Media as the main branch of society that sway Gender Essay

In the current era, media had been greatly influencing the society. Through the variety of information and mediums the industry could utilize, seemingly media could create numerous impact in the lives of many people. In the movie Bodyguard which was publicized in 1992 provides one of the most distinct examples which could be highlighted to see the power of the media. In terms of gender topics, media had been the main industry that has the authority to proclaim what should or should not be for various genders in the society. The movie Bodyguard starred the most popular actors during the early 90s such as Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston. Both of these actors have their own image which the masses view of them. Therefore, there is an immediate connotation when it comes to the characters they portray. Kevin Costner is known to be a very good actor who had been acknowledged in many award giving bodies. Whitney Houston on the other hand is a very popular singer who is idolized by many. In the movie, Houston sort of, portrayed herself while Costner captured the role of a masculine, â€Å"only-doing-his-job† body guard who is very much protective of Whitney for the reason that she has a stalker. Houston on the other hand is a famous singer who was being harassed by a stalker. Thus seeing the main personalities, the characters does portray a very â€Å"in-the-box† nuance of what a male and a female should be. Just like in fairytales, the woman must be saved by a man in order for her to get through the evil witches who were often abusing the helpless lead character. In conclusion, media and the concept of media go together. The perspective of the media of what should or should not be is immediately absorbed by the society. Moreover, the movie Bodyguard supports the concept of the typical male and female responsibilities which is practiced by the society. Thus, the media supports this type of perspective of gender which strictly assumes that men are strong and protective while women are vulnerable and weak. References Costner, K. , Kasdan, L. & Wilson, J. (Producers). Jackson, M. (Director). (1992). Bodyguard. [Motion Picture]. United States: Warner Brothers.

Children of the Taliban

Children of the Taliban 1. The government school system has completely collapsed. The lack of funding and cohesiveness amongst educators and government has caused the system to literally crumble. School buildings are also in war zones and a lot of them are structurally unsafe at this point. They have been replaced by schools of the Taliban. The Taliban actually offer guaranteed food and shelter to the children who attend their schools.Parents will even receive a monthly stipend. While madrassas are usually seminaries that teach different schools of thought, the Taliban use them to teach radically Islamic fundamentalism. Basically, they are brainwashing children into becoming jihadists or martyrs. On camera the man stated madrassas are used to teach children to play a positive role in society and that peace and love are vital to success. This was not the same explanation when the camera was off. 2.Over a million Pakistanis live in refugee in their own country because the Taliban are s uch a strong presence, the Pakistani military doesn’t have enough resources to provide protection to every citizen. Ironically, the Pakistani army is not so great either as they take over homes if needed. So, to escape war zones, jihadist recruitment, and death, Pakistani citizens are forced to leave their own homes. This is the largest internal displacement of a population of citizens. 3.Because these people have been living daily with war, many of them have become accustomed to the sound of explosions and gunfire. For example, when the children were being interviewed, gunshots and bombs went off, yet the two little girls were completely calm. Depending on their influence, people either begin to grow resentment for the Taliban, the Pakistani government, or the United States. When civilians get hurt from U. S. missile strikes, the Taliban use the aftermath to recruit children.

Schools inflicted with poverty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Schools inflicted with poverty - Essay Example The six schools surveyed had fared well in their respective state literacy tests â€Å"recording between 68 to 89 percent of students who had either met or exceeded their state’s standard of proficiency†. All six schools used the ‘Four Blocks Framework’ for balanced literacy. Having established the common strain in all six schools, the writer then identified 12 factors that are important for high academic achievement and set about studying how these factors functioned in these six schools. These 12 factors are, assessment; community involvement; comprehensive curriculum; engagement instruction; leadership; materials; parent participation; perseverance and persistence; professional development; real reading and writing; and specialist support. Assessment needs to be devised in a manner that it guides instruction, the community members must assist the school in its instructional task. Curriculum should be centered on the basics in the primary stage but must not exclude science and social studies totally. There has to be a high level of student engagement in the literacy activities if real learning has to take place. Teachers have to devise a method for one-to-one instruction and monitoring even while teaching the whole class. A strong leadership â€Å"embodied in a committed, passionate and hands-on Principal† is a prerequisite for any school wanting to achieve its goals. Schools must have adequate material and resources for effective instruction. Parent participation in literacy activities enhances the effectiveness of the system. Perseverance and persistence is required no matter which method of instruction is followed, since the results will begin to show only after a reasonable period of time. Professional devel opment of teachers cannot be ignored. Teachers need to upgrade their skills constantly. To become good readers and writers, students must actually spend a lot of time

Object-Oriented Applications DB One Research Paper

Object-Oriented Applications DB One - Research Paper Example With the exacerbating software systems’ sophistication and sizes, the design of such systems focuses on more than just the algorithms and computational data structures to encompass system structure specification amid the underlying structural issues (Clements, 2010). This process defines what software architecture is all about. Gross organization of system structures in software has been a long living problem is software design. Software architecture is tailored towards addressing the underlying structural issues in designing and developing software. Since gross organization of system structures is just but of the primary issues that software architecture seeks to solve, there are a number of other evident issues. Controlling software system structures in the global context is another primary issue. In this regard, software architecture is, therefore, a procedural undertaking that seeks to design software systems in such a way that the structure of the systems can effectively be controlled. This means that software architecture is a global undertaking in the design and development of software. Software architecture also primarily encompasses realigning communication protocols, synchronize software designs, enhance data access, scale software performance, and revolutionize design elements in software development (Bass, Clements & Kazman, 2003). Role of Software Architects Software architects play numerous and dynamic roles in the IT industry, based on their field of specialization and the level of software design they undertake. One of the primary roles of software architects is the development of software designs that are macro-level in nature. Software architecture is applied across wide ranges of usability, from an individual context aspect to an organizational level. The use of software designs across the globe differs in terms of application and level of use. For this reason, macro-level designs become critical to account for by software architects. On the same note, inter-relating applications in software designs calls for understanding and documenting the applications’ relationships, and software architects play an active role in this pursuit. Addressing design issues in software development is not the only focus of software architects. They also undertake code reviews and mentoring in software architecture (Bell, 2008). Software architects in most cases employ team work in their undertakings for effective and efficient outcome that meets the expectations outlined by pursued goals and objectives. In reviewing codes and carrying out mentoring programs on software designs, it is easy to determine and point out areas of software architecture that need to be improved or advanced. On the same note, loopholes in the process can be effectively addressed and can consequently lead to the realization of an improved software architecture pursuit. Quality assurance and provision of relevant information to users of architectural so ftware also falls under the docket of software architects’ role. Over and above the outlined roles, application design and application security constitute the role of software architects in software design and development (Javier & Mario, 2005). Example of Software Architecture Role Software architecture employs massive data computation in every aspect of software design and development software structures. A software architec

Mass extinction Events - the 6th one Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mass extinction Events - the 6th one - Essay Example appened in the planet’s history, mass extinction is an occasion that mankind cannot penetrate, delay or stop especially if they are the primary ones responsible for the planet’s destruction. One is as responsible as the other towards the maintenance of the planet that mankind is living in. There is no reason for finger pointing at this point as to why things are being experienced worldwide (Hallam & Wignall, 1-5). Mass extinctions already happened more than once in the existence of planet Earth. The first mass extinction was said to have happened approximately 500 million years ago and it was the temperature in the planet’s surface that have changed drastically. This event incurred the massive extinctions of species, plants and animals alike. This brought about changes, mostly physical, to those who survive the extinctions. Others would point out these changes as evolution in the species. They needed to evolve and be able to adapt to the surroundings enabling them to survive. Approximately 250 million years ago, another mass extinction occurred and devastated the planet. It was said that during this second mass extinction, it took a while before the surviving species was able to recover. While others failed to adapt therefore becoming extinct (Frankel, 5-10). During the third mass extinction, it was the aquatic species that was confounded. It was after the fourth mass extinction that r eptiles and dinosaurs were said to have evolved. Then around 65 million years ago, the fifth mass extinction occurred. This is the extinction that the generation of today is more aware (Wicander & Monroe, 242; Hoffman, 176). There are scholars who do believe that mankind and the planet is in the middle of the sixth mass extinction as the planet’s composition has been disturbed massively especially in recent centuries or even decades. As mankind is perceived to become more intelligent, the more it aided the events that may cause the mass extinction and even end the human

Supply chain Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Supply chain Management - Essay Example For instance, a pharmaceutical or biotechnological company normally handles perishable goods that must be kept under favorable environmental conditions. In effect, these conditions must be strictly adhered to while transporting and storing the products in a warehouse. However, a company might lack these important facilities during transportation and warehouse and may effectively consider contracting another company best fitted to handle such commodities during logistics. In this regard, the company contracted would maintain quality of the goods. c) Develop a strategy, and then employ specific suppliers to carry out well-defined portions of the strategy. A manager may employ this strategy in case of situations in which there are constraints in terms of resources available in the company. For instance, a company with internal logistics expertise and working hard to expand its operation in the market may experience financial constrictions. In this regard, such a company can use its inte rnal logistics expertise to develop a strategy internally within its operations. ... However, the manager in such a company may consider outsourcing its transportation and warehousing needs of its raw materials to a company best suited to handle this. In addition, the company may also contract another company to handle the distribution of its finished products. Question #2 a) Quick Response: In this partnership, the retailer normally establishes the amount of order they have made and the durations in restocking up. On the other hand, the supplier makes an analysis of the data from the retailer’s Point of Sale (POS) in order to develop their estimation and production schedules. Thus, the retailer is absolutely in charge of their inventory and helps their supplier in improving their functions by making available POS data for the supplier’s analysis. In this case, this type of system is crucial in instances that the retailer-supplier relationship is in its initial stages, or has just been established and is thus new. In effect, there is little trust betwee n the two parties making it the more suitable when compared to the two other partnerships. In addition, this type of partnership is crucial in instances where there is unavailability of efficient and sufficient personnel and facial resources. Therefore, this partnership is more appropriate than the others since financial and personnel resources inhibit the development of a more incorporated relationship while compared to VMI. b) Continuous replenishment: In this type of partnership, there is mutual trust between the retailer and the supplier making it the best type of partnership in comparison to a quick response partnership. In this case, the supplier receives Point of Sale data from the retailer and makes shipments at intervals based on a prior agreement. In

Classroom Behavior Management Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Classroom Behavior Management Plan - Essay Example Disruptive behavior in this context refers to defiant behavior and disregard of the rules that have been put in place (Wang, Haertel, & Walberg, 2003). Examples of the Targeted Behavior Disruptive behavior is usually a violation of the rules that have been put in place to govern the behavior of the students in the classroom. It is important that, in addition to being subject to the rules, the students participate in their creation. An example of rules assisting in managing the classroom behavior is ensuring that the students do not speak without raising their hands. The student should also ensure that all materials necessary for the lesson are brought into the classroom. This is to ensure that movement during class session is minimized. The students must also seek the teacher’s permission to leave their desks or to address the others. In the classroom, both the students and the teacher should make sure that official school language is used. The student must do as asked by the teacher without the teacher having to repeat the instructions that have been given in the class. In instances when group discussions are required, the groups will be assigned to the students by the teacher to ensure that the students stick to the discussion that is expected of them as opposed to straying from the topic as is likely to happen if the students pick the groups themselves. When the rules are established, it is important for a teacher to explain why each of the rules is important. The students will be required to own the rules; it will be easier for the students to follow the rules if they participate in making them. Rationale Disruptive behavior has a very discouraging outcome in students and school performances. Disruptive behavior that is often observed in the classroom includes aggressive behavior, when a student pushes others around and engages them in physical altercations. A student who shows aggressive behavior may also damage property in the classroom. Disruptive behavior of the student can also be of a social nature when the student tries to divert the attention of the teacher and the classmates by engaging in topics that are not relevant to what is being discussed. The disruptive student may also pass notes or whisper to others while the teacher continues with the lesson. Method of Collecting Baseline Data The classroom management plan is important, as without it, learning is likely to be disrupted and the learning goals that have been established will not be achieved. The plan is important to the achievement of the learning goals and the maintenance of order in the classroom setting. The data will be collected through classroom observation. This is because most of the disruptive behaviors that have been identified can be observed in the classroom setting. For example, it is easy to observe a student who is passing notes or trying to divert the attention of the class as well as engaging in other forms of disruptive behavior. Hypothetical Baseline Data Behavioral level 250 200 150 100 50 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 days (Marzano & Marzano, 2009) With the help of the hypothetical baseline data above, it is verifiable that the identified classroom behaviors are deteriorating with time. This calls for instant measures to counter the over increasing unbearable classroom behaviors. Behavioral Goal The core aim of the plan is to ensure transformation of the

Online Consumer Engagement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Online Consumer Engagement - Essay Example Customer engagement is one such strategy that can significantly improve customer satisfaction. As the name suggests customer engagement is the commitment of the customer with the company or the product. As Mc Ewen suggests, "if you don't make a connection with your customers then satisfaction is worthless" (Mc Ewen, Fleming, 2003). Regardless of how high a company's customer satisfaction level may be, if their customers are not able emotionally connect with the company or their products to high levels of customer satisfaction of no use. Internet today is playing a very crucial role in affecting consumer behavior. Most companies have identified that starting B2B and B2C. channels over the Internet not only reduces costs in terms of paperwork, front desk time, personnel time etc., it also gives the customers the freedom to view previous products at the comfort of their homes get reviews about the products talk about it online to other customers and then make a well-informed decision. O nline Publishers Association presented their finding that the Internet is the most dominant source for initial awareness, further learning, deciding where to buy and purchases when compared to any other media (Online Publishers Association, 2007). Thus, today customer engagement is essential not only in the physical store but also over the Internet. This is referred to as online customer engagement. The following sections aim at identifying the various nuances associated with online customer engagement. Online Consumer Behavior What drives customers from one website to another What makes the customers stay longer on a particular website when compared to others What influences the customers to buy the same product on one website when compared to another Please, and many other such relevant questions can be answered by understanding consumer behavior on the Internet. Brynjolfsson and Smith called Internet as "the great equalizer" because the technology capabilities of the Internet medium reduce buyer search and switching costs and eliminate spacial competitive advantages that retailers would enjoy the physical marketplace (Brynjolfsson and Smith, 2000). In 1999, a research carried out by International Data Corporation and RelevantKnowledge showed that users are not loyal to one web portal. At that time, it did show that Yahoo had a higher loyalty rate than others; however, no other portal had a substantial loyalty rate (Spring, 1999). Spring analyzed that the reason for this lack of loyalty at that time was d ue to the fact that not every portal realized the importance of building "closer and tighter relationships with consumers". Several researchers over time have analyzed the various factors that affect Online Consumer Behavior. An inclusive, but by no means exhaustive list is presented below. Usability: The definition of usability as stated by ISO is "a set of attributes of software which bear on the effort needed for use and on the individual assessment of such use ..." (ISO, 1991b). With respect to e commerce, it is the set of characteristics of the website that make online engagement of the consumer a good experience.

Review of Enrique Penalosa's Speech Movie Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Of Enrique Penalosa's Speech - Movie Review Example According to United States Census Bureau the current population of 322 million will shoot up to 438 by year 2050.This indicates also the number of people per household will also be more. New homes and cities will be required to be build but the question is where and how. Can we build a transport system without knowing what kind of city we want? The answer to the question is building a city will depend on what kind of life we want and what kind of life will make us happier. A city defines our way of life. In building, a new city equality for the quality of life especially for children and equality for all citizens is important. An example is a bus with 80 passengers as the right of space 80 times than a car with one passenger. Democracy means such laws are obeyed but sometime injustice happens before our face for example a traffic jam with no exclusive lane for buses.in the world public pedestrians is pace is the only that we all have free access to. A good city is where people like to be out in public space and enjoy themselves. Cities are more architectural than engineering thus, people enjoy more public space in the city. A good city is where people have contact with water, nature and trees. A good city should have space for use by children, elder ly and disabled people. People should walk in a good city without fear of being hit by cars especially children. When cars appeared they started killing people and many city dwellers where forced to migrate to the suburbs. Cars took the space used by people; there was a competition of space between cars, and people. There should be enough space for people to walk and for cars to drive. Sidewalks should be used by people e.g. Walking, kissing, admiring the surroundings but not for cars to park. Sidewalks should proceed after intersections. A city belongs to people and not cars. Netherlands has a

Post War Europe Essay Example for Free

Post War Europe Essay The World War II refers to the global conflict that took place between 1939 to 1945. Also referred to as the Second World War, the conflict involved many nations, especially the great powers. The conflict had two opposing military alliances, the Axis and the Allies (Hakim, p 8). This war has been considered as one of the most spread war in the world history since it involved the mobilization of more than 100 million military personnel. The Allies alliance during the war was made up of countries that opposed the Axis powers. The Big Three† or the three major nations that led the Allied Alliance were the United States of America, Britain, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic. Other nations that were part of the Allied Alliance included China, France, Poland, Australia, Canada, and South Africa. The Axis Alliance opposed the Allies, and it was led by three major Axis powers. These powers were; Germany, Italy and Japan. These three countries in September 1940 had signed a Tripartite Pact upon which the Axis Alliance was founded. Other nations that were part of the Axis Alliance included; Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia. Some the Axis co- belligerents included; Finland, India, Vietnam, and Iraq. The state of total war as a result of this conflict had the major nations that were involved use their scientific, industrial, and economic capabilities in order to develop weapons or plan military strategies that would maximize their probability of winning the war (Russell, p 15). It is estimated that over 70 million people were killed, with the majority being civilians. This made the war one of the deadliest human conflict to ever occur. The war began in 1939, and was triggered by the Germany’s invasion of Poland. This later led to the France, United Kingdom, and the United States declaration of war on Germany. Some of the well known events that occurred during the Second World War include; the Operation Barbararossa, Pearl Harbour attack and the Marco Polo Bridge incident. The war ended in 1945 and had the United States and the Soviet Union turn out to be the superpowers. The World War II broke out in Europe after Hitler led the Axis Alliance by first invading Poland. There were several major effects of Second World II on Germany and Europe.  In this paper, these effects will be discussed. Major effects of World War II in Germany Germany was one of the leading nations in the Axis Alliance against the Allies during the Second World War. Germany is considered to have developed some of the most sophisticated and most destructive weapons during the war. Together with the cost of military operations, Germany used a great amount of its finances to develop weapons for use during the war. The Nazi Germany which was led by Adolf Hitler invested great amounts of financial resources to cater for the costs of the war. In 1936, Adolph Hitler in his efforts to purchase war materials at low prices imposed price controls on the Germany people. Rationing later followed in 1939. Price controls that were put on food led to food shortages during the war. This led to the people growing their food and doing barter trade with their personal belongings for food. Compensation trade was born during the war; as a result of the wide spread barter trade. Due to the business to business transactions, many business firms hired a person who could barter a firms’ output. The barter trade was inefficient compared to the direct purchase of commodities and services using money. According to a Germany economist Walter Eucken self- sufficiency and barter trade were incompatible. Due to an extensive labor division, Germans’ economic system had been â€Å"reduced to a primitive condition† (Harlett 1978, p. 34). The Germany economy after the war was in shambles. In the housing sector, Adolph- Hitler scorched – earth policy together with the war had affected about 20 per cent of the housing. Germanys’ economic hardship had the food production per capita from 1938 to 1947 reduce by 51 per cent. In addition, the occupying powers had set the food ration between 1040 and 1550 calories per day. As compared to the industrial out put in 1938, Germanys’ out put in 1947 was only a third of the 1938 industrial output. Due to the death of a large number of working -age men during the war, Germany had inadequate labor. The economic hardship had triggered the Germany government to put in place measures that would rejuvenate the country’s’ economy. The government eliminated the price controls that were initially there, while the currency was reformed. This occurred in 1948. Later in 1948 and1949, there was reduction of the marginal tax rates. These measures saw the Germanys’ economy grow rapidly 20 years after the World War II. Germany’s economic problems can also be attributed to the World War I effects. Before the World War I, the German Empire had a prosperous economy. However,after the war,Germany’s economic prosperity was considered to have been ruined by treaties such as the 1919 Treaty of Versallies. The signing of the treaties by Germany together with the World War I effects led to great inflation in the early 1920s. Though Germany’s economy improved after the First World War, the economic problems that characterized this period to some extent came to affect Germany’s economy after the World War II. The first several years in Germany after the World War II were of great economic problems. This resulted from the destruction of property, land, and homes during the war (Klopstock, p 285). Furthermore, many Germans fled from their homes during the war, a situation that made working almost impossible. This reduced the economic productivity of the nation, whose negative effects after the war became evident. In addition to this, the industrial and agricultural production had drastically reduced in Germany. Many millions of people lacked food and clothing as the inflation raged in Germany. Food shortage had become severe and â€Å"each day, and particularly on weekends, vast hordes of people trekked out to the country to barter food from the farmers†(Wallich, p 65). Despite the economic problems that the Germans were experiencing, the political leaders were able to exploit the situation in order to build a very strong economy in future. The economic problems encouraged the German political leaders to focus on the future plans of reviving Germany’s economy. The leaders saw a new beginning in the ruined economy, where the economy was viewed as an instrument of prosperity. The need to have a prosperous economy would then assist the Germans to have a stable society, as well as to safeguard democracy. The leaders sought both the economic prosperity and social peace. A prosperous economy would also make sure that there was equal opportunity for all the German citizens so that eruption of a revolution would be prevented when bitter frustration of the underprivileged social groups was avoided. The reviving of the German economy and â€Å"economic system that had been reduced to a primitive condition† (Hazlett, p 34) due to the economic problems experienced as a result of the World War II became important. The economy was revived through the efforts of some Germans’ post war leaders such as Ludwig Erhard. The currency reforms that were introduced through the efforts of Erhard led to the abolition of the Reichmark and the Deutsche mark introduction. The installation of the new currency began in 1948 led to economic success. Furthermore, Erhard abolished the Nazi and the occupation regulations and rules. This was the beginning of a prosperous and free economy in Germany, which in turn established the foundation of a growing West Germany economy. Apart from the economic problems experienced in Germany, another major effect of the World War II(WWII) in Germany was the division of Germany into two (East and West Germany) for about 40 years. The division occurred in 1949 and ended on October 1990 to reunite the two sides. The three Allied Zones of Occupation were brought together to form West Germany. These three zones were those that were held by France, United Kingdom, and the United States. The two special territories in German’s two states were Berlin and the Saarland. Since the West was democratically organized, it considered itself to have exclusive mandate for all of Germany. The Yalta Conference that was held by the Soviet Union, United States, and the United Kingdom leaders aimed as paving the way forward for future arrangements with the Europe after the World War II. It was during the conference that the leaders decided to split Germany into four occupation Zones. These Zones included; the French Zone, American Zone, British Zone, and the Soviet Zone. West Germany was formed in 1949 and comprised of the Western Allied Zones. The Soviet Zones formed the East Germany, which was also referred to as the Germany Democratic Republic. The West Germany economy grew so rapidly due to the economic aid from the United States and also the Marshall Plan. But more importantly, the currency reforms that were introduced in West Germany strengthened the economy. Both the East and West Germany had mutual recognition of each other and the relation between the two was normalized by treaties such as the Treaty of Warsaw(1970),Basic Treaty(1972) and the Treaty of Moscow(1970). West Germany became cosmopolitan due to the western culture influences while East Germany was conservative. The East Germany adhered to the socialist ideologies, where there was less freedom as compared to West Germany. In addition, the West Germany government was more decentralized and East Germany had a government based on the Communist ideaologies. The reunification of the East and West Germany occurred on 3 October 1990 to form the Federal Republic of Germany, which is the current Germany. The Berlin Wall was constructed in 1961 to separate the two regions, but it was destroyed in 1989 after the reunification of East and West Germany. The third major effect of the World War II on Germany was the great advancement in technology. This resulted from German’s great technological ability to develop and use highly sophisticated and powerful weapons and industrial technology. Germany is considered to have developed and used some of the most powerful and sophisticated weapons during the World War II. For instance, Germany managed to develop powerful anti-aircraft weaponry, aircraft bombers, bombs, guns, rifles, and chemical weapons. The jet aircrafts which had been developed late during the war were advanced after the World War II. The Navy advancements during the World War II paved way for more technological development in the naval field. The German designs such as the Type VII submarine were used during the World War II, and the technology was later used after the war for greater advancement. For instance, after the division of Germany into West and East Germany, some of the German’s intellectual privileges that were of industrial advantage. The Allies who had control over West Germany confiscated Germans’ intellectual privileges and used them for their own companies. This led to rapid growth in industrialization due to the technology that had been developed by the Germans. Major Effects of World War II on Europe The World War II had so many countries involved, with the majority being from Europe. Examples of European countries that took part in the war included the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, France, and Poland. These countries and Europe as a continent experienced some major effects of the World War II. One major effect of the World War II on Europe was economic problems. The World War II had demanded that nations that were involved in the conflict invest their scientific, industrial, and economic capabilities. This required huge amounts of financial resources. Before the war, many European nations had very strong economic abilities. The nations’ economic and population advantage was very essential for success in the war. In addition, the European nations that had major industrial and financial developments included Germany, United Kingdom, and France. Industrial development that had spread across Europe before the war had contributed to great economic development in the European nations. The Industrial Revolution had led to rapid economic growth, which put the European nations at a good position to compete with the United States of America which was then an economic might. The World War II led to the destruction of Europe’s industrial centers and this affected negatively the high production of products or commodities that would be sold to increase economic growth in Europe (Tucker, p 771). The European infrastructure that was greatly destroyed made it hard for the citizens to undertake activities that would contribute to the economic growth. The European countries during the war had continued to increase their spending on developing and producing military weapons. There was construction of strategic road network by some European nations with the aim of increasing their probability of winning the war. The need for synthetic rubber and oil from coal to use during the war promoted great financial investments by the European nations. For instance, Britain’s’ economy was harnessed to the World War II efforts. The destruction of Europe’s infrastructure led to economic problems. The damage of the road and rail networks during the war made it very difficult for the European nations after to move the essential goods from one place to another. The economy was exhausted, a good example being Britain’s economy. For the European countries that were involved in the World War, their economies experienced severe inflation. Though rationing and luxury goods absence in Europe before the war had encouraged people to save, the people were unable to spend their savings since there were no commodities to purchase as would be preferred. The economic hardships in Europe made some European countries to borrow heavily from other nations with a strong economy such as the United States. The economic hiccups in Europe were later followed by economic recovery, where the currency reforms â€Å"quickly reestablished money as the preferred medium of exchange and monetary incentives as the prime mover of economic activity† (Heller, p 215). Another major effect of the World War II on Europe was environmental destruction. The World War II resulted to great environmental destruction. In many cases, any warfare or military conflict has very devastating effects on Europe’s natural environment. Improvements in technology during the war led to the invention of military weapons that were very destructive to the human life as well as the natural ecosystems. For example, the use of powerful and sophisticated bombs in the war destroyed animal and plant life. Furthermore, new chemical components that made up the weapons were released into the environment. This affected the soil fertility and composition, and this made it impossible for land to regain its fertility. The chemical components released from the explosives used in the war made it impossible for some arable land to be productive again. Many parts of Europe that acted as military grounds experienced great environmental degradation. The technological advancements during the World War II were incompatible with environmental preservation. War can never be compatible with the preservation and conservation of the natural environment. The environmental degradation that was occurring during the war was not a bother to the parties that were involved in the war. The military operations, destruction of natural vegetation to build communication lines and roads, and artillery shelling destroyed the environment. The new and effective ways military strategies that were used by the different nations’ forces to attack the enemies or defending themselves from the enemies increased environmental destruction. Long after the war ended, Europe’s natural environment has not yet recovered from the destruction it experienced during the war. In the era of technological advancement and industrialization, environmental issues seemed to cause very little concern in Europe, hence the effects of the war have proved that the war through technological advancement had become a great environmental threat. The increased use of chemical weapons resulted to long-lived negative effects on the environment. The waste disposal practices during and after the war in Europe resulted to â€Å"significant contamination of soils and ground water with high explosives† (Pennington et al, p 163). For example, the use of high explosives has made the recovery of the environment from destruction in Europe almost impossible. Consequently, the environment has become a health hazard to the people with the land mines that are still trapped in the soil/lands making some parts of the Europe land inhabitable. The areas were turned into waste land. Great technological advancements were another major effect of the World War II was witnessed in Europe. These changes that were witnessed were as a result of the nations that took part in the war struggle to invent and use better and powerful military weapons than their rivals. The technological development during and after the First World War promoted more advancements after the World War I . This is because, the improvements made after the World War II were an improvement on those that had earlier been invented. The inventions were considered as very critical when it came to winning the war, and this promoted technological inventions that were very instrumental to the economic development of many European nations after the war. The use of radio’s and electricity became possible due to the technological development witnessed during the wars. Research that had been intensively done by the Allies and the Axis with the aim of outdoing each other’s weapons became very important to more inventions after the war. The technological innovations of the war paved way for the naval technological development witnessed up to date. For instance, the introduction of aircraft receivers and radio communication systems during the war led to more development in naval industry long after the war. The technological advancement became a very vital requirement for survival during the war no doubt led to greater inventions after the war in Europe. Conclusion The World War II has been considered as one of the most devastating conflict to ever occur. This is due to the high number of people who were killed during the war. The various nations that were involved in the conflict invested greatly to the war efforts through finances and scientific inventions. Germany was one of the major players in the conflict and it proved to have great ability to develop and use powerful weapons against its enemies. The major effects of the war were both positive and negative. While some effects have been devastating to the people and the natural environment, others have brought about development in various fields of economic growth

Blue-collar Skilled Worker Shortage in Construction Industry

Blue-collar Skilled Worker Shortage in Construction Industry 1.2 Introduction Malaysia is presently experiencing a new era of prosperity. The government formulated and implemented a series of development plans and laid foundation for the development in the country. There is rapid growth especially in construction sector. This bought high demand in construction labour. According to (The Star Online, 22 December 2007), Year 2007 number of reports have highlighted the outflow of construction professional and skilled labour segments of the jobs market. Many skilled workers in the construction sector have moved to Vietnam, Singapore or the Middle East in pursuit of better pay and career prospects. The shortage of skilled labour that the Malaysian construction industry is currently encountering has been perpetuated by several combinations of causes. Governments act to diminish the number of foreign workers in the country will trigger the skilled labour shortage problem get in to even worse situation. (The Star, 3 June 2010) 1.3 Problem Statement When we talk about labour crisis in construction industry, number is not only issue impinging on the manpower development of the industry. Due to certain reasons, local workforce is less interested to work in the construction industry. This phenomena may bought huge impacts to the development of the industry. Local workforce is still thinking that the jobs in this sector are not dignified enough besides being labeled dirty, dangerous and difficult. Therefore as a last result to overcome the acute shortage of manpower, the industry hired foreign workers. The group of foreign workers hired by the industry basically unskilled, acquires their work knowledge while assisting the more experienced workers, and thus is not meeting the industrys skill standards. Malaysia construction sector should encouraged to plan their human resource requirements to progressively reduce their dependence on low- skilled labour, particularly foreign unskilled labour. 1.4 Research Aim To analyze different type causes and effects of construction Blue-Collar skilled worker shortage to construction industry. 1.5 Objectives (1) To identify the causes of Blue-Collar skilled labour shortage in Malaysian construction industry. (2) To identify the effect of Blue-Collar skilled labour shortage in Malaysian construction industry. (3) To assess solutions to Blue-Collar skills labour shortages in the Malaysian construction industry. 1.6 Background of the study Blue color Skill labour shortages are a common problem across construction industry. Skill shortages are most common in times of strong economic growth and low unemployment. The causes of skill shortages are complex. There are many drivers that could be causing a shortage in a region or occupation. Working conditions and wages play an important role in skill shortages. In occupations where there are poor conditions or wages, the problem may not be in the supply of labour, but rather in the willingness of labour to take up positions. Skilled labour shortage bought a lot effects and impacts neither to construction industry nor society. Thus, it is important that to find out the effective ways to chops with skilled labour shortage to avoid this phenomena further affect the economic growth. 1.7 Scope of study The study of this study is narrowed down to simplify the process of information gathering, so it can be analyzed within an appropriate time limit. The aspects being considered are: Focused on cause and effect of Blue- Color skilled labour shortage at construction industry. Focused any solution which able to cope with Blue- Color skilled labours shortage. The area of this study is in Malaysian construction industry only. 1.8 Research Methodology Stage1: Literature research A comprehensive review of the relevant literature including a computer- assisted search will be undertaken in order to develop an understanding of previous work in the field of human resource. Stage 2: pilot study An initial pilot study will be conducted to test the validity of the questionnaire through in- depth interviews with constructions company. Stage 3: main survey questionnaire The feedback from the pilot study should assist in finalizing the questionnaire and prepare the ground for the main survey. The question will centre on the areas mentioned in the above objectives. Stage 4: analyzing the postal questionnaire This stage will bring together and review the information collected. 1.9 References Malaysia Construction facing talented outflow? The Star Online, [internet] 22 December 2007. Available at: = construction +worker+ [ Accessed 17 Jun 2010] Right in the view of builder? The Star Online, [internet] 3 June 2010 Available at: http://archives.thestar.com.my/last365days/default.aspx?query=foreign+worker [ Accessed 17 Jun 2010] Chapter 2: Definition of Skilled Labour Shortage in Construction Industry 2.1 Definition of Skilled Labour As stated under PEMBINAAN MALAYSIA ACT 1994 Section 2 of ACT 520, A skilled construction worker means a person possessing theaccepted level of skill, as determined by the Board, of one ormore trades as listed in ThirdSchedule. The accreditation of a person as a skilled construction worker is through conferment of Sijil Kecekapan Kemahiran (SKK) for local or Perakuan Kecekapan Pekerja Asing Binaan (PKPA) for foreign construction workers. In the more rigidly constructed definition, skilled workers could possess technical or artistic certificates, A.A. degrees, or training up to the bachelors degree level. Skilled workers are contrasted with unskilled workers or labor à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬  unskilled labor doesnt necessarily lack a skill set. The main difference is that the skill set required is usually innate (like strength and endurance) or learned with minimal training. (Accessed http://www.wisegeek.com, June 5, 2010) According to CIDB, skilled worker can be defined as personnel who are able to carry out his work according to the set specification based on the national industrial requirements and passed the fixed accreditation test. After successfully accredited (passing the practical skills test), then only CIDB will officially recognize him as a skilled personnel by issuing CIDB Skill Competency Certificate based on the line of work. (CIDB Malaysia, 2010) 2.2 Type of Skilled Workers There is board range for the type of skilled worker in construction industry. According to the PEMBINAAN MALAYSIA ACT 1994 [Section 2 and Subsection 32(2)], there are total 15 type of skilled work as shown in schedule 3. For this chapter only will focused on 10 type of skilled worker. There are Tiler, Bricklayer, Plasterer, Pavour, Plumber, Carpenter, Metal Worker, Construction Plant Operator, Painter, Concretor. 2.2.1 Tiler Tiler is responsible for laying hard tile and marble to floors, decks, and walls throughout any number of construction projects. There were also roof tiler who able to lay roof tiles on the roof frame. Tiler must have training to set their tiles properly the first time, qualified tiler able to ensure the lest risk the project run behind schedule. (Accessed http://dwd.wisconsin.gov, 5 June 2010) However, tilers are susceptible to a number of injuries. The constant straining and bending over a surface can lead to repetitive stress injuries, and heavy tiles can cause serious injuries if handled improperly. (Accessed http://dwd.wisconsin.gov, 5 June 2010) 2.2.2 Bricklayer Bricklayers build walls, partitions, and other structures made of brick. They also work with concrete and cinder blocks, tile, marble, and terra cotta. Bricklayers can do both construction and maintenance work. To build a brick wall, bricklayers construct the corners of the wall first. Normally bricklayers will stretch string from one corner of the wall to the other to used as a guide so that they can build the wall straight. Bricklayers will put the mortar before put bricks in place. Many tools used by bricklayers. For example, trowels, brick hammers, chisels, levels, and rulers. General worker will assist the tiler to do the heavy work, such as carrying materials and mixing the mortar. 2.2.3 Plasterers Plastering is one of the oldest and most respected construction skills. This ancient trade is responsible for applying stucco and plaster to building sites for insulation, support, and aesthetic purposes. (Cited from www.resource4constructionsiteaccidents.com) 2.2.4 Pavour Segmental pavers are responsible for cutting, placing, and arranging a variety of finished masonry such as brick and concrete in order to create paths, patios, driveways, and steps. They work in conjunction with other concrete professionals such as masons, finishers, and terrazzo workers to create the modern society that we so often take for granted. (Cited from www.resource4constructionsiteaccidents.com) 2.2.5 Plumber Plumbers design, install, repair and maintain piping systems such as soil, waste, vent, potable water, wastewater treatment, gas systems (medical, propane, and natural) in residential, commercial, industrial buildings and at utility sites. Plumbing tasks require the ability to assemble, install, maintain and repair pipes, fittings, fixtures, appurtenances, appliances of heating, water, storm and sanitary drainage systems according to specifications and plumbing codes. Plumbers install sanitary fixtures; such as, lavatories, toilets, bathtubs, bathroom accessories, showers, kitchen sinks and appliances, drinking fountains and laundry equipment. (Cited from www.resource4construction siteaccidents.com) 2.2.6 Carpenter In construction industry, the job scope for Carpenters is construct, erect, install or repair structures, fittings or furniture made of wood; building frameworks including partitions, joists, struts and rafters; wood staircase, window and door frames; and hardwood floors using their skills and tools. They build wood framing for houses, roofs, stairs, decks and construct formwork to support concrete work such as footings, columns and stairs. Besides that, they also involves carpentry work to install cabinets, siding, drywall rails, building cabinets and counter tops and may include work on drywall, wood flooring, metal jambs and ceilings. Normally carpenters are skilled in exterior and interior finish work. A different type of carpenters has different skills. Some of them are Cabinet Maker, Construction, Floor Coverer, Interior Systems, Millwright, Pile Driver. (Accessed to www.resource4construction siteaccidents.com) 2.2.7 Metal worker The duty of metal workers in the construction is to maintain, and installs for variety of metal products including siding, signs, and ventilation equipment. This very specialized profession requires many years of training and experience, not only because worked metal must be very precise, but also the level of danger associated with working environment which use the powerful cutting and lifting equipment is higher than most other occupations. (Accessed http://www.resource4constructionsiteaccidents.com, 5 June 2010) 2.2.8 Construction Plant Operators Construction equipment operators use machinery to shift construction materials, earth, and other heavy materials at construction sites. They operate equipment that clears and grades land to prepare it for construction of roads, buildings, and bridges. They use machines such as bulldozer to excavate trenches to place or repair sewer and other utilities, and use tower crane to hoist heavy construction materials. (Accessed http://dwd.wisconsin.gov, 5 June 2010) Besides that, Construction Plant Operators also help make adjustments, set up and inspect the equipment, perform some maintenance and minor repairs. Construction equipment is more technologically advanced than it was in the past. In technology advanced country such as Japan and United Kingdom, such skills worker will use global positioning system (GPS) technology to help with grading and leveling activities. (Accessed http://dwd.wisconsin.gov, 5 June 2010) 2.2.9 Painters Painters are often the last line of construction workers to finish a project before the tenants occupy the structure. The main duty of painter is to provide not only aesthetic considerations for a bare structure, but also enhance the natural shape of a building and provide additional protection from weather, wear and tear, and natural aging process. These skilled workers must have knowledge of not only their crafts, but the appropriate amount of chemicals needed to finish it, how different surfaces need different materials, and finally a bit of creative touch to ensure everything proceeds smoothly. (Accessed http://dwd.wisconsin.gov, 5 June 2010) 2.2.10 Concretor The duty of the concrete finishers is creating the smooth, unbroken appearance in concrete. Although the job seems to be very easy but in fact one that takes years to learn and many more to master it, and experienced concrete finishers are always a welcome sight on any construction project. (Accessed http://dwd.wisconsin.gov, 5 June 2010) ACT 520 Third Schedule Third Schedule [Section 2 and Subsection 32(2)] Skilled Construction Workers No. Skilled Construction Worker 1 Concretor 2 Bar-bender 3 Carpenter 4 Bricklayer/Mason 5 Plasterer/Pavior 6 Tiler 7 Painter 8 Joiner 9 Metalworker 10 Drain-layer 11 Glazier 12 Welder 13 Construction plant operator 14 Plumber 15 Licensed Electrician ( sources from PEMBINAAN MALAYSIA ACT 1994) References LAWS OF MALAYSIA ACT 520 LEMBAGA PEMBANGUNAN INDUSTRI PEMBINAAN MALAYSIA ACT 1994. Wisconsin Department of Workforce Department.2010 [ Online ] Available at: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov [Assessed 5 June 2010] Type of Construction Workers http://www.resource4constructionsite accidents.com/topics/typesofconstructionworkers.html [Assessed 5 June 2010] Chapter 3 Factor that cause skilled labour shortage in Construction industry 3.1 Cause of skilled labour shortage The skilled labour shortage can be attributed not only to the economic boom, but also to the fact that people are choosing more academic type qualifications. (CIDB, 2003)As a result, many companies are now searching for skilled labour to meet their needs. The shortage of skilled labour can result from an increase in the demand for labour. (Liew, Wee Yee, 2005), this can be interpreted as demand is more than supply. There are several diverse factors have contributed to the construction industrys shortages of skilled workers; these factors include local and young generation unwilling to join, wages problem, poor industry image, working environment and condition, government policy, economic factor. 3.1.1 Local and Young generation unwilling to join In Malaysia, local youths would rather be unemployed despite working in the construction industry. This is attributed to the archaic employment practices, outdoor work and prevalence of the temporary and casual labour. (Saleh [emailprotected], 2008). Usually people will feel the construction workers lack superiority, class and respectability. Youngster is not willing to take over the manual techniques from their parent (skilled worker). This will leave to the skills gaps which will leave by old generation who are retirement. Youngster prefers work that is less strenuous with more comfortable working conditions. According to Ng Seing Liong, Now that I sit on the CIDB, I know it is facing a lot of problems. It cant find Malaysians to be trained in the wet trades, such as masonry, carpentry. In comparison, Indonesian workers are so easily available. The statement above meant for the local, its very difficult to find the Malaysian to do as a construction worker compared to foreign worker . 3.1.2 Wages problem Working as construction worker, the wage is usually paid on daily basis. For example, if that construction worker unable to work that particular working day, will cause no income for that day. According to report for Average Daily Wage Rate of Construction Workers and Machine Plant Operator January 2009, the wages for skilled worker will higher compared to unskilled worker and the scale of wage is also different from each state/ area in the Malaysia. Besides that, the poor paymaster (MBAM, 2007) also becomes the major issue in the Construction industry. Income is the major consideration for people to entry the industry. Issues as above mentioned will create a barrier for people choose to work in construction industry. Statement above can be proved by Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) president Datuk Ng Kee Lee, he had mentioned that the Act was vital to protect the interests of all players in the construction industry and the association had appealed to the Malaysia govern ment to bring the Act into force. 3.1.3 Poor industry image Construction industry usually related to 3D, which is dirty, dangerous and difficult. (CIDB, 2005) Local people are not willing to participate into the construction industry. In Malaysia, almost 90% of construction workers whether skilled or unskilled are foreign worker which come from neighboring countries. (CIDB, 2005) The irresponsible employer/ contractor which wish to save the construction cost will usually ignore the safety of workers by provided the worker with minimum insurance. Besides that, appeared of poor paymaster and a great of number of press which report the incident of site accident contributes to the skilled shortage issue. One of the issues of most concern to construction workers throughout the world is the insecurity of income that comes with temporary status. Providing adequate insurance against periods of sickness or unemployment as well as medical and retirement benefits is of critical importance in attracting and retaining workers in the industry (ILO, 2007). In conclusion, every construction party have to work out together to à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"wash the image of construction industry. 3.1.4 Working environment and condition Executive director of the Malaysian Employers Federation said that Malaysian workers are not willing to work on a plantation or construction site because it is hard work under the sun. Many of the 26 millions Malaysian workers want white collar jobs (Bloomberg News, 2005). In Malaysia, tough working condition is also is the barrier for people to entry the industry. The construction industry is unique among industries. The activities of construction often take place outdoor risky conditions which not safety and healthy and extremely hot weather. Workers in the construction sites have to face persistent change in the nature of work, the location of work and the mix of workers. The nature of most accidents at construction recurrent and serious shows that the construction industry is unique. As buildings become higher and larger, the possibility of accidents to occur also increases. The danger posed to personal safety by construction work is one of the reasons why Malaysian is unwilling to take up careers in it. According to Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, an average of eighty workers was killed in such accidents. Inspection conducted by Department of Safety and Health (DOSH) found that one of the main contributory factors of accidents at construction sites was the lack of commitment by employers to implement measures to improve occupational safety and health. Construction sites rated as unsatisfactory were not managed in accordance to best practices. And most of the time, were not in compliance with the laws and regulations governing construction activities. Accidents at the construction site do not only involve workers, but may also inflict injury or even cause death to the general public. Such accidents had tarnished the image of construction industry. In conclusion, the poor working environment and condition is also contributed to the skilled labour shortage problem in Malaysia. 3.1.5 Government policy The latest report revealed that there were approximately 1.9 million foreign workers in Malaysia. These foreign workers were dustribute across sectors such as manufacturing (39 %), construction (19 %), plantation (14 %), housemaids (12 %), services (10 %), remainder were in agriculture sector.(accessed to www.themalaysianinsider.com) From the figure above, we can know that 19% of 1.9 million foreign worker is work in construction industry. The government of Malaysia move to diminish the number of foreign workers in the country to 1.5 million by 2010 will even worsen the issues of construction skilled labour shortage as the local already less interested working as skilled worker in the construction industry. The policy will stop the potential construction skilled worker which can come to our country for working. 3.1.6 Economic Factor The strong growth of the Malaysia economy prompt by the influx of investments, job opportunities have increased resulting in the easing of the unemployment rate. (Saleh [emailprotected], 2008) In construction industry, foreign investment had causes the supply of property increase; supply of property increase will also affect the construction skilled workers intensive. Skilled worker play an important roles in construction industry. Without them, construction industry will be affected, thus, it has now become an employees market and therefore, workers can afford to be choosy. Skilled workers wages will increase, then for employer which came from minor financial will not be able to hire skilled worker. 3.1.7 Change in Education More recently, another change that has affected the inflow of new labour in construction industry is the educational change that has impacted younger generation. More people are seeking higher education in an effort to secure a more lucrative profession and consequently live a better life than their parents did. It appears that here, a stigma is being cast upon construction trades as dirty, dangerous and difficult. The term construction worker has negative impact for young people. Most commonly see the construction worker lacks prestige, class and respectability. It is projected that the proportion of the overall labour force with tertiary education to increase to 21.1 per cent in 2006 (20 percent in 2005) in line with the government.s concerted efforts at enhancing the quality of human capital in the country (Bernama, 2001).

The Anarchiste in Walden Two by Skinner Essay -- Psychology

In this time we must fully realize the true origins of our society, not the so called â€Å"party line† they feed us. True, while few of us find sanctuary in hidden places, what place is there for we strangelings? Is absolute equality truly a good idea? In our new world, our Walden Two, we are taught from an early age to behave, to conform. From our glass cages at birth, to our debuts at age seven, to our eventual marriages, all we do is in the name of a peaceful, simple existence. We are taught that anger is not allowed, faith in God is not allowed, anything harmful is forbidden! I ask of you, is this truly a life, much less, a life worth living? Now life was not always like this. Life used to be full of emotions, both dark and light. Pain and suffering were not to be avoided, but embraced. Can we really create true art through the same emotions again and again? Can we have unique lives if, like our sheep, we only follow what the prior generation and the one ere that tells us what is and what is not? Shall we continue to spread out our message, this ‘true’ message of peace and simplicity? In our origins we survived alongside the old ways; we meant to keep ourselves separate. We were taught how to survive, how to function as the Waldenites taught us, alongside the supposedly troubled outside world. Our world knows not the beauty any longer that the old one held. We are base, functional creatures, only doing what we are told to in hopes of reward, in a hope of praise. However, if that is not given, do we really care? Is there a point in keeping our society as such, much less spreading this tale of peace and love and harmony? How this worked, none of us know. Did we slowly overtake the old ways? Did Frazier’s... ...on of the Anarchiste, we believe that man must feel pain, must know himself before others, must know his own pain and suffering to truly live. To reason out all of this jumbled mess; their utopia, their dreamland, is in essence flawed. The basis they reasoned from, while, in essence true, was poorly executed. The only end that a utopia can come to is disaster. Espicially in this, their Walden, where the individual is ignored and distroyed in favour of the greater good. Is this greater good, this ease of living worth the sacrafice of small bits of oneself? We, the Anarchiste stand by the fact that no, it is not, nor shall it ever be so. Pain and suffering are the basis of life, they are the measure by which we know we are truly alive, and more so, above the sheep in our pasture, the cattle in our dairy. Rebel, refuse, this drab non-life! Viva la Anarchiste! The Anarchiste in Walden Two by Skinner Essay -- Psychology In this time we must fully realize the true origins of our society, not the so called â€Å"party line† they feed us. True, while few of us find sanctuary in hidden places, what place is there for we strangelings? Is absolute equality truly a good idea? In our new world, our Walden Two, we are taught from an early age to behave, to conform. From our glass cages at birth, to our debuts at age seven, to our eventual marriages, all we do is in the name of a peaceful, simple existence. We are taught that anger is not allowed, faith in God is not allowed, anything harmful is forbidden! I ask of you, is this truly a life, much less, a life worth living? Now life was not always like this. Life used to be full of emotions, both dark and light. Pain and suffering were not to be avoided, but embraced. Can we really create true art through the same emotions again and again? Can we have unique lives if, like our sheep, we only follow what the prior generation and the one ere that tells us what is and what is not? Shall we continue to spread out our message, this ‘true’ message of peace and simplicity? In our origins we survived alongside the old ways; we meant to keep ourselves separate. We were taught how to survive, how to function as the Waldenites taught us, alongside the supposedly troubled outside world. Our world knows not the beauty any longer that the old one held. We are base, functional creatures, only doing what we are told to in hopes of reward, in a hope of praise. However, if that is not given, do we really care? Is there a point in keeping our society as such, much less spreading this tale of peace and love and harmony? How this worked, none of us know. Did we slowly overtake the old ways? Did Frazier’s... ...on of the Anarchiste, we believe that man must feel pain, must know himself before others, must know his own pain and suffering to truly live. To reason out all of this jumbled mess; their utopia, their dreamland, is in essence flawed. The basis they reasoned from, while, in essence true, was poorly executed. The only end that a utopia can come to is disaster. Espicially in this, their Walden, where the individual is ignored and distroyed in favour of the greater good. Is this greater good, this ease of living worth the sacrafice of small bits of oneself? We, the Anarchiste stand by the fact that no, it is not, nor shall it ever be so. Pain and suffering are the basis of life, they are the measure by which we know we are truly alive, and more so, above the sheep in our pasture, the cattle in our dairy. Rebel, refuse, this drab non-life! Viva la Anarchiste!

I Was Not a Feminist :: Reflective Writing Education Essays

I Was Not a Feminist I am not a feminist.I do not go to feminist rallies, burn my bra (although I donà ­t always wear one), feel hatred towards men, nor do I spend countless hours with my sisters figuring out ways to tear gas abortion protestors or concocting tortuous plots to abolish the radical right.I am a libertarian who exercises her right to vote and always does her taxes.I read Adrienne Rich and Allen Ginsberg and Ayn Rand and James Joyce with equal fervor.I listen to Tori Amos and Dar Williams and Rush and Metallica.I do not listen to Ani DiFranco; I find her music à ¬too feminist.à ®I believe John Milton, a dead white male, changed the way western literature relates to philosophy and religion.Stupid male humor amuses me, and I am happy to cook and clean for my boyfriend because I know if I donà ­t, he will eat Wendyà ­s and his house will smell bad.I am a baseball fanatic, and love hockey and college basketball.Softball bores me, and womenà ­s basketball is not nearly as exciting as menà ­s.I enjoyed being the only woman at fraternity Super Bowl parties.I could never not eat red meat because I love the taste of a well-cooked cow.All of these things, I have been taught, do not qualify me as a feminist. So why do I feel now that these categorizations should not matter?Is it because now I sense all things I am, not the categorizations, are feminist methods of thinking and acting?Before I realized it, I was not only a feminist, but also exercising a feminist pedagogy when teaching writing.Teaching writing is a chance to help students recognize that they, too, can write intellectually about a topic they are interested in and be excited about it.As a social-expressivist tutor, I try to work in a non-directive way, engaging my students in open-ended conversations that lead them to answering their own questions and clarifying their own ideas.When I teach writing, Ià ­ve had students do everything from peer critique to creating movement from sentences to show them that everything is open to interpretation.I use Matisse to explain thesis.These practices in themselves are not necessarily feminist, but the theories behind them, for me, always have been. Bell hooks writes in Talking Back that à ¬feminist education ? the feminist classroom ? is and should be a place where there is a sense of

Salem Witchcraft Essays -- History Witches Papers

Salem Witchcraft Witchcraft accusations and trials in 1692 rocked the colony of Salem Massachusetts. There are some different views that are offered concerning why neighbors decided to condemn the people around them as witches and why they did what they did to one another. Carol Karlsen in her book The Devil in the Shape of a Woman and Bernard Rosenthal in Salem Story give several factors, ranging from woman hunting to shear malice, that help explain why the Salem trials took place and why they reached the magnitude that they did. The theories put fourth by Karlsen of a society that accusations against women as witches explain the trail, and Rosenthals ideas of discourse in the community are supported or partially disproved by the documents that are presented by Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum. The different motivations and reasons for witch accusations are exhibited in the fitting the profile of a witch, the belief in the accusers and guilt by association, the actions of the Putnam family , and the disagreements and discourse in the community. The trial of Bridget Bishop shows how people who fit the general profile of a witch can be accused. Karlsen points out that Bridget Bishop had been previously accused of witchcraft in the 1680’s the decade before the trials.1 People who where accused of witchcraft where generally suspected of being witches before they are brought to trial. Because of her prior accusation the idea that Bridget Bishop could be a witch is in the mind of the community. Because of the prior accusation Bishop is a prime candidate to be accused again and a prime suspect whenever witchcraft is suspected in the community. Bridget Bishop was brought to court on witchcraft charges in Febr... ...issenbaum (Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1972), 204. 18. Rosenthal, 3. 19. Rosenthal, 192. 20. â€Å"Anti-Parris Petition (1695),† in Salem-Village Witchcraft, Paul Boyer, and Stephen Nissenbaum (Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1972), 261-263. 21. â€Å"The first day of October, 1686,† in Salem-Village Witchcraft, Paul Boyer, and Stephen Nissenbaum (Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1972), 341. 22. â€Å"The 27th of December, 1681,† in Salem-Village Witchcraft, Paul Boyer, and Stephen Nissenbaum (Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1972), 321. Works Cited: Boyer, Paul, and Nissenbaum, Paul. Salem-Village Witchcraft. Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1972. Karlsen, Carol. The Devil in the Shape of a Woman. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1998. Rosenthal, Bernard. Salem Story. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993.

Putting a Stop to Film Piracy Essay

Film piracy is one of the most lucrative forms of intellectual property theft in the United States and in the rest of the world. Movies are illegally copied, reproduced, and mass distributed in different ways such as in replicated DVDs or through the Internet for financial gains. Piracy is an act of stealing and it â€Å"includes the unauthorized copying, distribution, performance or other use of copyrighted materials† such as movies and television shows (Motion Picture Association of America). These practices result to negative impacts on consumers, the film industry, and to the whole economy. No matter how enticing are the reasons why people support pirated movies, film piracy remains to be a punishable crime for it is equal to stealing the properties and hard work of other people. Therefore, people who produce and distribute pirated movies for illegal purposes should face the consequences of their actions. Reasons Why People Engage in this Crime There are several ways how to pirate films. These movies are produced either by recording inside the theater, post-production leaks or leaks from an awards screener, stealing film print, stealing legitimate DVD prior to official date of release, or by ripping a legitimate DVD of any protective code (Treverton 37). These stolen copies of the movies are then burned or replicated in more DVDs or uploaded in the Internet without the consent of their original owners and then sold at cheaper prices or distributed for free. Despite being prohibited by law, film piracy is hard to control because many people instantly benefit from it. The people behind the business earn a lot from pirated movies because they do not have to buy the copyrights of the movies or pay royalties. Despite having lower qualities at times, buying pirated movies appeals to consumers because they can get films for free or for a very cheap price. â€Å"The low prices of pirated films compared with the legal ones make the former very attractive to buyers† (Treverton 31). Consumers who have limited budgets would prefer to buy pirated movies or download illegally from the Internet than to spend the money in cinemas. But these are only temporary benefits and in the bigger picture, film piracy causes more harm than good results. How Film Piracy Harms Pirated movies gain support from those who see them as answers to financial burdens. But many people remain unaware of the how movie piracy actually contributes to the sufferings of the whole country’s economy and film industry. These people do not recognize the importance of not supporting the products of piracy. The economy loses a lot of money annually because of the organized crime of intellectual property theft. Each year, â€Å"motion picture piracy costs the U. S. economy more than $20 billion† and because of the illegal reproduction of films, lesser income is earned by the movies and lesser money is contributed by the movie industry to the country’s economy (Grover and Shields). Piracy is also one of the biggest threats to film and music industry. The whole entertainment industry suffers from this crime. â€Å"The global film industry creates more jobs, more entertainment choices and more opportunities for the creative professions† and because of piracy, lesser opportunities are given to film production because budgets for discovering new talents, artists, directors, and production staffs are limited and restrained by the lack of budget (MPAA). There is a big possibility for the value of film making to decline and maybe even completely crash. Consumers will also suffer then because, aside from getting little for the money they invest in illegal products, they are also contributing to the wealth of people who have not really worked hard for the film. When the movie industry loses money to piracy, the costs produce quality and meaningful films and shows also become more expensive. Punishments and Consequences Piracy equals theft. Therefore, it is important to have laws created to protect the copyrights of films and television shows. â€Å"These laws help safeguard the creative works that support the livelihoods of the 2. 4 million Americans who work† together to create quality films for the entertainment of consumers (MPAA). The enforcement of laws makes copyrighted movies valuable and pirating these products makes them known as stolen properties. Many critics of the anti-piracy law and other laws related to copyright violations believe that the anti-piracy bill has harsh repercussions. Critics of anti-piracy laws believe that the punishments for acts related to piracy are too severe at times because lengthy prison terms and huge fines await those who will be caught involved in movie piracy. â€Å"First-time violators can be sentenced to up to five years in prison if the camcording was committed for financial gain or commercial advantage and fined up to $250,000† (MPAA). Critics say that there should be a limitation for the consequences of reproducing materials such as films. But for the industries that are affected by this crime, they need greater enforcement of laws because their lost sales continue increasing as consumers retain access to free music and movies on the Internet (Grover and Shields). Conclusion Reproducing copyrighted materials such as films are prohibited by laws. Piracy is a form of theft and many people profit a lot from stolen works. It has become a problematic dent in the film industry because movie outfits are hurt by this illegal act. Apprehenders are not easily caught and are not always given their rightful punishments. Purchasing pirated movies or getting them illegally from the Internet may seem like a mild offense for an ordinary person. But if this crime is done in volume, the negative consequences of movie piracy are proven to be detrimental to those who are part of the industry of film making because the act already translates into theft and a violation of another person’s rights. Works Cited Grover, Ronald and Shields, Todd. â€Å"Movie-Piracy Websites Shut Down by Raids. † 30 June 2010. Web. 23. Aug. 2010. Retrieved from < http://www. bloomberg. com/news/2010-06-30/movie-piracy-web-sites-shut-down-in-coordinated-raids-by-u-s-officials. html>. Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). Frequently Asked Questions. 2010. Web. 23 Aug. 2010. Retrieved from < http://www. mpaa. org/contentprotection/faq>. Treverton, Gregory F. â€Å"Chapter Three: The Shape of Counterfeiting and the Example of Film Piracy. † Film Piracy, Organized Crime, and Terrorism. California: RAND Corporation, 2009. Print. Pp. 27- 38.

Indian Premiere League Controversy

Board of control for Cricket is the most powerful and most influential organization in the world of cricket. It is one of the richest sports organizations in the world. Mr. N Srinivasan came a long way starting as a cricket administrator in Tamil Nadu in 2001 to becoming President of Board of Control for Cricket in India in 2011. Indian Premier League is considered as the world’s show case for the T20 cricket. Eight teams will be participating in this tournament. An UK based consulting firm Brand Finance has valued it at 4. 3 billion US dollars in 2010. During N. Srinivasan term as president IPL has faced lot of controversies. Being the most powerful man in world of cricket administrators he refused to quit when his son in law was caught being involved in the purported illegal betting. He gradually worked his way to become the President of the most powerful board in the world of cricket. He has been charged with conflict of interest by owing an IPL franchise the Chennai Super Kings. He refused to resign from the president post after his son in law was caught for alleged illegal betting on the IPL matches. Former BCCI president AC Muthiah has filed a case in Supreme Court challenging the board rules that permits the BCCI officials to own an IPL franchises (Singh, 2013). Three players S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chnadila from Rajasthan Royals were arrested for alleged spot fixing by Delhi police. Srinivasan clamorously said that the guilty will not be spared and was surprised and disappointed with the spot fixing events. Nobody expected his son in law Gurunath Meiyappan will be involved in the illegal betting allegations. Being in a responsible position, instead of stepping down as President on morality basis and this is one of the worst scandals of Indian Cricket he became argumentative and even criticized the media for going after him (Singh, 2013). The India Cements owner of Chennai Super Kings had issued a statement stating that Meiyappan is not a CEO of the company after he was subpoenaed by Mumbai Police and he is in anyway not related to the franchise. But twitter account status of Meiyappans’s said that he was the Team Principal of CSK, was titled as the owner of the franchise at a particular event , he was sitting in the player’s auction and was present in the dugout of CSK for all the matches where only the team management was allowed to be present in the dugout. So India Cements argument that he is not related to the franchise is absolutely false (Singh, 2013). He was involved in illegal betting of CSK matches too. This raises lot of questions as he may have passed the team combinations and planning to the bookies as he has access to all the players (Singh, 2013). If Srinivasan tries to brush off things and cover up the whole situation then BCCI will jeopardize the faith and entrust of millions of people who follow the game of cricket and where cricket is a religion in India. For the betterment of cricket, cricket lovers and inviolability of cricket in India Srinivasan must resign and ensure that all the guilty are served with the punishment. The other members of the board have resigned as they are not satisfied with the Srivasan’s decision and how he handled the situation (Singh, 2013). Source of Conflict: This conflict can be an example for Substantive conflict. This occurs when two or more organizational members disagree on their task or content issues. Conflict of values: This occurs when two social entities differ in their values or ideologies on certain issues (Druckman, Broome & Korper, 1988). Srinivasan differs with the ideologies and values of the BCCI this can be recognized as conflict of values. Level of Analysis: This can be an example of Interpersonal conflict. It refers to conflict between two or more organizational members of the same or different hierarchical levels. This situation has created differences between the board members and the treasurer and other board members have resigned it can be classified as interpersonal conflict.References:Rahim, M. A. (2001). Managing conflict in organizations. Westport, Conn: Quorum Books. Druckman, D., Broome, B., & Korper, S., (1988).  Value differences and conflict resolution: Facilitation or delinking?  Journal of Conflict Resolution, 32, 489 – 510.  Ã‚   Singh, M. (2013, may 26). IPL spot-fixing: Why N Srinivasan should quit as BCCI president. Retrieved July 7, 2013, from Zeenews.india.com: http://zeenews.india.com/blog/ipl-spot-fixing-why-n-srinivasan-should-quit-as

Production Management

1. A nation's ability to compete with other nations impacts a business' strategy in the area of: A) Marketing B) Finance C) Operations D) Distribution E) All of the above 2. Competitiveness doesn’t include: A) Productivity B) Effectiveness C) Profitability D) Operations Strategy E) Operations Management 3. Cost cutting in international operations can take place because of A) lower taxes and tariffs B) lower wage scales C) lower indirect costs D) less stringent regulations E) all of the above 4. Operations management involves continuous decision-making; hopefully most decisions made will be: A) redundant B) minor in nature C) smart D) quantitative E) none of the above5. A ‘product package' consists of: A) the exterior wrapping B) the shipping container C) a combination of goods and services D) goods if a manufacturing organization E) customer relations if a service organization6. Multinational organizations can shop from country to country and cut costs through A) lower wage scales B) lower indirect costs C) less stringent regulations D) lower taxes and tariffs E) all of the above7. Product design and choice of location are examples of _______ decisions. A) strategic B) tactical C) operational D) customer focused E) design8. Scheduling personnel is an example of an operations management: A) mission implementation B) operational decision C) organizational strategy D) functional strategy E) tactical decision9. Productivity is expressed as: A) output plus input B) outp ut minus input C) output times input D) output divided by input E) input divided by output10. Which of the following is true about business strategies? A) An organization should stick with its strategy for the life of the business. B) All firms within an industry will adopt the same strategy. C) Well defined missions make strategy development much easier. D) Strategies are formulated independently of SWOT analysis. E) Organizational strategies depend on operations strategies.11. Which of the following activities takes place most immediately once the mission has been developed? A) The firm develops alternative or back-up missions in case the original mission fails. B) The functional areas develop their functional area strategies. C) The functional areas develop their supporting missions. D) The ten OM decision areas are prioritized. E) Operational tactics are developed.12. What term describes how an organization expects to achieve its missions and goals? A) conditional expectation B) tactic C) SWOT D) strategy E) competitive advantage13. Which of the following is not a key step toward improving productivity? A) developing productivity measures for all operations B) improving the bottleneck operations C) establishing reasonable goals for improvement D) considering incentives to reward workers E) converting bond debt to stock ownership14. The fundamental purpose of an organization's mission statement is to A) create a good human relations climate in the organization B) define the organization's purpose in society C) define the operational structure of the organization D) generate good public relations for the organization E) define the functional areas required by the organization15. The ratio of good output to quantity of raw material input is called A) non-defective productivity B) process yield C) worker quality measurement D) total quality productivity E) quantity/quality ratio16. Time-based approaches of business organizations focus on reducing the time to a ccomplish certain necessary activities. Time reductions seldom apply to: A) product/service design time B) processing time C) delivery time D) response time for complaints E) internal audits17. Business organizations consist of three major functions which: A) overlap B) are mutually exclusive C) exist independently of each other D) function independently of each other E) do not interface with each other18. The external elements of SWOT analysis are: A) strengths and weaknesses B) strengths and threats C) opportunities and threats D) weaknesses and opportunities E) strengths and opportunities19. Which of the following is not one of the Ten Critical Decisions of Operations Management? A) location strategy B) human resources and job design C) managing quality D) design of goods and services E) determining the financial leverage position20. Which of the following is true? A) Corporate mission is shaped by functional strategies. B) Corporate strategy is shaped by functional strategies. C ) Functional strategies are shaped by corporate strategy. D) External conditions are shaped by corporate mission. E) Functional area missions are merged to become the organizational mission.21. Operations management is applicable A) mostly to the service sector B) to services exclusively C) mostly to the manufacturing sector D) to all firms, whether manufacturing or service E) to the manufacturing sector exclusively22. Which of the international operations strategies involves a focus on high cost reductions and low local responsiveness? A) international strategy B) global strategy C) transnational strategy D) multidomestic strategy E) none of the above23. Which of the following is not a key factor of competitiveness? A) price B) product differentiation C) flexibility D) after-sale service E) size of organization24. Gourmet Pretzels bakes soft pretzels on an assembly line. It currently bakes 800 pretzels each 8-hour shift. If the production is increased to 1,200 pretzels each shift, the productivity increases by: A) 50% B) 33% C) 25% D) 67%25. An operation that processes less than a previous operation is called a: A) bottleneck B) multi-factor constraint C) parallel operation D) turnabout process E) tactical operation26. Which of the following is not a type of operations? A) goods production B) storage/transportation C) entertainment D) communication E) all the above involve operations27. Which one of the following would not generally be classified under the heading of transformation? A) assembling B) teaching C) staffing D) farming E) consulting28. Which of the following is least likely to be a Cost Leadership competitive advantage? A) low overhead B) effective capacity use C) inventory management D) broad product line E) mass production29. The ability of an organization to produce goods or services that have some uniqueness in their characteristics is A) mass production B) time-based competition C) competing on productivity D) competing on flexibility E) comp eting on differentiation30. Which of the international operations strategies involves a focus on low cost reductions and high local responsiveness? A) international strategy B) global strategy C) transnational strategy D) multidomestic strategy E) none of the above31. Which of the following statements best characterizes delivery reliability? A) a company that always delivers on the same day of the week B) a company that always delivers at the promised time C) a company that delivers more frequently than its competitors D) a company that delivers faster than its competitors E) a company that has a computerized delivery scheduling system32. Which of the following best describes â€Å"experience differentiation†? A) immerses consumers in the delivery of a service B) uses people's five senses to enhance the service C) complements physical elements with visual and sound elements D) consumers may become active participants in the product or service E) All of the above are elements of experience differentiation.33. Product design and process selection are examples of decisions that are: A) financial B) tactical C) system design D) system operation E) forecasting34. The responsibilities of the operations manager are: A) planning, organizing, staffing, procuring, and reviewing B) planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling C) forecasting, designing, planning, organizing, and controlling D) forecasting, designing, operating, procuring, and reviewing E) designing and operating35. Which of the following is not true about systems approach? A) A systems viewpoint is almost always beneficial in decision making. B) A systems approach emphasizes interrelationships among subsystems. C) A systems approach concentrates on efficiency within subsystems. D) A systems approach is essential whenever something is being redesigned or improved. E) All of the above are true.36. Which of the following is not a characteristic of service operations? A) intangible output B) high customer contact C) high labor content D) easy measurement of productivity E) low uniformity of output37. Which of the following does not relate to system design? A) altering the system capacity B) location of facilities C) inventory management D) selection and acquisition of equipment E) physical arrangement of departments38. Which of the following is not a benefit of using models in decision making? A) They provide a standardized format for analyzing a problem. B) They serve as a consistent tool for evaluation. C) They are easy to use and less expensive than dealing with the actual situation. D) All of the above are benefits. E) None of the above is a benefit.39. Which of the following is the best example of competing on low-cost leadership? A) A firm produces its product with less raw material waste than its competitors. B) A firm offers more reliable products than its competitors. C) A firm's products are introduced into the market faster than its competitors' products. D) A firm's research and development department generates many ideas for new products. E) A firm advertises more than its competitors.40. Reasons to study Operations Management include learning about A) how people organize themselves for productive enterprise B) how goods and services are produced C) what operations managers do D) a costly part of the enterpriseE) all of the above

Learning from Mass Media Campaigns for Hiv/Aids Prevention

Learning from Mass Media Campaigns for HIV/AIDS Prevention Reviews of mass media campaigns have a special interest for me. They demonstrate what can be done, and as importantly, what cannot be done, by relying on a 1P approach. I have talked about the 5% Solution before, and noted another review of mass media campaigns for changing health behaviors. This post focuses on the findings from a review of recent campaigns to prevent HIV/AIDS. What is interesting in this report are the comparisons it draws to reviews of earlier campaigns in this area as well as the current state of the art and science.The authors used seven principles to guide their analysis: (1) conducting formative research on and about the target audience; (2) using theory as a conceptual foundation; (3) segmenting one’s audience into meaningful subgroups; (4) using a message design approach that is targeted to the audience segment(s); (5) utilizing effective channels widely viewed by and persuasive with the targe t audience; (6) conducting process evaluation and ensuring high message exposure; and (7) using a sensitive outcome evaluation design that reduces threats to internal validity and allows causal inferences about campaign impact to be made.The question they explore is: to what extent have recent HIV/AIDS campaigns in the literature adhered to these principles? Noar et al (2009) began with a search of peer-reviewed articles appearing from late 1998 through October 2007. Mass media had to be a central or prominent part of a campaign that focused on increasing safer sexual behaviors, reducing risky sexual behaviors, or encouraging HIV testing.At least one outcome measure had to be reported; 38 articles were identified that met these criteria, representing 34 different campaigns. The results on the variables of interest were: Formative research – 16 of the 34 studies (47%) reported any type of research with the audience or pretesting of messages. the most commonly reported activity was research about campaign messages, including pretesting messages or examining message preferences of members of the target audience.Only two studies used formative research to develop or test their outcome measures (a neglected part of the research process in too many studies). Using theory – 44% reported using theory, most often the Health Belief Model, Reasoned Action and Planned Behavior, Social Cognitive Theory, the Transtheoretical Model and Stages of Change and the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model. Audience segmentation – 94% (all but 2) described an approach to audience segmentation.Message design – very few campaigns used theory to guide development of persuasive messages. The authors note that while behavioral theories can suggest the type of content to include, HOW that content is formed into messages is often approached without explicit reference to relevant theoretical models such as message framing, emotional appeals, sensation-see king, elaboration likelihood model and the use of narratives.Channels – 21% used a single media channel with television, radio and print media being the channel of choice. The remaining campaigns used other channels (billboards, brochures, Internet, newsletters) and a variety of promotional materials such as baseball cards, postcards, condom packs; a variety of interpersonal strategies including peer education and skill-building workshops and hotlines; and some also included community partners, coalitions and community mobilization in their activities.Process Monitoring – 82% of the campaigns reported audience exposure to messages, with a mean exposure of 77% of the targeted audience (a range of 35% – 100%). There was little reporting of frequency of exposure to campaign messages, and when those data were reported, it was difficult to make comparisons across studies. Outcomes – Pre-Post test designs using independent sampling were employed by a plurality of the campaigns (13 of the 34, or 38%). Eleven studies used only a post-test measure.The authors note that this means that 70% of the campaigns used weak outcome evaluation designs. In 24 of the campaigns (71%) behavioral outcomes were reported, most often either condom use or HIV/STD testing. Among the studies that used stronger designs (the other 30%), only 2 of the 10 found no statistically significant effects. Six studies reported significant changes in outcomes including talked with others about safer sex, continued abstinence, initiated condom use, increased condom use, reduced number of sexual partners, or were tested for HIV.The other two reported changes in behavioral intentions (for example, to use condoms and shifts in stages of change). The authors conclude that, when compared to another review of this literature in 2000, HIV/AIDS mass communication campaigns are increasingly: (1) targeting defined audiences developed through audience segmentation procedures; (2) design ing campaign themes around behavior change (rather than solely knowledge or attitude change – though given their selection criteria, this is hardly surprising); (3) using ehavioral theories to inform campaign design; (4) achieving higher message exposure to campaign messages; (5) using stronger quasi-experimental designs with control groups for outcome evaluation (although still far too few studies use these stronger designs); and (6) including measures of behavior change (or behavioral intentions) in outcome assessments. This review highlights how mass communication efforts for HIV/AIDS prevention have shifted from general awareness and knowledge outcomes to ones more tightly focused on achieving behavioral changes among defined segments of the population.While formative research has become commonplace, there are relatively few studies that use research designs that allow for drawing strong conclusions from their findings. This latter point does not mean that research design s must be randomized controlled studies, but as the authors note, even the addition of control groups or using time-series with control communities help address the question of whether there are alternative explanations for the observed effects (for example, that the respondents are not simply placating researchers with favorable or socially desirable responses to their questions).Social marketing is more than mass communication campaigns, but we often use mass media in conjunction with products and services, providing incentives and reducing costs of engaging in new behaviors, and increasing access and opportunities to perform these behaviors. Learning what works with mass media is important, but as other reviews have pointed out, it is not enough to achieve public health outcomes.Some marketers will note that health communication planners have adopted our practices of segmentation, targeting behavior change and using formative research. However, the importance of using theories th at fit the problem of designing persuasive messages is one important takeaway. The other takeaway is the challenge of designing better studies to assess outcomes.Thinking about using comparison populations, or simply delaying intervention among some priority groups while continuing to assess important outcomes, can help us demonstrate that we have more than a very elaborate, and perhaps even effective, placebo. Reference: Noar, S. M. , Palmgreen, P. , Chabot, M. , Dobransky, N. & Zimmerman, R. S. (2009). A 10-year systematic review of HIV/AIDS mass communication campaigns: Have we made progress. Journal of Health Communication, 14: 15-42. 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