Surrogacy in India

The essay, â€Å"Inside India's surrogacy industry†, talked about how the surrogacy industry made an impact on India. Being a socially conservative country, India surprisingly does not reject the idea but rather supportive of it. The confederation of Indian industry reported that by 2012, the practice of surrogacy will generate 2. 3 billion dollars. Why is this industry advancing so fast in India? First of all, commercial surrogacy is legal in India, while it is still banned in many other countries. With the business growing so fast, the government is drafting laws to make sure surrogacy is not being privatized. The government is setting the age limit of the surrogate mother to 35 and can only have the maximum of 5 pregnancies, including their own children. Another reason that surrogate mothers are so popular in India is the pricing. In western countries, surrogacy can cost up to 90,000 dollars but in India, the surrogates are only being paid around 6500 to 7500, which is the sum of their income for several years. While this seems like a perfect balance of supply and demand, it does raise some alarming questions. Has the need for survival or simply living a better life twisted the fabric of traditional human beliefs? India, a religious and conservative country, allows their women to simply â€Å"rent† out their wombs. To my understanding, the ability to reproduce is a gift from god. Putting a price tag on something so precious and sacred is no better than prostitution. If prostitution is illegal, then why shouldn't paid surrogacy be? If compared, prostitution may create less long term problem than the surrogate business. Another problem that we should realize is that the Western side of the world should not bring their problems to the east. Child labor and sex related business in China, underage sex trade in Thailand and Indonesia and more other problems were brought in by the westerners. Anything they could not fulfill in their countries, were brought to the weaker east. At times, the supply and demand rule apply but so do many social and health problems. Children who work in sweat shops do not get proper education and they will only remain working in the shop. Children who sell their bodies at a young age were misled to believe that it is a proper method for survival. Surrogacy is not the world's most critical problem but it does touch on many ethnical issues . What needs to be done is carefully review different possibilities and draft laws to heavily regulate. Being able to reproduce is a gift , not a business.

Modern History Essay on USA Civil Rights Movement Essay

In the USA from 1865, when slavery was abolished and African American people where supposedly considered separate but equal by the constitution, to the 1960s, when the African Americans where actually considered equal, segregation practises where being endorsed throughout the USA. Segregation was the practice of separating the white Americans and the African Americans. Segregation occurred when the white Americans continued their upper status on the previously enslaved African Americans, therefore maintaining the African Americans status of repression. However throughout the later 1950s to 1960s American went through the Civil Rights Movement, in which the African Americans aimed for a desegregated society that maintained equality. Throughout the Civil Rights Movement many non-violent protests were held creating direct confrontation urging changes to be made within segregated social areas. Therefore non-violent direct confrontation was the successful means which helped to end segregation practises in the USA. Non-violence was the concept of holding a protest that was peaceful and did not retaliate to violence that was likely to be present. The most successful aspect of these protests was direct confrontation. This was when the African Americans would directly break one of the rules in public segregation, causing direct friction within the segregated society, to push the boundaries in which African American people where confined. The confrontation along with the friction created by these peaceful protests predominantly concluded with change due to the persistence of the African Americans. Despite the escalating violence that was waiting at the majority of the African Americans protests they continued, fighting for their civil rights as humans. One of the most supported organisations for African Americans, by not only African Americans themselves but also white Americans in support of desegregation, was the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (the NAACP). As well one of the most historically supported leaders of the NAACP, Martin Luther King’s virtues for desegregation was non-violent protesting. The increasing levels of support for the NAACP helped create mass protest to which those higher up within the government would be forced into acting upon to eradicate the chance of the protest escalating into a violent scene caused by the white Americans. Therefore it is clearly evident that non-violent, direct confrontation was a marginally successful approach to the Civil Rights Movement. Throughout the Civil Rights Movement the media played a major role in the method of non-violence in the ending of segregation. Although the African Americans had a great dedication to their protests they would not have been as greatly supported through these protests without the media. Television station camera men, reporters and photographers, where able to capture the violence and abuse directed at the African American’s, thus demonstrating the resilience of the protesters. Furthermore showing the general American public that in these situations of protests the aggressors where the white Americans and the treatment of the African Americans were unjust. Not only was this evidence of repression upon the African Americans displayed amongst the American media but also global media. Therefore effecting America’s superior reputation amidst the Cold War, giving the current enemy reason as to why capitalism was potentially failing and to their acquainted supporters and potential supporters. This global recognition for a Civil Rights struggle gave motivation to politics to act upon this situation to maintain their global reputation. Therefore the recognition of the African Americans repression and unjust treatment was national and globally recognised, thus gaining support from white Americans after this realisation. Hence the global realisation of this unjust treatment emphasised the need of social change to the government therefore giving some explanation as to the equality that becomes desegregation. Many of the non-violent protests African Americans undertook where simple acts however they caused extravagant aggravation due to racist view that the superior percentage of Americans had grown up amongst. One of the protests conducted by seven African Americans and six white Americans was abruptly ended when bus companies refused to carry them on further through their journey as they were confronted with a brutal mob that violently physically abused them and destroyed the busses that carried them. This protest was the Freedom Rides, protesting to desegregate bus terminals and associated facilities. However other protest groups pushed forward with the Freedom Rides continuing the journey and withstanding the violence until significant action was taken by the government. The desegregation for bus terminal and associated facilities was finally arranged after a major uprise in support for these freedom Riders. Much alike the Freedom Rides, Lunch Counter Sit-Ins were a peaceful protest than ended the desegregation of lunch counters. It started with the simple act on February 4th with of four African American college students sitting at a Woolworths lunch counter until the stores closing after being refused serves due to their race. This protest escalated in size and expanded rapidly due to the support it received. Over 50,000 people participated in one or more of the sit in’s within a year in over 15 different states and various cities. Due to the size and direct confrontation of this protest, abuse and violence erupted in many of the Sit-Ins encouraging the government to desegregate to maintain the countries reputation. Thus although many of the protests conducted where simple acts of rebellion for the African Americans the persistence of them where found confronting to the white Americans therefore resulting in change. Further on during the Civil Rights Movement it became apparent that many other organisations for African Americans gained further support, this including the Muslim religion and in particular those surrounding Malcolm X. Although Malcolm X’s and Martin Luther King’s values for the equality of African Americans differ, their main aim was equality with the white Americans. Malcolm X supported maintaining the separation of the races where as King supported the integration of the races in an equal society. Malcolm X was an activist of the Muslim religion; he focused in eradicating the repression on the African Americans that was being held upon by the white Americans, much alike Martin Luther King. However they differ as King’s protests were supporting the integration of the races and living peacefully together, were as Malcolm believed in the maintaining of the separation of the races. However as history has proven within American prior to the late 1950s that separate is not equal, as much as that may be the aim. Hence it becomes evident that Malcolm X’s protests didn’t succeed in the equality of African American, whereas Martin Luther King’s non-violent protests to integrate proved very successful. Therefore throughout the Civil Rights Movement many different protests where held, and many different organisations where supported however the most successfully was non-violence. These non-violence tactics as stated earlier, where the most effective due to the media coverage, persistence of the large quantity and direct confrontation. Without these aspects the non-violence practices for ending segregation within the USA wold not have been as nearly as efficient. Thus using non-violent methods as a means for ending segregation within the USA proved to be highly successful.

Environmental Health and Safety Essay

Explain which of the following two approaches to enhance food safety would be more effective in the long run- a stronger enforcement program by the local health department, or a mandatory food safety training requirement for all restaurant employees. Describe worker behaviors that may promote or compromise food safety. Provide two examples. Describe the top one recommendation you would give to the public to prevent being bit by mosquitoes that may transmit West Nile Virus. Justify your choice. Describe the top one recommendation you would give to the community to control the mosquito population in the community. It is my recommendation to implement a mandatory food safety training requirement for all restaurant employees. In order for this process to be effective education is very important. If restaurant employees are not educated on proper food handling, preparation, cleaning procedures in the kitchen they are destined to fail any type of standards and inspections. Because of the lack of funding and other resources Public Health departments are limited therefore establishments may only get inspected one to six times per year. According to Allison Knezevich, a reporter from the Charleston Gazette in West Virginia, â€Å"A critical violation is an infraction that is capable of spreading foodborne illness such as chicken salad that are not kept cold enough, on ice or refrigerated or employees who don’t practice adequate hand hygiene. † She also stated, â€Å"Under the current rules, an establishment can have five uncorrectable critical violations before it is shut down. † (Knezevich 2008). The behaviors of workers can promote or compromise food safety. Questions like why don’t food handlers wash their hands? Why isn’t that food stored at the required temperatures? When asked workers usually say they didn’t realize the possible dangers associated with food safety or lack thereof. As a food service manager you have to influence the workers behaviors to achieve an acceptable change and implement consequences if changes are not met, increase awareness of a need for change, promote awareness and employ reminder systems, provide training and guidance in performing the action, use verbal reinforcement, and demonstrate desired behaviors. Jenkins-McLean, 2004) How does this get accomplished? Demonstrate proper hand washing, use examples of restaurant foodborne outbreaks, involve the staff in mock inspections, and possibly have weekly meetings to re-emphasize key food protection points. When this occurs you will have a restaurant staff that not only exhibits proper worker behavior, but also understands why food safety is an extremely important issue and food Preparation is even more complex than ever. Ultimately mandating educational programs and professional training for restaurant employees is the best way to limit the spread of foodborne illness and promote healthy food safety practices. By doing this you will reduce the number of reportable public health illnesses that occur as a result of improper food preparation or handling. Being one of the most abundant insects in the world mosquitos have in some way made life miserable of every person on the planet be it a skin irritation caused from the saliva from the mosquito. A more serious consequence of some types of mosquito bites is the transmission of serious diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, different forms of encephalitis to include â€Å"West Nile Virus which has affected over 30,000 people in the U. S. since 1999†(EPA 2012). There are about 200 different species of mosquitos that live in the United States, and they all live in specific habitats, exhibit behaviors unique to its species and prey on different types of animals but all of these different species of mosquitoes have one thing in common they all have a four-stage life cycle. Humans aren’t the only creatures who can be infected by mosquitos other mammals such as dogs and horses can be afflicted with such diseases as dog heart worms, West Nile Virus and eastern equine encephalitis in horses. All mosquitos lay their eggs in standing water but if the water has predators such as fish and dragonfly nymphs in it they will not and if they do the eggs will be eaten. Other sites in which other species lay their eggs include buckets, old tires, tree holes, and potted plant trays. One of the most dangerous and annoying species such as the Asian tiger come from these types of sites. As a Healthcare Administrator of a local health clinic faced with the problem of mosquitos in your community I would put together a small task force of educators and pest control works to hold a class in a large enough building to accommodate the community members and the class would be on how to protect yourself from biting mosquitos, and the risk of being infected with by deadly disease. The community members will be taught how to apply insect repellent to all exposed skin, how to choose the right type of repellent so that you and your family can enjoy the outside more, what to look for in the ingredients used. They will also be taught that it is very important not to get the repellent into the eyes, mouth, and open sores on the skin because it would burn. â€Å"If you are going to be outside during the hours of dusk and dawn it is wise to spray on a repellent containing permethrin because most mosquitoes can and will bite through thin clothing† (EPA 2012). If the weather permits another method of ensuring you are not bitten is to wear long sleeve shirts and long pants which act as another barrier of protection. To protect infants and the young place some type of netting over the carriers. When you are in the home make sure that any broken windows are replaced and if you like to have the windows open install door and window screens. The recommendations I would give to the community as a whole is to try to reduce the number of habitats mosquitos use to lay their eggs in by dumping all sources of standing water. If you have a pool make sure it’s chlorinated on a regular basis, empty birdbaths at least twice a week, about one a month clean and or unclog rain gutters, if you see rubbish laying around in your community call the city trash collection company to come and clean it up because that would be an optimal place for any mosquito to lay its eggs. Conclusion Ultimately the prevention and control of WNV is most effectively accomplished through rigorous vector management programs at the least the programs should include surveillance of humans and the animals in the area that could be infected with the virus and when the time comes implementation of the appropriate control measures.

Shinto Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Shinto - Essay Example 1. Koshitsu Shinto, or the Shinto of the Imperial House, which includes the rituals performed by the Emperor. Until 1945 the Emperor was considered to be the descendant of Amaterasu, the most worshipped Shinto deity. Nowadays he is referred to as the "symbol of the state and of the unity of the people" in Japanese Constitution. Shoten and Nai-Shoten, the male and female clergy help the Emperor to perform the rituals. The most important ritual is Niinamesai, the offering the first fruits from the harvest to the deities. 2. Jinja Shinto, or Shrine Shinto. The most widespread form of Shinto in Japan. Until 1945 the followers of Shrine Shinto worshipped the emperor as a living god. This form of Shinto puts the emphasis on the importance of the shrines. Shinto is one of the most tolerant religions worldwide. Nowadays it has the elements of Buddhism, and of some other religions. Shinto accepts the elements of other religions, and Shintoists are usually very tolerable forwards the beliefs that are different from the ones they hold What is peculiar about Shinto is that while it has been a main Japanese religion for thousands of years, it has always shared is cultural and spiritual role with other religious movements, like Buddhism and Confucianism. Some researchers eliminate the four phases of the historical development of Shinto: Before the arrival of other religions in Japan Shinto and other religions together in Japan The Meiji reinterpretation of Shinto in the 19th century Shinto after World War II (Religion and Ethics, Shinto) Scott Littleton, the author of the comprehensive guide towards Shintoism, states that the Shintoistic iconographic evidence appears when the more complex Yayoi culture arrives (300BCE - 300CE) (2002). It is reported that before the 6th century CE there was "no formal Shinto religion, but many local cults that are nowadays grouped under the Shinto" (Religion and Ethics, Shinto). The ancient beliefs and customs were first written in the Kojiki [records of ancient matters], which were prepared under the imperial order and completed in 712 AD. (Reader, 1998) At that times Shinto was different from the religion we know nowadays. From the scientific point of view, the sets of beliefs that existed among different tribes that inhabited the territory of contemporary Japan cannot be referred to as "religion". In the minds of the ancient Japanese their beliefs were just a part of the world that surrounded them. Their beliefs were secularized, and used in their day-to day existence. The ancient Japanese developed Shinto to explain the world they saw around. Lots of natural phenomena were incomprehensible for people who lived at those times, thus they had to invent explanations. It's well known that the things people don't understand scare them the most. Like all the other ancient belief systems, Shinto was developed to help ancient people cope with their

Effective Performance of Prudential Securities and Bridgestone Case Study - 10

Effective Performance of Prudential Securities and Bridgestone Firestone Organizations - Case Study Example This paper illustrates that Prudential security is an investment bank that up to December 2000 had operated for 20 years. Its core business focused on both issuer and investor services to customers. However, because of stiff competition and poor strategy, the organization could not survive effectively in the industry and subsequently had to divest part of its product range. Its prospects failed ideally due to bad strategy and execution of its mandate in the financial sector that require explicit and dynamic decisions. This is keen on addressing business matters. As explained, the cooperation did not have strong and relevant synergies capable of building its effectiveness. Consequently, the bank also failed to offer other major services beyond issuers and investor services to clients who always expected extra services. In such an environment, the bank needed to adopt clear policies and differentiation tactics that would build its image in the entire industry and on clients. In the glo bal business arena gaining competitive superiority and growth is based on organizational key incentives that are invested to compel the idea. The decision to undertake any business venture has consistently not been considered flawed, even business scholars and successful managers assert that its execution is paramount. The bank clearly through its management failed to adequately practice strong cooperate fiduciary functions. This could have ensured proper integration of its services and management. Therefore, the business simply failed because of poor and inconsistent execution of vital business aspects that could have catalyzed its competitiveness. In the tire sector, earning business prestige as a prudent and effective product provider is paramount for sustainable performance especially in recent days when the sector is increasingly becoming more volatile. Consequently, any successful gains and performance are much dependent on product portfolio, accurate strategies and balanced r esource distribution to the respective business units.

Week 8 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Week 8 - Essay Example Thus enforcing the change will promote saving (Jacqueline, 2012). Suppose there two family members with US citizenship; one works in Australia while the other in US. The one in US had purchased a piece of land while the one in Australia owns a rental house in Australia. The two family members decide to exchange the ownership of the two properties; a house and a land. Postponing paying tax is one of the strategies of maximizing tax avoidance and minimizing the IRS scrutiny (Jacqueline, 2012). One pays tax whenever he/she sells a property and gains. To avoid the case of obvious gain (which will make you pay tax), one can directly reinvest the proceeds in a similar property as part of a qualifying like-kind exchange. For example, suppose you want to sell off your land and buy a rental house. You may have a gain in cash if your land has higher value compared the rental house you want to buy; if there is cash exchange. To avoid tax, you can find a rental house with higher value than your land and exchange. Thus although you may have gained, it a like-exchange for similar property hence you will not pay

Political science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Political science - Essay Example The U.S. victory can be attributed to their decisive plans for naval control on the western pacific wing during the World War II. This operation was carried out with little knowledge of modern operational ideas. It is for this reason that both sides experienced tactical shortcomings that halted the entire mission and objective of the operation. This paper shall analyze the battle for Leyte Gulf with its main focus on the principles and art of military operation by the U.S. and Japan. In this regard the paper will focus on command decisions by the U.S. and Japanese naval commanders with a view of coming up with modern principles that can be applied in future operations. Principles of operation The success of any warfare mission depends solely on the ability of the commander to identify the aim, decipher the strategic factors of his operation, select and organize his forces and design a plan to achieve the objective of the operation. Normally, the commander’s role involves integ ration and coordination of an operation in a way as to inflict shock, disrupt and defeat the enemy. This is possible when the entire operation injects force on a totally different measure. In so doing, the commander ought to choose the correct course of action as dictated by ground factors by selecting factors pertinent to operations guided by the philosophy of operational art. The planning, synchronization and the conduct of operational functions have some impacts on the belligerents. This paper intends to discuss the aftereffects of the operational functions of the military in relation to planning, synchronization and execution. To achieve this aim, the impacts of the operational functions to belligerents in the Leyte Gulf operation will be discussed. The Leyte Gulf operation, also termed as the battles for Leyte Gulf, was a battle that occurred during the Second World War, from the 23rd to the 25th of October 1944. It aimed at the liberation of Philippines. Allied forces of the U .S.A and Australia and the Imperial Japanese Navy were the protagonists in the battle (Adamsky, 2010). The battle started with the invasion of Leyte’s island by the ground forces of the allied forces led by general Douglas Mac Arthur. The Japanese fleet took up the battle to defeat the invasion, but got defeated by the U.S. seventh fleet led by Vice Admiral Thomas Kinkaid and the fleet led by Admiral William. The battle got divided into four engagements which were the battle of Samar, the battle of cape Engano, the battle of Surigao strait, and the battle of the Sibuyan Sea. Preparation and Planning The main objective of the operation was to capture Leyte Gulf. The U.S. naval forces approached the attack using two axes, one under the leadership of Admiral Nimitz. This was designed to advance its operations towards a westerly strategic axis with the sole purpose of capturing the Marianas, Palau, Gilbert and Marshall Islands. The second set of forces, the southwest pacific forc es, under the command of General Douglas followed a northwesterly tactical axis all the way through Guinea and Morotai. The two axes were expected to intersect at Leyte. According to the leading commanders, the intersection would act as a stepping stone for effective takeover of Philippines. This was a strategic move in the heart of the operation as this was designed to cut off communication of Japanese sea lines disadvantaging their retaliation. In

Research Bibliography Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Bibliography - Research Paper Example Visual arts and film studies is a broad body of knowledge that requires adequate research in a variety of fields. Several scholars in the field of visual arts and film studies have wrote useful research books that can be used for comprehensive studies. Francisco Goya is among the scholars who have made a great contribution in the field of visual arts and film studies. A critical analysis of his works portrays a cognitive combination of various artistic features aimed at broadening the reader’s mind in analyzing artistic aspects. Francisco Goya developed the los Caprichos, which comprise of 80 sets of prints put out as an album (Goya, 50). Francisco’s works are organized as an artistic experiment tailored to picture the flaws in the knowledge base of the Spanish society, a place he spent much of his time. Francisco elaborated the issue of dominance of superstition in the society, high level of ignorance, defective leadership approach, and marital slipups. Generally, his works can be described as depicting since they are concerned with outlining misconceptions that are evident in any civilized society. In essence, most of his works point out deceptive features in the society such as ignorance, self-interest by leaders, and unclear means of acquiring wealth. For the purpose of studying various aspects of visual arts and film studies, we can focus on the fourth series of Francisco’s artistic genre. The series is a critique of the practices experienced in the 18th century in the Spanish society and the human race at large. Francisco uses a unique informal style of writing to convey crucial information regarding the contemporary society and people behavior. His style of presenting ideas laid a foundation for quality print production for future generations. From studying the works of Francisco Goya, people understood that information can be passed through prints and animation. In addition, blending color with a combination of

Rebuttal essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Rebuttal - Essay Example The author has articulated a grave concern of the misuse of internet and calls for collective action especially to protect and safeguard the interests of the children. The accessibility of computer and internet has been increasing becoming easier because of its inclusion in school curricula and its indispensability in official and personal arena. The internet has been the greatest and the largest store of information that is being utilized on a continuous basis across the world. It has become an extremely important part of children as it not only helps them to complement and supplement their study curricula but the it also gives them a platform to exploit their potential and creativity in a manner that was unimaginable a decade back. It cannot be denied that internet is a strong medium to acquire knowledge and help gain an extensive understanding of the world as never before. Under the guidance of parents, it can yet prove to be the greatest asset in the growth of children as a worthy citizen of the world. One can, therefore, conclude that the excessive concern shown by Cleaver is not as grave that it cannot be controlled by parents and school aut horities through effective control mechanisms like blocking harmful sites etc. Then again, if one looks deeper into the problem, he would realize that children are far smarter than their elders. In fact, as Cleaver says, ‘child is the father of man’ correctly defines the children of the contemporary time. The adaptability and understanding of technical gizmos by children is much superior to their parents and elders and it is far easier for them to find ways and means to seek their desired goals through them than for parents to implement control mechanisms. Internet, therefore, does pose a great threat to the children, especially in the form of pornography and adult material which not only present a very

An event in your life that changed you Essay Example for Free

An event in your life that changed you Essay A new house, new school, and a completely new atmosphere were ahead of my nine-year-old life. I had lived in the same house for what it seemed like forever and had attended the same school since first grade. I knew everyone. From January to December, my calendars were filled with birthday parties I had to attend. Performing in talent shows with my best friends Dezerey, Jasmine, and Nykchasia were a yearly activity at Garden Valley Elementary School. The Robinson Centers summer camp was mandatory for my big sister, Breonna, and me. I was used to familiarities like the Chihuahua that ran to the front of its gate and barked every time I rode past it on my sleek, black rollerblades. Those rollerblades made me feel untouchable, at ease and confident until I had to ride them in a new area, surrounded by new, unfamiliar people. Close to the end of my fourth grade year, my mother told my sister and me that we were moving to Terricina Gold Apartments in Natomas. I did not think it was going to change anything. I was probably a bit excited for what was to come. I can clearly remember my first day at Two Rivers Elementary school being terrified. I believe that was when it first hit me that I was not at home anymore. My comfort zone left was tarnished. I remember having butterflies and feeling as if I was going to faint before I stepped foot onto school grounds. When I got to the blacktop all I could do was stand there in silence. The other kids were standing around in there cliques and it was obvious that the fifth graders controlled the far left gate on the black top. I remember one girl that stood out. She looked larger than life in my eyes. She was bright skinned, tall and everyone seemed to flock to her. She made me feel small without even knowing her. I was having trouble finding my classroom number on the blacktop where my class was supposed to  line up. I completely gave up after a few minutes mainly because I felt so out of place I just wanted to hide. Not to mention I am legally blind and even with my glasses I still cannot see all that well so finding my class line was a far reach for my nine-year old mind. I felt out of place and inferior so I I took it upon myself to run away and hide in the nearest bathroom. I stayed in that bathroom for a while, even after the bell rang. I eventually decided to take a step out of the bathroom and walk to my class. In fourth grade I absolutely did not have any social skills. Many children lived in my new apartments. I envied their large groups of friends and seeing them made me miss my old ones. I could never gather up the courage to talk to anyone. Thankfully, I had my older sister. She is the most outgoing between us and she managed to know everyone in nearly a week of our residency. I eventually met everyone that lived in the apartments but I never felt at ease with them as I did with my old friends. I rode my rollerblades all around those apartments and they made me happy like a piece of home was with me. I never realized that I was in fact an introvert. I suppose I had always been a timid person my mother brings up her memories of my behavior as a child often. I never realized my childhood behavior until now. I remember my mom changing my teachers and being too afraid to walk into the classroom even though I knew the teacher and all the students well. Moving away from my familiarities showed how quiet and unsociable I was. I did not have friends at school until I was well into my seventh grade year. Today, I am on the verge of twenty-years-of-age, and I still have to work on speaking up and being more sociable. Before I had many friends and after I moved, I did not. I believe if I stayed where I lived before I would have been given a sense of security. Looking back, I believe I would not have gained a great number of wonderful friends. My experiences with people in my apartments are always the topic of conversation with my family and friends and they bring on tons of laughs and feelings of embarrassment. I love revisiting my old Natomas neighborhoods and seeing my old friends. We always joke saying TG (Terricina Gold) for life. I guess you can call it a family.

Children And Poverty Children And Young People Essay

Children And Poverty Children And Young People Essay Imagine every night when your children go to bed, sitting at the kitchen table crying, because of bills piling up. You have so many questions going through you head. How am I going to put food on the table? How will I be able to pay the bills this month? If I skip this bill what will happen? These are just a few questions that families who are faced with economic hardships ask themselves. Some families experience it for a brief period however a portion experience chronic poverty throughout their lifetime. In many cases the greatest challenge is the lack of financial resources, but whatever the case may be the stakes get higher when it come to the effects on children. How does poverty and poor healthcare affect children mentally, emotionally, and physically Poverty can be defined in various ways. Primarily poverty is broken down into four categories: Absolute and relative poverty, and, generational and situational poverty (NPC). The number of people living below a certain income level unable to afford basic goods and services are defined as absolute poverty while, relative poverty are people placed in poverty because they do not meet the standards. These people have the necessities of living a healthy lifestyle; however, they still nonetheless classified as living in poverty because they live below the federal poverty level. On the other hand, poverty can be generational or situational. Generational poverty is defined as being in poverty for two or more generations. Situational poverty is due to different circumstances such as death in family, loss of job and is usually for a shorter period. So what does it mean to experience poverty? According to the national center for children in poverty, 37 million children are living in poverty in the United States. Todayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s necessities has changed significantly from the past, having access to electricity, indoor plumbing, telephone service, a car, heating and air, and etc are essential to live in the world today. More than 10 million children are deprived of one or more of their rights, which include the right of nutrition, water, sanitation, access to basic health care, shelter, education, and protection (Aratani). 6 million children under six years old are homeless, never has received medical care and suffer from malnutrition. Children who live in poverty are 48 percent more likely so suffer from depression, domestic violence and substance abuse (Payne). The causes of poverty are very broad. Generally, you cannot identify one problem as the cause of poverty for families. Some of the leading causes of poverty are imprisonment, divorce, natural disasters, substance abuse, overpopulation, lack of education, health, housing, geographic factors, economy, disease, and mental illness. There are many more causes of poverty and there will always be considering the constant changes in the world. Single parents are two to three times higher to be affected by poverty, about 40 percent of instanced parents contribute nothing to their children up keeping those who do are paying an average of 2,100 a year which everyone know that amount will not supply the child with everything they need(Payne). Economic stress can be a factor for breaking families up. The struggling economy has been the cause of the individuals who once had secure jobs, to now being among the poor. 2.6 million Jobs were lost alone this year. Job loss is at an all time high, losing more than 500,000 job a month (Caroline and Bernstwin). Death in the family along with job lose in these economic times are inevitable. The fact that many families cannot afford nor save enough money to be able to have life insurance. Which causes families to makes there life a waiting game, hoping that nothing happens since they canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t afford life insurance. So ultimately when a death in the family occurs, the expenses along with the instant change in income makes a household fall apart; following the depression and lack of will power, many are in a fog on how to recover and rise there families to the standards they were accustom to. Families dealing with poverty worry about so many things, they try to continue to pay all there bills on time, stretch their money tying to camouflage the issue so their children will not know how bad it is (Meltzer). Nevertheless, poverty brought on by d eath changes everything, situations that are already hard to deal with when you combine that with being put on a fast track to poverty makes things more unbearable. The government programs such as food stamps, free or reduced lunch, medicad, government checks are the safety net for children living in poverty. These programs help children cope with the changes by giving them a way where they can still maintain some normal see to their lives. School breakfasts and lunches are the only meals some children get and over a million children according to Joan Flores do not receive the adequate breakfast needed because the school does not offer the program (children advocate). Eighty percent of children in the United States qualify for either free or reduced lunch (Joliffe and Filiak), In Richmond County, NC seventy-five percent of the children in the county qualify for this program (Barbee, Personal interview). Government supplementary checks are a way for the parents to get the items needed for the child however supplementary payments usually only allow for eight to fourteen benefits payments leaving the family to fend for themselves when that time per iod runs out . Medicad and food stamps give children the opportunity to have the two vital things they need for their existence. Although food stamps help at need children, food stamps are not easy for some families to obtain. Obstacles such as language barriers, thirteen-page application, interview process, etc prevent eligible families from receiving the benefits (Meltzer). Along with these obstacles, countless others stand in the way of children benefiting from the system. In certain counties or certain states, if you are homeless or cannot provide an address you are automatically be denied for government assistance; not to mention if the government finds out you are homeless your children you are running a risk of them taking your children. In addition, some families that are receiving these benefits should not, where as some families cheat the system taking viable resources that could be life or death for a child in need. Even though these programs are intended to help these ch ildren and families at need, tying to obtain this help is not only stressful for the family but also the child or children involved (Burnett, Personal Interview). Children in poverty are affected mentally, emotionally, and physically not to mention these children are prone to a shorter life span. Poverty affects children before they are even born, parents already in poverty do not receive the adequate prenatal care need for the child to develop properly. In addition, the child is at risk of being born prematurely and often they will suffer from birth defects and developmental delays (Meltzer). The stressful situations these children encounter on a daily bases can led the child to have low self-esteem and difficulties forming relationships with other even before they enter school. Not only are the children education impacted by poverty their choice of schooling is also impacted. Many underprivileged children are forced to attend under funded schools; statistics show that these children will ultimately drop out of high school and give birth during the teenage years. These children will often fall behind when entering school. A child who attends a under funded school or fall behind could be the start of the child not learning to read and write proficiently, they are also likely to continue to struggle as a high school student. Having poor grades in high school, his/her future for attending college is seriously limited. Since most careers are often tied to higher education. The lack of a high school or even a college degree sets the poor child up for a lifetime of struggle never making it out of the struggle they already know (Payne). Emotionally these children are traumatized, even from birth the emotional problem are clear/ children that experience poverty are more likely to experience depression, posttraumatic stress disorders, they are also more likely to become a victim of the court system. Suicide rates are high among children living in poverty. Approximately, thirty thousand children living in poverty take there lives each year. Although traumatic for all children, the NPC conducted a research showing how children react to poverty. When some children grow up in it they learn to slowly over come the situation they are in and turn out better, while other are constantly in a downward spiral . If you look out into your community, you would see numerous cases of emotional behavior based on poverty (Joliffe and Filiak). Ruby Payne identified the behavior related to children in poverty which included: physically fighting, easily angered, unaffected when being disciplined, cheating, stealing, argue loudly (Payne). Emotionally attachment and a sense of security are hard to achieve thus making the child hierarchy of need for children incomplete, leaving one of more of the following out: esteem, belonging, physiological, safety, or self-actualization (Ettinger, R.H P.437.) . Countless children in poverty go on day in and day out hungry not having the proper nutrition to function nor keep a healthy body. Five million children are deprived of appropriate nutrition and housing conditions of those five million, One point five million children under the age of five suffer from health in food deprivations which stunt there bodies from growing properly (Nicely). Low birth weights and increased risks of infant mortality are high even before the child is born. Poverty affects every organ and every aspect of a child existence. The American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that people living in extreme poverty tend to have more chronic illnesses, more frequent and severe diseases and more complications also. Obesity, heart disease and asthma are also big in children living in poverty; these illnesses can continue to affect them later in adulthood. Along with the items listed above there are countless other health issues these children suffer at the hands of pov erty. Think about your children would you want them to experience these things because of poverty. How can we end this epidemic that takes over numerous lives. Todays children that are in poverty are all too often tomorrows parent raising a child in poverty. Poverty is often generational passing from one generation to the next generation affecting the long-term health, wellbeing and productivity of families, which affects the society as a whole. Therefore, I challenge you, as well as myself, to extend a helping hand to help the ones who cannot help themselves and break the revolving door of poverty.

Strategies To Resolve The Principal Agent Problem Accounting Essay

Strategies To Resolve The Principal Agent Problem Accounting Essay In general, the principal-agent problem refers to difficulties of motivating one party the agent to act for the best interest of the other party the principal. In a company, the owners of the assets (the stockholder) are the principals and the managers of the company are the agents. The stockholders of the company authorize the managers to manage and use their resources to make profit for the stockholders. (Kaskarelis, I. A. 2010) The cause of the principal-agent problem is that the information asymmetry between the principal and the agent and the principal and agent have different interests. (Ulrike, L., Arleta, M) Generally, the Agents are the managers of the resources and have more information than the principals. In a company, the managers of the company will have more information about the company than the stockholders of the company. The agents may use this asymmetric information to get interest for themselves rather than the principals. Figure 1, Basic Model of Principal-agent problem In general, the principal-agent problem is the problem that the agent is not doing the best for the principals. The so-called principal-agent problem is really caused by the interest conflicts between the two parties. As a principal, he or she wishes the agent to do the best for his or her interest. As an agent, he or she should do the best for the principal. However, without enough and appropriate motivations from the principal, the agent may not doing the best for the principals. If the agent is not acting for the interest of the principal, the moral hazard happens. This is the classical model of principal-agent problem. In order to motivate the agent to work for the best interest of the principal, incentives should be given. Strategies to resolve the principal-agent problem Make appropriate incentive structure The first strategy of solving the principal-agent problem can be from the incentive aspect of the agent. The cause of the principal-agent problem is the motivation given to the principals. Based on the experiment of principal-agent problem, high performance of the agents were observed if good compensations were given to the agents. (Ulrike Leopold-Wildburger, Arleta Mietek, 2010) Even though the relationship between the compensation and the performance is not linear, the outputs of the agents have positive relationship with the compensation of the agents. Yuliy Sannikov (2008) advocates that the dynamic incentives play very important role in the economic life. In a company, the wages of the managers and also the employees can affect the performance results of the company. Connecting the compensations of the agents to the performance will give incentives to the agents to do their best. In a company, the employees salaries can be connected to the performance results of the employees. The managers salaries can be linked to the performance of the company. In this situation, the managers of the company will have enough incentive to do their best. The stockholders of the company can also enjoy the better profits of the company. One alternative solution is to give the managers of the company certain amount of corporate stocks. The income of the managers are affected by the stock prices (Bruhl, R. H. (2003). The managers will have the incentive to do the best to increase the stock price of the company. In fact, many listed companies have the so called Equity Incentive Package (Bronstein, R. J. 1980). Pro and cons This strategy of solving the principal agent problem is the most basic one and the short-term effect can be seen immediately. Linking the agents compensation with the performance by giving the managers corporate stock is the most effective way to solving the principal agent problem. The potential drawback of this strategy is that giving the managers stock may result in the possibility of insider trading. Evaluate the performance of the agent continuously The second strategy of solving the principal-agent problem is to monitor the agents behavior and evaluate the performance of the agents. I will explain this in the case of a company. In a company, the managers as the agents and the stockholders of the company are the principals. The managers behaviors are monitored by the stockholders closely in order to make sure that they are doing the best for the interest of the stockholders. In the company, the evaluation of the performance of the company is also very important. When the evaluation of the performance plays a role in determining the compensation of the employees, that is to say there is still room for the employees to improve the performance (Carl Blumstein, 2010). with the monitoring of the companys performance, the managers of the company tend to perform better. Pro and cons Continuous evaluation of the performance in a company can motivate the managers continuously (Long, N., Sorger, G. 2010). Because of the continuous motivation, the performance of the company can keep improving. This is the biggest advantage of the strategy. However, the evaluation process of the managers is a time and money consuming task. The evaluation or monitoring of the agents may incur a lot of expenses. Regulate the agent with moral standards The principal-agent relationship is not only a kind of legal relationship between the principal and the agent. The principal agent problem is also a moral hazard problem (Randy, S. 2011). According to the basic business ethics, it is ethical for the agents to do the best to represent the interest of the principals. The first strategy of solution by building the appropriate incentive structure of the agents and the second strategy of monitoring the activities of the agents can get only short term results. In the long term, establishing the ethical awareness of representing the best interest of the stockholders can be a good choice. With a good ethical awareness, the principal and agent problem can be solved in the long term (Ruachhaus, R. W. 2009). In the case of Psychiatrists Relationships with Industry, the principal agent problems can be solved from both incentives and ethical view (Appelbaum, P. 2010). The doctors are the agents of the patients. The doctors with high moral standard will not recommend medicines of high cost to the patients unless is necessary. Pro and cons The moral standard improvement requires a long time and also needs the commitment of the employees. The moral issues in the principal agent problem can be seen clearly, but sometimes it is very difficult to distinguish. The potential advantage of this strategy is that it can achieve long term result in the company. Conclusion The principal agent problem comes from the asymmetric information between the principal and the agent and the principal and agent have different interests. The principal hires the agent to work for him and the agent works for the interest of the principal. Without enough motivations, principal agent problem appears. The principal agent problem is also a moral hazard problem. There are three alternative solutions to overcome the principal agent problem. One is to give incentives to the agent. The second is to evaluate and monitor the agents activity to make sure the agent works best. The last solution is depending on the moral standards. All these three solutions have different advantages and disadvantages.

The Storm :: essays research papers

â€Å"The Storm† may be interpreted as a condemnation of societal constraints upon feminine sexuality. As Calixta â€Å"unfastened her white sacque at the throat† she was taking off chains of oppression of her sexuality. When Calixta â€Å"nervously began to gather up from the floor the lengths of a cotton sheet which she had been sewing† she is putting her duties away for pleasure and is finally going to fulfill her birthright for passionate sex. In â€Å"The Storm† Calixta is a shameless married woman who â€Å"lifted her pretty chin in the air and laughed aloud† after committing an adulteress act. Kate Chopin had a unique style of writing for her time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Calixta’s time, showing of the neck and chest was inappropriate and forbidden. So when â€Å"she unfastened her white sacque at the throat† she is expressing that she is a sexual being and is defying against restraints on feminine sexuality. Kate Chopin was a daring writer. In the time of the composition of the storm women were considered property and expected to accept their housewife duties. Women could not freely express their sexuality and Kate was out to change that.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As Calixta â€Å"nervously began to gather up from the floor the lengths of a cotton sheet which she had been sewing† she is rebelling against traditional 1890’s womanhood. Women were not permitted to feel sexual. By putting it away she was lowering the priority of her duties for sex. Sex was something she was unfamiliar to and not something married women did for pleasure. Calixta is going all out!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Alcee rides off, he smiles and Calixta â€Å"lifted her pretty chin in the air and laughed aloud.† This action was a proclamation of her freedom from sexual oppression. Calixta was prepared for sex and embraced it. She is not ashamed of her act and she fulfilled her birthright for passionate sex. Calixta is a loose woman?

Memory Strategies Essay -- essays research papers

Memory Strategies 2 Abstract   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The research is demonstrating the use of memory strategy in an educational setting; this study examines the use of chunking on telephone numbers by students on campus. There were a total of 40 students that participated, and they were split into two groups consisting of 20 students per group. The control group used chunking as their memory strategy for memorizing a list of 10 telephone numbers. In contrast, the experimental group has used no specific strategy to memorize the list of numbers that was given to them. Each group was given 15 minutes to memorize their list of 10 telephone numbers and they had 5 minutes to write it down on paper. People that used memory strategies has shown to have memorized more telephone numbers, than people who don’t use any memory strategy to remember their list of numbers. Memory Strategies 3 Memory Strategies and Chunking   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  People have shown to have better recall on certain tasks when they use specific memory strategies. There are many types of strategies that people can use to improve their memory, but everyone has an effective strategy that suites them most. For activities involving memorizing a list of 10 telephone numbers, chunking would be the best method because it helps aids the sequence of numbers. People can remember about seven items give or take two, which is between five and nine items (Shiffrin, R. M., & Nosofsky, R. M. 1994). There’s a certain amount of items that everyone can store in their short-term memory. That’s why it’s important for people to find an effective way of remembering all of the information.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Relatively large amounts of information are contained in a small number of units by chunking items together into composite units (Bousfield, A. K., & Bousfield, W. A. 1966). A strategy like chunking can be used to break larger units into smaller ones, so people can have an easier way of comprehending the information that is given to them. This process of separating the items can help a person learn things step by step, which increases their chances of recall. Telephone numbers can be separated into 3 groups, for instance 847 - 504 – 8761. People can start by memorizing 847, then 504 and finally 8761, instead of trying to remember the numbers all together.... ...nbsp; 14. Tape Recorded Lecture   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In this study, 13 people have answered â€Å"No,† when they were asked if they used any specific memory strategies. There was 10 people that has used the recall and recite method to memorize things, 8 people used word association to try relate materials to something their familiar with. Also, there were 7 people that wrote information down in order to rehearse it, while 5 people used flashcards to go over their material. There are 3 groups of 2 people that used color coding, reading things out loud and making a note to remember things. On the contrary, there are 5 groups of memory strategies that a person has used: they practice with others, meditate; remember things by listening, sing a song or rhyme and tape-recorded the lecture. The students who have used memory strategies mentioned above, are the ones that have scored higher on recall. Memory Strategies 12 N= 40 (19 Hispanic/Spanish Descent, 13 Black/African-American, 7 Asian/ Pacific Islander & 1 Other) N= 40 (32 Females & 8 Males)

Department Store Marketing Comparison

1. I have chosen to discuss and compare the department store industry. I have chosen this industry because I live in Southern California where the retail sector is a major part of business. Shopping malls are prevalent everywhere. I have seen and experienced all the differences among class and status. With a wide variety of demographics in Southern California, there are a number of shops and stores to choose from. Department stores range from discount warehouses such as Wal-Mart, mid-range stores such as JC Penney, and high-end stores like Nordstrom.I am going to discuss the department store industry specifically for Wal-Mart, JC Penny, and Nordstrom. Coming from a middle-class family, I have experienced shops at all ends of the department store spectrum. When it comes to the amount of department stores located throughout the United States, businesses are placed accordingly. High-end stores are placed in wealthy areas; where as low-end stores are placed in a suitable region. The amou nts of department stores, specifically for each status, are generally appropriate as well. 2. GeographicDemographicPsychographicBenefits SoughtJC PenneyJC Penney’s are located in most major shopping malls in a variety of communities. JC Penney has over 1,100 locations around the United StatesJC Penney tends to focus on the female demographic. More specifically mothers and middle-age womenTries to sell quality items at a low cost. Their new slogan is â€Å"fair and square pricing. † They try to emphasize that their prices are fair at market values. JC Penney is telling customers that they can benefit from their low prices. Don’t go to Nordstrom where everything is expensive or Wal-Mart where the quality is low Wal-MartWal-Marts are often located in low-income areas.Wal-Mart has over 7,000 locations in 15 countries. Wal-Mart targets people of all ages to shop at their stores. They offer children’s, women’s, and men’s clothing. Usually, familie s shop at Wal-Mart. The average annual income for a Wal-Mart shopper is $35,000-$45,000. Many minorities, as well as white decent are what make up the ethnicity of shoppers. Wal-Mart’s main goal is to provide a wide variety of discount priced items for their customers. Their slogans have included â€Å"Always low prices. Always. † and â€Å"Save money. Live better. † Rock bottom pricing and price match guarantees are the norm. Wal-Mart is here consumers go for the absolute lowest prices. If a price isn’t as low as another location, Wal-Mart will match it. NordstromNordstrom stores are much less common than Wal-Mart and JC Penney stores. They are placed in areas where the company knows there are enough individuals that want high end items. Nordstrom caters to the professional who is looking for higher end clothing that is made of quality materials. Nordstrom emphasizes quality and customer service. They pride themselves on offering the â€Å"best customer service of any retailer in America. Nordstrom offers quality items at a decent price.Customers don’t go to Nordstrom for rock-bottom pricing. They go for personal selling and upscale items. These three companies have very different approaches to retail. Wal-Mart is the one-stop shop that people go to for the lowest prices. JC Penney offers quality products at a low price. They usually have similar styles as places like Nordstrom but with lesser-known brands. Nordstrom carries high-end products and they stress customer service and quality. They each take up their own segment of the retail business. 3. Marketing Mix: The Four P’s ProductThe product is seen as satisfying what a consumer needs.It is a tangible good or intangible service. Intangible services are industries such as tourism. Tangible products are cars, razors, etc. PriceThe amount a customer pays for the product. Price determines a company’s profit and has an impact on marketing strategy. Marketers mu st be aware of the perceived value of a product when setting prices. PromotionThis represents the methods of communication that a marketer uses to provide information about their products. Promotion consists of advertising, public relations, etc. PlaceProviding the product at a place that is convenient for consumers. Place is the distribution aspect.JC Penney: Product: Like its two competitors, JC Penney offers a variety of tangible goods for sale. JC Penney caters to its customers with higher end products at an affordable price. It is similar to Nordstrom’s in the types of goods offered. It differs from Wal-Mart because it has less variety. JC Penney offers clothing, bed and bath products, home items, clothing accessories, and patio furniture. Clothing is the main area of production for JC Penney and accounts for more than 50% of sales. Price: JC Penney has recently decided to move to three kinds of prices: everyday, monthly specials, and clearances.They came to this strateg y through a variety of studies. First, using past sales data, the company looked at consumers' actual purchasing behavior, and came up with what it terms â€Å"Fair and Square† pricing, which means shoppers can expect lower prices in stores at all times. To reach this conclusion, research showed 72% of JC Penney's revenue came from selling items priced at least 50% off. Thus, in the example cited in most recent news stories about the â€Å"Fair and Square† strategy, a T-shirt that had retailed for US$14 but typically sold — after markdowns — at US$6, would now be priced at a US$7 every day.Part two of â€Å"Fair and Square† means monthly deals, and in the T-shirt example, the garment would now be marked US$6. The final piece of â€Å"Fair and Square† is called â€Å"best price,† which happens on the first and third Fridays of the month. Said T-shirt would now be marked $4, to clear out seasonal colors and bring in new merchandise. Bas ically, JC Penney focuses on â€Å"sale† items. They use sales to manipulate prices. A â€Å"sale† is really what price the marketer decides to sell an item for to continue making a profit. These sales are based upon how well certain items sell and their perceived â€Å"market values. Promotion: JC Penney focuses its advertisements around the four seasons and its holidays. For example, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, etc are when JC Penney promotes its items through television and print advertisements. JC Penney is also making a push towards â€Å"smart advertising. † Their promotions now appear in digital magazines, websites, mobile phone apps, etc. Place: JC Penney has more than 1,100 locations across the United States. Many of these locations are at large shopping malls where people go to buy clothes. There is easy access to JC Penney’s product.In addition to the stores, most of JC Penney’s clothing can be purchased from the official website. This gives customers two ways to purchase items on sale at JCP. Wal- Mart: Product: Wal-Mart markets itself as a store where one can walk in and literally purchase anything they need. They offer clothes, sporting goods, food, jewelry, electronics, patio furniture, toys, home improvement, music and movies, automobile parts, etc. The idea is for Wal-Mart to be a one-stop shop for anything a family needs. Price: Wal-Mart’s motto is â€Å"always low prices. † They aim to sell their products at a lower price than nearly every competitor.They usually stock lower quality versions of items at the cheapest price and they even offer a price-match guarantee. If another store is selling the same item for cheaper than Wal-Mart says they will match it. A new part of this guarantee is that customer’s do not have to have the information on hand. They merely need to ask for a price match and the associates should know through prior research. Wal-Mart also does not focus as much on sales but rather on â€Å"everyday† low prices. Promotion: Wal-Mart television advertisements focus on their price match guarantees and everyday low prices.A new Wal-Mart ad campaign bears the slogan â€Å"Low Prices. Every Day. On Everything† and features five 30-second commercials, including ads featuring an Easter egg hunt and a customer asking for a price match. The changes are bringing back local food favorites and national brands in household basics and general merchandise like consumer electronics. Some changes are tailored to local markets. In Phoenix, for example, shoppers will find pool supplies and lawn and garden items year-round. Place: Wal-Mart has 8,500 stores in 55 countries. It is the most recognizable one-stop shop in the world.Wal-Mart is present in many places around the United States that do not have other major retail outlets. For many communities, Wal-Mart is the place to go to find everything one needs to live. Nordstrom: Product: Nordstrom i s a large department store that focuses on upscale items. They carry items from mostly luxury clothing companies such as Hugo Boss, Chanel, etc. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings. Price: Nordstrom’s customers care less about price and more about quality.The goods offered are not a bargain. They are meant for those in need of upscale items. Luxury products are defined in part by their price. Nordstrom is seeking to appeal to those people that want department store prices but not necessarily large sales and discounts. Promotion: Nordstrom's does not use a low price tag to attract customers; instead they use quality. While it is pricier to shop for clothes and home decor at Nordstrom's; most designer labels prove to be of better quality, uniqueness, and durability. Many of Nordstrom’s television ad campaigns focus on â€Å"re-defining† one. Their marketing strategy focuses on how people can approve their lives with quality clothing and accessories. Place: Nordstrom has 225 stores operating in 29 states. Nordstrom is much less ubiquitous than Wal-Mart and JC Penney. They are located mostly in shopping malls but the company makes sure to build their stores only where there are enough people that can afford luxury items. 4. JC Penney: The JC Penney website has a clean and easy layout. The top of the site has a search bar and then a number of tabs representing each department available to browse through.The website also uses color-coding. Anything representing the values and sales for May is written in purple. There are products on the front page with prices listed underneath. These prices are each in a purple box to show that the sale price is for May. There is one large picture that dominates the home page. It has the letters MOM with â€Å"it’s mother’s may† written above it. As I said before, JC Pe nney focuses its advertising on holidays. The site is user-friendly. Everything is easy to read and it is not too cluttered. The site has areas to find a store and a â€Å"best prices† section.On the upper right there are four logos: a cell phone, envelope, facebook, and twitter. JC Penney is keeping up with the times by including other types of websites and embracing social media. Wal-Mart: The Wal-Mart website is more cluttered than the JC Penney one. On the top there are 5 buttons that read: Value of the day, local ad, store finder, registry, and gift cards. To the right of this is an area to log into a Wal-Mart account and track your orders. On the left of the page is a column showing the major departments available on walmart. com. Under this are two more columns showing savings as well as new products.In the middle of the page there are color advertisements very similar to what one would find in print circulation ads from the mail. There are â€Å"specials† all o ver the front page. Under the advertisements there are two rows titled â€Å"more great ways to save† and â€Å"shop Wal-Mart best sellers. † The Wal-Mart website is cluttered and it is difficult to find what you’re looking for. There is an overload of information. Nordstrom: Nordstrom has the most simple website of the three. The top has tabs for Women, Men, Juniors, and Kids as well as all the brands offered at the store. There is also a sale tab.After hovering over each tab a pop-up appears. Under the of tabs is a large advertisement called the â€Å"perfect 10. † It is a list of Nordstrom’s 10 warm-weather essentials. Nordstrom’s seasonal advertising is apparent. They are in the midst of promoting the Summer line of clothing. Under the advertisements are links to connect the Nordstrom facebook and twitter pages. There is also a handy store and event locator at the top of the page. The website follows a mostly black and white theme with t he only color being on the clothing pictured. This makes the clothing pop on the page and offers good contrast. . JC Penney has positioned itself as a mid to high-end retailer with excellent sale prices. Wal-Mart is positioned as the one-stop shop with the lowest prices of any retailed. Nordstrom is the high-end retailer that pushes the quality of its clothing over cheap prices. Survey: 5 Questions, 20 people surveyed. Where are you most likely to shop: JC Penney, Wal-Mart, Nordstrom †¢JCP: 11 people, Wal-Mart: 3 people, Nordstrom: 6 people Which has the best prices: JC Penney, Wal-Mart, Nordstrom †¢JCP: 5 people, Wal-Mart: 13 people, Nordstrom: 2 people Which has the best quality: JC Penney, Wal-Mart, Nordstrom JCP: 6 people, Wal-Mart: 1 person, Nordstrom: 13 people Which has the best products: JC Penney, Wal-Mart, Nordstrom †¢JCP 8 people, Wal-Mart: 3 people, Nordstrom: 9 people Which is the best at advertising: JC Penney, Wal-Mart, Nordstrom †¢JCP: 9 people, W al-Mart: 7 people, Nordstrom: 4 people In the college student demographic, most people are likely to shop at JC Penney. I conclude that this is because JC Penney positions itself as offering â€Å"stylish† clothing at good prices. Wal-Mart is seen as the bargain bin and Nordstrom is too expensive for most students.It is evidenced through this survey that each company has a very differentiated place in the consumers’ minds. Wal-mart is seen as the price leader, Nordstrom’s as quality, and JC Penney as good quality at a low price. The consumer impressions of each company match how each of the competitors have positioned themselves in the marketplace. 6. SWOT AnalysisWal-Mart StrengthsWal-Mart’s strengths are centered on its â€Å"always low prices† motto. Wal-Mart positions itself as having the lowest prices of any competitor. They even guarantee to match any competitor’s price.The survey shows that people are getting this message and know tha t Wal-Mart is the cheapest. WeaknessesWal-Mart has a problem when it comes to the perception of the quality of their products. People see Wal-Mart as cheap but low quality. Good in the short-run but not long-lasting. OpportunitiesTo improve performance, Wal-Mart could create an advertising campaign to show how they have low prices AND quality products. They could possible create departments with higher-end goods. ThreatsCompetitors such as Costco and other one-stop shows are external elements that could threaten Wal-Mart.Other companies can also attack the quality of products and the methods Wal-Mart uses to get these prices. 7. Wal-Mart has new CRM strategies in place for the new decade. Wal-Mart president Lee Scott Jr. has addressed how he is trying to make Wal-Mart the â€Å"company of the future. † They are seeking to gain new clients while still keeping old ones. Wal-Mart’s CRM strategy stresses â€Å"corporate responsibility† and its five factors: ethical consumerism, risk management, transparency, accountability, and responsibility. Scott had detailed his company's approach to the social component of retail.Executives, he said, meet regularly with a panel of 50 young consumers, many of whom have cut their personal spending — at restaurants, movies, or shopping in general — and say they feel good about the money they're saving. That sentiment, Scott noted, will likely remain with this generation of consumers even after the economy bounces back, a factor that retailers have to be cognizant of. Despite the consumer preference for multiple touch points, each shopper still expects recognition as a single individual, which means retailers must create a seamless multichannel experience.A rising number of consumers are using two or more channels to research, evaluate, purchase, and return products, Janiak said, a phenomenon that has been made possible by the Internet. According to Forrester Research, by 2012, 49 percent of Uni ted States retail sales will be online or cross-channel sales. Even today, the importance of the online channel is significant, Janiak said, citing a recent Deloitte survey of retail executives that indicated every dollar of merchandise sold online influences as much as $3 in the store. Wal-Mart is committed to covering the Internet aspect of retail in the future.They know that mobile phones, tablets, and laptops are the consumer devices of the future. In addition, Walmart. com, the online division of Wal-Mart, has leveraged its consumer tracking tools to work out even more precisely what the value of each of its customers is. â€Å"They (Walmart. com) know when they put Valentine's Day flowers on sale how much it costs to send that message, what percentage of customers end up on that site because of that message, how much money they will spend, and what is the likelihood of that customer coming back and buying other things,† says Wharton marketing professor David Reibstein.T hey don't simply look at one-time purchases, but at all the purchases afterwards, and use that information to calculate the value of spending advertising dollars. â€Å"They have that down to a science for almost all of their advertising. † Wal-Mart is adept at tracking purchasing patterns and catering their advertising to specific consumers. Nordstrom is also adept at customer relationship management. They stress that they are the leaders in customer service excellence. They state â€Å"the company with the greatest reputation for customer service in the United States continues to be Nordstrom.One of Nordstrom’s leaders states: What that takes is courage, dedication, and the fact that customer service isn't a strategy, but rather a way of life. A couple of years ago a company called me to speak to the organization because [that year] they were focusing on customer service. That [begs] the question: What were you emphasizing last year and what are you going to emphasi ze next year? At Nordstrom, it's a realization that they're not in the apparel business, shoe business, or cosmetic business, they're in the customer business. JC Penney and its new CEO are also at the forefront of CRM.He says that â€Å"a greater impact may come from information systems the customer rarely sees, such as customer relationship management (CRM) software. â€Å"Apple reshaped the retail landscape and combined technology with customer know-how to change the customer experience,† Fader notes. â€Å"Now, every retailer wants to do that. Using technology and social media to enhance the shopping experience is all well and good, but there is lower hanging fruit by using technology to better target buyers. † Nordstrom and JC Penney department stores also have cards such as a â€Å"Nordstrom card† that offer sales and deals to those that shop at Nordstrom frequently.These cards are the company’s way of rewarding those that are frequent purchasers t hat offer a â€Å"lifetime value† to the company. The retailers also offer credit cards to purchase their items that can be paid off with payments instead of all at once. 8. The societal marketing concept holds that a company should make marketing decisions based on what the customer wants. It is closely linked with corporate social responsibility and sustainable development. Companies of the future are focusing on environmental concerns because this is what people care about.Hybrid cars and alternative fuels are hot topics in the modern political arena and corporations must address this. Wal-Mart has begun a food-labeling program that will add â€Å"great for you† to many of its products on the fruit counters. Wal-Mart is trying to stress that its fruits do not include harmful pesticides or fertilizers. Wal-Mart has had environmental problems in the past. They recently had to pay a $1 million dollar fine and develop and environmental management plans because they viol ated storm water requirements under the Clean Water Act. Wal-Mart has created a plan to cut 2. million metric tons of CO2 emissions by 2013 by making stores more efficient. They have also said that Wal-Mart now reuses or recycles more than 80 percent of the waste produced in its United States operations. Since 2005, the company has reduced greenhouse gases by 12 percent and increased its trucks’ fuel efficiency by 65%. It is evident that Wal-Mart is making a concerted effort to be more environmentally responsible. In terms of charity, the Wal-Mart foundation has worked for global women’s economic empowerment, hunger relief, education, military support, and disaster relief.They also have many scholarship programs. JC Penney has committed to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent per gross square foot by 2014 by increasing energy-efficiency improvements and implementing conservation practices. In 2009, the retailer prevented about 80 million pounds of greenhouse gas emi ssions due to its new energy-efficiency measures. The retailer has invested millions of dollars to install advanced metering technology, lighting retrofits, and high-efficiency HVAC systems in its stores. JC Penney was the first retailer to earn the Energy Star Award for sustained energy management.JC Penney has been a member of the ENERGY STAR program since 1999 and was recognized as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year in 2007 and 2008. In addition, when the new ENERGY STAR efficiency benchmark for retail stores was introduced in October 2007, four JC Penney stores in Washington State became the first buildings to earn the Energy Star label for energy efficiency. Currently, 52 JC Penney stores, as well as the home office in Plano, Texas, have qualified for the ENERGY STAR Building Label. The retailer has set a goal to achieve ENERGY STAR certification for at least 200 stores across the country.Last year, JC Penney began using social media for charitable giving. They released several new digital initiatives. They also announced that since 1999, they have raised more than $100 million in scholarships and grants through its charity JC Penney Afterschool. Nordstrom is also committed to â€Å"sustaining the environment. They are working on resource conservation, recycling and waste management, packaging innovations, and organic cotton development. They have used 100% recycled bags and boxes since 2008. Nordstrom has perhaps the more radical approach to charity.They have opened a store in New York City at which all the profits have been committed to charity. Other than this, Nordstrom has the least about charity out of the three companies. Each of these three companies has been committed to environmental change. They have demonstrated a commitment to reducing waste and pollution. JC Penney is the most environmentally conscious of the three and was awarded an Energy Star. In terms of charity, Wal-Mart has the most charitable donations of the three. Based on these fi ndings all of the companies are focused on the â€Å"societal marketing concept. 9. With the economic collapse of 2008, the retail sector was one of the hardest hit. However, JC Penney, Nordstrom, and Wal-Mart have recovered remarkably. All three companies recently produced increased profit margins. Wal-Mart is #2 on the Fortune 500 list and isn’t in any foreseeable danger. I would say that of the three, Nordstrom is most in danger of hitting tough times. Although profits rose, Nordstrom caters to high-end retailers. If there is another economic collapse then Nordstrom may face danger. One retail giant that wasn’t so lucky was Mervyn’s.At its peak Mervyn’s had nearly 200 stores in 10 states. However in 2008, Mervyn’s began the process of liquidating its entire inventory and all stores were closed. Their liquidation shows the fragile nature of the retail business. If I could choose any product in this industry to close down I might have to go with Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is known for exploiting poor nations for resources and cheap labor. Additionally, employees get very few benefits and most are on minimum wage. I think they are too focused on low prices at the expense of quality and fair business practices.They also have a monopoly on the U. S. retail sector. In 2010 they had over $300 billion in sales. The next highest was Kroger at nearly $80 billion. The difference between Wal-Mart and its competitors is staggering. 10. Personal selling involves face-to-face interaction in which a seller persuades the customers to buy products or services. Wal-Mart has over 57,000 suppliers that use personal selling to get their products on Wal-Mart shelves. Wal-Mart has an online step-by-step process to become a supplier to the company.If Wal-Mart is interested in a supplier then they will try to meet the leaders of the supply business to see if they are capable. Suppliers must then sign a contract with Wal-Mart. The contract, commonly known as the vendor agreement, outlines the mechanics of how the supplier and retailer will work together. The agreement generally addresses sales and delivery timeframe, arbitration, and termination rights, and liability. As a rule, Wal-Mart uses a non-negotiable boilerplate. Charley Moore, CEO and founder of legal service RocketLawyer. om, says this means potential suppliers can study similar contracts online before meeting with the buyer. Wal-Mart generally starts out smaller suppliers in a local market, delivering goods to up to 50 stores, as a test run. If the supplier provides a high-selling product and proves reliable, it might be considered for national distribution. Bruce Zutler, CEO and co-founder of MCI Products Group, a New York-based company that specializes in new product development and overseas sourcing, recommends small suppliers think of the test-run as the time to prove they are capable. If you have a good product and you strengthen their sales, then the buyer will stay with you,† says Zutler. The test run is the time when suppliers must â€Å"sell† Wal-Mart on carrying a product. After all these efforts then the product may be picked up nationally and customers can find them at â€Å"everyday low prices† around the nation. 11. If I were the CEO of Nordstrom, I would get my best customers to order more by selectively having sales on items that were popular in the past. I would bring these items back in different styles and colors and place a seasonal sale on the items.This would encourage old customers to reacquire items that they previously liked, but that have acquired wear and tear over the years. I would also offer deals to frequent customers such as â€Å"Spend $200 and get 10% off. † This usually makes people spend more than they are planning on in order to get a deal. In addition to displaying similar clothes to what people ordered, I would follow the Land’s End method and offer matching accessories such as wallets, belts, shoes, watches, etc that go well with items that customers purchased.I would place these accessories close by to the clothing in the store so that people would be more likely to associate the accessories with products that they had already purchased. I would also offer incentives to frequent buyers. The more a person buys, the more â€Å"special† sales and opportunities they are offered. Nordstrom is one of the most successful retailers in terms of data analysis. They have updated their technology to bring SKU information much faster. The new technology also helps to analyze customer patterns and helped bring Nordstrom out it its slump. 12. The three companies have very different advertising efforts.JC Penney has released a new ad campaign called â€Å"say no to the status quo. † The ad campaign includes tv and outdoor ads as well as a Facebook page where visitors can scream their frustration at old types of advertisements. My favorite advertisement ou t of these three companies is the new JCP television ad shows people screaming at sales that ended early. They are overwhelmed at all the different numbers of sales and prices. JC Penney is saying that they are simplifying their sale structures. The campaign paves the way for the company’s new â€Å"fair & square† price structure.The ad is effective in because it has a comedic effect and addresses a legitimate concern for customers that are overwhelmed by the number of sales at retail outlets. Wal-Mart has recently committed to spending more on television advertising. In addition, Wal-Mart added thousands of screens in its retail locations that constantly show advertisements in different areas of the store. Wal-Mart is also trying to focus more on other aspects besides prices. They are beginning to advertise well-known national brands. Nordstrom’s advertising focuses on the quality of their product.Nordstrom's strives to meet customer satisfaction through offeri ng an array of products. â€Å"Our goal is to offer a well-edited range of products for a variety of lifestyles. â€Å". While they don't offer common, everyday needs like toiletries, groceries or cat litter; they do offer more upscale products such as apparel and home decor. Nordstrom, like Walmart, offer a private label–but without the notable discount. Nordstrom’s newest advertisement shows a woman opening the door to a man. The man drops his umbrella and looks at the girl in disbelief. The screen then shows the words â€Å"reinvent the complement. The advertisement is saying that by wearing Nordstrom clothes, people don’t even need to say anything. You can simply tell you are wearing quality clothing by their reaction to seeing you. 13. Retailers have to deal with a variety of factors in their supply chain management process. JC Penney is committed to offering merchandise and services that reflect the full range of their customers’ lifestyle prefer ences. To help them deliver on their brand promise of offering style and quality at a smart price, they pursue relationships with minority and women-owned suppliers that help provide for the needs of its diverse customers.They state that that sustaining a strong supplier base requires building relationships with suppliers they trust. That’s why, for more than 30 years, jcpenney has considered its Supplier Diversity program integral to business success. This program fosters relationships with qualified minority and women-owned suppliers, reflecting the diversity of associates, customers and community. Since its inception, the jcpenney Supplier Diversity Program has realized substantial growth in the purchases of merchandise, goods and services from minority and women-owned suppliers.JC Penney must deal with a variety of other things in its supply change management program. They have a US logistics operation that focuses on developing environmentally sound packaging, utilizing alternative energy sources and conservation to reduce cost and carbon footprint, and continued expansion of recycling and reuse projects. Wal-Mart is noted for the incredible speed of their supply chain. Wal-Mart’s legendary supply chain technology has allowed them to break the three-day barrier that some economists in the eighties felt was largely unbreakable.In other words, Wal-Mart is often able to replenish items on the Wal-Mart shelf in less than three days – not from the central warehouse to the shelf, but from the manufacturer to the shelf. With quick and reliable 2-day turn around, Wal-Mart is able to maintain lower levels of inventory and still meet customer demand. These lower inventory levels result in either a reduced floor plan with lower carrying costs and lower interest expense – or a greater diversity of products on the store shelves. Wal-Mart has over 7,000 factories worldwide that supply their products.Regulating these factories is an enormous practice. In the past, Wal-Mart has come under intense scrutiny because of working conditions in their factories as well as the presence of underage workers. Wal-Mart must deal with these challenges on a regular basis. Nordstrom’s supply chain starts with its vendors that they buy directly from. Once the regional buyers find out what products are needed to reach the target market, they go to the showrooms and order in bulk. The vendors then ship the products to warehouses across the country.They use a system called Accenture to determine their inventory. The inventory of each store is determined by Accenture, sent to each retail store, and purchased by customers. Accenture figures out which products are needed at each store. Nordstrom also uses the supply chain management software called SynQuest. SynQuest markets itself as a tool that facilitates planning, execution, and control on all orders. SynQuest uses financial optimization and real-time management. As it can be seen, Nordstrom and other companies use cutting-edge software to manage their supply chains.

Economy of the United States Before During and After World War Ii Essay

They were also encouraged to ration their food and gas, and often grew â€Å"Liberty Gardens. † Unfortunately, World War II also made the American Government used to relying on ‘deficit spending’ (government spending of borrowed money), causing economic problems that still linger today. That’s all I have. Hope it helps! Everything listed above is definatly true to a point, I’m a history major who has to answer this question for an exam later this week so I thought I’d help add some more information for the people who are looking†¦ WWII was an expensive war, it would cost $304 billion just to finance it. For this reason the governmnet pushed war bonds which encouraged common people to help support the war both with their money and with their hearts. From the get go the war was marketed to the common people, proven by the use of popular movie stars in the promotion of War fund-raising and compliance with governmnet measures. After pearl harbor, the American people were ready to pour everything they had into the war effort. Women donated thousands of tons of aluminum cooking supplies to help build planes– though it was later found that only virgin aluminum was good enough for aircraft and so their pots and pans were melted down and sold back to them as pots and pans. In the first months of the war Washington was a mess, and mobilization was slow. This is because our governmnet is not made to act swiftly, it was designed to take time and thought before any decision can be made. Scrap drives were unorganized and so were the efforts of the common people. Those who could not physically join the armed forces wanted to know what they could do to help but the governmnet expected little more from them than the purchasing of war bonds and for them to practice conservation of goods. Other items which were recycled included bone and fats which were used in making explosives and other materials. One of the greatest failures of American govenmnet was the policies which did not encourage the full use of all of the American people. While â€Å"Rosie the Riveter† posers might make it seem that women were begged to help in factories, the truth is that Americans tried to keep the women home for as long as possible before labor shortages around 1943 made it nessisary for factories to stop policies of discrimination. Comming out of the Depression, America had 9 million men that needed jobs. Each and every one was employed before women and minorities were given a chance to go to work. Even more difficult than the position of minorities was that of married women, especially those with the men of their families fighting overseas. America had been progressing socially as a nation under FDR, but his social reforms had taken a back seat to the war effort. Day care was almost non-existant, and where it was it was impossible to afford. Many stores also chose to keep the same hours they had during peace time and so women who worked late had a hard time getting the items they needed. Married women who had husbands in the workforce were also discriminated against because a common attitude was that the man should be the sole bread-winner of a household and children would â€Å"be denied proper care† if their mother’s worked. Many goods that people took for granted disapeared, and with more money than they had seen in years the American public had little to spend it on. Gasoline was rationed and in many cities â€Å"Sunday driving† was banned, those who violated the laws had their gas coupon books taken away. The decrease in driving worked both to save gasoline and to put many new business, which depended on â€Å"drive-in† coustomers, to fail. Most people were given a card that allowed them 2 gallons of gas per week, with unrestricted gas reserved for emercency vehicles, police officers, and a few unscrupulous congressmen. Meat was also rationed at 2lbs per person per week which was very difficult for some people to live with. Conservation and the war effort also found its way into popular fasion. Durring the war shoes could only be found in limmited colors (i. e. 4 shades of brown, and black) and clothes were not allowed to be made with any more material than was absolutly nessisary, pleats, ruffles and other embelishments were thrown out for the durration. (This is one of the reasons why short skirts and bare-backed dresses were all the rage). A black market of rationed goods and consumer goods (such as sheets) was strongly revived during this period, but was not so pervasive as to undermine the system. With money burning holes in their pockets, Americans turned to the entertainmnet industry, which with it’s glamourous actors and fantastical stories, helped to distract the public from their problems. Also, the governmnet had it’s own idea about what Americans should do with their extra money, during the war the income tax was introduced to suppliment GI spending and has been with us ever since. One thing I would like to correct from what is stated above is the idea that minorities gained rights as a result of the economic boom and the war effort. What happened is that minorites began to actively fight for their rights after WWII. Women did not want to be thrown out of their positions after the men came home from the war, they liked the freedom of having their own income and enjoyed doing something other than cooking and cleaning. African-Americans also were feircly discriminated dirring this time. It would not be until after the death of FDR that the new president Harry Truman would finally desegrigate the military. This nations’ minorities were fighting overseas for freedom and equality when in fact they were not given these freedoms at home. After the war, blacks who had served in the military moved out of the south and sought a better life in the north where they could escape the racial caste system which existed there. Jews were also discriminated here as well as in many other countries. We were eager to condemn Hitler for murder and open persecution, but we did not want to take the Jews off of his hands alive. If you need more info, consult this book: O’Neil, W. L. (2002). A Democracy at War: America’s Fight At Home and Abroad In World War II. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Most of my ideas come from that text, nothing is quoted directly. Hopefully this helps too!

Drinking Ticket Paper

The Worst night Ever It was a long, full day of work and I was ready to get back to the dorm to relax and have some fun, after all, it was my best friends birthday. We decided to go out for his birthday dinner for him and have a few drinks before we headed out. We had music cranking, we were singing and having a good end of the week party. Drinks began passing around and we took a turn for the worst, an RA outside our door smelled alcohol. Immediately the RA told us to open up to see what was going on, as if he didn’t already know, he too is a college student.So we all knew we had been caught so we let him come in to give us our punishments and go on with our soon to be sober lives. But as he walked in the room, cops decided to take a peak at what was going on. The RA told us he was upset with the cops â€Å"randomly showing up† but I didn’t believe him, and I still don’t. The cops made the RA walk us to the sinks with our pride and joy and dump it all dow n the drain. He was surprised as to how cooperative we were and almost let us off the hook for a violation, but realized we were income for him.So he got the breathalyzer out, skipped our rights and handed all of us drinking tickets like he’d done many times before. I have never been so upset in my life; so mad I started punching my bed and pillow. What I thought was going to be the peak of my week turned out to go down the drain just like my Wild Turkey 101. Looking back at it now, I don’t feel like it has impacted me as bad as I thought it was going to. Yes, my bank account is feeling the pain, but my hands have finally stopped hurting. I have gotten a lawyer who told me to do 24 hours of community service and take a drinking class by my court date.Not too bad, the punishment could be much worse. The drinking ticket hasn’t stopped me from going out, but it has stopped me from drinking. Since then I haven’t had a sip of alcohol at school and I actually e njoy it, watching other people do dumb stuff is just as fun as actually drinking, and it’s legal! I sure have learned my lesson just as I always do, the hard way. How this can affect my future Before this ticket ever happened, I had never thought how much a drinking ticket could really affect my life, nor did I think I would ever get one.Since the ticket I have put a lot of thought into how it can affect my near future as well as my far future. Now that I have a drinking ticket, employers could not higher me because of suspicion that I would break other laws to give him or her company a bad name. Also with this ticket I have a misdemeanor on my record. I never thought of myself being a criminal or having a bad record, but now I have one for a stupid think I did one night. Because of this being on my record, a policeman could take me to jail for something small such as a speeding ticket.The worst part of having the drinking ticket is that the school has put me on probation. I didn’t think this was a big deal because my grades are fine, but when I went to go and register for new classes I have to call the school and get my account temporarily upheld. This made registration for my class in the spring semester a lot harder than it usually is because all the classes that I wanted to take were either filled up or at a point in the day that I don’t want to be in class (8am). Because of this awful timing, I may sleep in through my classes and get a lower grade than I would like to have.One other thing that the drinking ticket has taken away from my future is that Campus Living will not hire me as a Resident Advisor because I can’t be trusted. Goals Since I have entered college I have set many goals for myself, most of these being current grades. Some of the goals that I have look into the future and those are the ones that can be most affected by this ticket. I want to maintain a 3. 0 GPA at the very lowest so that I can chose which major I want as a graduate student.This ticket has made this a lot harder to happen because of the amount of community service that I have had to do in the past few weeks, I have no spare time to relax either, but that’s what college is about. Because I am on probation with the school I couldn’t register for the classes that I wanted because I had to wait for the school to unlock my account. Because of this I now have a harder schedule and may not do as well as planned. I do believe that I can work through these classes next semester if I can manage to wake up on time.Other goals that I have at ECU is to be more involved and even president of a few clubs at the school. I have not looked into this part, but a drinking ticket could dictate whether or not I am able to run this part of the club. Since I have been at ECU I have met many friends and have had a great time, even with all the work that is contently due. I am hoping that this drinking ticket doesn’t affect my fu ture here at school and can get taken off of my record. Since the ticket I have not had a sip of alcohol and don’t plan to until I turn 21, I think I can wait another year and a half, not a big deal in my mind.I’ll just watch other people get into trouble and make fools of themselves when they are out trying to have fun and meet new people. In a way I am sort of thankful that this has happened. I am also glad that the turnout has not been as bad as I originally thought it was going to be. I could have had to go to jail or been in far more trouble with the school, so that’s one way to look at the situation positively. I am very sorry for drinking on campus and will not let it happen again, I don’t even want to drink anymore now that I have stopped for a few months.