Iodex Case Essay

Ads appeals help convey the brand positioning to its target markets. Brand managers have a choice between two broad appeals-Hard & Soft. While they use both according to the market dynamics, thematic campaigns need soft appeals. Within Soft appeals most frequently used are Humor, Slice of Life and Testimonial. Fear, Agony, Subliminal, sex and abrasive are less utilized locally. Looking at the most advertised category-Telecom-spending nearly Rs.7 b in 2009-10, we notice Ufone using humor right from the beginning. They have attained no.3 posItion after Telenor and Mobilink with a long battle.. Brand has created a strong identity through its consistent characters and popular persona in the last few years. With the highest SOS in its category-Rs.1.9 b in 2010-the brand has not changed its appeal and seemingly following the Law of Consistency brilliantly. Mobilink and Telenor have stuck mostly with Slice of Life appeals. Wand has lately been re-activated changing its agency to O&M with greater focus on re-branding, Glow.lising youth as its core target, the brand is adhering to Metaphoric marketing with inspirational appeal to its segmentiong is sticking to Slice of Life emotional appeals in most of its thematic campaigns targeting the lower pre-paid segment. Its latest Mini bus Karachi campaign has created significant visibility with matching BTL activities. The personal care market is dominated by Testimonial appeal and is the most frequently used phenomenon in this sector. Mega brands-Lux,Veet,Paritene & H&S-aII showing glamorous Indian Icons with great fanfare Katrina, Kareena and Shilpa zooming with their magic helping the brands attain market leadership.Sunsilk while trying to imbibe the brand with an international look, is using some foreign experts but with little sparkle Lately,Clear has also joined the race with ShahidKapoor. Locally Iman Ali is being very successfully exploited for Jofa lawns and eclipsed Vanieeza Ahmed V9 and Kareena in Firdous Textile campaigns. In the detergent market, we again notice abundance of Slice of life across the board by Surf, Ariel and Brite. Very recently advertisers are also experimenting wth subliminal appeals using Iman Ali in Kashmir banaspati and QMobile.Prevoisly Magnum did it gorgeously in their TVCs. Interestingly pharma OTC brands-Strepsils &Dispirin from RB and Panadol of GSK have mostly resorted to Slice of life instead of agony appeal alone or a combination. lodex is now contemplating to push the market for its new white gel in tube after daunting campaigns from Moove and Volteren using a Slice of Life and agony mix. Brand manager is aware of the fact that lodex used humor successfully in the lndian market few years back.

Journal on Poems Essay

The poem portrays the definitions of sanity and madness. However, these definitions vary from the perspective of people and the surroundings as pointed out in the second line. In other words, the poem points out that for certain people, something normal is considered insane and vice versa. 2. The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost Basically, for me, the poem depicted a common experience in life wherein one makes a choice between two things and then wonders what could’ve happened had he or she took the other option. The situation shown in the poem reflects a reality that everyone faces in life which is making a choice and standing by that decision. However, as illustrated in the poem, despite the choices people make regarding, for example, careers and business ventures, there will also be times that one doubts whether he or she made the right decision or not. 3. Design by Robert Frost The poem basically illustrates that most of the time the world’s beauty can be appreciated through observing the natural things such as the spider and the moth. In addition, as the title suggests, life is basically a design. It is natural for a spider to eat the moth as it was designed to do so. However, since the spider killed the moth, the author also wonders why the â€Å"designer† allows such a thing to happen. In short, while the author acknowledges the beauty natural order of things, he also questions why horrible events, such as death, happen. 4. Mending Wall by Robert Frost Initially, the poem suggests that there are no need for walls between neighbors as this suggests division. However, at the end, although the speaker in the poem still did not favor the construction of a wall between him and his neighbor, he acknowledged the fact that walls are important as these set boundaries and limitations. Basically, the poem also illustrates that in real life, â€Å"walls† or boundaries, which are best exemplified by laws and rules, are necessary to maintain order. 5. Cross by Langston Hughes The poem clearly depicts the speaker’s confusion about his identity. As the title of the poem says, the speaker is a â€Å"cross† between a white man and a black woman and is confused about his true identity. He also wonders if he would share the same fate of his mother and father and yearns to know where he really belongs to. The poem also depicts two realities in life which are discrimination and racism. Basically, the poem suggests that if these two did not exist, the speaker would not have to long for acceptance and would not have to search for his identity.

Effects of H-1B Visa Program on Employment and Wage in the United States Essay

The United States is the most powerful country in the world. Its dominant culture, military, and economy make it the most influential nation across the globe. The power of the US doesn’t only come from its native citizens but also from the foreigners who come to its shores every day to work and live there. These people play a very significant role in driving the US economy. A number of national programs have been developed in order to influence the influx of these people into the US. One of those programs is called the H-1B visa program. The program, which allows foreigners to work in the US, has critical effects on various sectors of American society, but especially the economy. Based on the data that have been so far collected, it is clear that the H-1B visa program, in terms of employment in the technology sector, is important in maintaining the status of the country as a leader in science and technology. However, the H-1B visa program may also have negative effects on the wage of native citizens because they would have to compete with the low wages of foreign workers. Many companies in the US needed temporary workers, so the H1 category of non-immigrants was created under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. Unlike immigrants, non-immigrants only stay in the US temporarily to accomplish a specific purpose, for instance, education or work. The current H1-B visa program of the United States was created through the Immigration Act of 1990 and the amendment of the 1952 act. The result of the amendment was a program that allows an employer to temporarily hire a foreigner to work in the US provided that he’s under the category of non-immigrants. Also, the worker must have a specialty occupation or be a fashion model with exceptional ability and merit. The law describes a â€Å"specialty occupation† as something that requires theoretical and practical application of a specialized body of knowledge. The worker must also have a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in specialties such as business, biotechnology, education, health care, medicine, and sciences. The H1-B program currently limits the number of foreign nonimmigrant workers in the US to 65,000 per year (Bartik et al. 134). H-1B’s cap has not always remained the same, however. Congress increased it to 115,000 in 1998 for fiscal years 1999 and 2000. Then in 2000, Congress increased it even further to 195,000 for the 2001 fiscal year. It was maintained during 2002 and 2003, and was slashed to 65,000 again from 2004 onward. Not all foreign workers are affected by the cap, however. The H-1B Visa Reform Act of 2004 states that foreign workers employed by institutions of government research organizations, institutions of higher education and NGOs are exempt from the cap. Also, a separate cap of 20,000 exists on petitions that are filed on behalf of foreigners with master’s or higher degrees earned in the US (Bartik et al. 135). Recently, lobbyists composed of universities and members of the technology industry are pushing for a huge increase in the annual cap of H-1B visas. They argue that H-1B visas otherwise known as â€Å"guest worker visas† serve a crucial role in driving the economy, especially in the high technology sector. According to them, there is a systemic shortage of American engineers and scientists in the country. There is a very high demand domestically for these highly skilled workers and the small supply cannot fill that gap. The only way to solve this problem therefore is through the import of foreign workers through the H-1B visa program (Hira et al. 150). These lobbyists argue that they will be forced to resort to outsourcing jobs to foreign engineers and scientists in their home countries if the H-1B cap is not increased. They also claim that the visa program actually serves as a tool for the country to gather the best and the brightest highly skilled workers in the world. This is supposedly a result that is to be expected if the cap on the H-1B visa program is increased (Hira et al. 150). There are many evidences for the advantages brought about by hiring foreign workers in the technology sector. For example, a 2008 study by the National Research Council looked at the effects of hiring H-1B workers by large US companies Texas Instruments, Qualcomm, Motorola/Freescale, Intel, and IBM. Of the five companies, IBM employed the most number of H-1B workers, granting almost 4,000 in five years. Most applications in the company stated a range of earnings of about $82,072. This was considerably bigger than the other four companies’ average minimum earnings. The researchers thought that the applications were for jobs that were not chip-related since IBM had become a software company from a hardware company (National Research Council and National Academy of Engineering 152). It is clear from the example above that foreign workers in the technology sector do indeed get attracted to the United States through H-1B visas. IBM was hiring more foreign workers than anybody else in the group, and these people were earning higher. However, there are still many â€Å"experts† that love to criticize the H-1B visa program. John McCain and Edward Kennedy defended the H-1B visa program in 2006. The two senators supported the immigration bill that passed the Senate and insisted that their bill required employers to search for workers in the US first. However, their bill actually didn’t have any of these provisions (Hira et al. 152). Indeed, it’s a common misconception that the current law instructs US companies to look for workers in the US first. Many government officials also have this incorrect belief. Senator Norman Coleman, for example, says that he supports the issuance of H-1B visas as long as a number of conditions are met. One, the employer must show that there is not enough US workers qualified for the position; two, that the employer has not laid off a US worker 90 days before or after hiring a foreign worker; three, the employer must demonstrate that they tried to hire US workers before foreign workers; and finally, that the recruitment of H-1B workers will not have adverse effects on the waves, working conditions, and job opportunities of US workers. Even then Senator Barack Obama thinks that the H-1B policy aims to exhaust all means of recruiting US workers before foreign workers. He believed that hiring H1-B workers should be a last recourse for American employers (Hira et al. 152). The truth is however, that the provisions mentioned by the two people above actually don’t exist for the majority of employers who use the H-1B visa program. Even Obama’s wish that employers should hire foreign workers as a last option is not practiced in the real world (Hira et al. 152). Also, according to market indicators, there is not enough evidence of a systemic shortage of resident engineers and scientists in the US, one of the main arguments of lobbyists for the increase in H-1B cap. Also, earnings and wage growth have been moderate and more or less the same as other professions. The unemployment rate, while it sharply increased during the dot-com bubble, has now fallen. Researchers have also supported the idea that there is little evidence of shortage in high technology jobs. Private surveys and public data are also conflicting when it comes to determining shortages. Trade surveys show there are indeed shortages, but public data indicate the opposite (Bartik et al. 137). Determining shortages in scientists and engineers is a real problem because any increase in the number of H-1B visas issued by employers alone is not indicative of a systemic shortage. Other factors contribute to perceived shortages, for example, the growing significance of foreign students in American institutions. These are foreign students who remain in the United States after they graduate to convert their student visa to a working visa. Other equally important factors include: economic growth, cyclical demand in IT industries, especially during the 1990s, and even backlogs in the application process for permanent visa. Employers today are constantly hiring H-1B workers, but that is clearly not enough reason to increase the cap on H-1B visas. Aside from the effects it will have on the wages and earnings of American workers, the increased cap will create some problems in the permanent residency part of immigration because there are already backlogs there (Bartik et al. 137). The influx of H-1B workers into the United States has been going on vigorously since the 1990s. During that time, about 30 million people were able to stay in America through nonimmigrant admissions. The fastest growing nonimmigrant admissions fall under categories where a foreigner first applies as a temporary foreign worker or student. He then tries to find a US sponsor to able to obtain the immigrant visa. Between 1992 and 1998, the number of foreign students admitted into the country with F1 visas rose from 53% to 565,00. The number of trainers and temporary workers also increased from 128% to 372,000 during that period of time (OECD 35).

Legal approch to bioethics Justice in end-of-life cases Essay

Legal approch to bioethics Justice in end-of-life cases - Essay Example Retributive or punitive justice can be understood as a retroactive process that justifies punishment for past injustice or violation(s) of the law (Maiese, 2003). Substantive justice is concerned with enforcing the rights and obligations. Distributive justice is concerned with the fair allocation of rights, duties, benefits and burden among community members(Bernard M Dickens, 1994; Maiese, 2003). Accordingly, this paper demonstrates the application of the justice principle in end-of-life legislations and legal cases. Further, this paper focuses on four cases: brain death concept, the Rasouli case, the Latimer case, and the Carter case. Historically, death has been defined as the cessation of respiration and blood circulation(Dickens, 1985). Yet, the development of mechanical technology to maintain vital function, such as ventilators and machines to assist blood circulation, has posed a new ethical question about the patients with irreversible or otherwise profound neurological damage. The question develops to whether or not these individuals are in fact dead or not Further, one must question whether or not it is ethical to withdraw life support from these patients. As such , the brain death concept was introduced by a Harvard ad hoc committee in 1968("Report of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Harvard Medical School," 1968). Brain death was recognised as criterion for death in Canadian provincial legislation (B. Dickens, 1985). For example, Ontario’s Trillium Gift of Life Network Act ("Trillium Gift of Life Network Act (R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER H.20)," 1990)in s.7 (1) states that death should be determined by at lea st two physicians; in accordance with accepted medical practice. Dickens analyzes existing legal approaches in death determination and indicates that the current process embraces what is known as the brain death concept(Dickens, 1985).This approach permits the

Animal Make Us More Human Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Animal Make Us More Human - Essay Example Naturally children, when left to their own devices, will take the first step and form activities and other stories in the world which is around them. With children who have passed their toddler age, most imaginative games and plays begin because of parental guidance or supervision. Unstructured free play takes place in many varying environments, but, the outdoors may give more chances for free play because of movable items, such as dirt, sticks, rocks, leaves, which provide them with the opportunity of creation and exploration. Some parents do not find it easy to give unstructured play time for the kids. Giving kids time without continuous supervision and guidance, in particular outside play, is difficult. It feels difficult to find reasonable concern, over-attention and the yearning to get kids familiar with freedom and learned from their own experiences and mistakes. Emotional intelligence and socialization is increased through physical movement and shared interactions. Children also work together to come up with what game they have to play and then agree the rules and how to deal with scenarios that always involve the varying perspectives of all. These works they do together build in the social qualities that everyone want for their kids. Children are building with self-awareness, compassion, empathy, flexibility and self-regulation. This emotional development is endorsed with the physical health as kids playing outside move a lot. In children and adults alike the level of physical activity has been well recognized to reduce the anxiety, stress and despair and to enhance the overall mood. This research is thin in young adults and youngest kids get the most advantage as well. Free play in young children and toddlers most often involves the burst of gross motor activity over a time period with numerous ones over a time period. Most of the children are laughing

Individualized Education Policy Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Individualized Education Policy - Case Study Example This study highlights that the quantity and quality of the information must be sufficient to sustain evidence against the teacher regarding discrimination. Formal report will be prepared concerning Joseph’s IEP implementation. Actions that can be taken in this case according to the district policy include placement on administrative leave. A formal letter of reprimand will be placed in the teachers’ file. From this paper it is clear that in determining the potential punishments, attendants in the meeting will include ARD committee members, Joseph’s parents, special education teacher, general education teacher, technology and career teacher, an administrator, school psychologist, Joseph’s case manager and any other person the parents feel should be present. The ARD will determine the outburst by Joseph was caused by disability. If there is no relationship between the behavior and disability, he will be disciplined as a non-special education student.

Disaparity economics Who is the top 1% of the income and where do they Essay

Disaparity economics Who is the top 1% of the income and where do they live - Essay Example Disparity economics is influenced by many factors like globalization, political environment, and cultural changes. In America, it is claimed that globalization made â€Å"money go truly crazy† (Peterson, cited in Freeland). The lifestyle of the richest is a far cry from that of the poor. The richest are the globetrotters who never stay in the country for long. They know foreign places better than they do places in their own country. They spend more time with airline flight attendants than with their families. Most of these richest people are businessmen. A look into the lives and cultures of these people helps a common person to assess how differently they live their lives than a middle class person who has to deal with so many insecurities in life. For example, the employment market is so unpredictable because the economic condition of the country has made layoffs so common now everywhere in the US. All the capital gains keep rolling toward that 1 percent which already has enough of these gains. The result is that other classes, especially the middles class, is drastically robbed off of its gains. For example, Freeland in her very insightful book gives examples of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet to prove how staggeringly unequal the American society has become. It is claimed that both these men together have a tight grasp on as much wealth as the other 120 million Americans at the bottom of the wealth distribution. Gates and Buffet are two most important names of the top 1% of the US society. Buffet lives in Omaha in not a very luxurious home. Still, the structure of the house is very nice. He also just sold a luxurious vacation home located in Laguna Beach. It is safe to say that he lives a very comfortable lifestyle. Bill Gates lives in a very large mansion which took over 7 years and 63 million dollars to build alone. The mansion is located in Washington. There is every luxury imaginable

Thinking About the Human Experience Research Paper

Thinking About the Human Experience - Research Paper Example There are some elements in the humanities field that children might enjoy. Theatre and dance are an intricate part of a child’s psychology. Performing arts encourages children to relate with one another, and enjoy the experience. Growing up, some children find it challenging to continue with these arts, and choose to pursue other areas. However, for some, this becomes their daily life as they have a passion for it. These arts are not looked at as child’s play once people desist from participating in them. It is just that people choose to explore diverse areas so as to learn more while adding more to the given field (DePoy & Gilson, 2007). Critical and creative thinking is often brought out through the humanities. In the philosophy of law, for example, individuals can learn to comprehend what affects them in their immediate society. Society can learn to tackle the issues they face regularly in open-minded and reasoned discussions, and arrive at feasible solutions. Folks stand the chance of understanding and appreciating diverse cultures that are present in the world. They can now learn to relate to other people’s experiences, and learn from them (DePoy & Gilson, 2007). In conclusion, humanities are crucial in the lives of many individuals. It assists in keeping a comprehensive record of human experiences and lives. It helps explore, assess, interpret, and refine life. This is while adding innovativeness to it (DePoy & Gilson, 2007). The humanities are responsible for having the most varied disciplines in the world, and why they have attained global

Sega Corporation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Sega Corporation - Essay Example Learning organizations are those who look to the future; organizations which are constantly in touch with their market and one step ahead of their competition. Sega Corporation, unfortunately, is not a learning organization and, as such, has adhered to strategies which may have been successful in the past but which are no longer so. As Sega’s OD advisor, I have prepared a report which outlines the roots of its failures and argues the efficacy of its adopting a learning organizational model. The literature reviewed underscores the benefits of doing so and precisely articulates what is involved in doing so. Should Sega implement these recommendations, its business performance, as measured through both financial and non-financial indicators will experience discernible improvement. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sega Corporation has decided to transform the company into a learning organization, believing that in so doing, Sega will eventually be in a position to confront its competitors and regain the market shares it lost throughout the past decades. Indeed, Sega’s persistent failure to accurately gauge and effectively respond to changing trends in the electronic home gaming market has resulted in the almost complete loss market shares, not to mention yearly net losses on sales from the mid-1990s to the present.Sega’s inability to confront its competitors or to reclaim its lost market shares reflects a problem within the organization itself

NAFTA - United States, Canada, and Mexico Trading Together Research Paper

NAFTA - United States, Canada, and Mexico Trading Together - Research Paper Example It was actually signed by President George H. W. Bush along with Mexican President Salinas, and Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney in 1992. Ratification of the legislature by the three countries took place in 1993. By campaigning on a common market, President Ronald Reagan actually began formation of NAFTA, which lead to the passing of the Trade and Tariff Act in 1984. The act gave the president authority to negotiate the free trade, but only allowing Congress the ability to approve or disapprove. Congress was not allowed to change any negotiating factors. Canada and the United States began negotiations for the Canada and US free trade agreement, which was put into effect in 1989. This treat is now suspended due to the onset of NAFTA. Mexican President Salinas and President Bush began negotiations for a trade agreement between Mexico and the United States. History shows that Mexican tariffs on US Imports were 250 per cent higher than US tariffs on Mexican imports. Canada was the first to suggest an agreement between the three countries, which lead to NAFTA. Since the signing of the NAFTA agreement in 1994, two addenda have been added. NAFTA has linked 450 million people from differing countries producing $17 trillion worth of services and goods. NAFTA was originally signed into law for a period of 15 years. NAFTA eliminated tariffs and created an agreement based on the rights of international business investors. This reduced the cost of trade, which promotes growth and investment. Eliminating tariffs also reduces inflation by lowering the cost of imports. Some features of NAFTA that specify its purpose were to eliminate existing barriers to trade and make effective the cross-border movement of services and goods. It was also to promote an atmosphere of fair competition. This, in turn, created increased investment opportunities for all three countries. Other features included providing enforcement and protection of intellectual property rights and creating procedures for the resolution of trade disputes.     

Discuss the influence of variables such as culture and gender on the Essay

Discuss the influence of variables such as culture and gender on the measurement of attachment - Essay Example It should be noted that attachment does not involve exclusively in the childhood; rather, it can be continued in adulthood - a view supported by Ainsworth (1991, in Schneider 1993, p.42). However, the form and the quality of attachment in adulthood is likely to be influenced from the quality of attachment that a person has experienced in his/ her childhood (Ainsworth, 1991, in Schneider, 1993, p.42). In fact, in the context of the ‘Strange Situation’ experimental process (Ainsworth et al. 1978) it has been proved that attachment is likely to be developed in the early years of human life. Through the above experiment, where the attachment of infants to their mother (or caregiver) is measured, it has been proved that attachment in this period of life can appear in 4 different forms: ‘insecure-avoidant, secure, insecure-resistant and insecure disorganised’ (Ainsworth et al. 1978). In any case, attachment can have many different aspects being influenced by gende r and culture, as explained below. McKinsey & Claussen (2003) tried to identify the influence of culture on attachment; in their study, the quality and the aspects of attachment developed between the Egyptian children and their mothers were examined through appropriately customized interviews – visits in the houses of 30 families in Egypt. ... As a result, in Egypt, culture along with gender can be considered as being variables influencing the form and the development of attachment as a key element of social life. On the other hand, Mercer (2006) has opposed the influence of culture on attachment; his study is based on the findings of the research of Mary Ainsworth in Uganda (in 1950s); in the context of the above research it was proved that no relationship exists between attachment and culture. In fact, after visiting ’26 families with babies’ (Mercer 2006, p.41), Ainsworth came to the assumption that the level and the quality of attachment of infants in Uganda are similar to that of infants in Britain (Mercer 2006). The influence of culture on attachment is made clear in the study of Kalat (2010); in the above study it is explained that the patterns of attachment in different cultural frameworks are similar (Kalat 2010, p.175); however differences exist in regard to the measurement of attachment in differen t cultures (Kalat 2010, p.175). As an example, Kalat (2010) refers to the ‘low consistency’ (Kalat 2010, p.175) that characterizes the findings of the measurement of attachment of children in South Africa. In the relevant research, different findings were retrieved when a different research approach was used, a fact which, in accordance with Kalat (2010) indicates the influence of culture on the measurement of attachment. In any case, when the attachment needs to be measured it would be necessary to use an appropriate approach aiming to control inconsistencies; for example, the cultural adaptationism (an approach suggested by Gumperz & Humes, 1986, in Harwood, Miller & Irizarry, 1997,

Catherines wedding Essay Example for Free

Catherines wedding Essay In act two of the play the family has really broken apart. Beatrice and Eddie barely speak and Catherine and Rodolfo have their first argument. They argue because what Eddie said to Catherine about Rodolfo using her for a passport has really made her think, now that she knows one day they will get married, she asks him if he would live with her in Italy instead of in America. He says, No. I will not marry you to live in Italy. This upsets Catherine, but it infuriates Rodolfo. This part in the passage shows how their relationship is strong, because they make up quickly and she realises he loves her for her not just her papers. The night that Eddie returns home drunk and orders Rodolfo out his house shows just how jealous Eddie really is. Catherine says how she is leaving as well if he leaves but Eddie says to Rodolfo, Get outa here. Alone. You hear me? Alone. Catherine tries to stand up to Eddie, she says how she isnt a baby anymore, but he cuts her off mid-sentence and grabs her, and kisses her, I think he kissed her because he is drunk and he cant control his feelings anymore, but then when he gets her reaction he isnt happy. He thought she might feel the same way but she obviously doesnt. He realises he shouldnt have one it. Then Rodolfo shouts at Eddie to let go of her, Eddie asks if he wants something and Rodolfo bursts out, Yes! Shell be my wife. That is what I want. My wife. Eddie winds up Rodolfo and Rodolfo tries to defend Catherine, he tries to attack Eddie but Eddie is much stronger than him. In attempt to cover up his kiss with Catherine Eddie gets Rodolfo and he, pins his arms, laughing, and suddenly kisses him. This is embarrassing for Rodolfo because it shows how weak he is and its also embarrassing for Catherine because she has to break them up, proving she is stronger than Rodolfo. This however makes Catherine and Rodolfos relationship even stronger because now they are going to get married and Catherine knows Rodolfo will try to defend her in a fight. Eddie goes to see Alfieri for the second time, he tells him about the kiss and says he did it to try and prove Rodolfo was gay. Alfieri says that there is nothing he can do to help Eddie unless he wants him to call immigration and report the two immigrants. Alfieri gives him a second piece of advice, he says, Even those who understand you will turn against you, even the ones who feel the same will despise you. He is warning Eddie not to do anything, not to report Marco and Rodolfo and also not to do anything with Catherine. Leave them both alone. But Eddie doesnt listen to Alfieri; he goes to the phone box outside his house, and calls up immigration. When he gets home Rodolfo and Marco have moved out, into a flat upstairs with two new immigrants. Eddie now panics, one of the immigrants is Liparis nephew and he has a rough family. The last time someone snitched on immigrants, a boy named Vinny, they grabbed him in the kitchen and pulled him down the stairs three flights his head was bouncin like a coconut. And they spit on him in the street, his own father and brothers. Now that Eddie has informed immigration about Marco and Rodolfo he thinks that will happen to him, so hes nervous people will find out it was him who informed immigration. Immigration come and search downstairs and upstairs. They find all four of the immigrants upstairs and bring them down. Marco starts shouting at Eddie, That one! I accuse that one! He killed my children! The one that stole the food from my children! the whole neighbourhood is watching and listening, and then everyone turns away and leaves Eddie. The only one left is Beatrice. Marco and Rodolfo can be put on bail until their court hearing, but Marco has to promise he wont hurt Eddie. Rodolfo will be fine, because he is going to marry Catherine, but Marco will definitely be deported. Marco promises and they both go. Eddie is at home and Beatrice is with him getting ready for Catherines wedding. Eddie refuses to let her go, he says that if she goes, shes not allowed back. Catherine turns and starts shouting at Eddie, Hes a rat! He belongs in the sewer! Rodolfo comes in to warn Eddie about Marco, saying hes praying in the church, and then hes coming for Eddie. Eddie refuses to go away, he stays, waiting in the house. Eddie goes to meet Marco outside and produces a knife. He threatens Marco and tells him to apologise or hell kill him. Marco shouts at Eddie, Anima-a-a-l! Eddie lunges at Marco with the knife, but Marco takes the blade and turns it on Eddie, pushing it into Eddie. Eddie falls to the floor as Marco looks down on him. It is like the ending of act one in that Marco is standing above Eddie, with a weapon, and Eddie has lost. It was inevitable that he would die because he never knew when to stop. However I dont think Eddie deserved to die, he was only doing what he thought was correct, he wanted Catherine, and got jealous that someone else could have her, he never meant to hurt anyone, he just wanted to have Catherine to himself and Rodolfo and Marco to go away. Now there is tension between Beatrice and Marco, and Catherine and Marco, but they are not annoyed, because they knew there was nothing else he could have done.

Trinidad And Tobagos Banking Industry Analysis

Trinidad And Tobagos Banking Industry Analysis The banking industry in Trinidad and Tobago has somewhat changed in the past few years. This resulted in the entry of some banks and the re-entry of others. This paper strategically analyses the current strategic position of one of the major banks, First Citizens (FC). First Citizens Bank is a member of the First Citizens Group, which consists of: First Citizens Bank Limited First Citizens Asset Management Limited First Citizens Trustee Services Limited First Citizens (St. Lucia) Limited First Citizens Securities Trading Limited Caribbean Money Market Brokers (CMMB) For the purposes of this paper, First Citizens Banks current strategies that are being utilised to achieve its goal are critically analysed along with its internal and external environment, which establish the forces that drives change and the key success factors that sustains competitive advantage. All these factors give rise to the SWOT analysis of the bank, which matches the bank resources and capabilities to the competitive environment in which it operates. 1.2 Background FC Bank is the first indigenous bank of Trinidad and Tobago and was formed in 1993 out of the amalgamation of three failed financial institutions namely: The Workers Bank of Trinidad and Tobago 1989 Ltd, Trinidad Co-operative Bank Ltd and The National Commercial Bank Ltd. It is the third largest bank in Trinidad and Tobago and the fastest growing. Over the years, FC Bank has become one of the regions leading and most dynamic financial product and service providers. This position is further strengthened by the acquisition of CMMB one year ago. The leaderships robustness at the bank has championed the industry in technology, innovative product offerings and profitability, which earned them numerous awards, with the most recent being World Finance magazine Best Bank, Trinidad and Tobago 2009. 2.0 DEFINING THE INDUSTRY The banking industry is part of the Financial Services Sector, which is highly regulated by the Financial Act of Trinidad and Tobago. The Financial Services industry comprises of credit unions, investment banks, insurance companies, mutual funds etc. All the aforementioned offers similar services as retail banking as per a regular bank, but the Commercial Banking Sector consists of all financial institutions permitted the Financial Services Act and approved by the Central Bank. There are a number of commercial banks approved by the Central Bank and registered under the act, these include: First Citizens Bank Limited Republic Bank limited (RBL) Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (RBTT) Scotiabank Limited Citibank (Trinidad and Tobago) Limited First Caribbean International Bank Intercommercial Bank Bank of Baroda For the purpose of this paper, this would be defined as the industry and would be the basis on which analysis is made. 3.0 ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK 3.1 Vision, Mission and Objectives of First Citizens First Citizens vision is To become the most competitive group in Trinidad and Tobago with a well established international presence. While the mission is to build a highly profitable financial services franchise renowned for innovativeness, service excellence and sound corporate governance. To achieve the aim FC focuses on continuous improvement of systems and products, building a strong base of knowledge and skilled workers and creating strategic partnerships in key sectors that add value to the franchise. The mission is underpinned by the core values, which assist the employees in the achievement of the mission. The core values are: Commitment to excellence Commitment to customers Commitment to integrity Commitment to financial strength Commitment to employees Commitment to continuous improvement The main objective of the bank is to improve profitability with a major focus on its return on equity. The main objective is supported by secondary objectives, which are: Leveraging Technology to create confidence in the banks systems and procedure Reducing overheads costs while simultaneously increasing revenues Aggressively increasing assets, loans and fund base Widening the range of products and services primarily in the area of internet and mobile (electronic) banking Improving First Citizens risk management Improving the Groups image and service quality Deepening the human resource competence These objectives are quantified using the balance scorecard, which sets specific targets needed to be achieved in order to achieve the organisations objectives. In order to achieve the objectives, each branch manager, department and unit is required to produce a balanced score card, which eventually sums to the overall directional scorecard. 3.2 Strategy In order for the vision, mission and objectives of FC to become operational strategies must be implemented. Figure shows the alignment of First Citizens strategies with its vision. The use of the groups balance has made strategy making and organisational coordination reflect the top-down manner in which strategy is developed and communicated. The banks existing strategies is summarised using Ansoffs Directional Matrix (see figure). From the Directional Matrix, FC Banks diversification strategy exemplifies the Banks thrust into a wider and more competitive industry. This is indicates that boundaries that separate traditional banking from other type of financial services are being eliminated, this is also an indicator of the industry in its maturity stage (indicated in a later chapter). Although the strategy is that of diversification it involves a broad market scope. The strategy involves leveraging technology to provide excellent customer service especially since FC is always first to market. It is the technological advancement, that is the banks core competency and some features (mobile point of sale) gives it its distinctive capability. 4.0 THE DYNAMICS OF THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT All organizations are inextricably associated with its external environment, regardless of the country to which it belongs. This association influences how the organization operates and the products or services provided. The external forces may facilitate or inhibit organizational performance and may form limits with which the organization is able to function. These forces shape how the organization defines itself and how it articulates its goals, objectives and strategies. An analysis of the external environment assists in understanding the forces or factors that shape the organization. 4.1 PEST Analysis PEST analyses the external macro-environment in which an organization operates, based on political, economical, social and technological factors. These factors are beyond the control of the organization but must be considered in formulating the strategies of the organization. PEST Analysis for First Citizens The Political climate of Trinidad and Tobago has remained quite stable over the past twenty years. This has led to implementation of legislations that improved efficiency and reduced costs (banking fees) in the Banking sector, but have also reduced margins and fee income. The latest legislation implemented is the Anti-money Laundering legislation, in which most of the countries in this region is adopting. This law has sought to increase the transparency of banks and attempts to lower the credit risks of the country in which the bill is implemented. The banking industry over the years has dynamically evolved; this evolution has led to the opening of the banking industry (regionally) or relaxation of entry requirement for large foreign banks, for example, the entry of the Bank of Baroda. This has led to further diversification of the banking sector that inevitably breeds competition. However, although competition creates innovation, this threatens the profitability of the current banks in the market as larger more capitalized banks can undercut the local banks and decrease their market size. These foreign banks operate as loss leaders to steal market share and further diminution opportunity in an already saturated market. As a result, in recent years there have been re-entry of banks into the sector e.g. First Caribbean International Bank (FCIB). Furthermore, FC is owned the government which suggest that there is slow decision making in the organization however, the government can be the main borrower on the market. The worlds economy, over the past two years, has experienced a downturn, which saw many countries GDP decline that resulted in declaration of recession and the plummet of oil prices, which adversely affected the banking industry of most countries. However, all indicators point towards improvement in the economy though it may be slow. The effects of the economy has led to banks reducing interest rates and fees in order to reduce the amount of loan defaults and increase economic activity in an attempt to boost the economy. The improvement of the economy will see commodity prices improving which will increase revenues and economic activity, which will impart a greater potential for lending and borrowing by banks. However, there is a risk of returning to inflationary pressures with accompanying increasing interest rates. The mal-effects of the downturn has led to increased unemployment which increased loan defaults, however there have been some refinancing of loans in an attempt to reduc e defaults. According to the Central Bank Governor, in the business section of the Guardian Newspaper, if the economic growth is slower than in the past, banking institution will be forced to consolidate to achieve economies of scale. This reduces competition in an industry, in which competition breeds innovation and Socially, crime is considered a two edged sword since it creates an opportunity for banks to finance security companies; however, it has led to the exit of many business owners and thus capital. A high crime rate can harm the countrys foreign direct investment (FDI) opportunities and by extension tourism. As the country is developing, one would find that people are being more educated and customers are demanding better quality and quantity service; people are intolerant of poor customer service and lack of advancement in the banking industry. It is foreseen that, if the issue of crime is not addressed that there would be further flight of capital, decrease in FDIs and tourism. In addition, if banks do not progress with technology, there would a flight of customers to the substitutes in the market. The banking industry has fully embraced technology, which has revolutionised the sector. The technological advancement by banks has empowered customers so that they control their financial information with greater access. This has also led to the creation of high exit barriers. However, not all customers may embrace these technological progresses and prefer the traditional banking services. If this progression continues at the current pace, the industry will be highly serviced and product innovated. However, customer must make greater use of these technological advancement as with mobile telephony if the industry is to be further product/service diversified. 4.2 Industry Analysis for First Citizens The industry analysis aids in the determination of factors that determines the banking industry profitability. Porters Five Forces Analysis is an assessment that is used to understand the current competitive position and the future attractiveness of the industry, this is seen in figure. The threat of substitute is numerous and includes companies that offer financial services such as insurance companies, Unit Trust Corporation, Island Finance, investment banks, credit unions etc. Some non-financial institutions such as furniture stores and car dealerships are also threats since they offer credit. These substitutes offer similar service and products without the regulatory requirements of banks, which makes their process faster than banks. These substitutes have encroached on the banking industry profitability, however, with the recent downturn of the economy, customers have returned to banks since it is perceived to be more stable. In addition, to nullify the threat of substitutes and sustain the industrys profitability banks have also formed alliances with other financial institutions. The bargaining power of customers is medium but increasing as a result of a wide variety of substitutes, similarity of products and lower customer loyalty (due to logistics). However, it is counteracted by high switching costs caused by the time and inconvenience of transferring accounts to other financial institutions and a large number of customers. It is perceived, however, that the advanced technology and the increasing number of substitutes, have reduced switching costs, this is true to some extent, example retail deposits but in terms of loans, corporate deposits etc. the switching cost is high. The bargaining power of suppliers is also medium and increasing. Although there are a large number of suppliers for general resources, there are a small number of suppliers for the critical resources of banks, for example, ABMs, system applications, money counter etc. which makes switching arduous and time-consuming. From the PEST analysis, it seen that the banking industrys market is more opened and there is a relaxation of requirements. This results in the threat of new entrants being medium to high and is expected to intensify if there is further dismantling of barriers/requirement. Consequently, it is easier for a large foreign institution to enter into the market, example, the acquisition of RBTT by RBC and the entry of Bank of Baroda, these institution will with have the necessary capital investments and brand recognition to do so. However, for a local institution it is harder because of the high brand building expenditure and extremely high capital investment. This threat is somewhat counteracted by high exit barriers and high switching costs. The banking industry presently has a saturated market and one would find that is difficult to gain market share to become profitable thus, entrants are focused on a niche market segment. Furthermore, these entrants are large enough to operate as loss leaders. The above four factors that shape strategy, collapse into rivalry amongst existing competitors (as seen in figure). The fact that the banking industry exhibits oligopolistic cooperation in order to maximize profit, lower cost and maintain status quo, is another indicator of maturity. Examples of this type of cooperation are: Establishing a code of conduct in which all banks must adhere when dealing with customers Technological sharing of networks e.g. linx to facilitate ATM transactions. Offering of similar interest rates and products In addition, banks have to form strategic alliances in order to counteract substitutes to improve the value system e.g. insurance companies and mutual funds. An analysis of the existing competitive rivalry is restricted to four banks. These competitors are identified using Porters strategic group analysis (see figure). From figure, competitors in First Citizens market scope operate in the same segment and offer similar type products. These banks collaborate to protect the profitability of the industry, especially in the area of interest rates, customer service quality and non-competitive processes. The prediction of the competitor environment can be analysed using Grants Framework for competitor analysis, this can be seen in figure. 4.3 The Industry Life Cycle From figure, it is seen that the banking industry is in its maturity stage. This can be sustained over an extensive period, in which market share can only be increased by attracting the competitors customers. In addition, a strategy in the mature banking industry, is the tendency of banks to consolidate e.g. with insurance companies, security companies; acquire or merge e.g. the acquisition of RBTT by RBC and CMMB by FC. However, banks fight to maintain its market share by creating high exit barriers for its customers. Recently, customers are extremely sensitive to interest rates, therefore in an effort to retain its customers, one would find that banks in the same market segment (figure) would have similar interest rates. For example, if Central Bank decrease the reserve requirement all banks will decrease its rate to match each other. In a stage of maturity, there are areas in which it is more economical to collaborate than to compete, this brings about greater efficiency at a lower cost e.g. Linx, Transunion and Trinidad and Tobago Interbanking payment system (TTIPS). 4.4 Key Success Factors In order to be successful in the banking industry there are some key factors. These include: Financial stability Customer confidence Customer trust Effective Regulatory Systems Relevant Products and Services Affordable pricing Competition which breeds greater innovation and by extension efficiency 5.0 THE DYNAMICS OF THE INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT 5.1 Resource Analysis Financial Capital Human Capital FC Bank has approximately 1300 staff members and a well-experienced and knowledgeable senior staff. However, succession and service quality is a concern because of the high turnover of junior staff. In recent times, staff members are no longer interested in a job for life, therefore the bank is retooling its processes to incorporate transient staffing arrangement. In addition, the bank has developed a management trainee, corporate resourcing and mentoring programmes for school and university graduates. Leadership competencies, 360 degree feedback and career development programmes are also implemented for junior staff and management. Customer Capital The bank has a large customer base in excess of 400,000 accounts. Retail banking customers constitute the majority of the customer base. The consequence of this is that it involves higher operating and fixed costs, in addition, to achieve economies of scale both market share and size has to sufficient. Notwithstanding the deposit garnered from these customers, it represents low cost funds to the bank that are then used for lending. Although customer loyalty generally has improved, they are however flighty and could change base on simple interest rate difference since they are sensitive to this (as discussed in Porters five forces). Recently, the bank has embarked on work to improve its image and reputation. Social Capital FC has intensified its relationship with society in adherence to the adage of Corporate Social responsibility in a very significant way. This is also in adherence to the code of ethics established by the Bankers Association, in which First Citizens bank sponsors events: Environmental: Citizens in Action to restore the Environment (CARE), which assists in the restoration of the environment. In this regard, internal staff competition are held to widen community interaction and to increase social and environmental awareness (this improves the appearance of the bank). Youth and Education: Bursaries to Tertiary Institution. The bank engages in developing school libraries and is a major sponsor in junior achievement. Sports: First Citizens Sport Foundation, which raise awareness through clinics and sport education seminars. It is the sole sponsor of the National Sports Foundation, which deals with sports education, seminars and recognition of achievers in the Hall of Fame and Annual Sports Woman/Man of the Year which honors all the achievers in all sports. Culture: The banks sponsors programmes in all cultural/religious events such as, Divali Nagar, Eid-ul-Fitr, Tobago Heritage etc. Physical Capital The bank has twenty-five branches strategically located across the country, with three in Tobago. In addition, an excess of eighty ATM supports these branches, with a vast number of these in off branch locations. Technology Capital FC bank has the leading edge in online real time banking network and is the leader in Internet Banking technology and communication network. Its Ethernet and communication network, which incorporates both voice and data, also contributes to the bank being considered as a Technology leader. In fact FC has won the South Trinidad Chamber of Commerce Technology Leadership on three occasions in the last five years, an award that has been designed for technology companies. The banks vast network of ATM and POS machinery provide significant reach to its merchant and customers alike and is fully networked on a local and internal scale. The bank has been able to leverage its technology leadership to enhance value for merchant and customers. This can be gleamed from the merchant e-banking which allows corporate and commercial customers to transact business from their offices (paying bills, salaries, ACH etc.). The value of technology capital is also seen with the implementation of mobile POS, which is significant for distributors and the service sector. 5.2 Value Added FC Banks value chain is depicted in figure using Porters Value Chain analysis. The bank has concentrated mainly on marketing, sales and services. The use of technology has been incorporated to achieve a level of service and convenience to provide value to the customer. The cost to provide such value to the customer is important however, the risk to serving customers is just as important. The critical factors in this value system are the linkages between skills of staff, risk management, information systems, flexible and responsive policies/procedures to add such value. Information technology is FC banks core competency especially since they are the leader in this area. FC uses the technological advancement to increase its value chain and to achieve a higher level of customer service than its competitors. Owing to the highly leveraged technology at FC, the level of efficiency, high ratings by customers have been improved, although, the market share has remained stable since the industry is in the mature stage (industry life cycle). The use of technology is also the banks distinctive capability, since the bank uses its technology e.g. mobile POS and corporate internet banking, to increase the value chain of its customers. Figure below depicted how elements of FC banks outbound and marketing logistics becomes incorporated into the customers e.g. restaurants and distributors inbound logistic of their value chain. Internet banking, mobile POS etc. Telebanking Etc. First Citizens Bank Value Chain Distributors Value Chain Restaurants Value chain Figure showing the connectivity between First Citizens Value Chain and that of its Customers 5.3 McKinseys 7S 5.3.1 Structure FC bank currently has a bureaucratic (top-down) that does not aid in quick decision-making, which is crucial. Structure is the key to effective execution of strategy. Is the structure does not support strategy in terms of VMOST then the strategy implementation will be difficult. Despite its best efforts to change, the bank structure is still overly bureaucratic. The bank has to decentralise both vertically along different levels of the organisational hierarchy and horizontally amongst managers and non-managers based on expertise and experience. In doing so, authority and responsibility will remain with those in the position, who possesses the necessary skills to implement decisions, ideally front line staff. Currently, the credit-decision making process is based on limited level authority by staff and the bureaucratic staircase can hinder the effectiveness in the lending/investment process. Simiarly, as a result of Government regulation (Central Bank regulations) and the general risk adverse culture of the bank, several to-down controls exist hindering the smooth processing of intricate transaction. If centre delegating decision-making authority is given to frontline staff e.g. senior management increasing authorisation limits on loans granted by line managers, the processes in the bank will more efficient and less time consuming. 5.3.2 Systems FC bank is a performance-driven learning organisation, therefore all of its systems should be taken into consideration if further development is to occur. The three essential areas are: Human resource systems Rewards are based on SMART principle and pre-determined organisation and individual targets. However, the appraisals are based on individual and team performance and are done on a quarterly basis to identify areas foe training and development. In addition, the performance is also measured by balance scorecard with gaps identified to re-prioritise efforts. Human resource records however, are not automated via a modern HRIS system and therefore quick and effective decision-making is negatively affected. To further hasten the decision-making the top-down system needs to be changed to a bottom-up system that integrates the individual and team performance, training and development. Organisational performance systems The bank has two models to assess its performance: The strategic planning model This evolves from the vision and mission of the bank and long-term strategies are developed for three years on a rolling basis. On an annual basis strategies are reviewed analysed and adjusted as necessary. Three exercises inform the business planning process for the ensuing year and provide key inputs into budgetary allocation which support the execution of the said strategies. Information systems The banks information system is highly interactive, accurate, accessible and easily interrogable. In spite of the high use of technology customer service staff has not embrace the use of technology to deliver value added. There is high use of the banks office management system for communication e.g. email and calendaring. However, managers and staff have not grasped the opportunity to use these systems for work flow efficiency e.g. loan origination systems and electronic loan application and credit authorisation. 5.3.3 Style Style is influences in part by structure. The top-down structure of organisation has bred an elitist atmosphere with different layers of management having varying degrees of power and influence. Managers do not seem to exhibit a supportive role and communication is mostly top down to their support staff. In addition, feedback to employees on performance of organisation is done via newsletters, team briefing and staff meetings. Generally, the management style is not of a participative nature and this can have negative effects on employees involvement and satisfaction. There is an over abundance of procedures within the system which leads to an inordinate amount of time and effort spent on administrative processes thus reducing the cycle time for customer service. Staff Staff development utilises: Employee assistance programme (EAP) 360 degree for developmental purposes In addition, the tools used in developing staff are: Succession planning Individual development planning Leadership competencies model there are seven areas the bank utilise and develop staff; they are customer focus, teamwork, innovation, initiative (getting results), integrity, entrepreneurship and sales and marketing. These are to develop staff in order to develop leadership skills but FC has to create the structure, systems etc. to motivate and encourage employees to develop along these lines. Skills Multiple skilled employees are essential in a learning and performance driven organisation. The bank is becoming predominantly a sales driven organisation, with risk management and decision-making being critical to its success in the area. Training in developmental programmes in marketing, sales, negotiation and dispute resolution are provided by the bank to further develop skills in these areas. However, the structure of the bank is a barrier to the proper dissemination of skills because of compartmentalisation of information. The bank however, has been a leader in the development of individual staff and expense significant sums on both internal and external training. The education assistance plan provides bank sponsored tertiary education up to and including the masters level for qualifying staff, this facility has benefitted numerous staff members. Strategy Using Johnson and Scholes Development Strategies model the direction used by FC bank should be maintained. The bank has focus on identifying market segments and adopted a market penetration and developmental and diversification strategies. These strategies should be suitable, acceptable and feasible to all stakeholders, employees and customers and should be based the banks outstanding customer service, innovation and its core competency of technology. However, the banks strategy of leading customer satisfaction through innovation has seen it derive value from its leadership position from electronic banking including internet, POS and mobile banking. Shared Value The confluence of three failed financial institution formed FC Bank, and its phoenix-like resurrection to a pronounced position within the banking industry fraternity in the region and awards won, is a source of pride for the organisation. 6.0 S.W.O.T ANALYSIS Figure shows the SWOT analysis for FC Bank, based on this and for sustainability of competitive advantage, the following factors are crucial: Investments for further development of technology since it is ever-evolving especially at the strategic and tactical level to maintain FC as the leader Quick response time to customers request to synchronise with industry norms Strong image/brand and performance driven culture High degree of flexibility and responsiveness Improve decision-making capabilities of front line staff and succession planning

Study on Nutritional Status of School Children

Study on Nutritional Status of School Children A STUDY ON NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN IN RURAL, SEMI URBAN AND URBAN AREAS OF CHENNAI. INTRODUCTION: The health and nutritional status of children is an index of national investment in the development of its future manpower. According to World Health Organization, protein energy malnutrition refers to â€Å"imbalance between the supply of protein and energy and the body’s demand for them to ensure optimal growth and function. This imbalance includes both inadequate and excessive energy intake; the former leading to malnutrition in the form of wasting, stunting and underweight, and the latter resulting in overweight and obesity†. The consequences of child malnutrition are enormous and are intertwined with the development of society. Malnutrition affects the child’s physical and cognitive growth and increases the susceptibility to infections and severity of diseases while having adverse implications on income and economic growth indirectly. According to UNICEF data, 90% of developing world’s undernourished live in Asia and Africa while 40% of the world’s malnourished live in India. The 2013 Global Hunger Index Report ranked India 16th, which represents the serious hunger situation. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data indicates that 43% of children under 5 years of age are underweight and 2% of them are overweight. In India, we face a double jeopardy of malnutrition i.e., children from urban areas are affected with problems of over-nutrition while those from rural area suffer from effects of under-nutrition. The long term consequences of malnutrition on a child-turned-adult are issues of deep concern. Under-nutrition impairs the child’s immune system and weakens the defenses against other diseases. Whereas over-nutrition contributes to childhood obesity and leads to the early onset of hypertension, Diabetes mellitus, coronary heart diseases, orthopedic disorder and other respiratory diseases. School age is the active phase of childhood growth. Poor nutritional status in children leads to high absenteeism and early school dropouts thereby affecting the literacy rate of the country apart from affecting health status of the children. On the other hand, increasing lifestyle changes in urban areas has led to the emergence of over-nutrition and childhood obesity. To evaluate this changing trend and to determine the burden of malnutrition, we attempted to do a cross sectional study to assess the nutritional status of school children (11-14years old). OBJECTIVES: To determine the nutritional status of children based on their BMI and waist hip ratio and its relation to various factors like gender, area of residence and socio-economic status. METHODOLOGY: After being approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee of Stanley Medical College, a cross sectional descriptive study was carried out in the year 2011 over a period of 3 months from June to September involving 300 children in the age group of 11 to 14 years. Three schools were selected one each in rural area, semi urban area urban area. 100 children from each school were selected as subjects for the study. Data regarding the subjects’ socioeconomic background, religion, dwelling place, three day diet recall and type and duration of physical activities per day. Also their anthropometric measurements including height, weight, circumference of waist and hip were recorded. We have recorded body weight to the nearest 0.1 kg using a standard balance scale with subjects barefoot. Height of the children from the floor to the highest point on the head was recorded when the subject was facing directly ahead, barefoot, feet together, arms by the sides. Heels, buttocks and upper bac k were made to be in contact with the wall when the measurement was made. The height was recorded and rounded off to the nearest 1 cm. BMI (weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in metres) of the children were calculated. The waist circumference was measured at the level of umbilicus. The hip circumference was measured at the widest part of the buttocks. Waist hip ratios were calculated. Data was analyzed at the end of 3 months. RESULTS: Based on the statistical analysis done at the end of the data collection, the following results were obtained. Out of the 300 students assessed in the study, 55% of them were boys and 45% were girls; 39.67% belonged to age 11, 14.67% belonged to age 12, 19.33% belonged to age 13 and 26.33% belonged to age 14. Based on socio-economic status, 1.67% belonged to class 1, 17% belonged to class 2, 38% belonged to class 3, 42.67% belonged to class 4 and 0.67% belonged to class 5. On assessing the 300 children for BMI, 67.33% were found to be underweight, of which 29.67% were from rural areas; 6% were found to be overweight or obese, of which 4.67% were from urban areas. The percentage of under-weight children was 65% in semi urban area and 48% in urban area in contrast to 89% in rural area. TABLE 1. Relation between BMI, Waist Hip Ratio and Area of residence Of the 100 children assessed in rural area, only one was found to be overweight and no one was obese. Among the 100 children assessed in the semi urban area, 3 were overweight. Whereas in urban area, 7 children of the 100 were overweight and another 7 were found to be obese. Thus, in urban area, almost 14% of the children were either obese or overweight. This percentage is significantly higher than the 1% and 3% found in rural and semi urban areas. The percentage of the children who were categorized as normal according to their BMI was only 10% in rural but 32% and 38% in semi-urban and urban areas respectively (Figure 1). Figure 1. According to the data obtained, waist hip ratio of the children was also calculated. It is found that 20% of children in rural area and 32% of children in urban area fall under high-risk category of waist hip ratio. Waist Hip ratio more than 1 in boys and 0.85 in girls indicates an increased risk of metabolic complications. Though the frequency of high risk W:H ratio is higher among children from urban areas than that of rural areas, the difference was not statistically significant. The prevalence of underweight was 69.09% among boys and 65.19% among girls. This difference is not statistically significant indicating that there is no evidence of gender inequality in this study (Table 2). TABLE 2. Relation of gender and socio-economic status over BMI Socio-economic status of each child was assessed based on modified Kuppusamy’s scale. The prevalence of underweight children was 84.62% among socio-economic status class 45 and only 54.12% among socio-economic status class 1,2 3. It is evident that there is a significant statistical difference in the prevalence of underweight children in Class 45 as compared to Class 1, 2 3 ( Table 2). Figure 3. The children were also asked about their choice of games and sports. And it was found that nearly 45% of the boys and girls in rural area were involved in games requiring severe physical activity. The mean playtime of children from rural area was 1.6 hours/day. In semi-urban area, only 25% of the boys and girls were involved in games requiring severe physical activity whereas the percentage was only around 15% in urban area. The mean playtime of children from semi-urban and urban areas were 1.6 hours/day and 1.1 hours/day respectively. The three day diet history obtained from the children was analyzed and the average amount of calorie intake per day was calculated for all. The mean calorie consumption of the children, irrespective of their area of residence, was 1333 kcal. The mean calorie intake of children in rural area was found to be 991.7 kcal. The calorie consumption was found to be lesser when compared to the mean calorie intake in semi urban and rural areas, which were 1461.7 kcal and 1545.7 kcal respectively (Figure 4). It was also found that the irregularity in taking meals was the greatest among the children in urban area. Figure 4. DISCUSSION: A healthy child becomes a healthy adult. Of the various factors which determine the health of the child, nutrition plays the most vital role. Low body weight is unhealthy and harmful in the way it has dire consequences on both physical and psychological well-being of a child. Decreased level of thinking, impaired concentration, irritable mood and heightened obsessiveness, while contributing to the psychological effects of malnutrition, undermines the academic performance of a child and leads to the development of a socially withdrawn child. On the other hand, malnutrition has a profound impact on immune system by weakening the defenses and aggravating the effects of infections. Infections contribute to malnutrition by a variety of mechanisms including anorexia and impaired absorption of nutrients. This shows that enteric infection begets malnutrition and malnutrition begets more infections. According to World Bank statistics, Child malnutrition is responsible for 22 percent of India’s burden of disease and contributes to an estimated adult productivity loss of 1.4% of gross domestic product (GDP). It has been estimated to play a role in about half of all child deaths and more than half of child deaths from major diseases, such as malaria, diarrhea, measles and pneumonia. Recent trends in India suggest that there has been a dramatic fall of severe underweight prevalence in urban areas (by 26%) compared to rural areas though the decline in underweight prevalence was considered inadequate according to UNICEF. Our cross-sectional study shows that boys are more likely to be stunted and underweight than girls though there was no significant gender inequality because of limited sample size. Our study determined the point prevalence of underweight children in relation to various factors like gender, age, area of residence and socio economic status while data from various studies indicated that decline in the prevalence of under-nutrition was lesser in girls compared to boys and lesser in scheduled caste scheduled tribe as compared to other castes. Children with normal BMI constitute only 10% in rural areas while 38% of them had normal BMI in urban area. The collected data signify that under-nutrition is the burning problem in rural areas whereas urban areas suffer from the double jeopardy of malnutrition. It showed that mean height and weight of boys and girls was lower than the CDC 2000 standards in all age groups. The prevalence of underweight and stunting was highest among the age group of 11 to 13 years whereas wasting was more prevalent in the age group of 5 to 7 years. In this study, under-nutrition was found to be significantly more prevalent in girls than in boys. Data from our study says that probability of a child being undernourished is higher in rural area than in urban area. A study found that the prevalence of stunting was observed to be 52.3% and severe stunting was 25.1%. The determinants of this study included father’s occupation and income rather than the educational and occupational status of mother in the patriarchal society. In a multivariate study done in Brazil, stunting was found to be significantly associated with low economic income, inadequate protein intake and polyparasitism, especially Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichura. Evidences suggest that cell mediated immunity is depressed in malnutrition thereby increasing the duration and severity of infections with increasing degrees of malnutrition. The most common infection related deaths due to malnutrition were diarrhea and acute respiratory infections. Infant feeding practices and mother’s education status form the major determinants of Protein Energy Malnutrition. Better feeding practices were found to reduce the prevalence of stunting by 30%. Exclusive breastfeeding and partial breastfeeding were found to be more protective when compared to no breastfeeding. The median relative risk of death from diarrhea fell from 25 in no breastfeeding to 8.6 in exclusive or partial breastfeeding highlighting the paramount importance of breastfe eding in the prevention of malnutrition. Hence, it is necessary to cut down the causal factors of malnutrition before the child attains the age of 3 years. Better feeding practices, health awareness, sanitation, sustained availability of nutritious foods for all sections of people and enhanced access to healthcare services are essential steps to attain the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Failure to invest in combating nutrition can have adverse impacts on potential economic growth. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, launched on 2nd October 1975, is India’s unique programme to improve the nutritional status of children by providing supplementary nutrition, pre-school education, immunization and health education for pregnant and nursing mothers. Though ICDS is successful in many ways, decline in undernutrition in India is slower when compared with other developing countries because ICDS Scheme’s mainly focusses on food supplementation rather than health education and children aged 3-6 yea rs rather than younger children (0-3 years). Our study reiterates the trends of malnutrition in relation to various factors and also highlights the need for differential approach in urban and rural areas to combat malnutrition. CONCLUSION: This cross-sectional study was undertaken to study the nutritional status of children aged 11-14 years and its relation to various factors like gender, area of residence and socio-economic status. This study also attempted to collect data on the amount of calories consumed per day, frequency and regularity of taking meals and level of physical activity in rural, semi-urban and urban areas. According to our study, 67.33% were underweight and 6% were overweight or obese. The prevalence of under-weight was found to be significantly higher in rural area(89%) than in urban area(48%) while urban area takes the upper hand in the prevalence of over-weight children. Our study also estimated that a child from rural area consumes an average of 991.7 kcal while calorie consumption of a child from urban area is much higher, averaging to 1545.7 kcal. Children belonging to socio-economic status Class 45, according to modified Kuppusamy’s scale, were more deprived of nutrients than the children of upper and middle class. Nutritional status was also found to be slightly poorer in boys than that of girls. The data collected also indicated that the mean calorie consumption of children in rural area was 991.7 kcal when compared to 1461.7 kcal in semi-urban and 1565.7 in urban area. However, the mean playtime of children in urban area was 1.1 hours/day with most of the children opting to play video games in their playtime whereas the mean playtime of a child was 1.6 hours/day in rural area. This data highlights a relative increase in calorie consumption in urban area with increase in sedentary lifestyle thereby setting a stage for the development of childhood obesity. Hence, we conclude our study re-emphasizing the various determinants of malnutrition and highlighting the changing trend in the nutritional status of children in urban, semi-urban and rural area.

Values vs. The American Educational System :: bell hooks College Education

Values vs. The American Educational System In "Keeping Close to Home: Class and Education," bell hooks suggests that the American educational system forces individuals to hide, change, or mask the values that they bring with them to college by sharing her perception of the sickening class division at Stanford. Perhaps "influence" makes a better term than "force"; this change in terminology allows a better argument and saves the readers from a misleading idea of the American educational system. hooks explains that "education as the practice of freedom becomes not a force which fragments or separates, but one that brings us closer, expanding our definitions of home and community" (95). The University of Georgia does not force its students to hide, change, or mask the values that they bring with them to college; instead, the university offers them the choice of keeping their values or letting these values slip away by giving them the freedom to express themselves in every aspect. This freedom allows the students to be who the y want to be. If brought to trial, the institution of the University of Georgia remains innocent; it has not exercised pressure on me to change my values, but has drawn me unconsciously into altering my values. I believe inner strength can hold an individual and his or her values together. A person's values are factors that create the person’s identity; without these values, one loses his or her connection to the past. Many students, however, fall in the hands of the influential social interactions and university expectations that often lead to the unpleasant change in their lives. I have been a victim of this change because of my freedom to choose. It will be hypocritical of me to state that I possess the strength to fight the university's influential activities. It hurts to see a person lose connection with his or her past; without his or her past, he or she remains incomplete. It hurts me more to realize that I am one of those people who remains incomplete and weak, and that I was not strongly connected to the values taught by my parents. Born and raised as a Catholic, I expected my religious values to be of great importance; I was wrong. When I lived under my parents' supervision, going to church was my job. I still remember those Friday nights when the whole family would sit together in front of our homemade altar to pray the rosary.

Essay --

As a little boy, I have always been interested with machines and mechanical engineering. Lego bricks got me interested with building all sorts of buildings, cars and even trains. I would like to learn the skills needed to build machines and produce them for a career. Smart and intelligent minds help to create marvels in transportation including the cars people drive every day. Designing and producing new machines can improve human activity from mechanical engineering. For example, automobiles and can be made to run better, worse or on completely different fuels to run at an enormous rate. Mechanical engineering runs the world and makes things happen with technology. Machines in factories make goods items to be sold for everyone to use such as the production of tools. The world revolves around these fields. Without mechanical engineering the world would be a much different place. The electronics, vehicles, and houses come into effect with mechanical engineering. A big jump wa s the industrial revolution that happened in the 18th century. New machines were created to help fulfill the needs of the people and are still being used today. Mechanical engineering breaks into many different fields including civil engineering and aerospace engineering. Civil engineering allows one to build buildings and forms of infrastructure. Examples would be bridges, tunnels; even the empire state building. Aerospace deals with aerodynamics improving speed and drag for travel in cars, trains, and planes. Aerospace is an expanding field with NASA to make spaceships travel with relative ease to cut down fuel usage to space. I would like to design the engines for motor vehicles and have it for a sports team. Mechanical engineering is a fiel... ...n water. The workout equipment was easy to clean, but not the uniforms. My mentor and I went to try and dry them out, but eventually ended up taking them to the dry cleaners and getting them nice and clean. The way a business runs is not always easy and yet the customer does come first as well as a player in the sport facility. My mentor was one that showed a really perspective on how the real world runs in the today events. Ne moment there may be a ton of orders that are coming in for a place of a machine of store faculty will breakdown. The one thing I have learned no matter what from my mentor in job shadowing is to be ready and orgies to expect the good or bad occurrences. The reason for choosing the topic was a backup for a career it something goes wrong or that I don’t get involved in mechanical engineering. Sports business and training was the topic.

Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 11

The mist rose up around my feet as I walked toward the willow tree. The sun was quickly setting, but I could still make out a shadowy figure nestled between the roots. I glanced again. It was Rosalyn, her party dress shimmering in the weak light. Bile rose in my throat. How could she be here? She was buried, her body six feet underground at the Mystic Falls cemetery. As I walked closer, steeling my courage and grasping the knife in my pocket, I noticed her lifeless eyes reflecting the verdant leaves above. Her dark curls stuck to her clammy forehead. And her neck wasn't torn out at all. Instead, her neck displayed only two neat little holes, the size of shodding nails. As if guided by an unseen hand, I fell to my knees next to her body. â€Å"I'm sorry,† I whispered, staring at the cracked earth below. Then I raised my eyes and froze in horror. Because it wasn't Rosalyn's body at all. It was Katherine's. A small smile curved her rosebud lips, as if she were simply dreaming. I fought the urge to scream. I would not let Katherine die! But as I reached toward her wounds, she sat straight up. Her visage morphed, her dark curls faded to blond, and her eyes glowed red. I started backward. â€Å"It's your fault!† The words cut through the still night, the tone hollow and otherworldly. The voice belonged neither to Katherine nor Rosalyn–but to a demon. I screamed, gripping my penknife and slicing it into the night air. The demon lunged forward and clutched my neck. It lowered its sharpened canines to my skin, and everything faded to black†¦. I woke up in a cold sweat, sitting upright. A crow cawed outside; in the distance, I could hear children playing. Sunbeams were dappled along my white bedspread, and a dinner tray was sitting on my desk. It was daylight. I was in my own bed. A dream. I remembered the funeral, the ride from the church, my exhaustion as I climbed the stairs to my bedroom. It had just been a dream, a product of too much emotion and stimulation today. A dream, I reminded myself again, willing my heart to stop pounding. I took a long gulp of water straight from the pitcher on the nightstand. My brain slowly stilled, but my heart continued to race and my hands still felt clammy. Because it wasn't a dream, or at least not like any dream I'd ever had before. It was as if demons were invading my mind, and I was no longer sure what was real or what thoughts to trust. I stood up, trying to shake off the nightmare, and wandered downstairs. I took the back steps so as not to cross paths with Cordelia in the kitchen. She'd been taking good care of me, just as when I had been a child in mourning for my mother, but something about her watchful gaze made me nervous. I knew she'd heard me call out for Katherine, and I fervently hoped she wasn't telling ta les to the servants. I walked into Father's study and glanced at his shelves, finding myself drawn yet again to the Shakespeare section. Saturday seemed like a lifetime ago. Still, the candle in the silver candlestick holder was exactly where Katherine and I had left it, and The Mysteries of Mystic Falls was still on the chair. If I closed my eyes, I could almost smell lemon. I shook that thought away and hastily picked out a volume of Macbeth, a play about jealousy and love and betrayal and death, which suited my mood perfectly. I forced myself to sit on the leather club chair and glance at the words, forced myself to turn the pages. Maybe that's what I needed in order to proceed with the rest of my life. If I just kept forcing myself to take action, maybe I'd finally get over the guilt and sadness and fear I'd been carrying with me since Rosalyn's death. Just then, I heard a knock on the door. â€Å"Father's not here,† I called, hoping whoever it was would go away. â€Å"Sir Stefan?† Alfred's voice called. â€Å"It's a visitor.† â€Å"No, thank you,† I replied. It was probably Sheriff Forbes again. He'd already come by four or five times, speaking to Damon and Father. So far I'd managed to beg off the visits. I couldn't stand the thought of telling him–telling anyone –where I'd been at the time of the attack. â€Å"The visitor is quite insistent,† Alfred called. â€Å"So are you,† I muttered under my breath as I strode to the door and opened it. â€Å"She's in the sitting room,† Alfred said, turning on his heel. â€Å"Wait!† I said. She. Could it be †¦ Katherine? My heart quickened despite itself. â€Å"Sir?† Alfred asked, mid-step. â€Å"I'll be there.† Frantically, I splashed water from the basin in the corner on my face and used my hands to smooth my hair back from my forehead. My eyes still looked hooded, and tiny vessels had broken, reddening the whites, but there was nothing more I could do to make me look, let alone feel, more like myself. I strode purposefully into the parlor. For an instant, my heart fell with disappointment. Instead of Katherine, sitting on the red velvet wingback chair in the corner was her maid, Emily. She had a chair in the corner was her maid, Emily. She had a basket of flowers on her lap and held a daisy to her nose, as if she didn't have a care in the world. â€Å"Hello,† I said formally, already trying to come up with a way to politely excuse myself. â€Å"Mr. Salvatore.† Emily stood up and half- curtseyed. She wore a simple white eyelet dress and bonnet, and her dark skin was smooth and unlined. â€Å"My mistress and I join you in your sorrows. She asked that I give you this,† she said, proffering the basket toward me. â€Å"Thank you,† I said, taking the basket. I absentmindedly put a sprig of lilac to my nose and inhaled. â€Å"I'd use these in your healing, rather than Cordelia's concoctions,† Emily said. â€Å"How did you know about that?† I wondered. â€Å"Servants talk. But I fear that whatever Cordelia's feeding you may be doing you more harm than good.† She plucked a few blossoms from the basket, twining them into a bouquet. â€Å"Daisies, magnolias, and bleeding heart will help you heal.† â€Å"And pansies for thoughts?† I asked, remembering a quote from Shakespeare's Hamlet. As soon as I said it, I realized it was a foolish statement. How would an uneducated servant girl possibly know what I was speaking of? But Emily simply smiled. â€Å"No pansies, although my mistress did mention your love of Shakespeare.† She reached into the basket and broke off a sprig of lilac, which she then pushed gently into my buttonhole. I held the basket up and inhaled. It smelled like flowers, but there was something else: the intoxicating aroma that I'd only experienced when I was near Katherine. I inhaled again, feeling the confusion and darkness of the past few days slowly fade. â€Å"I know everything's very strange right now,† Emily said, breaking my reverie. â€Å"But my mistress only wishes the best for you.† She nodded toward the couch, as if inviting me to sit down. Obediently, I sat and stared at her. She was remarkably beautiful and carried herself with a type of grace I'd never seen before. Her movements and manners were so deliberate that watching her was like watching a painting come to life. â€Å"She would like to see you,† Emily said after a moment. The second the words left her lips, I realized that could never be. As I sat there, in the daylight of the parlor, with another person rather than being lost in my own thoughts, everything clicked into focus. I was a widower, and my duty now was to mourn Rosalyn, not to mourn my schoolboy fantasy of love with Katherine. Besides, Katherine was a beautiful orphan with no friends or relations. It would never work–could never work. â€Å"I did see her. At Rosalyn's †¦ at the funeral,† I said stiffly. â€Å"That's hardly a social call,† Emily pointed out. â€Å"She'd like to see you. Somewhere private. When you're ready,† she added quickly. I knew what I had to say, what the only proper thing to say was, but the words were hard to form. â€Å"I will see, but in my current condition, I'm afraid I'm probably not in the best mood to go walking. Please send your mistress my regrets, although she will not want for company. I know my brother will go wherever she wishes,† I said, the words heavy on my tongue. â€Å"Y es. She is quite fond of Damon.† Emily gathered her skirts and stood up. I stood up as well and felt, even though I towered a head taller, that she was somehow more powerful than me. It was an odd yet not altogether unpleasant feeling. â€Å"But you can't argue with true love.† With that she swept out the door and across the grounds, the daisy in her hair scattering its petals into the wind.

Life of Hitler Essay

The book, written by Alan Bullock deals with the whole life of Hitler, from his unknown early stages through his progress to supreme absolute power and then his final weakening and suicide in the bunker as Russian shells fell around him. The author divides the story into three main sections. The first covers with Hitler’s early life, his rise to party leader in the years following the First World War, and his gaining of the Chancellorship in 1933. The second part deals how he consolidated his position and extended his power once he was in office. The third and final part is regarding his actions in the Second World War. Hitler settled in the army, speaking his mind in opposition to the Jews and Communists greatly to the consent of his seniors. In 1919 Hitler was invited to a meeting of the Deutsche Arbeiter Partei or DAP, the German Workers Party which really embraced of only a few dozen constituents. During this meeting, a spokesperson called for the unification of Austria and Germany. Right away, Hitler shouted, refusing the very thought of a union with the non-Germanic areas of Austria but echoed the words of his educator: that all Germans everywhere should merge to form a single nation. He received an invitation to join the party the next day. Hitler was not excited about this offer; he had sought to organize his own party and not join one as â€Å"incompetent† as the DAP. However he was still fascinated to the faction and after a couple of days of careful discussion he accepted. Number 555, a number which sounded remarkable unless you knew that the party’s numbering system started with 500, this was the number of Adolf Hitler as a DAP member. This undersized group of malcontents- rapidly to be known as the Nazis-had established its head, the nonconformist and former tramp that would lead them to supreme power and their country to ultimate destruction. Even though there is a surprising disparity between the darkness of Hitler’s origins and the unquestionable power he later on acquired, it is noteworthy how accurately his later thoughts and behavior were predicted in his early years. Certainly, as he himself mentioned, his examinations barely distorted at all from those he set forth in Mein Kampf. More than once he expressed quite openly what he projected to do as soon as he acquired power; the error his generations made was not to take him sincerely. The German politicians thought that they could make use of Hitler to broaden their own ends, but it was the other way around, it was Hitler who used them. It is complicated to stay away from a feeling of grudging respect for the skill with which he deceived and controlled them. Although Hitler was absolutely deceitful, trusting no one and willing to mislead, betray, eliminate, and do anything else that was desirable to achieve his ends, it is notable how cautious he was to circumvent open irregularity. When it appeared at one point likely that the Nazi party would be started of its aims, a number of his associates sought to stage a coup, but Hitler declined to do so. And in reality he did eventually become Chancellor legitimately, although, as soon as in power, he rapidly maneuvered himself into a position where he could do whatever he wanted without any kind of constitutional limitation. The total lack of hesitation that characterized Hitler’s advance to power continued to be apparent once he became Chancellor. His conduct on the world stage was basically a larger version of his earlier pretense, deception, and eagerness to use violence when it appeared likely to give. He had an insightful idea of the failing of others, playing on Joseph Chamberlain’s wish to avoid confrontation with the same skill he had used to deceive his opponents on his way to power. And, at least primarily, he sustained to examine the forms of legality in international relationships; his takeover of Austria was, in appearance, by invitation rather than by invasion. One of the most significant data about Hitler is the capacity he evidently obsessed to govern people. His appearance was unremarkable and his mind ordinary and vulgar, still he was capable to enforce his will on almost everyone around him, that is, the main exception seems to have been the Russian foreign minister Molotov. Bullock makes a comment on this power but was not able to explain it except by stating that Hitler’s gaze had a strange hypnotic character. This, nonetheless, would only have been successful at close quarters; his dominance of large public meetings must have been by reason of something else. Hitler himself explained what this depended on: not logical argument but feeling, emotion. â€Å"It is not objectivity, which is a feckless attitude, but a determined will, back up by power where necessary. † The author is good on the supporting cast list. Hermann Goering, the readers would probably think of as a fat figure of fun, and definitely this is what he became in his later years, but in earlier times he was powerful and played an essential part in the rise of the Nazis. Mussolini, however, appears as relatively unimpressive. The Italians appears to be always hesitant and frequently unenthusiastic allies, considered enormously as second-class by the Germans, nevertheless Hitler seems to have had an indisputable fondness for Mussolini himself. There are good descriptions of Himmler, Goebbels, and the arrogant and unbearable Ribbentrop. Reasonably there is not much humor in this manuscript, but it does consist of an entertaining account of an insulting disagreement between Goering and Ribbentrop. Another touch of humor comes from Hitler’s symbolic demand to quote, â€Å"When in my entire life did I ever tell a lie? † The conflict with Britain was involuntary and Hitler by no means completely understood why the British declared war on him. He had not projected a general war in 1939. Once in progress, nevertheless, the early successes rapidly led to him to the view that he was perfect, and in future, he frequently rejected the suggestions and recommendations of his generals, taking the supervision of the war into his own hands and giving out the most comprehensive commands. When things began to be unsuccessful he turns down to allow retreat in any circumstances and therefore wasted his resources, not to mention the lives of his troops, in hopeless last-minute stands. One of the many qualities of this fascinating account is its justification of Hitler’s apparently confusing pronouncement to attack Russia, a pronouncement that was ultimately the major reason of his defeat. The author makes clear, it was always Hitler’s objective to battle the Russians; his purpose from the start was to spread out towards the East, not the West. And the Russian movement possibly would have ended differently had Hitler been agreeable to listen to the advice of his generals to concentrate on taking Moscow rather than pursuing subsidiary aims. Bullock is categorical about the guilt of Hitler in the Final Solution. Even though it was Himmler who carried out the rule of extermination, â€Å"the man in whose mind so grotesque a plan had been conceived was Hitler. Without Hitler’s authority, Himmler, a man solely of subordinate virtues, would never have dared to act on his own. † Hitler and Himmler had secret meetings at which nobody else was permitted to be there, except seldom Bormann, and no record of these subsists. In the last part of his life Hitler’s understanding of reality had become shaky, his physical and mental corrosion being probably go faster by the quack remedies directed to him by his personal doctor. Even so, his political insight had not abandoned him. He predicted that, after the war, there would be only two Great Powers, USA and the Russia, who would engage in a trial of strength, either military or in the fields of economics and ideology. These two would rule the world between them until the nationalisms Asian, African, and perhaps South American should arise. The author uses many first-hand sources, like Hitler’s Mein Kampf and other Nazi leaders’ record, dialogues, articles and depositions in trials such as Nuremberg, for instance, Goebbels’, Otto Dietrich’s, Roehm’s, Gisevius’s, Rosenberg’s, etc. , and other significant actors’ of the period, such as Mussolini, Ciano, Schuschnigg, Ludendorff, Churchill, and Weizacker. His bibliography seems quite comprehensive and as complete as could likely be for the period, and is separated into time periods and subjects. One of the first items observed here is certainly the almost overwhelming amount of information pertaining to the psychological makeup of the dictator and the many reiterations of certain mindsets such as Hitler’s being a sufferer of his own propaganda. This information also tries to give details everything from Hitler’s detestation of the Jews to his consistent mindset, and his motivation to lie and run roughshod over anything in his direction. Some examples can be found all through the book, but the author also makes an effort a more or less complete physical and mental outline of the Fuehrer in chapter 7, â€Å"The Dictator†. The representation of Hitler given here may also seem a fragment simple and tied down to only a few aforesaid characteristics. Several statements in the book seem unnecessary or self-obvious: Hitler is referred to as having an â€Å"almost inexhaustible fund of resentment†: actually, a completely inexhaustible fund of resentment would be closer to the point, as he is still full of that particular emotion in his political testament, especially towards the Jews. Moreover, phrases like â€Å"the fat, bald party treasurer† have no precise value in this biography, and could have easily been left out. All in all, the book may be considered as a biography and historical recital, except during the final â€Å"War-Lord† section, where it seems to get caught up in military details. It might also be considered a difficult read because of the killings described and the general feeling of dissatisfaction that the subject suggests in the reader. Readers can only question, from the self-evident descriptions, terms and speeches evoked by the author, how come the German people, in addition to the other concerned countries’ people and leaders of that era, didn’t see the coming adversities as obviously as the author puts down them out for us to see. Reference: Bullock, Alan. Hitler: A Study in Tyranny. New York: Bantam, 1961.