Cultural Food Comparison Research Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Cultural Food Comparison Research Paper - Essay Example Though, even before, the early people could have been obtaining eggs from nests for their consumption. In China and India – by around 7000 BC – people had already started to keep chickens so they could obtain eggs conveniently and did not have to climb up to nests. Since eggs contain a high amount of proteins, they made up excellent sources of nutrition for humans throughout. As humans started farming chickens and other fowl birds, they realized that there were particular seasons when the fowls laid more eggs. This season coincided with spring where the sunlight was sufficient for the foul birds to produce eggs. While many cultures viewed egg as a source of food, many cultures did not view it as so. The Mossi from Africa is one example of people who consider eating eggs as equivalent to stealing. This notion has a rather economic one where eating an egg was just like stealing a chicken that was to be grown out of the egg. Having poultry spread out at large areas in Africa, children are generally discouraged from eating eggs that could, in the future, breed a potential property for the village community (Toussaint-Samat 2009, p. 323). In other parts of the world, such as ancient Rome and China, eggs have been regarded as vital food sources. In ancient Rome, peafowl eggs were eaten and with the invention of pottery and fire, the people also started boiling eggs (Kiple and Ornelas 2000, p. 499). The ancient Romans also consumed boiled eggs. The Chinese, on the other hand, had their own method of consuming and preserving eggs by fermenting them. The Chinese were particularly fond of the pigeon eggs (Kiple and Ornelas 2000, p. 499). This could help the egg to keep from rotting even after weeks. The discovery of egg as a nutritious and healthy food source developed its own innovations throughout time as it started first from being eaten raw to being boiled and then being eaten along with...

Fast food vs home food Essay Example for Free

Fast food vs home food Essay This generation has many people of all ages which are becoming more obese simply because they are eating more fast food than home food. Restaurants and many other fast food places have foods that contain high in fat, sugar, and salt. Having a healthy regular diet at home will keep you away from many health problems. Also having fast food only on special occasions is fine as well. We all need food to survive, but we should learn to make wise decisions in what we eat for the sake of our health. In today’s society people are making it into a habit of getting their hands on fast foods rather that home foods. Fast food can attract people more than a home cooked meal. This is a very bad habit to make because we are showing our children that it is alright to eat fast foods. For many young teens it is hard for them to say no to an attractive menu with such low cost. America’s children are known to be obese and it is not because of the fast food industry, but because the parents are those not teaching the importance of eating the right foods. For many people fast food can be the only way that they can go on with their busy lives because they are always busy, on the go, and do not have the time to prepare a home cooked meal. Many people can just go to a drive thru after a long day of work and be able to feed their whole family in no time. Little do they know that the fast food industry is considered unhealthy and can lead to many health problems in their future. There are those, like me, who grew up in the tradition of eating home foods. Home food is much healthier than going out to eat to a fast food restaurant. It is healthier because it contains way less calories, sugars, sodium, fats, and carbohydrates. Plus when cooking your foods you are able to use good quality ingredients. Eating at home gives you options of different variety, and you are able to make the food in how you like it. In addition, when eating a home cooked meal you are able to use the freshest ingredients and not worry about bad condiments that the food may have. Even though people eat food at home, that does not mean that they are considered healthy. You always want to watch what foods you buy and the nutritional value of the product. When going to shop for groceries we have to be aware of the nutrition fact labels. This will give you a better understanding of what kind of ingredients you will be putting into your body. Other than fast foods, you have no idea what kind of ingredients that the food may contain. There is a big difference with the calorie intake of a home cooked meal than eating fast food. For example, if I were to make fries at home I would know to use a healthy kind of oil that way it will not have a ton of calories. Other than a fast food place the fries are usually fried with cheap oil that is high in calories yet very tasty so that the customer will come back for more. Eating fast food every once in a while I believe will not hurt you but too much of it can cause serious health problems. Many fast foods are known to consume the cheapest kind of ingredients, which can put many people’s health at risk. On the other hand when having a home cooked meal, you feel much better because you will enjoy your meal without thinking about the health risk. Many people love the idea of going out to eat because the food is really tasty and looks very delicious. There are many fast food restaurants that have value meals and it makes it even more affordable so people can buy. Also many people who do not like to cook would rather go to a fast food stop. Where I live there is a fast food restaurant nearly every 5 miles or to the exit of mostly every neighborhood. This makes it convenient for a lot people because it is close by. These fast food chains are known to have foods that contain high in fat and sodium which can lead to obesity. In the US 1 out of 3 people are considered obese. The fatter you get, more likely you are to be at risk in having chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart attack, and arthritis. These high levels of fat and sodium can also contribute to heart disease and can cause your blood cholesterol levels to rise and your arteries can lead to build ups of plaque. Preparing meals at home benefits in many ways. Creative cooking skills are bound to improve remarkably as you learn delightful ways to cook with flavorful and healthy ingredients. I know many people do not cook simply because they do not how. Which is a bad thing because most likely they are to go and get a fast food meal. Also when you eat more home cooked meals it can help trim the waistline of many obese people. Children who eat home food are likely those who grow up with healthy eating habits. This is beneficial because they can also learn to limit their portion size and also know how to use the different ingredients and healthy products. Parents should consider in teaching their children the importance of eating right that way they grow up with the dynamics of healthy eating. In conclusion, we know what is best for our health we should consider keeping it as a lifestyle to eat the right foods. Both fast food and home cooked food have their differences. Fast food may seem more affordable and convenient but a home cooked meal is made with much better quality. I personally believe that home food is much superior to fast foods. Eating home food will keep my mind from thinking of all the health problems. Promptly it is up to us to choose the right foods to eat. I would much rather go with home food that way I will live a long healthy life.

Woolfs Vision in A Room of Ones Own Essay -- Room of Ones Own Essay

Woolf's Vision in A Room of One's Own      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many years have lapsed sinee Virginia Woolf spoke at Newnham and Girton colleges on the subject of women and fiction.   Her remarkable words are preserved for future generations of women in A Room of One's Own.   This essay is the "first manifesto of the modern feminist movement" (Samuelson), and has been called "a notable preamble to a kind of feminine Declaration of Independence" (Muller 34).   Woolf writes that her modest goal for this ground-breaking essay is to "encourage the young women--they seem to get fearfully depressed" (qtd. in Gordon xiv). This treatise on the history of women's writings, reasons for the scarcity of great women artists, and suggestions for future literary creators and creations accomplishes far more than simple inspiration and motivation for young writers. Woolf questions the "effect . . . poverty [has] on fiction" and the "conditions . . . necessary for the creation of works of art" (25), and she persuasively argues that economics are as important as talent and inspiration in the creative process.   She emphatically states and, with brilliant fiction, supports her thesis that every woman "must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction" (4). Woolf's witty and beautifully crafted essay has a practical message for aspiring women writers: as pioneers in the virtually unexplored frontier of women's literature, and to create timeless, powerful works of art, they must forsake the established mores of masculine creativity and forge their own traditions and styles.      Ã‚  Ã‚   Woolf introduces this new literary tradition through the structure of her lecture.   Rather than follow the traditional format established through centuries of male lect... ...vel: A Forum on Fiction 23 (1990): 229-46. Delony 10 Muller, Herbert J. "Virginia Woolf and Feminine Fiction." Beja 73-84. Paul, Janis M. The Victorian Heritage of Virqinia Woolf: The External World in Her Novels. Norman: Pilgrim,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   1987. Rosenman, Ellen Bayuk. The Invisible Presence: Virginia Woolf and the Mother-Daughter Relationship.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Baton Rouge: Louisiana State UP, 1986. Schwartz, Beth C. "Thinking back Through our Mothers: Virginia Woolf Reads Shakespeare." SLA 58 (1991):   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   721-46. Samuelson, Joan.   Lecture.   English 2323.  Ã‚   Kingwood College.   Kingwood, 13 April 1993. Simpson, Catharine R.   Introduction.   Benstock 1-6. Woolf, Virginia. A Room of One's Own. 1929. New York: Harvest-Harcourt, 1989. Zwerdling, Alex. Virginia Woolf and the Real World. Los Angeles: U of California P, 1986.      

Ray-Ban Promotion Strategies

Ray-Ban in the 20th century has been able to prove its ability to maintain parallelism between its products and the century’s style determined by the American Culture. A decade breakdown will prove this parallelism successful. In the 1930’s to the 1940’s the Aviator style was introduced, perfectly complementing the number of social phenomenon pertaining to this decade. There was a dramatic increase in interest for aviation and all the machines and technological advances that came with it. One of the most influential publicity acts the brand experienced for men, was when General Douglas McArthur[1] landed his military plane at the World War II base in the Philippines sporting a newly released pair of Aviator sunglasses. The famous picture of the General wearing his general’s hat, smoking a tobacco pipe and the Ray-Ban Aviator Sunglasses really pushed Aviator’s, as well as Ray-Ban, over the top. These sunglasses became part of the highly respected pilots’ equipment. The men confided in the Aviator’s fine quality and protection against optical harm. Women were also added into this look group when one of times most famous female aviator, Amelia Earhart, was also spotted with a pair of Ray-Ban’s Aviators. During the next decades, the world was bouncing back from the terrible times of war. The population had seen and experienced enough suffering allowing only growth and happiness to take place. The economy was progressing to a point where people were forgetting their sorrows and only concentrating on all the heroes which were coming home. Women were also gaining from this growth by increasing their rights. They could finally work. This time had become filled with enjoyment, glamour, color, and rock’n’roll[2]. With this change in era, Ray-Ban needed to keep on top of their game and follow the present trends. Ray-Ban began offering a vast range of colorful frames to go along with the clothing style of the time. This caused the new dark lens sunglasses to become an iconic accessory while still having top of the line sun damage protection. This time and environment was the perfect situation for Ray-Ban to release their new line of sunglasses, the Wayfarer. They were the first sunglasses to have plastic frames yet considered to be of high quality. Every aspect about these new sunglasses were attractive to the public. The new endless shape of the frame and fun advertising strategies immediately transformed the Wayfarers into the times, and presently, most sold model in history. In the 1960’s the United States took a technological turn for the best of mankind. President John F. Kennedy raises America’s hopes and dreams by announcing the plan of a man making a trip to the moon. With such amazing and quick advances in technology, Ray-Ban learned to do the same. Throughout this time Ray-Ban found they had the capacity to create sunglasses that were mounted in unbreakable frames. They put on the market these sunglasses never even dreamed of before and were able to greatly increase the price of their sunglasses by 70%. This price increase was done to prove the quality of such a product and maintain a popular image of class. With this increase in popularity even more artists, musicians, movie stars, and television stars were publicly spotted wearing Ray-Ban sunglasses. Ray-Ban even began to make appearances in Hollywood movies as part of the everyday outfit of many characters[3]. The next decade brought on a whole mix of social compromises, as well as the desire to escape reality. This led to the beginning of an interest in science fiction and its role in television and music. Consequently, the changing societal trends influenced the company’s new design and the use of more advanced technology. The new Ski and Sports Collection is introduced, with the two new styles called the Vagabond and the Stateside. At this point, Ray-Ban was making specialized sun glasses for mountain climbers with mirrored lenses, side protectors made out of leather, and nylon[4] mountings which would cover the ears inhibiting these glasses from falling. This new line was creative but very limited in market segmentation. The segment was so small that advertising had to be real specific to the interest of the intended market. This was done by publishing in certain ski, outside skills and sports magazines as well as selling the sunglasses in sporting goods stores. Ray-Ban was also realizing its â€Å"Naturals† collection, created with the intention of being a more casual line. This collection went hand-in-hand with the new age of Disco music and glamorous Rock. The sunglasses consisted of larger frames with a larger variety of softer more matte colors with outlines in metals such as silver and gold. The lenses were degraded to a point where the sunglasses were perfect for day and night use. Due to the fact that this new line went hand in hand with the social trends of the moment, advertising was a breeze. Ray-Ban introduced advertisements which simply informed the population about their product. By just informing the population was interested in what they saw and took a liking to the new style. During this time there was also the release of the Ambermatice sunglasses. These consisted of adjustable lenses meaning, they would change different colors in order to adjust to the conditions of the sun and more efficiently protect the eyes from the rays. On sunny days the lenses would become darker allowing more protection, while on a cloudy day the lenses were lighter giving off an amber color. These sun glasses were intended for those athletes who were constantly exposed to the sunlight but the style took flight and became a quick trend. Big athletes such as David Beckham, were used as the advertising strategy for this new line. By showing different athletes sporting this new athletic collection, Ray-Ban was luring in a whole different market segment. Ads were all about sports and being manly which allowed men to feel comfortable buying themselves a pair of sunglasses. The world was then introduced to Wings by Ray-Ban. A unisex style of sunglasses defined as being â€Å"aerodynamic and revolutionary†, and were thought to be the predecessors to the sunglasses with the opened up lenses (these were the lenses which were held in place only by half of the mounting, generally in their upper area), which appeared solely 20 years after the introduction of the â€Å"Wayfarers†. These appealed to the public’s new interest of gender equality. Ray-Ban advertised this as the idea behind the look creating a who new meaning for these sunglasses. This reached out to the public greatly making â€Å"Wings† a very successfully marketed collection. Ray-Ban’s popularity kept expanding not only due to the great success in publicity and their relationship with fashion, but because of their constant appearances in Hollywood. The Blues Brothers, Risky Business and Miami Vice are all examples of popular movies which increased Ray-Ban’s popularity. But, it was definitely Tom Cruise and Kelly McGills award winning film Top-Gun that pushed Ray-Bans sales through the ruff. It was during this increase in success that Ray-Ban was awarded two very prestigious recognitions. In 1985 , the same year Top-Gun was released, the company was recognized as â€Å"The Best Sunglasses in the World† by the Council of Fashion Designers of America[5]. Due to this recognition, Ray-Ban’s owner Luxottica, is able to become a corporate affiliate of the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America)[6]. Four years later, Ray-Ban receives another recognition and is awarded the Woolmark Prize in 1989, for their ability to influence the look of a North American male. In the 90s, Ray-Ban continued to be featured in films and TV shows in which various of the protagonists were displayed sporting mostly Wayfarers. Reservoir Dogs, for example, has the opening scene in which a few of the film’s characters are shown actually putting the sunglasses on. Recurrent placement is what made Ray-Ban sunglasses famous â€Å"Ray-Ban now places its glasses in 160 films and TV shows each year†[7] This decade also brought about the development and patenting process of â€Å"DiamondHard Scratch-Protection†. This was a covering put on the lenses of the sunglasses that would make them ten times more resistant that the usual anti-rupture lenses. This lead to a boom of the Orbs style, which was dark framed classes sometimes having strange designs that consisted of a very thin mounting. This and the Predator style both represent a great part of the success of the brand in recent years and their growing popularity within the male population. This was done by making more market specific commercials and displaying the men and women wearing these as fashionable and attractive. Once we reach the 21st century, the fashion industry seemed to be on a designer block. The new fashion was simply old styles with new qualities. [8] For Ray-Ban, this was great news. Once again Ray-Ban was able to put on store shelves their classic Aviator and Wayfarer styles simply renewed and with better quality. Their advertisements for these classic retros were the same as when they were first introduced. The public seemed to love the look of old commercials and ads. Ray-Ban took a few steps backwards and a huge leap forward. In the year 2003 though, apart from traditional collection of sunglasses, there is the introduction of optical glasses using lenses created to fit in with the Ray-Ban designs. There is also the introduction of the Junior collection which is comprised of various models of the known styles simply designed to fit the visage of a child. At this point, Ray-Ban began to recognize how important children were to the market. Fashion was becoming bigger even for children but Ray-Ban did not advertise to the children. Ray-Ban came up with ways to market this Junior collection to adults, parents. Ray-Ban showed matching â€Å"mommy and baby† sunglasses as the new fashion icon. Ever since Luxottica acquired the rights to the brand, previously owned by Bausch and Lomb[9], Ray-Ban has been constantly coming up with new slogans such as â€Å"Change your view†, and the most recent being â€Å"Never Hide†. These new publicity slogans are taking the interests of the coming generations and making it their objective. Still using the classic styles but adding a great variety of color and design, these new slogans are telling the population to be themselves and not be afraid. To complete the introduction of these, in December 2008, the company had a concert called â€Å"Ray-Ban Remasters† which brought together numerous bands, celebrities, and artists. Instead of having many small advertisements Ray-Ban came out with a single big bang. A new strategy which until today seems to have worked, Ray-Ban is more than a brand of sunglasses. Over time Ray-Ban grew into a fashion icon. Countless have said or say that they add a touch of retro and avant-garde style. Many would say they define your personality. When you choose a Ray-Ban you are often choosing an image shaped by history and strong personalities. If we take a look at the history of Ray-Ban’s sunglasses production, it was a company which sunglasses went through many ups and downs throughout most all of the products and styles. Due to the great struggle in the world’s economy, if any other company experienced the same path in which this one did, they would have definitely given up and carried on. Ray-Ban, on the other hand, with their constant push to be up in the market and to be present in fashion, has sincerely proven to be victorious in their market strategy. Ray-Ban’s classic Wayfarers, was the brand which most struggle but ended up being the most sold sunglass brand to date. As discussed before, the Ray Ban Wayfarer was introduced in the early 1950’s. Their production began when Ray Ban decided to stray away from the common metal framed sunglasses and take a risky change. They used colorful plastic frames, an idea which took flight in the fashion world immediately. Wayfarers are sometimes cited as the best-selling design of sunglasses in history, and have been called a classic of modern design and one of the most enduring fashion icons of the 20th century. †[10] The Wayfarers though, did not start off this way. These sunglasses started off with a strong stable position in the industry when they were introduced in the 1950’s and 1960’s. The new product was like a shiny new toy for all of America’s fashion industry. Once the fad quickly passed, Ray Ban’s sales quickly dropped. Despite Ray Ban’s efforts to get artists, such as the Blues Brothers, to be human advertisements, by the 1980’s these sunglasses were no longer a success. Ray Ban had to change their promotion strategy and fast if there was going to be any chance of the Wayfarer surviving. In 1982 Ray Ban came to terms with their issue and took a large financial leap to correct this problem. A $50,000 yearly contract was signed with Unique Product Placement to have Ray Ban’s sunglasses on screen and in front of consumer eyes. The sunglasses would be appearing in movies and television shows. Throughout this period Ray Bans were displayed in more than 50 shows and big screen movies per year[11]. Some of the most famous on screen phenomenon in which these appeared were â€Å"Risky Business†, â€Å"The Breakfast Club†, â€Å"Miami Vice†. Just four years prior, Ray-Ban had been considering discontinuing their Wayfarer product. Due to their new product placement contract, the Wayfarer Sunglass peaked at $1. 5 million in sales in 1986 alone. This popularity did not stop with just films and television shows though. Ray-Ban made sure their incredible come back kept them on top. â€Å"Wayfarers were the decade’s sunglasses of choice. †[12] As the 90s rolled around, once again the Wayfarers lost their great popularity. The great success they found in the 80’s just did not seem to stick. Ray-Bay though, being the true innovators that they are, learned how to deal with this issue quickly. In 2001, Ray-Ban had the Wayfarer undergo a dramatic redesign which included smaller frames which were also less pointed. They also changed from acetate, a cellulite compound used for binding, and changed it to a lighter plastic based chemical. The reasoning behind this redesign was to make the sunglasses more wearable and to have their physique be different and more appealing. Wayfarers stuck it through and stayed in the limelight well into the late 2000s when celebrities decided to change their sunglass style to much larger vintage frames. The company’s designers quickly caught on to the new trend and realized how high the vintage Wayfarers were selling for on varies online bargaining sites. â€Å"Ray-Ban’s marketing strategy was threefold: a return to the sunglasses’ original, rebellious design, an ‘edgy’ advertising campaign and ‘high-profile PR events’, and the use of new media like MySpace to connect with consumers† Brunelli, Richard. â€Å"Ray-Ban Wayfarers: Made in the Shade†[13]. As of October 2007, the Ray-Ban Wayfarer became Luxottica’s third best selling style later increasing sales over 40%. Despite their past fails, Ray-Ban learned and put to practice great promotional strategies which lead them to success. One of the main reasons this company stayed solid and in business is because Ray Ban has always stayed true to having a clear and successful promotion mix. Not to be confused with marketing mix, promotion mix consists of: advertising, personal selling, sales promotion, public relations, corporate image, direct marketing, and exhibitions. When it comes to advertising, Ray-Ban can be considered experts. A great portion of the company’s success in being one of the most popular styles in the fashion world can definitely be awarded to Hollywood, TV, movie stars, and musicians, but it was mostly through the advertising strategies that Ray-Ban was able to expand and make themselves known. Ray-Ban’s constant evolving marketing campaigns is what truly set them apart from the rest. Wanting to keep up with the fast pace of the fashion industry Ray-Ban had to constantly come up with new ideas and products to adapt to new technologies. Ray-Ban started off simply having picture ads, now Ray-Ban uses the internet, television, pictures, and even big screen advertising in the center of New York City. An example of an extremely successful advertisement campaign has been the â€Å"Never Hide† campaign, in which celebrities and regular Ray-Ban customers send in pictures of themselves sporting a Ray-Ban style to the company’s site. Many of these pictures are displayed in New York City’s big screens for everyone to see. Not only does this create demand but shows the company’s respect and love of everyone’s interest and creativity. This doing can also be considered a sales promotion, marketing communication with the purpose of increasing consumer demand and stimulating market demand. Another promotion mix element is public relations which consist of stimulation of supply for a product by planting significant news about it or the producer in a well known favorable media source. Ray-Ban can pride themselves on the fact that the way they marketed their products through well known and highly respected sources, increased their products quality belief and promotes the company’s image positively. The image of an organization is an extremely important part of marketing. In order to have consumer’s trust and their willingness to buy a product from a company, the company’s reputation must be a good one. Ray-Ban has no doubt, a very good image. This reputation has come from the stability it has maintained regardless of the constant roller coaster in the economy and market. Ray-Ban’s image also positively changed when the bigger, more respected company Luxottica bought out the brand. So in conclusion, Ray-Ban Sunglass company, has simply had the key to success from start to present, and that is marketing.

Labor Unions in Hospitals

Organizing and other labor union activity in the hospitals has drawn increasing attention for many years. The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the largest and oldest professional association of registered nurses in the USA (Martin, 2001). The ANA and state nurses associations are committed to the rights of registered nurses (RN), the largest group of health professionals. The ANA represents registered nurses through organizing and bargaining collectively. The ANA is definitely for creation of labor unions in hospitals (â€Å"Physicians and Unions: Implications for Registered Nurses†, 1998). This paper focuses on the development of these unions and outlines that union activity has an important role for nurses in addressing the benefits and salaries and in providing the appropriate care for patients. Labor Unions in Hospitals The leadership of formal nursing organizations historically reviewed labor unions and labor legislation with suspicion, if not with direct distaste. In the early of the 20th century, the American Nurses Association (ANA) did not consider the nursing discipline as a profession and its practitioners as professionals (D'Antonio, n.d.). On the contrary, practicing clinical nurses were somewhat more receptive to the idea of unions. The Nurses Associated Alumnae, founded in 1896, became the American Nurses Association in 1911, and nurses successfully lobbied for strict registration credentials. (â€Å"United American Nurses, AFL-CIO†, n.d.)   But the initial registration laws were voluntary (D'Antonio, n.d.).   Nurses joined together at the end of century to fight the lack of standardization among quickly development of nursing schools, hard working conditions and exploitation of nursing students. Nurses also sought a means to work together in a professional organization to establish a code of ethics, elevate nursing standards and promote the nurses interests. The first nurse staffing ratios were set by the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War. The first permanent hospitals were established during that war—but it wasn't until 1872 that America could boast its first professionally trained nurse, Linda Richards. (â€Å"United American Nurses, AFL-CIO†, n.d.) During the early 20th century, nurses joined other workers looking for such benefits as an eight-hour workday and paid vacations. By the 1930s, ANA and state nurses associations were considering the question of unionization for nurses — a responsibility ANA confirmed in 1946. During the 1920s and 1930s many nurses left the private-duty labor market to work in hospitals (D'Antonio, n.d.) They saw that the professionalization rhetoric did not forward their fight to control the quality as well as the conditions of their day-to-day work. Gradually the unionization idea helped to some hospitals' nursing staffs to secure contracts that improved wages and hours worked. In the early 1940s state nurses' associations, without the support of the ANA that was opposed to formal organizing, began their own collective bargaining units (D'Antonio, n.d.).   But in 1946 the ANA formally sanctioned the idea of â€Å"professional† collective bargaining by its constituent state nurses' associations (D'Antonio, n.d.). In the post-World War II era nurses gained contract after contract.   Also in 1946 the ANA began the establishment of its Economic and General Welfare Program (â€Å"The Role of Collective Bargaining and Unions in Advancing the Profession of Nursing†, 1998). That decision was made because of some of the same problems that nurses and nursing continue to face and from a desire to use collective wisdom and strength to effect necessary change. Nurses were represented on a national level as well, including a decades-long battle against the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act that left private RNs without coverage under the National Labor Relations Act. Since then, collective bargaining has provided for significant accomplishments in salaries, benefits, and the professional practice of nurses. Historically, the nursing profession has worked to assure the public of   its commitment to their health needs through the establishment of professional licensure, practice standards and guidelines, and a code of ethics. Nurses have moved from the hospital into academe, research, long-term care, community and home health, school systems, the legislature, the military, law, and entrepreneurial enterprise.   Each avenue broadens professional perspective and adds value to the body of expertise and influence. By the late 1960s the trade union movement had again resurfaced as a strategy for professional autonomy and economic security (D'Antonio, n.d.). Unions such as Local 1199 of the Hospital Workers Union reorganized to allow nurses separate guilds; and strikes, although deeply regretted, were no longer unthinkable tactics (D'Antonio, n.d.). ; Labor unions representing nurses In the past 20 years, nurses in hospitals and health care agencies all over the world have unionized in an effort to achieve   appropriate wages and benefits based upon the skill level and risk involved in successfully fulfilling their job responsibilities (Klein, n.d.). There are some examples of active unions representing nurses. The UFCW (United Food and Commercial Workers Union)   represents nearly 40,000 working men and women in the health care profession in the North America who work in hospitals, nursing homes, medical and dental laboratories, and home health care (Klein, n.d.). Members include registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, unit assistants, certified nursing assistants, pharmacists, technicians, and caretakers. This union claims to have improved safety in the workplace and tackled a myriad of important issues, including restructurings, staffing levels, and compensation. Additionally, to being committed to workplace issues, the UFCW periodically sponsors training and education seminars to promote professional development among health care employees. The United Nurses of America represents 45,000 registered and licensed practical nurses and is an AFSCME affiliate (Klein, n.d.). AFSCME is the voice for 360,000 health care employees, 76,000 of whom are nurses   (Klein, n.d.).   For its members, AFSCME provides training programs, information on workplace violence, a health and safety newsletter and fact sheets, and updates on union actions. The ANA has also created the new United American Nurses (UAN) to strengthen collective bargaining states' efforts to retain and recruit members. Now, according to the ANA, 24 states or U.S. territories have collective bargaining for nurses; 29 do not (the total of 53 includes Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia) (Hellinghausen, 1999).   Today's   UAN, the nation's largest union of staff RNs, began from the nurse unionization movement before World War II. (â€Å"United American Nurses, AFL-CIO†, n.d.) For more than 50 years, nurses, through their state nurses associations, have organized to advocate for fair wages, good working conditions and staffing levels that ensure patient safety. State nurses associations struggled for state measures to pick up the slack, and the 1974 health care amendments to the NLRA finally extended such protections. Amendments to the NLRA passed in 1983 extended Social Security coverage to non-profit workers. The United American Nurses' forerunner, the Institute of Constituent Member Collective Bargaining Programs, met for the first time in September 1990. Nurses' efforts through the Institute to find the solutions of workplace problems led to the organisation of a separate labor arm of ANA—the United American Nurses—in 1999. The UAN held its first National Labor Assembly in June 2000, as representatives of 100,000 nurses working under collective bargaining agreements elected Cheryl Johnson as the union's first president and Ann Converso as the union's first vice president. UAN affiliated with the AFL-CIO in 2001. With the addition of the UAN, the AFL-CIO represent now 1.2 million health care workers. (Martin, 2001) AFL-CIO unions bargain to provide health insurance for more than 40 million workers and family members –   accounting for one out of every four Americans with employment-based coverage. Johnson of the UAN said nurses are organizing into unions at an increased pace to gain a voice on the job and on behalf of quality patient care, and that giving nurses a voice can address the nationwide staffing crisis. Now the UAN has offered strike support on a national level to nurses on the picket line; provided media training, organizing assistance and collective bargaining help through the annual Labor Leader Institute; provided a massive and meticulous contract information database to state nurses associations and nurse leaders; and provided testimony to national leaders on patient care, staffing and other issues. Problems of nursing unions In fact, the American Nurses Association (ANA) is â€Å"wed† to organized labor and in some states, such as California and Michigan, the state Nurses Associations act as labor unions. (â€Å"Subject:Union Debate†, 2003) Most labor unions and Nurses' Associations claim that by organizing nurses, they can increase salaries, improve benefits and working conditions, and draw more nurses into the profession. It sounds plausible, but a union cannot address the real underlying problem: Money. Unions cannot produce revenue. They can only extract dollars from the healthcare system. Nurses' salaries and benefits are typically a hospital's greatest expense. A hospital's primary source of revenue is from reimbursement for patient services. While hospital operating costs have steadily gone up, reimbursement for patient services by Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance have not kept up with increased operating costs. In a February 13, 2003 Press Release by the American Hospital Association (AHA), entitled â€Å"Rising Demand, Increasing Costs of Caring Fuel Hospital Spending,† rising hospital cost is cited as one the primary drivers of an increase in hospitals' spending (â€Å"Subject: Union Debate†, 2003). While organized labor would lead to believe there is an increased need for unionization, their popularity has declined. In our nation's past history, organized labor played an important role in ensuring employee safety in the workplace. Currently, standards for employee safety have been established by Occupational Safety & Hazard Association (OSHA), Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), American Osteopathic Association (AOA), and other regulatory and accrediting bodies. Therefore, the need for unions has declined. Especially because recent changes in healthcare have subjected nurses to the effects of cost cutting, shuffled duties and reorganization, not to mention a chronic nursing shortage. Just 17% of the nation’s 2.2 million RNs belong to unions, and labor groups are looking to nursing to boost their dwindling ranks (Salcedo, n.d.). Two AFL-CIO affiliated unions actively pursuing nurses are the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). There have been several instances of already formed collective bargaining units represented by the state nurses’ association switching to AFL-CIO affiliated unions. The American Nurses Association is reeling from the defections, including the defection of the 20,000 member CNA from the ANA in 1995 (Salcedo, n.d.). The California affiliate complained that the national leadership wasn’t doing enough to combat layoffs and staff shortages. (Jaklevic, 1999) Each state nurses association (except now California) is a member of the ANA. Each state nurses association is divided into two branches, a policy branch and a collective bargaining branch. The ANA is loudly protesting that â€Å"only nurses should represent nurses†, however, unions such as the SEIU charge that the associations are much more geared toward policy making and academic issues than collective bargaining. So, there is currently a critical shortage of nurses in USA. As long as nurses continue to feel disenfranchised, unprotected and under siege by doctors and health care administrators, interest in unions will grow stronger. Nurses organize not only to protect themselves, but also to protect the patients under their care, as evidenced by the recent activity regarding staffing levels and acuity systems. As an example, nurses, traditionally uninterested in the distractions of organized labor, are showing new eagerness to embrace unions (Seeman, 2000). But rather than objecting to pay scales or benefits plans, experts say, they are aiming more often at working conditions – depleted staffs, reduced time with patients, jobs that increasingly intrude upon their personal lives. Union membership is rising. The string of strikes in 1999 – 21 – was five times the number just four years earlier. (Seeman, 2000). More than 1,000 nurses are currently off the job. (Seeman, 2000). In California, union nurses have pushed lawmakers to guarantee more nurses on hospital floors. Hospital officials and insurers characterized the grievances as understandable but difficult to assuage. Current health care dynamics, they said, are testing the limits of all segments of the industry. What's unknown is whether nurses' relationship with labor will gain more momentum, and what long-term effects that might have on the nation's medical network. In the early part of the decade, with the price of health care soaring, managed care gained currency as a strategy to encourage competition and control costs. Insurers notified hospitals that reimbursements for medical treatments would decline. That prompted hospitals to squeeze budgets, including the money spent on nurses, who typically represent about a quarter of a hospital's work force. Hospital patients, meanwhile, grew sicker. Diseases that might have been fatal in an earlier age now left patients alive but ailing. Hospitals, under pressure to save money, discharged the less sick patients to focus on the direly ill. Technology made nursing much more complicated. In the past three years, about 15,000 nurses have become unionized by joining the Service Employees International Union. (Seeman, 2000).   About 105,000 nurses now belong. (Seeman, 2000). Another 170,00 belong to the American Nurses Association (Seeman, 2000).   Of those, about 60 percent use the organization for collective bargaining, according to the ANA. (Seeman, 2000). The overall numbers remain relatively small. Only about 15 percent of America's 2.6 million nurses are unionized, according to government and industry estimates. (Seeman, 2000). The BNA, echoing the nurses unions, said that walk-outs are more likely rooted in complaints about mandatory overtime, inadequate staffing and worries about patient care. In California, the new law supported by union nurses requires the state to set nurse-to-patient ratio standards for general, psychiatric and special hospitals. Hospitals will also be banned from requiring unlicensed employees from performing traditional nursing duties such as giving medicine or assessing treatment. The bill was signed in October by Gov. Gray Davis. Its requirements were phased in through 2002. (Seeman, 2000). Massachusetts, meanwhile, has become very important for union activity. The Massachusetts Nurses Association persuaded about 1,550 nurses at five hospitals to unionize in a 12-month period in 1997-'98, according to Judith Shindul-Rothschild, associate professor at the Boston College School of Nursing. (Seeman, 2000). So, administrators should try to understand nurses. If to give the possibility to nurses to effectively care for their patients, half the battle is won. Better healthcare would mean better labor management relationships. Conclusion So, the American Nurses Association (ANA), along with its constituent state nurses associations, has a decades-long responsibility to the right of registered nurses, the largest group of health professionals, to represent through organizing and bargaining collectively, in labor unions (â€Å"Physicians and Unions: Implications for Registered Nurses†, 1998). Such activity can play an important role in addressing wages as well as benefits, and the many employment conditions that have a direct bearing on nurses' ability to practice their profession and to grant the highest quality care for their patients. One of the most essential problems of unions is that there are no â€Å"guarantees† as to what will be included in a contract between management and the bargaining unit. Everything depends on contract negotiations. In other words, nurses may achieve less salary and/or benefits than before unionization. Still, unionism is only one of some options to ensure nurses' control over their practice. For nursing always has and always will need different organizing alternatives, whether through unions or specialized practice associations. References 1. D'Antonio, P.   (n.d.). Labor Unions: Nurses' Unions. Retrieved July 10, 2004, from   http://college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/women/html/wm_019610_nursesunions.htm 2. Hellinghausen, M. A. (1999, August 9) ANA's creation of labor entity worried the TNA. Retrieved July 10, 2004, from   http://www.nurseweek.com/features/99-8/tex-ana.html 3.Jaklevic, M. (1999, July 5). Associations join pro-union ranks’ Doc, nurse organizations want to give their members a stronger voice, new services. Modern Healthcare, 6. 4. Klein, J. A. (n.d.). Unions in Nursing. Retrieved July 10, 2004, from   http://www.nursingnetwork.com/union.htm 5. Martin, S. (2001, June 28) Largest Independent Nurses Union Votes to Affiliate with the AFL-CIO. Retrieved July 10, 2004, from   http://www.needlestick.org/pressrel/2001/uan_afl.htm 6. Physicians and Unions: Implications for Registered Nurses. (1998, September) Vol. 3, No. 9. Retrieved July 10, 2004, from   http://www.needlestick.org/readroom/nti/9809nti.htm  © 2004 The American Nurses Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved 7. Salcedo, K. (n.d.). Labor Unions and Nursing. Retrieved July 10, 2004, from   http://www.oppapers.com/print.php?id=33122;idenc=KxyHiuJa 8. Seeman, B. T. (2000) Working Conditions Drive Hospital Nurses Toward Unions. Newhouse News Service. Retrieved July 10, 2004, from   http://www.newhouse.com/archive/story1a041300.html 9. Subject: Union Debate. (2003, February 24) Nurses for Preservation of Professional Ethics (NPPE). Retrieved July 10, 2004, from   http://www.nppe.org/dialog34.htm 10.The Role of Collective Bargaining and Unions in Advancing the Profession of Nursing. (1998, February)   Vol. 3, No. 2. Retrieved July 10, 2004, from   http://www.needlestick.org/readroom/nti/9802nti.htm  © 2004 The American Nurses Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved United American Nurses, AFL-CIO. (n.d.) Retrieved July 10, 2004, from   http://nursingworld.org/uan/uanhistory.htm  © 2004 The United American Nurses and The

Lyme Disease Essays - Rheumatology, Lyme Disease, RTT, Arthritis

Lyme Disease Essays - Rheumatology, Lyme Disease, RTT, Arthritis Lyme Disease Lyme Arthritis Lyme disease is a tick-transmitted inflammatory disorder characterized by an early focal skin lesion, and subsequently a growing red area on the skin (erythema chronicum migrans or ECM). The disorder may be followed weeks later by neurological, heart or joint abnormalities. Symptomatology The first symptom of Lyme disease is a skin lesion. Known as erythema chronicum migrans, or ECM, this usually begins as a red discoloration (macule) or as an elevated round spot (papule). The skin lesion usually appears on an extremity or on the trunk, especially the thigh, buttock or the under arm. This spot expands, often with central clearing, to a diameter as large as 50 cm (c. 12 in.). Approximately 25% of patients with Lyme disease report having been bitten at that site by a tiny tick 3 to 32 days before onset of ECM. The lesion may be warm to touch. Soon after onset nearly half the patients develop multiple smaller lesions without hardened centers. ECM generally lasts for a few weeks. Other types of lesions may subsequently appear during resolution. Former skin lesions may reappear faintly, sometimes before recurrent attacks of arthritis. Lesions of the mucous membranes do not occur in Lyme disease. The most common symptoms accompanying ECM, or preceding it by a few days, may include malaise, fatigue, chills, fever, headache and stiff neck. Less commonly, backache, muscle aches (myalgias), nausea, vomiting, sore throat, swollen lymph glands, and an enlarged spleen may also be present. Most symptoms are characteristically intermittent and changing, but malaise and fatigue may linger for weeks. Arthritis is present in about half of the patients with ECM, occurring within weeks to months following onset and lasting as long as 2 years. Early in the illness, migratory inflammation of many joints (polyarthritis) without joint swelling may occur. Later, longer attacks of swelling and pain in several large joints, especially the knees, typically recur for several years. The knees commonly are much more swollen than painful; they are often hot, but rarely red. Baker's cysts (a cyst in the knee) may form and rupture. Those symptoms accompanying ECM, especially malaise, fatigue and low-grade fever, may also precede or accompany recurrent attacks of arthritis. About 10% of patients develop chronic knee involvement (i.e. unremittent for 6 months or longer). Neurological abnormalities may develop in about 15% of patients with Lyme disease within weeks to months following onset of ECM, often before arthritis occurs. These abnormalities commonly last for months, and usually resolve completely. They include: 1. lymphocytic meningitis or meningoencephalitis 2. jerky involuntary movements (chorea) 3. failure of muscle coordination due to dysfunction of the cerebellum (cerebellar ataxia) 4. cranial neuritis including Bell's palsy (a form of facial paralysis) 5. motor and sensory radiculo-neuritis (symmetric weakness, pain, strange sensations in the extremities, usually occurring first in the legs) 6. injury to single nerves causing diminished nerve response (mononeuritis multiplex) 7. inflammation of the spinal cord (myelitis). Abnormalities in the heart muscle (myocardium) occur in approximately 8% of patients with Lyme disease within weeks of ECM. They may include fluctuating degrees of atrioventricular block and, less commonly, inflammation of the heart sack and heart muscle (myopericarditis) with reduced blood volume ejected from the left ventricle and an enlarged heart (cardiomegaly). When Lyme Disease is contracted during pregnancy, the fetus may or may not be adversely affected, or may contract congenital Lyme Disease. In a study of nineteen pregnant women with Lyme Disease, fourteen had normal pregnancies and normal babies. If Lyme Disease is contracted during pregnancy, possible fetal abnormalities and premature birth can occur. Etiology Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete bacterium (Borrelia Burgdorferi) transmitted by a small tick called Ixodes dammini. The spirochete is probably injected into the victim's skin or bloodstream at the time of the insect bite. After an incubation period of 3 to 32 days, the organism migrates outward in the skin, is spread through the lymphatic system or is disseminated by the blood to different body organs or other skin sites. Lyme Disease was first described in 1909 in European medical journals. The first outbreak in the United States occurred in the early 1970's in Old lyme, Connecticut. An unusually high incidence of juvenile

Practice Test Essays

Practice Test Essays Practice Test Essay Practice Test Essay You are considering the purchase of a $1,000 par value Treasury Bill and observe the following quotes for T-Bills in the market: Ignore transaction costs. Time to Maturity days) Bid Asked . The ask price off T-bill in the secondary market is A. The price at which the dealer in T-bills is willing to sell the bill. B. The price at which the dealer in T-bills is willing to buy the bill. C. Smaller than the bid price of the T-bill. D. The price at which the investor can sell the T-bill. 5. What is the purchase price of the 144-day bill that you face? What would be the effective annual rate of return on your investment if you held 6. The bill until maturity? . What would be the effective annual rate of return on your investment if you bought this bill today and were able to sell it back to a dealer after 28 days, assuming that yields do not change over time? Consider the following 2 stocks in the table and answer the next 3 questions. Note: Initial Price (O) is the current price. Final Price (1) is the share price at the end of the first period, and Final Price (2) is the share price at the end of the second period. Stock Initial Price (O) Final Price (1) Final pence (2) 35 42 first period, that is, from initial period (O) to the first period (1) c. 3% 9. Suppose stock A has 20 million shares, stock B has 1 million shares outstanding. Compute the rate of return on a market capitalization-weighted index of the two stocks for the first period. D. 19% 10. In the second period, stock B splits 2:1 (two-for-one), I. . , its price is halved (from $88 in period 1 to $44 in period 2) while shares outstanding doubled. What must happen to the divisor for the price-weighted index for the second period? A. The divisor must not change. B. The divisor must decrease to 1. 32 C. The divisor must decrease to 1. 23 D. The divisor must decrease to 0. 875 11. You purchased a share of stock for $20. One year later you received $1 as di vidend and sold the share for $29. What was your holding period return? A. 45% 12. An investor purchased 100 shares of stock at $100 per share on 60% margin. Suppose the maintenance margin is 30%, at what price does the investor get a margin call? A. $58. 35 B. $57. 05 c. $58. 14 D. $57. 14 13. Regarding the previous question, if the stock price declines to $70 per share, whats the return to the investors equity? What if the stock rises to $1 50 per share? A. And -83% B. And -75% C. -50% and 83% D. -30% and 75% 14. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT about short sale A. A short sale may only take place if the last recorded price was an optic. B. Proceeds from short sales must be kept on account with the broker.

Nova Scotias Name Reveals This Provinces History

Nova Scotia's Name Reveals This Province's History The province of Nova Scotia  is one of the ten provinces and three territories that make up Canada. Located on the far southeastern coast of the country, it is one of only three Canadian maritime provinces. How Did Nova Scotia Get Its Name? Currently nicknamed Canada’s Festival Province, the name Nova Scotia originates from Latin. Literally, it means New Scotland. Early Scottish Settlers Nova Scotia was founded in 1621 by  Sir William Alexander of Menstrier. He appealed to  King James of Scotland that a New Scotland was needed to expand national interests alongside New England, New France, and New Spain. Nova Scotia became an ideal territory for early Scottish settlers. Nearly a century later, after the United Kingdom gained control over the area, there was a massive Scottish immigration wave. Adventurous  Highlanders came from all over Scotland to settle throughout Nova Scotia. By the  mid-1700s, British military officer, general, and acting governor of Nova Scotia, Charles Lawrence, invited American New England residents to relocate to Nova Scotia. This was largely due to the expulsion of the  Acadians  that left large land vacancies and created yet another Scottish population surge. The new settlers were comprised of Scots that had previously fled to New England to gain religious freedom. These descendants formed a major part of the life and development of Nova Scotia and continued to stay in the province through successive generations. Modern Nova Scotia The Scottish became the third largest ethnic group in Canada, and their heritage is celebrated throughout Nova Scotia. Community events such as  Tartan days, clan gatherings, and showings of Highlander-based films like Braveheart, Trainspotting,  and  Highlander  reaffirm ancient Scottish pride. The kinship between Scotland and Canada is incredibly strong, and Scottish cultural influence is evident throughout the province. Visitors to Nova Scotia looking for an authentic cultural experience are invited to wear a kilt, enjoy the skirl of the bagpipes from a marching band, and see the  cabar  being tossed at one of the provinces many Highland Games events. Its also easy to find traditional Scottish dishes like haggis, porridge, kippers, black pudding, shortbread, cranachan, and clootie dumplings  with a Canadian twist at local restaurants. Sources: MacKay, Janet. Founding of New Scotland (Nova Scotia). Fifty Plus, November 1993. Wilson, Norry. Scotland and Canada. Scotland.org, February 6, 2019. Unknown. The Gaelic Culture of Nova Scotia is as Celtic as You Will Get! NovaScotia.com, 2017.

Sustainable Development and Underlying Contradictions Essay

Sustainable Development and Underlying Contradictions - Essay Example As Pless, Thomas & GÃ ¼nter, sustainable development commences at the time of producing the raw materials and here the farmers are the owners of the projects, which foster on sustainable development. The experts inform the farmers on the need and the importance of using the eco-friendly means to produce the raw materials with fewer impacts on the lives of the people. After this consideration, the sustainability strikes up to the industrial handling of the products (Pless, Thomas & GÃ ¼nter 2012, p 902). The products before they are processed or even after should not be contaminated in the process of manufacturing it. The sustainable means of production in the industries should be fully incorporated into the production of the products (Monsanto Case Study, 12).Though at the point of production, the company should try all its best to be efficient in the production, but should also consider the effects of the production on the lives of the people and the entire environment. The supply of the products should be environmentally and socially friendly in the sense that the process of supplying the products should be free from any form of pollutant or contaminate the products in the course of transporting the products to the consumers (Taman 2014, p 15). The consumption methods of the consumers are also of great implications to the achievement of objective; sustainability. When given mode of consumption contributes to the contamination of the environment (Monsanto Case Study, 23).

Literature Review - How Sustainability Strategies can be measured A

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Directly and completely answer the following questions. Include Essay

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Using social media to manage personal knowledge and learning within a Case Study

Using social media to manage personal knowledge and learning within a Postgraduate Learning context - Case Study Example I am taking part in a Postgraduate Learning program in a business school in the North London area. Personal knowledge and learning scopes of this program will be developed through different means of social media. I will be able to gain the insight of Personal Knowledge Management or PKM, Knowledge Management or KM and different learning theories. Personal Knowledge Management is mainly a process that enhances the possibility of gaining more knowledge and managing the development of learning and knowledge (Cope and Kalantzis 332). I think that PKM will create contemporary knowledge among the students. According to my experience, social media policy of the higher education institutions is quite feasible in personal knowledge management. Knowledge management policies are highly adopted by the companies and educational institutions. I observed that knowledge of the teachers and experienced people are disseminated among the new recruits or the learners with a sound communication system (Costello 634). Knowledge management process is adopting innovative approach for the learners. I observed that KM process in the post graduation learning institutes helps in recognising the scope of education. Being one of the members of the post graduation learning institutions, I am able to evaluate various courses provided in the institutions.

Politics of the Middle East Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

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Using social media to manage personal knowledge and learning within a Case Study

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Organizational behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Organizational behaviour - Essay Example Employees help in the decision making power and their insight is valued in the organization. The employee insight is important because often employees have a better idea of dealing with problems in the organization because they face such problems on a daily basis. Also employees perform well in cultures which’ nurtures and supports them and helps them to work towards the achievement of their ambition’ (Business Case Studies, n.d.). An example of this is Siemens that values its employees by motivating, monitoring and nurturing them. Organizational structure also has a strong impact on the performance on an organization. When the role and position of the employees are clearly mentioned, there is little conflict in the organization. Also employees understand their value in the organization which then motivates them to perform better in the organization. Organization culture and structure are inherently linked. When organizational structure is flat, it develops a high performance culture in the organization. When there is a high level of hierarchy present in the company, then the culture is often rigid. Rigid cultures prevent employees from developing attachment with the organization which effects overall performance of the employees. Business Case Studies, n.d. Creating a high performance culture: A Siemens case study, Retrieved from

Drugs and Society Essay Example for Free

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Along the brain stem are the medulla, midbrain, and pons from which contain the bulk of neurons that create dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. The lower brain stem controls vomiting and respiratory functions. If affected, the respiratory function can be suppressed by drugs. 1c. Describe the life cycle of a typical neurotransmitter. A cell membrane with the uptake of a particular precursor absorbs amino acids to create a neurotransmitter. The amino acids undergo synthesis with a reaction with enzymes to become a neurotransmitter. Once created, the neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles until they are released into the synapse. Once released, the neurotransmitters will attempt to attach to the membrane of neurons. If the neurotransmitter does not make it to the neuron, then it will either absorb in the originating cell or be metabolized within the synapse. 2b. Differentiate between drug disposition tolerance, behavioral tolerance, and pharmacodynamics tolerance, and provide reasons why these concepts should be taken into account when determining the effects of a drug. Drug disposition tolerance is defined as the increase of the drug’s rate of metabolism or removal. The user may increase the amount of a drug taken due to the drug being metabolized too quickly or being removed from the body. A person may compensate their behavior when exposed to a drug overtime such as learning to drive while intoxicated. The impairment is reduced and this is known as behavioral tolerance. Pharmacodynamics tolerance is the main contributor to the need to increase the dosage of a drug in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms. The user does not feel the same effects of a dosage so the dosage must be increased in order to get the same feeling. 2d. 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Amphetamines have been shown to produce a calming effect upon the individual from the amphetamines ability to increase brain catecholamine activity whereas ADHD individuals suffer from catecholamine deficits in the prefrontal cortex. 3c. Provide your personal viewpoint on major concerns about ADHD diagnoses and the efficacy of drug treatments that have led to recent controversy. The basis of diagnoses of ADHD has not been fully researched due to any widely accepted knowledge as to why stimulants are effective in treating hyperactivity. The causes of ADHD are still not thoroughly understood. There have also been non-stimulant drugs that have been shown to be just as effective as stimulants such as Strattera and Atomoxetine. I believe that ADHD itself is a complicated issue that requires multiple points of attack such as the use of stimulant and non-stimulant drugs. What may work on one individual may not work on another. 4a. Provide evidence of your understanding of the ways in which time course events of barbiturate and benzodiazepine actions contribute to the onset of psychological and/or physical dependence. Barbiturate are fast acting drugs that may work within fifteen minutes and stay in the system for up to three hours. Due to the rapid activity of the barbiturates, they serve as a strong reinforcement to users due to the drug produced a desired effect quickly and leaving the body just as quickly. Benzodiazepine takes longer to initialize, but also stay in the body for up to ten hours. Barbiturates are taken in higher doses more rapidly, while Benzodiazepine is taken at lower does. Withdrawal symptoms of barbiturates from chronic symptoms are severe due to the rapidness the drug leaves the user’s body without the user’s body being able to adapt to the drug adequately. 4b. Describe the key functions of GABA (g-aminobutryic acid) in producing the effects of various sedative-hypnotic agents, with specific reference to benzodiazepines. GABA is a neurotransmitter that is found in CNS areas and deals with inhibitory functions. Benzodiazepine molecules are strongly attracted to the GABA receptor sites and when bound to the GABA receptor, the Benzodiazepine molecules will increase the inhibitory effects of GABA on the receptors.

Evaluation of the strategy practices of Haier Group

Evaluation of the strategy practices of Haier Group This analysis report is prepared to evaluate the strategy practices adopted by Haier group in recent years. Qingdao Haier Group is a consumer electrical maker which transformed from a refrigerator factory in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China founded in 1984. In 1992, the company had simplified their company name from Qingdao Haier Group to its current name, Haier Group. A new director was appointed in 1984, who is Mr. Zhang Ruimin. Thus, a new management team was formed and leaded under Zhang, to solve companys problems, such as debts, lack of quality control and poor management. This report will be discussed under various collection of sources which found related to Haier group, which includes books, websites, media articles, journal articles, Haiers official website and Haiers yearly annual reports. All the sources will be using in the analysis to support and prove that the related theories have been applied into the companys strategies. 1.0 Introduction Strategic management can be described as the identification of the purpose of the organization and the plans and actions to achieve that purpose. Corporate level strategy means the strategic decisions that lead companies to diversify from one business areas. It also means the role of the corporate headquarters in directing and influencing strategy across a multi-product group of companies (Richard Lynch, 2009). In this strategic analysis, discussions will be focused into three main segments. A general Haiers company overview will be done in the first place to investigate the milestones they have been gone through in past decade. Analysis continues in analyze corporate internal and external environment, SWOT analysis and Haiers unique OEC Management will be criticized in details in this segment. Moreover, the next segment discusses how Haier strategically competes in the local and international markets by using Ansoff Matrix and The Strategic Clock theories. Haiers internalization strategies will be evaluated in the last segment that includes Joint Ventures and Acquisitions where the corporate adopts in the process of globalization. 2.0 Corporate Background Haier Group was founded in 1984 with headquarters in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. In 1984, Haier produced and selling only a single model of refrigerator, it shows that Haier Group has been gone through major developments in years. Today, they rank themselves as one of the worlds leading white goods home appliance manufacturers (Haier, 2008). In last few decades Haier has grown their group to become the 4th largest white goods manufacturer and one of Chinas Top 100 IT Companies guided by the business philosophy of CEO Zhang Ruimin. Mainly, they has experienced a strategy for growth which is mainly formed into three major development stages, known as Brand Building, Diversification and Globalization (Haier, 2008). According to Michael Kanellos, 2008 Haier is trying to expand its presence globally and go up market. The company has been selling air conditioners, fridges, and other household items in the U.S. since 2000. But in 2006, it began selling LCD televisions. In November, it began selling music players. They has never been satisfied to just become a national brand, in January 2005, Haiers refrigerators were selected as best sellers in the UK by Ethical Consumer (Haier Worldwide, 2008) Haier employ over 50, 000 workers throughout the world, it has 240 subordinate companies and 30 design centers, plants and also trade companies. Their product categories are range from refrigerators, refrigerating cabinets, washing machine, air conditioners, home theatre systems, televisions, mobile phones, water heaters, DVD players and integrated furniture. Haier broadly recognized as a world leader in the technology domains of networked home appliances, intelligent integrated home furniture, digitalization and large scale integrated circuits. Different with other corporations, Haier is a state-owed company leading among others Chinese companies along with its brand name. They have been well developed and consistent which has leaded them rapidly expansion into the international market after the successfulness in its local country, and it is continues to grow until today. 3.0 Discussions 3.1 Haiers Internal and External Strategic Environment 3.1.1 SWOT Analysis The central purpose of the SWOT analysis (see appendix ) is to identify strategies that align, fit or match a companys resources and capabilities to the demands of the environment in which the company operates (Gerry Johnson et al, 2008). Organizations have to critically evaluate all strategic alternatives by using SWOT analysis to achieve its major goals and targets. In other words, Haier practices SWOT as to build on strengths so as to utilize opportunities and counteract threats, and at the same time correct its weakness. Haier has strong technology strength, they are broadly well known by leading nine products in its domestic markets share and also the top three white goods brand in terms of three products (refrigerator, air-conditioner and washing machine) in global market. They are also a world-class group in the fields of household appliances, network appliances, digital and large range integrated circuits and new equipments. Beside that, Haier also has a long term fundamental drive, which is innovation force that applies in its producing and management. As a result, their innovation in providing after-sales service has brings significance response from its customers. New upgraded products like dual drive washing machine, safe care water heater, four temperatures zone refrigerator and smart air conditioner are all been created under Haiers innovation strengths in improving products. Although Haier has a world level of technologies, but they has low level of core technology as they deeply relies on few world well known companies who supply core accessories and core components for Haier. Like for example, Haier used chips which made from Philips in its television industry, also, they bought quality compressors from Mitsubishi in its air-conditioner production. This will be a major weakness for Haier in expanding globally. Haier also weak in channels, the do not have a complete one. They even unable to deliver products to retailers, cost has increased as they needs to rent warehouses for storage purpose. Global economic integration is an opportunity and also a challenge for Haier. Haier may obtain the best quality raw materials from the international markets, recruit the best talents from all over the world, and discover more international markets. Haier should catch this chance and make full use of it to help in its process of globalization. The most important market for Haier is still its domestic market, which is China. As Haier hold more than 26.2% of the overall home appliance market in China, and the household appliances market continues to growth more than 20% every year. Thus, in future, China is still the best market for Haier to earn although they have been entering into international markets. Haier faces tough competition since entering into international markets. In the same industry, there are others worldwide recognized brands such as Panasonic, Samsung, Philips, LG and many mores. Haier is still new in other nations besides China and Asia markets; it is hard to compete with those strong rivals exclusive marketing. As China has bad country image of producing low quality and cheap price products, it is a major problem of Haier which aims to offers premium range of products, they have to against with this threat in order to build its brand into other nation. 3.1.2 OEC Management in Haier OEC stands for Overall Every Control, it also can be indicates as overall everyday/ everyone/ everythings control and clear of every workers in Haier. The CEO of Haier, Zhang, has created the unique OEC management control system to aims at overall control of everything that every employee finishes on his or her job everyday with a 1% increase over what was done the previous day. The OEC management control system has three aspects: target setting, control, checking and clearance; and incentive mechanism. Workers of Haier are awarded based on the quality of their work; it is either red reward or yellow penalty cards will be given. Other than that, promotion is decided by using open biding system to ensure the fairness in the awarding process (Thomas W. Lin, 2005). OEM is a strategic process with all that this involves in terms of the human resources of the company, its change culture and leadership. Thomas W. Lin, 2005 stated that Haiers OEC management-control system and enterprise culture have the following characteristics: Focus on and understand customer value, product quality, operating efficiency, innovation, and speed to market. Commit top management and leadership to creating a new way of management and a performance culture. Involve management and employees in creating the OEC management-control system. Allow them to become familiar with OEC so they feel included and share in ownership of the system. Educate management and employees. Use seminars and weekly company newsletters to explain the firms strategy, customer value, OEC management, and the idea of every employee being a strategic business unit to enable them to understand the concepts and appreciate the benefits. Create desired incentives, and reassure employees that they will be evaluated properly in accordance with their performance. 3.2 Strategic achieves Competitive Advantages If an organization possesses superior knowledge to its competitors then this can deliver core competencies which, in turn, produce competitive advantage (David Campbell, 2007). This segment will be discusses on how Haier adopts Ansoff Matrix and The Strategic Clock to achieve create competitive advantages. 3.2.1 Ansoff Matrix The most commonly used model for anaylysing the possible strategic directions that an organization can follows is the Ansoff Matrix (see appendix ). There are four broad alternatives, which are market penetration, product development, market development and diversification (David Campbell, 2007). Product development involves developing new products for the same existing markets a company has. The ability to innovate is crucial in developing products for rapidly changing consumer markets (Anthony Henry, 2008). In other explanation, product development simply means a company offers or delivers modified or brand new products to the same targeted markets. In the beginning, Haier has only four types of main products, which are refrigerators, air-conditinors, washing machines, and freezers. But in year 1999, Haier had launched a brand new product, named All media, All-digital television. It was a successful launching that has widely attracting a big number of users. Besides that, Haier also developing varieties in the same product line, the modified new products was targeted in the original markets. For example, some new model has been modified in refrigerator line such as little prince series (see appendix ). Market development involves entering new markets with the firms existing products. This may be done by targeting new market segments and new geographical areas, or by devising new uses for its products (Anthony Henry, 2008). Another strategy which Haier adopts to grow is market development. As market development declares as expand existing products to new markets, so it is either through new segments, new users, new geographies, or all three at the same time. In the case of Haier, they overseas to integrates into the global big markets and economies together with their premium white goods. Haier develops in most of the Europe countries included United Kingdom, United States, Germany, and Italy. Thus, they become an international corporation and involves in most of the household appliances manufacturing industry, and also entered cell phone manufacturing, insurance and finance. In the year 2001, they even involves in pharmaceutical industry. Diversification occurs when an organization moves away from a single product or dominant business area into other business areas, which may or may not be related to the original product. Although diversification is a solid strategy that defined as takes the company away from both its existing products and markets, but Gerry Johnson et al, 2008 suggests that a good deal of diversification in practice involves building on relationships with existing markets or products. Diversification is a matter of degree. Clearly Haier has almost perfectly practiced diversification by adopts both product development and market development. Moreover, diversifications have brought extra hidden competitive advantages towards the company. A very common justification of diversification is dispersion risk across a sort of businesses. Haier India has laughed Haier Mobile in year 2005, a whole new product created to entering into new markets. Haier Telecom India Pvt. Ltd. started operations in December 2005 to market Haier Mobiles (see appendix ). With the growing opportunities in India and around the world HTIL has marked its presence across four continents in the high growth centers of Asia, Africa, South America and Europe (Haier Mobiles, 2005). Diversification has been involves in Haier growth stage, besides improvement and growing on white goods industry, they also expanded into other industries that includes communication and IT products, Haier pharmacy, Haier Software and Haier real estate. Diversify from one product to a variety of products (in 1984, we had refrigerators only, and in 1998, we had dozens of products), from white goods to brown goods through capital operation in a way of activating shock fish. Tangible assets were activated using intangible assets and the business was expanded and strengthened at the minimum cost and in the shortest time (Haier, 2008). 3.2.2 The Strategic Clock Cliff Bowman and Richard DAveni emphasis that competitive advantage is achieved by providing customers with what they want, or need, better or more effectively than competitors. The strategy clock (see appendix ) represents different positions in a market where customers have different requirements in terms of money and value (Gerry Johnson et al, 2008). It is important for a firm to focuses on which markets customer they are targeting at, as different customer may have different perceptions on the same product. Most of the consumer have different needs and at the same time searching for different benefits and values. Like for example, for an air-conditioning user, they choose the product based on price or functionality? Haier using differentiation strategy on their new air-conditioning (see appendix ) which has added auto cleaning system. It not just keeps the room chill but at the same time has self-cleaning system works through its new created technology, there is a unique open and close feature adds on to the model. Haier is achieving competitive advantage because with the extra value added on the product yet it still charged at the same price, this shows that they had offers extra benefit that makes their product different from other competitors with a competitive price. 3.3 Strategic competes in International Markets Since 1998, Haier Group exported its outputs first to Germany, then to European countries. After years, they started to entry US markets, Middle Eastern countries, South-eastern countries, and India. According to Charles W. L. Hill et al, 2007 companies need to consider carefully all the possible ways they can set up their operations to minimum risk. He also suggested Haier believes that globalization is not just export, but more crucially create the export license. In order to decrease the risk of entering a new market, they pursue strategic alliances to position its company into new areas, beside that; new plant will be set up (or acquisition decision will be made) only if there is a market and the plant must at least reach a breakeven point. 3.3.1 Strategic Alliances One of the most common ways to entry a new market with low risk is through strategic alliances (see appendix ), where a company can share and use the resources and capabilities held by its partner company. There are some reasons behind of why Haier choosing strategic alliances. First; they may feel that it can benefit from its local partners knowledge of a host nations competitive conditions, culture, language, political systems and business systems. Second, when the development costs and risks of opening up a foreign market are high, they may gain by sharing these costs and risks with its local partner. Third, political considerations in some nations make strategic the only feasible entry mode (Charles W. L. Hill et al, 2007). A New York based import corporation named Welbilt Appliances which owed by Michael Jemal approached Haier to invites them to entry US market in 1994. In the same year, Welbilt Appliances bought 150,000 units consists of three models of compact refrigerators that met the safety and energy standards of US from Haier. All units were sold in a year under Welbilts name. Haier America was formed in 1999 after the successfulness of the mini-refrigerators line, a new office has located in Manhattan with 17 staffs, and for the first year of operations, they target to reach $50 million dollar of sales. After three years, they had reach a wonderful result that they had sold 80,000 full size refrigerators, approximately 2% of the US market. 3.3.2 Acquisition Acquisitions are often been use to enter a new market area for the company when they need other companys competencies to survive in the area. The benefits behind acquisitions are a company can purchase a market leader in a strong cash position overnight, rather than spend years building up market leadership through internal development (Charles W. L. Hill et al, 2007). A company choose to acquiring another company for certain reasons, and for Haier, it simply because they need to move fast in internalization. Charles W. L. Hill et al, 2008 argues that acquisitions are also perceived to be somewhat less risky than internal new ventures, primarily because they involve less certainty. Given the nature of internal new ventures, large uncertainties are associated with projecting future profitability, revenue and cash flow. In the year 2001, a refrigerator plant located in Padova, Italy (one of the most giant manufacturers which producing build-in appliances) has been chosen by Haier to acquire and invested $8 million dollar, the new plant is planned to manufacture build-in freezers and refrigerators for the fast growing build-in sector on that time in European market. Right in the next year, another new Italy-based organization named Haier A/C Trading has been formed and air-conditioners were began to been supplying in the local market. 4.0 Conclusion and Recommendation From the analysis, all the findings showed that today Haiers achievement are much related with the strategies they practised. Based on the SWOT analysis, there is evidences show that Haier has its strengths to competes in its targeted industry, the OEM Management system has even strengthen up its capability to overcome possible threats and help them to catch opportunities for now and future. By practising diversification and other related strategies under Ansoff Matrix, it has allowed Haier to gain competitive advantages in local and international market making them the well-known premium white goods brand in the world. Combination of all strategies has brought Haier to reach first-class performance, and also achieve the quality of service class in its industry, they are still the only Asian company awarded Five Star Diamond Award. Competitive-oriented overseas market entry and uses strategies in gaining competitive advantages are the major motive of Haier to compete with world giants in its internationalisation planning and will be continues reaching successfulness in the future.

Essay --

â€Å"I will start my essay after I finish this level in this game,† is what I said nearly three hours ago. It has been a whole mess from then on: one level turned into two, then a few more, followed by a few YouTube videos and some online chatting. To say, it in simple words, I procrastinated. Procrastination is only the action of delaying or postponing something. Everyone procrastinates. People procrastinate because they do not want to do a certain task, or because they have too many other things to do. Doing things at the last moment causes chaos and stress. Like all other problems, procrastination leaves over its side effects, which include missed opportunities, frantic work hours, stress, overwhelm, resentment, and some remorse. Procrastination is a complex problem, but can be reduced by various methods like self-awareness, motivation, proper time management, etc. Some say that the procrastination occurs because of laziness. However, the behavior pattern of procrastination can be prompted in many ways, so people usually will not procrastinate for the same reason. Sometimes they pro... Essay -- â€Å"I will start my essay after I finish this level in this game,† is what I said nearly three hours ago. It has been a whole mess from then on: one level turned into two, then a few more, followed by a few YouTube videos and some online chatting. To say, it in simple words, I procrastinated. Procrastination is only the action of delaying or postponing something. Everyone procrastinates. People procrastinate because they do not want to do a certain task, or because they have too many other things to do. Doing things at the last moment causes chaos and stress. Like all other problems, procrastination leaves over its side effects, which include missed opportunities, frantic work hours, stress, overwhelm, resentment, and some remorse. Procrastination is a complex problem, but can be reduced by various methods like self-awareness, motivation, proper time management, etc. Some say that the procrastination occurs because of laziness. However, the behavior pattern of procrastination can be prompted in many ways, so people usually will not procrastinate for the same reason. Sometimes they pro...

Comparing four or more poems Essay

The world around you is full of relationships. Some good, some bad. A relationship can bring happiness and love whilst also bringing sadness and unpleasantness. Two people having emotional feeling for each other, sharing those feelings with comfort and pleasure, form a relationship. Many will say that a relationship is the best thing ever, whilst others may say it’s also the worst. When a relationship forms why does there always have to be a good and a bad part? One of the poems I have studied is ‘this be the verse’ by Philip Larkin. It is about a child blaming everything that has happened to him on his parents. Larkin has expressed his feelings for a relationship by using the bitter and brutal word ‘fuck’. He chooses these choices of words to shock the readers and members of his family. When the poem was write in 1960 the word ‘fuck’ would have been even more offensive than it is now. Ask yourself why call the poem ‘this be the verse’? Larkin uses the word ‘be’ to get his point across on relationships. Using the word ‘be’ makes his opinion a fixed thing. Larkin’s uses of language in this poem sets out the pessimistic image that your parents destroy you. You can tell that him and his parents have never really got along by the quote: ‘they fuck you up your mum and dad’. Larkin is applying that your parents mess you up when he states ‘they may not mean to but they do’. He also sets up the image of hatred by using the rhythm to bang in an effect of anger. The rhythm is bouncy and contracts with the message. Having said that it also depends on your mood when reading the poem. Larkin obviously had a disruptive childhood by the tone and the mood of his poem. ‘Add some extra just for you’. Larkin dents the ironic image by implying he is ashamed of his parents and their parents. The second verse sets up the impression that Larkin might have changed his mind about his parents as the first word is ‘but’. However I was wrong he carries on throughout the verse ‘slagging off’ his parents and grandparents by saying ‘by fools in old style hats and coats’. On verse three he still hasn’t changed his mind about his distraught childhood and his hatred towards his parents. ‘It deepens like a coastal shelf’ Larkin explains that his hurt and hatred built up and deepens more every time he got hurt. Larkin obviously cannot forget about this childhood and forgive his parents for the way he has turned out. He states ‘get out as early as you can’. Larkin gets the impression across the only way to stop you tuning out like you family is to kill yourself. ‘This be the verse’ is a misanthropic poem. Does this mean that Philip Larkin agrees with Sartre, that hell is other people? My opinion towards this poem is that the poet, Philip Larkin is cruel and bitter towards his parents. He gives off the impression very clearly that he has no respect for his parents and grandparents what so ever. And it is very clear that he is not willing to forgive his parents for the way in which he has turned out. However his opinion is different than mine. I feel that the way you turn out has some effect on your parents. However most of it is up to you, by the way you choose to dot things and the way you choose to learn from your mistakes yourself. Another poem I have chosen to study is called ‘the sick equation’ written by Brian Patten. What is a healthy equation? One that works, that provides an answer. Patten is implying that the ‘sick equation’ is one that doesn’t work. Signifying that his parents don’t work well together. At the beginning of each poem ‘this be the verse’ and ‘the sick equation’ they both have a point of comparison. Both poets bring the image across that a relationship is a fixed and bad thing by Patten using ‘absolute’ and Larkin using ‘be’. Are both poets establishing the same message? Patten’s poem talks about the difference at home and school. ‘In school I learned that one and one made two and could have been engraved in stone, an absolute I could not question or refute’. Patten gives out the impression that at school everything has an answer however at home nothing adds up. He the goes on to use the ironic message ‘but home sweet home’ he uses irony to get the message across that he doesn’t care. I feel using irony has more of an impact that not using it. In the second verse Patten uses the strong word ‘raw’. He describes that he is feeling hurt and the hatred towards his parents has grown strongly. ‘In that raw cocoon of parental hate’. ‘I came to believe how it was best that one remained one, for two, one at least would suffer so’. Here Patten explains that for the best its better to keep yourself to yourself, as if you are to become committed at least one of you would hurt. He objects with his mum and dad being together as one of them is always hurting. In the second verse Patten is applying that he had love but let it go by the comment ‘believing this I threw away so many gifts- I never let love stay enough to take to take root, but by thinking myself of too little worth I crushed all its messengers. His parents have let love go for him, they have spoiled love for him, the way his mum and dad acted towards each other impacted into Patten that love is not a good thing. He goes on to stay ‘I grew-or did not grow-and kept my head down low, and drifted with the crowd’. Even though he grew on the outside in height he still remained immature on the inside. ‘I stayed apart, stayed one claiming separateness was out of choice, and at every wedding ceremony I saw the shadow albatross- divorce- fall over groom and bride’. By saying this it implied that for some time that Patten never had the courage to have a full time relationship, as he was scared that the same might happen to him that happened to his parents. It feels that Patten sees a divorce at the beginning of a wedding. In the final verse Patten states that he can’t blame his parents for the way he turned out. (Unlike Larkin) he explains to the reader that he can’t judge everyone for the way they are or that way they have been brought up. He changes his opinion on his parents towards the end of the poem. Its absurd to believe all others are as damaged as we’, ‘the lesson that our parents taught’ he clearly feels he cannot blame his family for what had happened to him now and in the past. He can forgive and forget, unlike Larkin. Unlike Larkin, Patten chooses to only highlight the positive side of a relationship. Pattens choice of words hammer to message into the head that not all relationships are bad, just because he had a bad experience he learnt that you will always be able to love someone. The language he uses relates to his loneliness and hurt in his past. He expresses his hurtful past through his poetry. Another poem I looked at is ‘looking for dad’ again by Brain Patten. You can guess what Patten is going to talk about before reading it for yourself. His dad. The poem is about a boy who thinks his dad has ran away because he hadn’t tided his room, when really it was just another relationship ending disruptly. The poem is set out from the others, when you look at a poem the first thing you will notice is the fact is has verses. ‘Looking for dad’ is all joint together without any verses.