations. ‘On the Golden Pondâ₠¬â„¢ is all about real – life relationships and personalities which is what makes it much easier for the audience to connect and relate to. The filmmaker draws from the extensively publicized problems that were faced by Henry Fonda with his son and daughter. However, the central theme of the film is all about how a college professor and his wife take the much deserved privilege of a holiday in this idyllic spot to explore â€Å"life’s inner meaning†. The main plot of the film involves contrasting male senility against female strength. Though the characters are vulnerable to their situation, yet they do not appear to be so, due to Rydell’s technique of using high angle and bird’s eye shots that helps to maintain the illusion of his characters. This technique helps the characters to integrate and adapt themselves well with their environment. Rydell’s female protagonist, Katherine is a very devoted wife who is quite a free- spirited and carefre e character who even goes singing in the woods and picking up firewood, strawberries and flowers for the home. As a female pillar of strength, she forces the audience to understand the reversal of gender roles and their consequences. On the other hand, the male protagonist Fonda is always seen bemoaning his uncertainty of life because he is faced with the fact of gradually losing his memory and the deterioration of his physical health. The conflict between the Fondas emerges quite early in the film as Henry’s mental health seems to be getting even worse. For example, he accuses the operator of having called them a classic ‘Exhibit A’ memory loss. He also looks at an old photograph of him and his wife with their child Chelsea and enquires who that child was. In Fonda, we could understand the serious consequences of retirement that manifests itself through unpleasant confrontation with his daughter and constant nagging which he uses as a recourse to be in control o f his status and situation which becomes more complex as he increases in age. He is unable to accept the reality of his situation and a feeling of uselessness creeps over him. These behaviors are exhibited by the character Norman due to aging according to his chronological age and also due to the fact he is unable to accept the fact of aging, retirement and other physical and mental disabilities that accompany it. On close observation of this character we come to understand that he is unable to come to terms with himself by accepting his infirmities and

MUNICIPAL CODE ELEMENTS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

MUNICIPAL CODE ELEMENTS - Essay Example This was appropriate to ensure that the project does not impact on both people either internal or external to the premises, or the environment negatively. To ensure the safety of both environment and the people living around this place, the developers have observed all legal requirements either set by the city council and environmental regulatory authority. This is especially for the directional board meant to help to identify the location of premises, offices and other utilities. Also, the proposed project will utilize the available area economically as a legal requirement. The additional materials like signboard do not contravene the regulations of municipality. They will be strategically placed to prevent them from causing any obstruction to other parties or pose any environmental risk. The planned project will ensure that all the ground area and the atmospheric height occupied by the project is within the limit of the city council. Therefore, the building to be established will n ot exceed the allowed height by the city council. Also, the width of the building, marquees and signboard will be within the required measurement. The signs and posters to be used will be attractive, well aligned and proportional to the size of the structure being built. The buildings will be properly labeled to avoid confusing the users and at the same time avoid obstructing other people. The necessity of the additional directional sign board is control the flow of traffic due to the movement in and out of the automobile display area. Since the regulations allows the utilization of sign not exceeding six inches for the area not exceeding six square meters, this project does not contravene the rules in any way. This is because the ground area they are intending to put under development is covering sixteen square meters. This gives a room for up to a maximum of sixteen inches in thickness of the proposed sign. The evidence support that the city council has granted permission to other developers to use signs with greater width than six inches before. The establishment of marquee is also necessary to give direction to the showroom since the other two marquees belongs to two different utilities. EXISTING CONDITIONS The proposed project does not interference with existing order in any way. This means that it will not lead to demolition of the existing structures. The existing facilities will remain in their current position even after establishment of the proposed one. This is in line with the legal requirements hence ensuring there should be no legal charges against the developer. To ensure that the installation of the new signs marquees does not alter the physical condition the building. Also, the new installations shall be matched with the existing premises by panting them with the same color and using the same material. This will improve avoid tempering with the quality of the building hence they will not become an eyesore to the people. The same construction s kills will be utilized to ensure that nothing contradicts the existing conditions. BACKGROUND ANALYSIS The establishment of the project is in accordance with the prevailing legal requirements about the utilization of the area for development. Signboard shall be within the business and is in proportion to the recommended measurement by the regulatory authority. Therefore, there will be no obstruction to any external or internal party whatsoever. The material used in the

When should we discard explanations that are intuitively appealing Essay

When should we discard explanations that are intuitively appealing - Essay Example Intuition is right in most of other times, though. The dilemma comes in knowing when to actually accept this reasoning based purely on feeling, otherwise called ‘guts’, or to just ignore it and go for the hard facts. Thus, there is a question whether we should discard explanations that are intuitively appealing or not. According to Gillman, in his book of luck, he speaks of intuition being in support of reason and without working against reason at all (20). In saying so, we can choose to retain explanations that are intuitively appealing. There have been cases where intuition has proved to be the friend of reason but still it falls short of what it actually is. Intuitive Attitudes and feelings: attitudes and feelings that are innate are able to create a quite reliable trend of behavior. They are able to forecast a way in which a person will behave at a later time in the future; the analyzed attitudes. However, when a person is asked to examine his/her attitudes before displaying them then this won’t foretell his/her ensuing behavior. They will consciously examine him/her ruling out the intuitive factor. Comprehending Personality Traits: Human beings do not fall short when it comes to social intelligence; instead, they have a tremendous amount of this. For instance, if people were shown short clips of teachers in a class, it is likely that their evaluations would be somewhat similar, based on their intuition, to those of the teacher’s actual students. Instantaneous appraisals of a person’s characters are, thus, usually proved true, therefore, making them as good as the long-term impressions. Intuition and being in touch with our own bodies: Intuition, being an emotional reaction, is usually an expression of what our bodies are experiencing or otherwise feeling. This makes them a firsthand expression of what is actually happening to us, quite believable. It is usually the mind which is in sync with the body by

The employment relationship is an exchange relationship between labour Essay

The employment relationship is an exchange relationship between labour and capital that tends to be unequal - Essay Example The employees possess an abiding interest to ensure the success and the viability of the firm while guarding against the excessive demands placed upon them. The three recognized characteristics of employment relationships are indeterminacy, unequal and dynamic. Indeterminacy focuses on the logic that a labour contract involves the exchange of money for the capacity to deliver the service required by the purchaser and not material goods and services. This implies that those employers wishing to secure the value of the purchased labour must ensure willingness on the part of the employees (Edwards 2003, p. 14). They force the employees strain to achieve the required standards even if they are not willing. The second aspect on employment relationships is that they are unequal. This is because many workers have no choice other than engaging in paid work; their choice for potential employers is limited. On the other hand, the employers have considerable resources that give them power to re place the unwilling employees with other workers or adoption of a more reliable technology. Although the employee influence varies overtime and between contexts, the overall employment relationship is characterized by subjugation of the employee to the employer. Finally, the employment relationship can be dynamic whereby it can be driven by both conflict and cooperation at different degrees. Many managerial strategies are characterized by deployment and management of workers to maximize production and generate surplus (Edwards 2003, pp. 16-17). Some of these challenges are minimized through the adoption of employment contract. An employment contract is a largely a relational and less formal. Relational contract is... The employment relationship is characterized by power imbalance, which is why the concept cannot materialize without the employment contract. In the labor contract, the worker trades his or her ability to accomplish an assigned task, which should be translated into actual labour in the course of undertaking it. Expectations on performance standards are portrayed during the production stage. The indeterminacy nature of employment relationships makes the employees to be coerced in most situations other than undertaking self motivated tasks and responsibilities. The unequal nature of employment relationships leaves the employees with no choice but to engage in obligations for payment; not willingness. The deterioration in the power imbalance in employment relationships is portrayed by the existence of trade and employer unions purposely formed to solve the inevitable disputes. This suggests that formal contracts are the only remedy through which fairness can be ensured in such relations hips.

Self-awareness and Career Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Self-awareness and Career Management - Essay Example The developments and changes in the job market is changing and the trend is expected to continue this way in the future for instance, need of a wider variety of job dealings, and communication with a wider base of people; broader abilities, greater desire and enthusiasm is required for a successful career development. The self awareness theory: this theory states that when people centre their concentration on themselves, they evaluate and make comparisons of their character and their internal values and standards. People hence become conscious of themselves as aim assessors of themselves (Boniwell 2006). Several emotional states are increased by the concept of self awareness and people may in some cases attempt to run away from this by watching television, taking drugs and/or playing games. I realize that some people get to align their behaviour with the standards and this may have a negative impact on them if they do not meet these standards. I believe that the self awareness will help me to discover my inner standards inspiration and energy to work hard and achieve my goals. The business environment today in experiencing very dynamic changes as companies are expanding, restructuring, merging, de-merging, making new acquisitions and getting globalize (Boniwell 2006). Other aspects of the government and private institutions have also been affected this factors. The job market is exciting and showing a lot of demands as well as competition. I will carry out frequent personal review since these presenting conditions make career development very complicated. I have learnt a lot of theoretical approach to dealing with these conditions from studying this course. The important techniques I have obtained have helped me a lot to develop self concept which means am more self aware and discovering my true inners self in terms of weaknesses and strengths (Boniwell 2006). Before undertaking this module I did not actually get to understand the direction I was to take, the specific career to choose or what to target in future for future developments. I only believed that I would luckily land on a job, get rich and be happy; by making me to think about what I like doing and what makes me happy in life, my inspiration, and my strengths, I feel like am in a better position to explore my potential and to know how to use it in the future developments (Inkson 2006) Knowledge is expressed as power and this is a precise when referring to some people. This also applies to the way we understand ourselves. Psychologists have referred to this as a paradox. The first paradox is the imagination that people have. This can be enlightened by analysing them as they have no boundaries. When a person is imagining, he/she can do anything in his/her thoughts including flying, climbing to the highest mountain and win very great event (Boniwell 2006) However the reality is different and people's lives are restricted by boundaries like the law, inability, beliefs among others. The second paradox is the human spirit, this is the source of inspiration to most f the human activities, motivation and the reason people can overcome their frailties (Brown & Hesketh 2004). I have discovered that the human spirit is very important in realizing self awareness as it provides us with the desire

The Stele of Hammurabi Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Stele of Hammurabi - Essay Example It is evident from the study that the Stele of Hammurabi made by the Babylonians is comparable to a constitution, which acts as supreme document that states how a country is governed. As a constitution is printed and copies handed to the public to familiarize with the provisions therein, he made the sculpture and set it at a public place so that everyone could see. This means that if you go against the law, then it is out of ignorance, and therefore deserves punishment. The engravers did not anticipate the artistic value of the sculpture content, their minds were fixated on the functional aspect of the writings therein, Stele analysis ended on the content of the law stated. It was not set in the open as a statue or symbol representing individuals or objects, but was placed openly so the public can read it and internalize the laws. In the excerpt from The Philosophy of Art History by Arnold Hauser, the window is given two values; first, it is an opening that connects the person inside an enclosure to the outside environment. Others people will look at it and appreciate the artistic value it expresses, from the pane design, types of glasses used, and quality of work employed in the frame. Artwork then acts as an intermediary between persons and experiences, which differ in kind and intensity. The transparent window acts as an opening to the rest of the world, artists can then continue staring at windows when appreciating its designs, but their true function remains giving an outside view. Babylonians used the Stele of Hammurabi as a template for engraving judgements, in the present time; a constitution is typed in a computer and printed. They then use different designs of paper and ink to give it the official look. The sculpture was not appreciated artistically, they could not notice the fine Hammurabi carvings, and the well arranged engraved law statements. The context of Stele of Hammurabi The setting in time was 18th Century BC, during King Hammurabi’s 42 year rule of Babylon. Soon after getting into power, he consolidated his army and took them to battle with neighbouring rival forces. He stretched Babylonian borders from Tigris, to Persian Gulf in the south. He was also credited with introducing order to commercial transactions for example, law of contracts which protected the rights of both parties when they enter into a contract of any form. The Code of Hammurabi was

Examples of Target Market Essay Example for Free

Examples of Target Market Essay According to Adventure Travel in Canada in 1993, 45% of adventure travelers in Manitoba were couples, while the second largest segment was friends with 29. 3%. Solo travelers, families, and businesses made up 15. 1%, 11. 4%, and 4. 7% respectively. The typical adventure traveler was predominantly male (54. 4%) between 19-34 years of age, with 30. 2% of customers traveling with friends or leisure groups. Climb Kenora Co. feels that the industry will continue to grow because rock climbing has entered the mainstream of activity. It is no longer looked at as an activity for the elite. With the opening of indoor climbing facilities, anyone can climb. Climb Kenora Co. feels that business can be gained from the people that have climbed indoors and want to try climbing on real rock. People would choose to climb, so that they can experience something new. In 1993, rock climbing operations accounted for over 12,988 traveler days. Roughly 22% of travelers had previously chosen the same firm. The customer wants to have a good time, at a good price. The main target market for Climb Kenora Co. is male and female persons who are between the age of 18 and 50, traveling with spouse, family and/or friends. In the Winnipeg area alone, there are 139,487 males and 141,265 females in the target market age group. The second group of people that Climb Kenora Co. will target is overworked executives and people in managerial positions who need to get away from their jobs. Large companies that want to build up team spirit through a weekend of fun will also be targeted. In Manitoba, there are about 23,307 males and 13,320 females in executive or managerial positions according to FP Markets Canadian Demographics. There are two levels of ability that make up the target market for Climb Kenora Co. hese fall under the categories of novice and intermediate. Novice climbers would consist of people who have not climbed before or have very little experience. This group of people are looking to try something new and have a good time. Intermediate climbers would consist of people who have climbed before but do not have the proper knowledge, skill, or gear to go out on their own. This group is looking to do more climbing than those in the novice category. Geographically Climb Kenora Co. will focus on Manitoba, which is generally flat, and offers little in the way of outdoor climbing options. Target Market  Your Mix plans to service the consumer market of music fans in North Kildonan, East Kildonan, Transcona, and East St. Paul. According to The Herald, this area has 39,222 residents. Your Mix’s possible market is not limited to a certain nationality, sex, or marital status. The ideal customers are not music fanatics, but are busy individuals with a part time interest in music. Anyone who owns a personal CD player (eg. Sony Discman) or car CD player is also a target for Your Mix. This group is in great need of a service that combines only well liked songs onto one CD because of its convenience. Anyone driving home from work shouldn’t be bothered with searching through piles of CD’s to find their favorite songs. Not only is it a nuisance, but it is dangerous by diverting attention from the road. Theft is also a problem with CD’s. An automobile with one Your Mix CD is less likely to get broken into than one with five or ten CD’s scattered around its interior. By using Your Mix, the amount of CD’s to search through, the large number of CD’s lying around the car, and the hassle of many CD’s with only a few good songs is reduced. At seasonal times of the year, such as Valentines Day and Christmas, couples will also be targeted. A personalized CD of special and meaningful songs a couple has shared is a unique and original gift for spouses, girlfriends, and boyfriends. There are different music interest levels for the possible customers of Your Mix. Music listeners can be classified into three categories: Novice, Average, and Extreme. Novice listeners are primarily song oriented rather than artist dependent. This means that who and what they listen to is dictated by radio and television air play. This group makes up the majority of music listeners because of the easy accessibility and popularity of the radio, and they tend to fall between the ages of 12 – 35. Since the radio promotes songs that are released as â€Å"singles†, which are usually the best or only good songs on an album, radio listeners are more likely to buy CD’s on an impulse and desire to sell that CD when they realize the rest of it isn’t as good. In an effort to gain listeners, radio stations push popular songs into heavy rotation until they become unpopular which ensures that favorites and #1 songs become old faster. This decreases the time it will take for this group to tire of the music. Therefore, the novice listeners who are most susceptible to radio fluctuations in airplay and buy many CD’s impulsively without hearing the entire CD first, are most likely to desire a service that puts only the songs they choose onto one CD. Average listeners have distinct favorite artists, which they follow religiously. They are also interested in other music but are only partially influenced by current trends while remaining faithful and spending the majority of their money on their favorite artist(s). This includes owning all available CD’s and merchandise from that artist. The majority of these listeners tend to be slightly older from age 28 – 70, with the age group being dictated by older bands who have put out more albums. Average listeners are interested in bands that have proved themselves over a number of years, and don’t have just one album or hit song. They would benefit from a service like Your Mix, because it allows them to customize the songs they love by their favorite artist, in as many combinations as they desire. This could include combining songs from their favorite live album, the new album, as well as the first album, to make the perfect mix by they favorite artist. Extreme listeners are major collectors who concentrate their money on rare CD’s, collectables and merchandise and are generally between the ages of 25 – 45. They are sound quality oriented and most likely out of the three groups to have their own CD duplicating equipment. This group constitutes the smallest percentage of the market and will not be as heavily targeted by Your Mix. The group most distinctly targeted by Your Mix will be Novice listeners between the ages of 30 – 45. This ideal age group has the money to spend, knows what kind of music they like, and are less susceptible to media influence than younger groups of Novice listener. They are more likely to keep 2 songs by an artist that they like, rather than being concerned with the image that comes with owning that artists work. They also are part of the â€Å"9 – 5† working sector who are concerned with the time it may take to cycle through a pile of CD’s for only a few good songs. Of the people surveyed by Your Mix, 62% of people noted only 1 or 2 goods songs per CD as the biggest problem with CD’s today and 77% said they would use this service (see Appendix D – Survey Summary).

Haematopoiesis Located In Bone Marrow Section Biology Essay

Haematopoiesis Located In Bone Marrow Section Biology Essay Haemopoiesis also known as haematopoiesis located in bone marrow section of an adults and lymphatic tissue is the process of production of blood cells and platelets which continues throughout life, replacing aged cells which are removed from the circulation by which immature precursor cells expand to mature blood cells. This process thesis and how it works is known as monophyletic theory. The cellular blood components are precursor to haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) that forms blood cells and immune cells. Blood cells (BC) are significant in maintenance of immune system in all types of cells in the body which prompt the BC to constantly maintain self renewal. Haemapoiesis stem cells therefore can proliferate, differentiate and even undergo cell death called apoptosis in various types of specialized cells in the body. The morphology and growth of BC sometimes occurs outside the bone marrow cells called extramedullary haemopoiesis. This is abnormal condition associated with Myelofibrosis caused by disorder in the bone marrow due to abnormal stem cell results or replacement by collagenous connective tissues. The sources of HSC are bone marrow, peripheral blood, umbilical cord blood, Foetal Hematopoietic, Embryonic Stem Cells and Embryonic Germ Cells. The vascular compartment of bone marrow is used to supplied nutrient artery and open into sinuses. The sinus carries the blood from the bone marrow to the body. HSCs have two kinds and include long term stem cells which incorporate transplantation of a new marrow cells to lethally cancerous patients and restore its haemopoietic system for longer periods and short term progenitor which are unable to renew themselves for longer period but immediately regenerate all types of blood cells. The success of been able to inject healthy cells from compatible donor to patients receiving chemotherapy successfully and recipient recover by regaining full functioning healthy blood cells is deemed to have completed stem cells. Large amount of new blood cells are constantly been produced in the blood circulation ensuring steady flow in the peripheral circulation. This type of stem cells is known as pluripotential stem cell (PSC). Pluripotent stem cell however differentiates into other stem cells known as unipotential stem cells: erythropoiesis, monocytes, granulopoiesis, thrombopoiesis and lymphopoiesis are specially multiplied into precursor specifically to individual mature blood cells. Erythropoiesis is the process used to describe red blood cells (erythrocytes) formation exclusively in the red bone marrow involving matured nucleated precursor into erythrocytes. The yellow bone marrow initially composed of fats and subsequently changed to red bone marrow from greater affinity of red blood cells needs. Haemocytoblasts is the precursor of erythrocytes lasting for few days and involved around four mitotic divisions of cells given rise to 8 to 16 more cells. The kidney initiates RBC production in mature cell by responding to lack of oxygen in the blood and secret special hormone called erythropoietin. This hormone is then transferred to red bone marrow and begins production of red blood cell. The RBC fills up the blood capillaries for distribution in the body. After few days the RBC is strong enough to serve oxygen to the body and consequently subsided after few months and loses its affinity to continue oxygen distribution and rupture. The ruptured RBC is then taken up by the spleen for recycled to form new RBC. Monocytes is a type of white blood cells that mature to much larger cells called macrophages and plays major role in immune system of the body that destroy dead cells or tissues damaged and cancer cells. Produced in the bone marrow and develop from nucleated precursors, the monoblast and promonocyte and then goes through the bloodstream for circulation to the spleen, lymph nodes, liver,bone marrow and lungs. Mature cells in monocytes life span is around 3-8 hours with full antigenic stimulation of T and B lymphocytes. Thrombopoiesis is a Platelets formed in the cytoplasm cell called megakaryocyte inside bone marrow with maturity within 10 days from much larger stem cells, megakaryoblast . The platelets formation penetrates into the blood vessels to prevent bleeding, assist clots formation to prevent bleeding and repair damages to blood vessels. Macrophages eventually destroy the platelets in the spleen and liver. Granulopoiesis are formed in the red bone marrow (RBM) called granulocytes and subdivided into three types of white blood cells (WBC); eosinophils, neutrophils and basophils and are grouped in the same stem cells called myeloblast. Granulocytes are produced by the continuous lobulation and condensation of the nucleus, loss of RNA cytoplasmic granules development. A developed cell goes through sinus endothelium where half of the granulocytes circulate to the internal surface of blood vessels and the other half circulates in the blood vessels for exchange. Half of the granulocytes eventually disperse from the circulation in response to requirement in the tissues. Lymphopoieses are precursor to lymphoblasts and prolymphocytes produced in bone marrow. Immature cells are transferred to the lymphoid tissues and thymus, with further division with similar antigens to T cells, B cells and NK cells. They mediate composite and immune effectors. Blood cells (BC) are significant in maintenance of immune system in all types of cells in the body which prompt the BC to constantly maintain self renewal. Haemapoiesis stem cells therefore can proliferate, differentiate and even undergo cell death called apoptosis in various types of specialized cells in the body. The morphology and growth of BC sometimes occurs outside the bone marrow cells called extramedullary haemopoiesis. This is abnormal condition associated with Myelofibrosis caused by disorder in the bone marrow due to abnormal stem cell results or replacement by collagenous connective tissues. The sources of HSC are bone marrow, peripheral blood, umbilical cord blood, Foetal Hematopoietic, Embryonic Stem Cells and Embryonic Germ Cells. The vascular compartment of bone marrow is used to supplied nutrient artery and open into sinuses. The sinus carries the blood from the bone marrow to the body. HSCs have two kinds and include long term stem cells which incorporate transplantation of a new marrow cells to lethally cancerous patients and restore its haemopoietic system for longer periods and short term progenitor which are unable to renew themselves for longer period but immediately regenerate all types of blood cells. The success of been able to inject healthy cells from compatible donor to patients receiving chemotherapy successfully and recipient recover by regaining full functioning healthy blood cells is deemed to have completed stem cells. Leukemia and Lymphoma are some of the cancer of the blood associated with treatment by HSCs. The process relates to the patients defective white blood cells causes by cancer having been destroyed using chemotherapy and replaced with bone marrow transplant matched with donor. Donor are usually from patients family with similar leukocytes antigens. Cancer of the blood are acute or chronic myeloblastics leukemia, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkins lymphoma and Hodgkins diseases. Name the systems used to classify acute lymphoblastic leukaemia(ALL) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). (word limit: 20 words) (2 MARKS) French-American-British (FAB) classification and the World Health Organization (WHO) classifications are two subtypes used in classification of AML and ALL. Define leucocytosis and thrombocytopenia. (word limit: 75 words)(5 MARKS) Leucocytes is a conditions of an abnormal increase of white cells in the blood due to infections. Total white blood cells is approximately 4400 to 11,000 cells/microL. Excess to the value of 50,000/microL, attributed to leukemia is called leukemoid reaction. Thrombocytopenia is a condition where there is abnormal decrease in platelets counts, rendering inability for clot formation resulting in excessive bleeding. Causes can be due to low platelets in bone marrow, intravascular and extravascular. Define leukaemia and state the four main divisions of the disease. (word limit: 70 words) (10 MARKS) Leukaemia is a malignant (cancer) of the bone marrow characterized by uninhibited proliferation of abnormal white blood cells. Symptoms include enlargement of liver, lymph nodes and spleen, anaemia, blood clotting retardation. Four major types of leukaemia are; Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) classified as Lymphocytic or lymphoblastic, Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) classified as Myelogenous leukemia State the typical manifestation of someone presenting with acute leukaemia including the blood film morphology. (word limit: 200 words) (5 MARKS) Most common symptons includes abnormal bruising and bleeding (thrombocytopaenia), anemia, bleeding gums or irregularity in menstrual period and infections. Anaemia and hypermetabolic state are attributed to fatigue, malaise, weight loss, chest pain and tachycardia. Granulocytopenia can progressively lead to potential life threatening bacterial infections. Developing infection frequently in eyes, nose and mouth known as neutropaenia, trace of blood in urine, fine rash dark red spots called purpura. Sign of fever, abnormal heamostasis are mostly common. Patients may sometimes shows lesion in soft tissues, spina dura and cranial representing tumour of leukaemia cells called granulocytic sarcoma or chroma. Periosteal infiltration and bone marrow may initiate joint pain (Arthralgia) in children with ALL. Meningitis causing vomiting, seizure, papilledema and headache is rare. Blood film morphology diagnosis of AML shows presence of more than 20% myeloblasts in blood cell. Cells appear to be smudge with decrease in thrombocytes. Elevated count of leucocytes 135.3 x 109 /L and thrombocytopenia of 26 x 109 /L indicates signs of acute leukaemia. In AML, Auer rods appear smaller in size, absent of granules, lower RBC counts and appear smaller in morphology. Also ALL contains no granules State the typical manifestation of someone with chronic leukaemia including the blood film morphology. (word limit: 200 words) (5 MARKS) (word limit: 230 words) (15 MARKS) Chronic leukaemia from mature cells is a slow progressive symptom that goes unnoticed for months. Disease is normally notice during normal routine blood test. Immediate treatment is not imminent and may involve chemotherapy treatment in tablet from. Two types of chronic leukaemia: Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), cancer of the myeloid cells, and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), cancer of the lymphocytes. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is the most common type characterised by an increased number of lymphocytes (WBC). The lymphocytes are unable to perform normal process of responding to infections by producing antibodies needed to destroy bacteria. Symptoms may be tiredness (anaemia) due to lack of RBC, continuous infections due to WBCs healthy shortages in fighting infections, abnormal lymphocytes in lymph glands causing swelling in neck and arm pits or groin, also swelling in spleen, Low platelets in blood leading to bruising or bleeding without injury, weight loss, fevers and night sweat. Test in blood film morphology indicates nuclei appearance is rounded and condensed chromatin. High level of beta-2-macroglobulin protein in the blood indicates advance CLL. Appearance and large amount of lymphocytosis in the blood more than 10,000 lymphocytes/mm ³ of blood shows presence of the disease. Patient with CLL often have low red blood cells and blood platelets in the body. Explain the following techniques and give one example for each, of application in the diagnosis or monitoring of leukaemia: (word limit: 230) (15 marks). Cytochemistry Is the staining methods use to study, identify and localization of various chemical compounds within living cells and activities of acute leukaemia. The most simplify cytochemistry method of diagnosing leukaemia is Myeloperoxidase (MPO) staining which can be completed within minutes. Its main function is to differentiate AML and ALL. Lysosomal enzyme stored azurophilic granules of neutrophils and monocytes. Used in basophils and eosinophils demonstration. A heme pigmentation react to its green colour secretion found in neutrophils. Immunophenotyping Immunophenotyping is use to analyze heterogeneous populations of cells based on the antigens phenotype according to their resemblance of interest. Example is leukocytes from peripheral blood extract from lymph nodes, leukaemia and lymphoma specific to differentiate cancer cells to normal of immune system. Immunophenotyping is used on a daily basis by pathologist from normal biopsies to bone marrow biopsies from various patients. Method mostly used to analyze and sort T-lymphocytes into subsets based on CD antigens is flow cytometry techniques. Samples of cells are analyzed in a multi-well plate with aid of fluorescence or scatter laser light to sort out population by immunophenotypic markers type. Cytogenetics The branch of genetics specialized in the studies of relationships between the structure of cell division and chromosomes relating to variation in phenotype and genotype. Test are carried out in blood samples and bone marrow from leukaemia patients to analyse abnormalities in chromosomal link with certain disease. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) is one of the methods use in routine analysis of cytogenetic band, molecular cytogenetic and G-Banded chromosomes in leukemia against normal chromosome. What is the Philadelphia chromosome? Give an example of where this is commonly found. (word limit: 120 words) (5 MARKS) Philadelphia chromosome (PH) or Philadelphia translocation is a specific chromosomal abnormality that causes chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). It is an abnormally chromosome 22 involved in an exchange with chromosome 9 which occur at the site of single bone marrow cell and can also be located in form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The clonal process expands to the leukaemia and was the first major mutant cell found in malignancy which led to the CML cells combination of BCR-ABL gene protein. These genes belong to chromosome 22 and 9 respectively. The activities of both PH chromosome fused together causing uncontrolled malignant in the cell is a strong indication of pathogenic disease. The drug mesylate (Gleevec) was introduced through understanding of this mechanism to aid in cancer treatment. State the difference between stem cell and bone marrow transplants. (word limit: 100 words) (4 MARKS) Stem cell transplantation is a method where the stem cells are obtained from the peripheral blood using aphaeresis method. Aphaeresis assists in stem cells filtrations and avoids unwanted blood. When stem cells are obtained from the outpatient donor from the blood stream, they are less invasive and patient can recover very quickly at home. Stem cell harvested from the bone marrow using fine needle inseted into the hip joint however required critical method from in patient to be hospitalized and put under general aneshesia for continue monitoring. Stem cells collected from the bone marrow are much richer in stems compare with stem collected from the peripheral blood. State the difference between autologous and allogenic transplants. (word limit: 50 words) (4 MARKS) Difference between an autologous transplant is when patients own blood forming cell are collected for use in transplataion later, while an allogenic transplant relies on cells collected from volunteers bone marrow. The donors tissue type must be compatible to the recipient to avoid miss match.

Case Study Writing A Personal Statement Personal Development Essay

Case Study Writing A Personal Statement Personal Development Essay Why I want to follow this course. (Try not to be too woolly or make motherhood and apple pie statements) Why I chose my HL subjects This must be linked very strongly to the choice of course you intend to follow What my SL choices -either contribute to my chosen course -or contribute to a more rounded education. What is my extended essay about? Why did I choose this topic? (CAREFUL: use only if it enhances your application in some way) Positions of responsibility held. Outside interests, hobbies, CAS activities undertaken, memberships of clubs, etc., or any other activities you are involved in. Any qualifications obtained (e.g. Certificates for music.) (These should either enhance your course choice , or show a broad range of interests, or both) Conclusion This should in some way refer back to your introduction, and look forward as well. What do you see yourself doing in 5 to 10 years time? And how do you think your course choice will enhance the opportunities available to you? Look at how the sample statements provided achieve this aim Qualities an Admissions Tutor looks for in prospective Undergraduate students: GCSE results. Interest from pupil Known ability to show commitment and motivation Technical ability in subject Evidence of general intellectual / subject specific curiosity and passion Evidence of being able to be an independent learner Intellectual flexibility and suppleness A good match between the candidate and the course applied for Willingness and ability to argue lucidly Strength of character, self-discipline, maturity, perseverance, stamina Interest vigorously pursued beyond the syllabus LAW: A career in Law would give me the opportunity to pursue an intellectually challenging field of study which holds utmost importance to upholding the core values of our current society. I believe that law will provide me with a continuous and stimulating learning experience due to its progressive, ever evolving nature in the context of globalization. The appreciation of other cultures and society will assist me immensely in the study of law. As an international student having lived in many countries before and currently pursuing the International Baccalaureate; accepting different cultures and their perspectives has become a day to day way of life. I have been inspired to believe that I am an international citizen with a unique cultural identity. Studying the Theory of Knowledge has helped me gain greater awareness of our world and to conduct rational and logical approaches to complex questions and their uncertainties. Additionally, in History, analyzing a variety of biased sources and striving to substantiate points with historiography, I believe would help me in the study of law. My passion for History in reading into the significance of past events and its effect on society will be further supported by my participation in the Model United Nations.Recently, I was pleased to accept the vote of most Diplomatic delegate, achieving my goal to develop my skills in public speaking and debate. I was challenged with the issue of international property rights, passionately arguing and often siding for countries whose views differ from my own. My participation in the Global Young Leaders Conference in America and seeing first hand the significance of Washington and New Yorks worldwide economic importance was truly inspiring. I was challenged to engage in passionate discussions on matters such as human rights, and the justification of current wars directly affecting politics. This experience has inspired me greatly and consolidated my interest in global affairs, giving me the opportunity to hone diplomatic skills through thought-provoking simulations. Representing the student population in formal functions, my role as Student Delegate has allowed me to take on leadership qualities, encouraging maturity and I believe that now I am more confident and self assured, because of the obligation to set a positive example to other students. I have undertaken community services which have shown me firsthand the social challenges in Bangkok. Looking into the pleading eyes of homeless children selling religious garlands has made me realize the discrepancy between the poor and the rich making me determined to try and make a difference with the skills acquired in the study of Law. I teach English to Thai students on a voluntary basis. Through these rewarding experiences, Ive learned that language barriers can be overcome by non-verbal communication and that human connections can still be achieved. Striving to improve my ability in piano, a hobby which I have pursued since young, I am determined to complete my Grade 7 exam. Another activity I have highly enjoyed and persevered is undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh Award. I am a highly self-motivated student and I have taken the initiative to research into law cases such as the Donahue vs. Stevenson case concerning torts law in practise and a corporate litigation concerning business conflicts such as an accusation of forgery and fraud. The juxtaposition of the ethical boundaries and corporate legality shows me how complex the judicial system is- further inspiring me to study and explore more. A vacation internship in a law firm will help me to understand and gain deeper knowledge on the daily workings of Law. My choice to study Law in the UK is because of my international lifestyle as the well-established British law system can be adapted allowing me to practise even in my home country Malaysia. I hope that my passionate desire to study law will convince you to accept me into your University. BUSINESS: The book Rich Dad, Poor Dad written by personal-finance author Robert T. Kiyosaki and Sharon L. Lechter was the initial stimulus that led me to discover the realm of business management and finance. Additionally, it ignited my ambition to become a successful investor. Having had a long term influence from members within my family who are associated with finance and investment careers, I confidently believe that Im more sensitive in the business field as well as being more critical minded and analytical towards current business affairs. I also understand that these qualities are considered to be essential for a substantial investor, who should possess additionally a considerable amount of determination. I am armed with these qualities; moreover, Business Studies and Mathematics have always been my academic strengths which would allow me to enjoy the course. The economic collapse in 1997 in the Republic of Korea caused numerous prominent companies to suffer cash flow crisis. It was the first time I had the opportunity to witness a major economical and political transformation first hand. This has made me recognize the importance of business management and the commitment it requires to comprehend the basic management principles. These principles such as investment, management, marketing, human resource management, asset management, and organizations are the foundation for creating a good business. On the other hand, I sincerely believe that by studying finance, it will benefit my family businesses and furthermore my ability would then profit society by helping those people who needs support, which is one of my objectives that I wish to fulfill later on in my life. Studying in an international school has enabled me to socialize and mix with students from different cultures. I am also an active person participating in many extra-curricular activities. One large project involved being in the Royal Barge. This involves traditional Thai dancing to show respect to different cultures and additionally celebrated the 60th birthday of the Royal King of Thailand in front of more than two thousand people.. I am currently running an activity myself which invites my peers within Year 13 to experience a different culture via traditional food. The activity is solely managed by me and this has developed my proactive, leadership, organization, and recruitment skills. Im also involved in charity activity; for instance, I joined the 4Kali going to Khao Lak in Phuket where I visited schools to support them rebuild damage from the Tsunami. I helped to organize various activities and programs for the schools and the children. This charity activity was a big stimulus that enhanced my interest to help people who need support for the better future of the world. Living in Bangkok for 5 years of my life, I can speak Korean, English, Mandarin and Thai, which will be invaluable in helping me operate successfully in todays globalized society. Having lived overseas for my whole secondary school life has expanded my appreciation of different cultures, especially as I had the chance to interact with people from a variety of backgrounds in International Schools. Learning TOK as a part of my IB course has enabled me to be very open minded never limiting my views in many different matters to just one perspective. Because of the insight and background which a British education can provide me with, choosing the UK to further my education was a certain and easy decision. I aim to study MBA after my Bachelors Degree to extend my knowledge and study finance to a higher level.

Post Emancipation of Slaves Essay -- American History

After the emancipation of slaves, many things changed throughout the south. The slaves had the title of freed people, but these freed people didn't have the same rights and privileges as their white counterparts. Even though the freed slaves were suppose to be able to live an equal life with the whites, the whites still found ways to keep the African-Americans from being equal with them on all levels. The whites imposed all kinds of hidden rules towards the blacks and the consequence of breaking those laws was death. The whites did not want the ex slaves to be equal and even after the white men's mistress failed at assuming the jobs of their ex slaves, the slave masters still didn't give blacks credit for being able to do the work that they did. Things did not get better until after the civil rights movement and even then, things are as great as they should be. Things before the civil rights movement, from the beginning of slavery to the civil rights movement was the worst that it co uld get and even now there is only a little sign of improvement, but the fact that people in the world who still wants to see racial equality show that the fight for equality isn't over and it won't be until the goal at hand is successful. After the emancipation of slaves, the wives had to take over the role that the former slaves once did. The wives had to cook, sweep, wash the clothes, feed the animals, milk the cows, take care of the children, and clean. The wives of these former slave owners had to assume the jobs that the freed slaves abandoned and they also had to do the things that they normally did when the slaves were there. At first they were upset because they knew that once their slaves left, they would have to fulfill the duties ... ... place. When the blacks moved to the city they faced hatred and they got harassed by the whites and the current black residents. The newly blacks that moved to the city not only faced hatred and harassment, but also city officials made things much harder for blacks to be able to move into the cities. In conclusion, the black have faced many problems after the emancipation of slaves. Even though things did not get better for the freed blacks until the civil rights movement, things still were better then being someone's slave. The emancipation of the slaves not only affected the blacks but also the whites. The whites were affected because now they had to do all their work themselves and they had to face the fact that the blacks were suppose to be equal with them, which is why they tried their best to keep the black people down socially, politically, and economically.

Stamp Act :: essays research papers

The Stamp Act   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Stamp Act was an important act introduced by the British prime minister George Grenville and it was passed in March 1765 by the British Parliament. It’s purpose was to raise money for the British army stationed in the American colonies. The Stamp Act required tax stamps for public documents such as, newspapers, legal documents, customs documents, licenses, playing cards, deeds, and almanacs. Since Britain was left with a large national debt from the Seven Years’ War, the British government felt that since the colonies benefited that they should contribute to the expenses. The American colonies acted strongly against this matter.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the Summer of 1765, there were many protests in the colonies. These protests involved everyone from civic leaders to street mobs. In many cities and towns the slogan became â€Å"no taxation without representation.† The Sons of Liberty were a secret organization that often organized these protests. Many acts of violence and a lot of pressure was centered towards the Stamp Agents. By fall almost all stamp agents resigned.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Virginia Assembly declared that the Stamp Act was unjust and illegal. The assembly passed resolutions against taxation’s by the British Parliament. The Massachusetts House of Representatives invited all of the colonies to send delegates to a general congress. The colonies that accepted the invitation and sent delegates to the general congress were New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Delaware, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Massachusetts.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In October of 1765 in New York City a Stamp Act Congress was held. It represented nine colonies. The Stamp Act Congress declared that stamp taxes could not be collected without the people’s consent and that the colonists’ right to be taxed was only by their own elected representatives. Merchants agreed not to import British goods until the law was repealed. That lead to the British Parliament being bombarded

Valentine’s Day

With Valentine's Day approaching, I plan some cheer in the lives of college students. I prepare hundreds of love poems by the famous and the infamous on slips of paper to be tossed in a basket and passed around the classroom. And we share poems in April during National Poetry Month. Last December when we read â€Å"A Christmas Memory† by Truman Capote, I noted that not one student in class had ever tasted fruitcake. I made some and brought it in for a taste test (ingredient list on BB to avoid any allergies). My students always know the homework and what is expected, but I like to bring in the unexpected. They know that for me â€Å"education should be fun BUT education is never a joke.† I grew up in dreadful Appalachian poverty, the only one in a large extended family to attend college. My students know the story. If a person works hard, most of life works out and brings rewards. I demand that they work hard. I have been teaching for almost 40 years. I am not shy about calling a student into my office and using the â€Å"metaphorical stick† to say: you are brilliant. Why are you so casual about your studies? I receive emails or letters from students to let me know how life worked out for them. One of the young men whom I had reprimanded in my office for taking his studies too frivolously sent a note that he had just received his PH D and had accepted a position as a Superintendent of Schools in Connecticut. I have served on every committee and volunteer to mentor young faculty. I understand that at my age, they must say: she is still excited to enter the classroom after all these years. What is the secret? I have presented at both national and international conferences. About five years ago I began to question the value of our curriculum in developmental education. That led to much research, a chance meeting with Peter Adams of Community College of Baltimore who became my mentor. I knew that our administration and Trustees would not consider class sizes of eight (Peter's recommendation and practice) so I devised a triad system. Two classes of ENGL 101 (nine developmental students nestled into the 20 in each section). The two nines join later in the support class of eighteen. We have had phenomenal results in both retention and graduation. When the need arose recently for an Honors program, I stepped up to get that curriculum going. Students stop by my office to chat or to ask that I listen. When a student enters, I place everything aside and am â€Å"in that moment.† I have been voted Faculty of the Year twice by students and was presented with the Lindback Teaching Excellence Award. I look forward to every day with my students and with my colleagues in the community college.