Pride Before the Fall Essay Example for Free

Pride Before the Fall Essay It was once said by Abraham Lincoln, â€Å"Nearly all men can stand, but if you want to test a man’s character give him power. This quote helped me agree with John Acton Quote, â€Å"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely†. Based on the fact that there is countless amounts of stories of people corrupting, from school principals to political leaders, power will corrupt. For my first example of corruption from power, is the story of a Middle School Principal. This Middle School principal was accused and found guilty to embezzling from her very own school. She was found embezzling over ten thousand dollars in things from dinner bills to electronics. This principal is for me a prime example of power corrupting because just cause she was in power she decided to take from what she was in charge of whether it was moral or not because she was in charge of the school and was only sentenced to four years in prison plus four years parole. Following was the example, which I thought was the most hypercritical, of ten Atlanta police officers. These ten police officers were being accused of corruption based on the fact that they were soliciting drugs. I thought thus to be major corruption because they only took the drugs because they were in uniforms and had supposed authority which they used for their own pleasure and benefits instead of what they were originally hired for which is the serve and protect. Finally was the example which came to me the quickest of a French man. This Frenchmans name was Maximillen de Robespierre most commonly known for being a major leader in the French revolution. Maximillen Robespierre was followed for his leadership skills but was once almost instantly corrupt when in power. What many people don’t know is that Robespierre was a reigning terrorist he used his power and his guillotine which he used in a combination to behead anyone who opposed him or his thoughts publically just to remain in power as long as he was able to.

An analysis of Strategic management

An analysis of Strategic management Initially strategic management was of most use to large corporations operating in multiple industries. Increasing risk of error, costly mistakes and even economic ruin are causing todays professional managers in all organizations to take strategic management seriously in order to keep their company competitive in an increasing volatile environment. (Frery 2006) Different authors have described strategic management as followed: The strategic management is used to present to strategic formulation, implementation and evaluation with strategic planning referring only the strategy formulation (Pearce Robinson 2000) the intention of the strategic management is to develop and produce new and different opportunities for future. As Mr. Potter refers that Strategy is the direction of an organization over the long term which achieves advantage in a changing environment through its configuration of resources and competences with the fulfilling stakeholder expectations. This in turn led to organizational development activities as reorganizing, new definitions of roles, jobs and etc. (Potter 1996) And also it can be carried in the strategic management is that set of managerial decision and action that determines the long run performance of a corporation. It includes environment scanning (both external and internal).strategic formulation (strategic or long range planning), strategic implementation and evaluation and control. As this definition implies, strategic management focuses on integrating management, marketing, finance, and production / operations, research and development and computer information system to achieve organizational success. (Hoskisson, Hitt Wan 1999) The study of strategic management therefore emphasizes the monitoring and evaluating of external opportunities and threats in light of a corporations strengths and weaknesses. Strategic management as a field of study incorporates the integrative concerns of business policy with a heavier environmental and strategic emphasis. Therefore strategic management has tended to replace business policy as the preferred name of the field. (Hoskisson, Hitt Wan 1999) The strategic management is a core area for an organization in order to explore the problems which result in success or failure. Strategic management has been defined as that set of decisions and actions which lead to the development of an effective strategy or strategies to help achieve corporate objectives. (Luffman, Lea, Sanderson and Kenny 1996) Basic stages of strategic management: The strategic management process consists of four basic stages. Environmental scanning, strategic formulation, strategic implementation, and evaluation and control. Environmental scanning:- Before an organization can begin strategy formulation, it must scan the environment to identify possible opportunities and threats and as well the strength and weaknesses. Environmental scanning is the monitoring, evaluating and disseminating of information from the internal and the external environments to key people within the organization. A organization use this method to avoid strategic surprise and to ensure its long term health. Research has found a positive relationship between environmental scanning and profit (Thomas, Clark Gioia 1993) Strategic formulation:- This is the expansion of the long range plans for the effective management of environmental opportunities and threats as well as the organization strength and weakness. It consist of defining the corporate mission, identify achievable objective, rising strategies the setting policies. Strategy formulation issue include deciding what new business to enter, what businesses to abandon, how to allocate resources, whether to expand operations or identify, whether to enter international markets, whether to merge or form a joint venture and how to avoid a hostile. Because every organizations have limited resources itself. So strategists ought to decide which alternative strategy will be benefit for the firm most. Top managers have the best perception of understanding effect of strategy formulation and they are the persons who have the authority to commit the resources necessary for implementation. (Hitt Michael 2006.) Strategic implementation:- Strategic implementation is the most difficult stage in strategic management. This process requires a firm to establish annual objectives, devise policies, motivate employees and allocate resources for the implementation of the formulated strategies. This is the process that converts the strategies and policies in to the action through the development of programs. Strategy implementation includes developing a strategy-supportive culture, creating an effective organizational structure, redirecting marketing efforts, plan the budgets, developing and utilizing information system and linking employee payment to organization performance. (Hitt Michael 2006.) Evaluation and control:- Strategic evaluation is the final stage in the strategic management. The purpose of this process is to evaluate the actual performance of an organization to do the comparison with the desire result. Because the strategic management processes were inappropriately used, operational managers must know about it. So that they can correct the employee activity. Evaluating and controlling is the major element of the strategic management to identify the weaknesses in previous executed strategic planes and thus stimulated the entire process to begin again. And all strategies are the subject to future modification because external and internal factors are continuously changing. Followings are the three fundamental strategy evaluation activities Reviewing external and internal factors that are the bases for current strategies. Measuring performance. Talking corrective action. (Hitt Michael 2006.) The phases of the strategic management: A firm generally evolves through the following four basic phases of strategic management Basic financial planning (phase. 1):- The project is based on the analysis very little proposed with the most information from the organization. The sales typically offer the small amount of environmental protection, information. Such simple operational planning is only pretending, strategic management, and it is quite time consuming. The time horizon is usually one year. (Gluck, Kaufman Welleck 1982) Forecast based planning (phase.2):- In addition to internal information, managers gather available data from environment to extrapolate the current trend of five years and future. This phase also time consuming. The process gets very political as managers compete for larger share and funds. The time horizon is usually three to five years. (Gluck, Kaufman Welleck 1982) Externally oriented planning (phase.3):- Top level management controls the planning process by the introduction of strategic planning. The company tries to increase its responsiveness to changing markets and competition through strategic thinking. Top management typically develops five-year plan with the help of consultants but input from lower levels. (Gluck, Kaufman Welleck 1982) Strategic management (phase.4):- The employees at many levels from various departments and works groups develop and integrate a serious of strategic plans aimed at achieving the companys primary objectives. The complicated annual five years plan is replaced with the help of all levels of the organization throughout the year. (Gluck, Kaufman Welleck 1982) Levels of strategic management: Strategy exists at a number of levels in an organization. They are, Corporate level strategy:- This is concerned about the overall scope of an organization and how value will be added to the different units of an organization. Corporate strategy tropically fit with the three main categories of stability, expansion and reduction of expenditure. (Ansoff 2002) According to Michael potter, a firm must formulate a business strategy that incorporates cost leadership, differentiation or focus in order to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage and long term success in its chosen areas or industries. (Potter 1993). Alternatively, according to Kim and Mauborgne, an organization can achieve high growth and profits by creating a blue ocean strategy that breaks the previous value cost trade off by simultaneously pursuing both differentiation and low cost. (Kim Mauborgne 2007) Eg:- Nicholas piramal follower a corporative growth strategy in order to have more share formulation drugs In corporate strategy, Johnson, Scholes and Whittington present models in which strategic option are evaluated against three key success criteria, Suitability (would it work?) Feasibility (can it be made to work) Acceptability (will they work it) (Johnson, Scholes Whittington 2008) Business level strategy:- The second level is business level strategy which is about how various businesses included in the business strategy and compete in their particular markets. Because of this reason business strategy is called as competitive strategy. This typically concerns issues such as pricing strategy, innovation or differentiation instance by better quality. So where ever corporate level strategy involves decision about the overall organization as a whole, strategic decision related to particular strategic business unit within the overall organization. (Johnson, Scholes Whittington 2008) According to Potters statement The business strategy must be maintained continually, in line with changes in the business and its environment. It should be formally reviewed at least annually as part of the business planning round; it provides the context for progress reporting on strategic themes. (Potter 1993). The business strategy must always show progress against plans to date, to enable planners to determine the current business environment and the impact that specific change programs and projects will have on the organization as a whole. There must be accurate, timely information about: Major investments to date, the corporate risk register, For each major investment, the risks associated with it. (Potter 1996) Operational strategy:- The third level of strategy is at the operating end of an organization. This is an approach taken by the functional areas to achieve the corporate objectives and strategies by maximizing the resources productivity.

Case Study Russell Hobbs Marketing Essay

Case Study Russell Hobbs Marketing Essay Now a day in this business word everyone wants to be a global company. To expend the business in a new area this module (International marketing strategy) help us to make a clear view how to enter a new market and what criteria have to follow to be successful in international market. By following these organizations can achieve the position within a short possible time. It may be valuable for the organization and also easier for them to understand the facts what they are doing, what they need to do. So they need to develop a strategy what tell them how they can enter in a new market and what the need to change or develop to be successful in foreign market. Because of the competitive business world and economic developments organizations always try to capture the market. And they always look for a new place to do business that increase their business profit. In here I am going to examine the new market environment, market mix strategy and strategy for entering in a new market for Russell Hobbs. This module will help a lot to examine the new market environment, mix strategy and how to enter in a new market. About Russell Hobbs: Russell Hobbs ltd is a UK based private company established in 1952 by Bill Russell and Peter Hobbs. In 1952, they designed the worlds first automatic coffee percolator, the CP1.(  About us  Official Russell Hobbs website) Russell Hobbs has been tantamount with quality, style and innovation for the kitchen and home for over fifty years. The brand led the way by introducing products which offer real consumer reimbursement and technological advancements to make life in the home easier and more enjoyable.   Throughout the decades, in kettles and toasters manufacturing they took the No 1 place, and today they admitted themselves as a leading brand in this area. With this superior track record and legacy, they have since become a leading brand in  irons, food preparation and now floor care. And they extend their business in other markets, such as heating, cookware and bake ware. (http://www.russellhobbs.co.uk/about/#1) Today Russell Hobbs boasts an extraordinary product portfolio and is continuing to develop into new categories. From kettles  and toasters to cooking, cleaning and garment care, each and every product is intended with the consumer in mind to offer the decisive in performance, practicality, ease of use and style.( http://www.russellhobbs.co.uk/about/#1) The name of Russell Hobbs recognised as a leading small kitchen appliance brand in the UK by nine out of ten consumers and has won many awards and product accreditations by leading institutes and organisations. From day one the company was always in profit. It because of the understanding capability of customer needs and demand. And also the new product innovation through introducing new technology their products are always successful in the market. From last 50 years they are the leading kettle maker in Great Britain. And from the foundation of their business they always try to make product which is easy to use and more appealing to their customers. Selection of international market: Selection of foreign market is one of the basic and important factors to launch a product for any company, so the choice of mode of entering in a foreign market is another major issue by which now a days international businesses must tussle. To select an international market company have to understand the business environment of that country it will help them to be successful in foreign market. As per my interest I am going to choose Bangladesh as a foreign market and UK based company Russell Hobbs ltd. is the host country. I am going to choose Kettle one of the best product of Russell Hobbs ltd. So, to do business in Bangladesh its market environment is more feasible. To justify this comment, I am going to use an analytical process that called PESTLE analysis. It will give us a clear idea that the environment of Bangladesh is feasible or not to do business for Russell Hobbs ltd. PESTLE analysis: PESTLE ECONOMICAL SOCIOLOAGICAL TECHNOLOGICAL LEGAL POLITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL A PESTLE analysis is a useful tool for understanding the big picture of the environment in which an organisation is operating. Specifically for understanding risks associated with market (the need for a product or service) growth or decline PESTLE analysis is useful tool, and as such the position, potential and direction for an individual business or organisation.   Political: Bangladesh is a  unitary state  and  governmental democracy. (Constitution of Bangladesh. Parliament.gov.bd. Retrieved 2010-11-28.) In here direct elections took place every five years for the  unicameral  parliament known as  Jatiya Sangsad. Aged 18 or over, can vote to choose a democracies government. The President is the head of state but mainly a ceremonial post elected by the parliament. There are two  major parties  in Bangladesh. They are the  Bangladesh Awami League  and the  Bangladesh Nationalist Party  (BNP). Student politics is particularly strong in Bangladesh, a bequest from the liberation movement period. Almost all parties have exceedingly active student wings, and student leaders have been elected to the Parliament. In the last few years has been consistently good. Bangladesh has most astutely and foresightedly chosen to set up itself as a secular democracy.( BY- Ishtiaq Ahmed, http://www.defence.pk/forums/bangladesh-defence/71487-view-political-economy-bangladesh-ishtiaq-ahmed.html) Economical: Since her independence in 1971, Bangladesh has made significant strides in her economic sector. Although the economy has improved vastly in the 1990s, in the area of foreign trade in South Asian region Bangladesh still suffers a lot. Bangladesh has made some development improving the climate for foreign investors and liberalizing the capital markets; for example, it has negotiated with foreign firms for oil and gas exploration, better countrywide supply of cooking gas, and the construction of natural gas pipelines and power stations. Progress on other economic reforms has been halting because of opposition from the system of government, public sector unions, and other vested interest groups. Bangladesh has seen a remarkable increase in  foreign direct investment. A number of  multinational corporations  and local big business houses such as  Beximco,  Square,  Akij Group,  Ispahani,  Navana Group,  Transcom Group,  Habib Group,  KDS Group,  Dragon Group  and multinationals such as  Unocal Corporation  and  Chevron, have already made a major investment, with the natural gas sector being a main concern. Fiscal Year Total Export Total Import Foreign Remittance Earnings 2007-2008 $14.11b $25.205b $8.9b 2008-2009 $15.56b $22.00b+ $9.68b 2009-2010(Set Target) $17.6b N/A $10.87b Bangladeshs textile industry, which includes knitwear and ready-made garments by the side of with specialized textile products, this area is considered as the nations number one export earner, accounting for 80% of Bangladeshs exports of $15.56 billion in 2009.(Sandeep Mahajan, Bangladesh: Strategy for Sustained Growth, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network, World Bank (July 26, 2007). Web.worldbank.org. Retrieved 2010-07-03)  Bangladesh considered as 3rd in world textile exports behind Turkey, another low volume exporter, and China which exported $120.1 billion worth of textiles in 2009. The industry employs almost 3.5 million workers in this country. Till date current exports have doubled since 2004. The economy of Bangladesh is constituted by that of a developing country. ( Population Division dourboyz.com. 2010. Retrieved, 03-12-03-2010.) Its per in 2008 was est. US$1,500 (adjusted by purchasing power parity). Bangladesh ranked as the 48th largest economy in the world in 2009, (According to the International Monetary Fund) with a gross domestic product of US$256 billion. Over the past few years the economy has grown at the rate of 6.7% p.a. Sociological: Bangladesh is the most densely populated no island nation in the world. With approximately 125 million inhabitants living in an area of 55,813 square miles, there are about 2,240 persons per square mile. The majority of the population (98 percent) is Bengali, with 2 percent belonging to tribal or other non-Bengali groups. Approximately 83 percent of the population is Muslim, 16 percent is Hindu, and 1 percent is Buddhist, Christian, or other. Annual population growth rate is at about 2 percent. (http://www.everyculture.com/A-Bo/Bangladesh.html) Bangladesh has a number of excellent universities in its largest urban areas that offer both undergraduate through post-graduate degrees. The most prominent universities, most of which are state supported, include: Dhaka University, Rajshahi University, Chittagong University, Jahngirnagar University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, and Bangladesh Agricultural University. Now days in Bangladesh there are a number of good private universities that provides world class education as well. Technology: The need for faster technological development is gradually more felt in Bangladesh. Development plans of Bangladesh have emphasized science and technological research to develop technologies through espousal of imported technology as well as development of aboriginal technologies. As the country is heavily dependent on imported technologies, proper planning is required for its effective transfer through acquisition, absorption and adoption.   Government has been formulated and adopted new science and technology policy. It has laid down the directions for S and T activities and research, institutional and manpower development, dissemination and documentation facilities.   Legal: LEGAL SYSTEM III.C.1. Common Law System The legal system of Bangladesh is based on a common law system. On the other hand, unlike other common law jurisdictions, Bangladeshs Supreme Court has the power to not only construe laws made by the Parliament but to also declare them null and void and enforce fundamental rights of the citizens. Although founded on the English common law system, the laws of Bangladesh take a statutory form which are enacted by the legislature and interpreted by the higher courts. The govt. regulations or the legal condition of Bangladesh is also not a big obstacle at starting new business or to launch new product. But in terms of introducing new consumer product, a company must obtain the approval of BSTI (Bangladesh Standard Testing Institute). So to launch a product the company must obtain BSTI approval. FOREIGN INVESTMENT INCENTIVES IV.A. General Incentives for Foreign Investment The government has been keen in promoting foreign investment and continues in its efforts to attract such investment as a means of alleviating the economy. In addition, the government has liberalised the industrial and investment policies in recent years by reducing interfering control over private investment. Investment Incentives: Tax Exemptions: Generally 5 to 7 years. However, for power generation exemption is allowed for 15 years. Duty: No import duty for export oriented industry. For other industry it is at 5% ad valorem. Tax Law: Double taxation can be avoided in case of foreign investors on the basis of bilateral agreements. Exemption of income tax up to 3 years for the expatriate employees in industries specified in the relevant schedule of Income Tax ordinance. Remittance: Facilities for full repatriation of invested capital, profit and dividend. Exit: An investor can wind up an investment either through a decision of the AGM or EGM. Once a foreign investor completes the formalities to exit the country, he or she can repatriate the sales proceeds after securing proper authorization from the central bank. Ownership: Foreign investors can set up ventures which are either wholly owned or in collaboration with a local partner. (www.lexmundi.com/images/lexmundi/PDF/guide_bangla.pdf) Environment: Environment of Bangladesh is more feasible. Though, Bangladesh is a central point of reference for the inequality of climate change. Its per capita energy utilization is the equal of about 1 litre of oil per week, causative a small fraction of 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet the country is listed in various risk assessments as  one of the most susceptible in the world to the effects of climate change. Rising sea levels intimidate inundation and salty interference in the southern coastal area, the risk accentuated by prediction of larger cyclone intensity. In a climate pincer movement from the north, melting Himalayan glaciers may disrupt the flows of the three great rivers, first with excess flooding and ultimately with diminished volume. Unreliable monsoon patterns and longer periods of deficiency in the north complete the roll call of climate predictions for Bangladesh. (http://uk.oneworld.net/guides/bangladesh/climate-change?gclid=CIaE58-6xqYCFQ8f4QodOTBuIA) Marketing Mix Marketing Mix  is the set of marketing tools that the firm uses to follow its marketing objectives. Marketing mix has a classification for these marketing tools. These marketing are classified and called as the Four Ps: Product Price Place Promotion The most fundamental marketing tool is product which includes product design, quality, features, branding, and packaging. An essential marketing tool is price which determines the amount of money that customers pay for the product. It also includes discounts, allowances, credit terms and payment period. Place is another important marketing mix tool. And it includes a range of activities that the company undertakes to make the product easy to get to and available to the customer. Some factors that choose the place are transport facilities, channels of distribution, coverage area, etc. Promotion is the last marketing mix tool which includes all the activities that the company undertakes to converse and promote their product to target market. Promotion includes sales promotion, advertising, sales force, public relations, direct marketing, etc. (http://www.scribd.com/doc/8719148/Pepsi-Marketing-Mix) Product In marketing, a product is everything that can be presented to a market that might assure a want or need of customers. There is of two types of product, Tangible (physical) and Intangible (non-physical). Since services have been at the front position of all modern marketing strategies, some intangibility has become important part of marketing offers. All products offered in a market can be placed between Tangible (Pure Product) and Intangible (Pure Service) range. Russell Hobbs product: Russell Hobbs introduces a lot of quality products to their customer. And because of the quality and new technology uses on their product these are most successful being the time those introduced. It is a multinational company and it is not limited to one product. Through the years they have invented and introduced many products than their main Kettle product. They are offering a range of household products like Kettles, Toasters, Irons, Coffee maker, Food preparation, Cooking Baking, Floor care, Cookware etc. Price In economics and business, the price is the assigned numerical pecuniary value of a good, service or asset. To develop a marketing plan price is one of the essential variables in the marketing mix model. Pricing is a big part of the marketing mix. Choosing the right price and the right pricing strategy is decisive to the marketing process. The price of the product is not always fixed. On the other hand the price of the product depends on lots of other factors. Some times the price of the product has got nothing to do with the real product itself. The price may proceed as a way to catch the attention of target customers. Russell Hobbs price: It was a company that ruling the markets before others entered. Previously the price of its product was cost based. It was decided on the cost which was exhausted on making the product plus the profit and other expenses. But after the appearance of other companies it started with a pricing strategy based on the basis of competition. Nowadays additional expenses are spent on advertising products of the company relatively than on manufacturing. Place Place is a term that has a diversity of meanings in a lexicon sense, but which is principally used in a geographic sense as a noun to denote location, though in a sense of a location identified with that which is located there. In marketing, place refers to one of the 4 Ps, defined as the marketplace. It can mean a geographic location, an industry, a group of people (a segment) to whom a company wants to sell its products or services, like a young professional women (for selling cosmetics) or middle-aged family men (for selling family cars). Promotion Promotion is one of the four aspects of marketing. Promotion comprises has four subcategories: Advertising Personal selling Sales promotion Publicity and public relations The arrangement of these four variables creates a promotional mix or promotional plan. A promotional mix specifies how much awareness to pay to each of the four subcategories, and how much money to budget for each. A promotional plan can have a large range of objectives, including- sales increases, new product reception, creation of brand equity, positioning, competitive retaliations, or creation of a corporate image. Foreign market entry strategy for Russell Hobbs: To enter any foreign market there are some strategy that should be follow to be successful. After doing the market analysing by using pestle analysis and doing marketing mix strategy I have come to know the market and what will need to capture a new market. Now I am trying to evaluate a market entry strategy for Russell Hobbs to enter Bangladesh Market. My approach to develop a market-entry strategy follows a proven and structured process, based on extensive industry experience and in-depth understanding of all aspects that feed into a commercial launch. To enter a new market they have to analysis the market first. And also have some approach like: Decrease the financial ambiguity that derives from lack of comprehensive market analysis and a structured strategic plan Make a possible business plan collaboration and financial planning Preliminary business case assumptions need to be revisited to superior communication with market conditions and chosen market position Create launch competence by delivering a structure for consequent planning of strategic launch activities, coordinating and prioritising tasks for launch team Make a contingency plan for risk management and market perception control Launch organisations face immense pressures on market entry, created by internal and external prospect. Some of these pressures can be relies by developing a clear and planned market-entry strategy and efficient functional plans. Market entry strategy Vision and Mission Objective Overall strategy Positioning Brand Target segment Strategic decisions Pricing Brand and communication Sales and distribution Products and services Customer service Launch phasing Tactical launch plan Contingency plan Products services Pricing Brand and communication Sales distribution channels Customer service Internal and external factors Conclusion: So from the above finding I am came on conclusion that for making entry in any international market we should follow the rules and enter in a market with perfect strategy, and my focused on launching my product, and I am focused on market mixed strategy and from the depth of the research which I do for my launching of the product so I find that Bangladesh is the best place for launching my product, because it is the place which fulfil all the requirements which I am looking for, This involved, marketing plan marketing strategy and a sound marketing mix decision. Having completed this, the report then concluded of what best entry strategy Russell Hobbs can undertake to successfully launch business in Bangladesh.

Cooperative Learning Essay examples -- Teaching Education

Cooperative Learning During the weekend I spent learning about the theories and structures of cooperative learning, I was captivated by five components of cooperative learning. I intend to use these five in my own classroom. They begin with the introduction games Pleased to Meet You and Knotting Acquaintance followed by the creation of base groups and finally STAD and TGT. These are five basic, yet exciting ways to use cooperative groups in the classroom. I will use the first two introduction games at the start of the school year, because students are nervous about the start of school and these games are great for breaking the ice. I would start with the pleased to meet you form. This gets students talking amongst one another and opens the door for the new students to see that they have things in common with their new peers. Once they have had ample time to complete the questionnaire I would have them take a seat and tell me about some of the common traits they shared. After we spent a few minutes talking about the importance of working as a team and learning to count or your partners we would work through the Knotting Acquaintance activity. This would show me who the leaders were, who the analyzers were and who was simply going to follow the others. This is another activity that will help the new students become a part of the group. By feeling comfortable in the classroom the new students will feel less shock about being in a new sc hool and will assimilate t...

Varicella â€Zoster Virus Essay -- Health, Diseases, Chickenpox

Varicella –Zoster Virus (VZV) is a ubiquitous, double standard DNA virus that belongs to the herpes virus group. Like other herpes viruses, VZV may persist in the body after primary infection .VZV is a virus exists across the globe having a high prevalence in temperate climates. It also has a high prevalence in seasons of late winter and early spring. The primary infection results in Varicella (chicken pox) whereas recurrent infection causes herpes zoster (shingles). The virus is approximately 150 to 200 nanometer in size, is the smallest of the known viruses causing herpes and lacks genes for several proteins found in HSV, which is the prototype of the alpha herpes viruses, such as glycoprotein D (Mandell et al., 2009). The virus has a high sensitivity to temperature and becomes inactivated at approximately 56-60 degrees Celsius (Arvin, 1996). If it is was exposed to such a high temperature the viral envelope would be disrupted making the virus not infectious. Varicella zoste r virus produces six or more glycoproteins, such as gB (gpII), gC (gpIV), gE (gpI), gH(gpIII), and gL, which are also expressed on the cell membranes during viral replication (Arvin, 1996). The gE protein is produced abundantly in VZV. The gB protein is the target of neutralizing antibodies and may play a role in virus entry. The gH protein appears to have fusion function, facilitating cell –to-cell spread of the virus. The prevention of the spread of VZV is difficult because contagious persons can go 1 – 2 days without signs and symptoms (Arvin, 1996). VZV is transmitted by respiratory droplets or direct contact with rash lesions, and patients are usually contagious from a few days before rash onset until the rash has crusted over. VZV enters the body throu... ...l VZV infection (chickenpox) can contract chickenpox from someone with recurrent infection (shingles). In such cases, transmission occurs during exposure when the rash is in the blister-phase, not through sneezing or coughing. Treatments that are available consist of antiviral therapy such as acyclovir, famciclovir and valacyclovir (Stoppler, 2011). These antivirals help the severity of varicella and herpes zoster. An important vaccine that is available for people over the age of 60 is called Zostavax. Zostavax is available in the market which can reduce the risk of shingles (Stoppler, 2011). It is a live vaccine that boosts the immune system, provides protections against the virus and it complications. It has shown to reduce the risk of shingles by half in older individuals and also reduces the severity and length of disease in those who still develop shingles.

Racism & Freedom Writers

When I was reading the section of Racism in Multicultural Class, the facilitator’s way of handling the subject â€Å"Racism† reminds me ‘’Freedom Writers† the movie, which is based on a book of Erin Gruwell -a new teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach. She chose the school because of its integration program, but she did not expect a class consist of students who have racist problem. Students splitted into different racial groups, who are ready for fighting, hate each other, but also they hate Erin more than anybody else.On the other hand, senior teachers of the school just ignored the students and they did not make an effort to pave for solving racist problems. Somehow teachers believed that students come to school because of their parents’ insistency and they are not eager to study. Actually, teachers did not want to budge from their privileged positions. When Erin attempted to take a step for the good of students, she is told to do just her job –train them discipline and to obey the rules.Instead being a commanding teacher, Erin wanted to provide a safe space for students to express their feeling, so she asked them to write their own diaries as an assignment, which is not graded. Despite all the resistance, students started to develop trust to her and wrote everything about what it feels to be ‘other’. After they share their narratives and started to communicate with each other.They develop more sensitiveness and interest to other ethnicities by engaging class activities such as visiting the Museum Of Tolerance, and reading the stories from history The Diary of Anne Frank. Erin was happy to see the transformation of them. Before, the students did not have any motivation to success and refuse to interact with other groups because of they do not have hope, but after they develop awareness about tolerance and importance of each life. Erin gave these children what they are not offered befor e. Respect is the key of the racism problems.

Goodbye To All That Essay

In the autobiography, Robert Graves stated how his life has been influenced by the two sides of his family. He had a very strong drive to succeed and possessed great intelligence, which basing on his statement, were his father’s greatest influence in him. Good thing that Robert Graves have decided to write a novel of his account in France, because if he did not, there will be no compilation of stories that war-related story readers will be spending time with. On Arrival In France This chapter is a detailed anecdote about the intensity felt by the public during the First World War. He provided a clear depiction of what took place during the war, and gave a narrative visualization of the images prevalent in a war zone and the feelings that haunted the people – including the threats of explosions and the fear of death which were rampant during the period. As a poet, he worked hard to enable himself in providing a clear depiction of the war stories, however, his capacity is only limited to what he had seen and experienced. Being a journalist is an entirely different profession from a poet, however, Grave proved the mutual intention and passion of both profession. In this light, I would make a comparative analysis between the works of Robert Graves and Joseph Lee Galloway, an American newspaper columnist, who was the only civilian present in the Vietnam War. Both of the two writers had proven their courage as civilians living amidst the war. The life of Galloway, as depicted in the movie â€Å"We Were Soldiers† was a clear narration of the entire war scene, the feelings that were involved as he experienced violence in the middle of the war. On the other hand, Graves’ autobiography successfully touched his readers’ minds in his poetic way of stressing out the value of life, especially when under grave threats against life during the war era. His courage was most tested at times when he had to stick to his decision that he ought to pursue his passion and continue fulfilling his profession even if it meant risking his own life in the middle of the war. Though he wasn’t literally fighting, he acted as a soldier in such a way that he was fighting for his life just to enable himself in providing the people with the most dangerous pieces of information and valuable lessons that were taught during war experiences. Also in this chapter, he showed a distinct psychological capability of a poet in carefully observing the natural tendency of the soldiers to act calmly while their insides were rattling at the commencement of the war. He justifiably narrated the real feelings of the soldiers as they faced the dangers implicated during the war. â€Å"They never sang out of tune†¦ † was an emotional attack to a reader’s heart (Graves, Robert, Goodbye to All That). After Grave said that the soldiers were a bit frightened or nervous at the moment, they never sang out of tune. He asserted the justifiable manner at which the soldiers’ courage were supposed to be appreciated. He magnified the idea that though these soldiers were indeed afraid and trembling at the threat of dying, and the hollow future of their families at the pain of losing, still these soldiers didn’t back off at the brink of danger. Instead, they continued fighting notwithstanding the fears, pain and danger that were accustomed to their jobs. Guns in the Distance The battlefield was a mere case of â€Å"survival of the fittest†. All around, soldiers were ready for the battle and all of them kept hold of their only partners during the war – guns, ammunitions, bombs, grenades and other destructive weapons that were used by both sides. As the mere sound of explosions caused the soldiers to feel the danger and seek for refuge, they had learned all the tactics to preserve their lives. Consequently though, they were able to transform the fear into something that was fun, and something that calmed them down rather than causing even more threats and disturbance in them. The Trench Danger was everywhere and the trench was their only refuge. It served as their only shelter against all the atrocities and dangers from the enemies. However, the tranquility they felt in the place wasn’t enough to keep them from all the dangers of the war. Death was a presence though least welcomed, most prevalent in the war zone. And neither the shelter provided by trenches was enough to secure the soldiers from dying. The trench gives a soldier a chance to live longer, but he must suffer the consequences of being with it. He has to be strong enough to soak his feet to the wet and slippery trench. He has to be careful of the holes right and left, to the low and high wires of the field telephones and to the deep areas in the trench. He must be alert, cautious and apprehensive of all the bullets coming from anywhere, because bullets does not choose who to kill. It does not know who it wants to land on, to whose body or head or face. It just blows inside you and stops you from thinking, and feeling, and breathing. Moreover, the life in trench though provided a home for the soldier, was the least safe and comfortable amongst all the places disrupted by war. It would not keep them away from bullets, shells and other explosives that endangers human life. And though there were discomforts within the trench that had seemed to devoid the place of its tranquility, the trench was a place to hide – even though it danger itself is inculcated within its borders. Battalion Headquarters There lies a great difference between the battalion headquarters and the trench. Wherein trench did not provide them enough protection and shelter from bullets and explosions, coupled with the discomfort within the area; the battalion headquarter was a comfortable place wherein the menace of the war was less visible and felt. However, ordinary soldiers did not experience comfort and luxuries that the place could offer. Rather, high ranking military officials were the ones who enjoyed the luxury of such place. It was a clear irony. The soldiers who were fighting face to face against death lived with fear, exhaustion and restlessness. They lived through the war with a miserable condition – poor shelter, less time to feed themselves, and even lesser time to allow their bodies and minds to rest. And the foods they eat were not nicely cooked. Soldiers lived with all the discomfort, difficulties, inconvenience and troubles. While on the other hand, those high ranked military officials who are not facing the dangers of the open war enjoyed all the luxury and favors that they could avail of. They are not suffering the fear of dying because they were sheltered safe from all the atrocities of the war. The irony lies in the mere fact that those who are risking their lives and facing bullets and bombs most of the lives suffered from discomfort and danger; while there were those military officials who did not fight amidst the battle were the ones enjoying the favors that life could offer them. There is also an acquainted thought about how soldiers in the battle and the soldiers out in the battle behaves in front of the officers. When Graves narrated the time when they have passed through the group of men in the battalion headquarters, he is sure that the group were aware that they were officials, but they did not make any recognition. In the trenches, soldiers know how to honor them. They even call Graves â€Å"Sir†, and gives recognition to the officers. They are well-disciplined, and yet, they are those in the danger zone. Did the war zone discipline them? If it did, then maybe it is better to put this group of soldiers in the battle field to cultivate a disciplined attitude. How was that? The Only Survivors Only the survivors of the battle were the ones who gained honors and established good reputations for themselves because they had the capability of passing their stories onto other people. They were able to narrate how they have lived their lives during the onset of the war. However, people had forgotten those who heroically died during the battle. Commemoration of the soldiers who died in the battlefield had been less probable because during this time, only those who survived became the center of attention amongst the civilians. And the tasks of remembering the courageous acts of those who did not survive were only left amongst the families of the non survivors. The heroism of these people had become a mere representation of a distinct part of the history, rather than heroism remembered and commemorated. Then how to survive in the battle anyway? When in the trenches, it is cold, no good foods, no rest, no peace of mind†¦ how are they about to survive in that kind of living? Does the survival of the fittest also mean surviving from cold, bacterias and viruses? We all know soldiers do not mind how far they could be dirty or gross, because all they have in mind is to stop the enemy from fighting and to battle against them. It is not part of their mission to have a sensitive stomach when they joined the military. If they need to eat the soil, they will, in order to survive in the battle. Half of the soldiers were lost because of coldness. They suffer severe rheumatism, or being frost-bitten. But those sufferings will not be acknowledged when they died. Only those who survived will get the great reputations. Only the fittest has the right to be accustomed. Those who died will just be part of the history. How sad†¦ Our Timetable Two hours? Is that a sleep or just a nap?. In this chapter, Graves illustrated the dedication those soldiers had for the sake of their duties. Their lives at the middle of the battlefield was spent with rifles, grenades, bullets, bombs and other ammunitions; with little time left for eating, sleep and rest. They have to work all day and night, with only two hours of sleep. Yes, they still have two hours to rest their minds and bodies, but do we think they could really rest in that situation? No, because they should be always alert in anything to happen because their lives are always at the risk and danger. In addition, the scarce time left for them to rest was spent in more desolation and increased vigilance that rendered them the incapability of spending that scarce amount of time for the rest needed by their body. Thus, rest became an abstract concept for them. For resting shall render them complacency that might induce more danger for their lives and the cause that they were fighting for. They could not rest for once, for there is a tendency that they will never wake forever. A Soldier’s Death This chapter was highlighted by Graves’ anecdotes on the deaths of particular soldiers. The deaths by these soldiers were far worse than the deaths in the middle of the war. These deaths were more tragic. Soldiers decided to end their agony by suicide. The whole depiction of the battle was more engrossed in the mere fact that most of the soldiers faltered and lost their hopes. And it was more awful that these incidents were not properly documented and reported. Military officials didn’t have much of the courage to honestly admit that the emotional burdens caused by the war was far worse than the physical exhaustion that it imposed amongst the soldiers. Thus they made false accounts and fake letters and reports that were given to the families of the soldiers who committed suicide. How many soldiers have those kinds of stories? We do not know. We can not guess. Kill the Lice The life of the lice is like the life of the soldiers. Just as invaluable and ambiguous. Which was better to kill, the young ones or the old ones? Just like them, soldiers were killing soldiers of the enemy. But they did not care who they had killed, young or old. What only matters was that they were able to defend their cause. Killing has been their lives. Humans are like lice, living in the world, from birth to death. It matters not who shall die first, the same way that a longer life was only out of sheer luck. For normal people who does not understand the lifestyle of the soldiers, life is not compared with lice’s life. Being a human is far different from being lice. But for a soldier who lives like lice, there is a great similarity. Seems like there is nothing different between them. Live today, die tomorrow†¦ with any cause, nice or worst. In the life of a soldier, their life is ambiguous. Just like lice’s†¦ Gas, Sir, Gas! It was such a sudden false alarm. For the lower ranked soldiers, every sign of enemy’s attack meant danger, and they were supposed to do something about it. But on the part of the high-profiled officers, everything was just common scenario. The gas alarm was not a thing to apprehend the officers, because they knew how to analyze the situation. Their knowledge and experiences in every battle taught them how to react on such situations. For the common soldiers, it was panic; but for the officers who could sense the attack, there wasn’t any reason to get alarmed because they were ready for it. Thus, I would say that Robert Graves is a very intelligent writer. His writings really made sense and I do not doubt why he had become a legendary figure in the world of literary. â€Å"Goodbye To All That† was a great success in touching the lives of his readers and generating a dramatic empathy towards anyone’s emotions. He wrote all his war anecdotes because he wanted to forget and let go of all the disturbing experiences of the war. He discovered secrets, experienced many difficulties, he was a witness on many painful suffering and deaths. And as such, he wanted to forget these experiences, but he wanted to share everything that he was has learned through all these experiences.