Mise-En-Scene The Matrix Essay Example

Mise-En-Scene The Matrix Paper The mise-en-scene of a film can be described as the physical environment of a film which relates to the setting, lightning, costume, cosmetics and the performance of the figures while cinematography simply emphasizes the movements of the camera, such as camera angles, distances, heights, and levels. Would The Matrix movie, especially the escape sequence, be as popular if there was paid no attention to the expression/ behavior of figures or the positions of the camera? The function of patterns of movement and expression by figures signifies character traits and metaphors which relate to the elements of overall theme of the film such as the reality versus an alternative world as well as the battle within oneself and the conflict with other people –camera movements use certain focus such as shallow or deep shots to enhance the narration of entrapment of the characters in situations that could potentially influence their future or result in death, these movements enables the audie nce to get a better visualization of the impact of each action. In this sequence, Mr. Anderson also referred to as Neo (K. Reeves) is located in his cubicle at work. The scene starts with a dolly shot that takes us into Neo’s cubicle, beginning behind a separator screen and moving the camera backward to fully reveal the cubicle, this demonstrates just how Neo is enclosed in his environment. The first disruption of the linear motif happens when the phone that Neo received from a messenger rings and a low angle, medium close-up shot focuses on Neo’s face and then on the phone, the focus being drawn away from Neo onto the phone states that the phone is initiating a to Neo’ disruption in Neo’s day-to-day routine. The low angle camera movements were significant in portraying the new depth and new world added to Neo’s live and the rapid movements of the camera depicted immediacy and urgency of the call. We will write a custom essay sample on Mise-En-Scene The Matrix specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Mise-En-Scene The Matrix specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Mise-En-Scene The Matrix specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer By using a point-of-view shot, tracking the camera up

The War Crimes of Iraqs Saddam Hussein

The War Crimes of Iraqs Saddam Hussein Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was born on April 28th, 1937 in al-Awja, a suburb of the Sunni city of Tikrit. After a difficult childhood, during which he was abused by his stepfather and shuffled from home to home, he joined Iraqs Baath Party at the age of 20. In 1968, he assisted his cousin, General Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, in the Baathist takeover of Iraq. By the mid-1970s, he had become Iraqs unofficial leader, a role that he officially took on following al-Bakrs (highly suspicious) death in 1979. Political Oppression Hussein openly idolized the former Soviet premier Joseph Stalin, a man notable as much for his paranoia-induced execution sprees as anything else. In July 1978, Hussein had his government issue a memorandum decreeing that anyone whose ideas came into conflict with those of the Baath Party leadership would be subject to summary execution. Most, but certainly not all, of Husseins targets were ethnic Kurds and Shiite Muslims. Ethnic Cleansing: The two dominant ethnicities of Iraq have traditionally been Arabs in south and central Iraq, and Kurds in the north and northeast, particularly along the Iranian border. Hussein long viewed ethnic Kurds as a long-term threat to Iraqs survival, and the oppression and extermination of the Kurds was one of his administrations highest priorities. Religious Persecution: The Baath Party was dominated by Sunni Muslims, who made up only about one-third of Iraqs general population; the other two-thirds was made up of Shiite Muslims, Shiism also happening to be the official religion of Iran. Throughout Husseins tenure, and especially during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), he saw the marginalization and eventual elimination of Shiism as a necessary goal in the Arabization process, by which Iraq would purge itself of all perceived Iranian influence. The Dujail Massacre of 1982: In July of 1982, several Shiite militants attempted to assassinate Saddam Hussein while he was riding through the city. Hussein responded by ordering the slaughter of some 148 residents, including dozens of children. This is the war crime with which Saddam Hussein was formally charged, and for which he was executed. The Barzani Clan Abductions of 1983: Masoud Barzani led the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), an ethnic Kurdish revolutionary group fighting Baathist oppression. After Barzani cast his lot with the Iranians in the Iran-Iraq War, Hussein had some 8,000 members of Barzanis clan, including hundreds of women and children, abducted. It is assumed that most were slaughtered; thousands have been discovered in mass graves in southern Iraq. The al-Anfal Campaign: The worst human rights abuses of Husseins tenure took place during the genocidal al-Anfal Campaign (1986-1989), in which Husseins administration called for the extermination of every living thinghuman or animalin certain regions of the Kurdish north. All told, some 182,000 peoplemen, women, and childrenwere slaughtered, many through use of chemical weapons. The Halabja poison gas massacre of 1988 alone killed over 5,000 people. Hussein later blamed the attacks on the Iranians, and the Reagan administration, which supported Iraq in the Iran-Iraq War, helped promote this cover story. The Campaign Against the Marsh Arabs: Hussein did not limit his genocide to identifiably Kurdish groups; he also targeted the predominantly Shiite Marsh Arabs of southeastern Iraq, the direct descendants of the ancient Mesopotamians. By destroying more than 95% of the regions marshes, he effectively depleted its food supply and destroyed the entire millennia-old culture, reducing the number of Marsh Arabs from 250,000 to approximately 30,000. It is unknown how much of this population drop can be attributed to direct starvation and how much to migration, but the human cost was unquestionably high. The Post-Uprising Massacres of 1991: In the aftermath of Operation Desert Storm, the United States encouraged Kurds and Shiites to rebel against Husseins regimethen withdrew and refused to support them, leaving an unknown number to be slaughtered. At one point, Husseins regime killed as many as 2,000 suspected Kurdish rebels every day. Some two million Kurds hazarded the dangerous trek through the mountains to Iran and Turkey, hundreds of thousands dying in the process. The Riddle of Saddam Hussein: Although most of Husseins large-scale atrocities took place during the 1980s and early 1990s, his tenure was also characterized by day-to-day atrocities that attracted less notice. Wartime rhetoric regarding Husseins rape rooms, death by torture, decisions to slaughter the children of political enemies, and the casual machine-gunning of peaceful protesters accurately reflected the day-to-day policies of Saddam Husseins regime. Hussein was no misunderstood despotic madman. He was a monster, a butcher, a brutal tyrant, a genocidal racist - he was all of this and more.But what this rhetoric does not reflect is that, until 1991, Saddam Hussein was allowed to commit his atrocities with the full support of the U.S. government. The specifics of the al-Anfal Campaign were no mystery to the Reagan administration, but the decision was made to support the genocidal Iraqi government over the pro-Soviet theocracy of Iran, even to the point of making ourselves complicit in crimes against humanity . A friend once told me this story: An Orthodox Jewish man was being hassled by his rabbi for violating kosher law, but had never been caught in the act. One day, he was sitting inside a deli. His rabbi had pulled up outside, and through the window he observed the man eating a ham sandwich. The next time they saw each other, the rabbi pointed this out. The man asked: You watched me the whole time? The rabbi answered: Yes. The man responded: Well, then, I was observing kosher, because I acted under rabbinical supervision.Saddam Hussein was unquestionably one of the most brutal dictators of the 20th century. History cannot even begin to record the full scale of his atrocities and the effect they had on those affected and the families of those affected. But his most horrific acts, including the al-Anfal genocide, were committed in full view of our government - the government that we present to the world as a shining beacon of human rights.Make no mistake: The ouster of Saddam Hussein was a victory for human rights, and if there is any silver lining to come from the brutal Iraq War, it is that Hussein is no longer slaughtering and torturing his own people. But we should fully recognize that every indictment, every epithet, every moral condemnation we issue against Saddam Hussein also indicts us. We should all be ashamed of the atrocities that were committed under our leaders noses, and with our leaders blessing.

Skeletal System in the Human Body Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Skeletal System in the Human Body - Assignment Example Diarthroses joint is a small space that exists between the articulating surfaces of the two joined bones. Since no other tissues grow in this cavity, the surfaces move freely against one another. Hence, they are functionally defined as freely movable joints. Some examples include ball and socket joints and hinge joints.Synarthroses joint does not have a joint cavity. Fibrous cartilage 'or bone tissues grow between the articulating surfaces of the two joined bones and make them unable to move freely against one another. Therefore, they are functionally defined as immovable (or slightly movable) joints that do not allow free movement. Examples include the skull joints. Motor nerves supply signals from the nervous system to the muscle system. A single motor nerve fiber that supplies to a group of muscle fibers within a muscle is called a motor unit.Skeletal muscles are more rapid in contracting than cardiac and smooth muscles. Skeletal muscles are important in locomotion and movement an d consequently are of greatest interest to the ergonomist. Glucose stored in the cell or diffused into the cell from the circulatory system can be broken down anaerobically to generate ATP for muscle contractions. The all-or-none law, states that once the threshold has been reached, an action potential will continue to completion where the membrane will depolarize and then re-polarize. The all-or-none law also applies to muscle fibers. For muscles, the law states that once adequately stimulated, a muscle fiber will contract completely. Not all the muscle fibers are necessarily stimulated at the same time stated earlier, smaller motor units are recruited first and then aggressively larger motor units until the desired strength is attained. Thus, not all the muscle fibers are necessarily contracted at the same time. Fatigue results in failure of a muscle to contract in response a stimulus. The segment of the lever between the point of force exertion and the fulcrum is called the force arm and, likewise, the segment between the resistance and the fulcrum is called the resistance arm.

Signal transduction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Signal transduction - Essay Example romolecules such as glycogen, protein and triglycerides, and the uptake of nutrients like fatty acids, amino acids and glucose by liver, muscle and adipose tissue. Insulin starts its action by binding to a receptor on the outer surface membrane of the cell membrane of its many target cells. This triggers the activation of insulin receptor, which signals the target cells on the regulation of chemical mediators. There are two types of subunits in the insulin receptor - ÃŽ ±-subunit and the ÃŽ ²-subunit. The ÃŽ ±-subunit is where insulin binds, while the ÃŽ ²-subunit cross the membrane and jut into the cytosol. The ÃŽ ±-subunit activates the protein tyrosine kinase, which is associated with the ÃŽ ²-subunit. The ÃŽ ²-subunit subsequently phosphorylates tyrosine into a number of residues like Tyr-960 and to a number of enzymes found inside the cytosol. The phosphorylation of the tyrosine residues stimulates an interaction between the isoforms and receptor of the insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1). This substrate then recognizes and attaches to various signal transduction proteins in sections known as SH2 domains. Many of the physiological responses to insulin engage the IRS-1 through complex mechanisms involving intensive investigation. The action of adrenaline on liver cells and muscles was the first process to be used to describe the signal-transduction mechanism. Adrenaline is attached on receptor molecules in the cell membrane. It speeds the breakdown of glycogen in liver cells. Its molecules connect to the receptor molecules in the cell membrane. The guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G-protein) found in the membrane is activated by the formation of a hormone-receptor complex. The protein acts as a relay between an enzyme called adenyl cyclase and the hormone-receptor complex. The enzyme helps in catalyzing the conversation between ATP and cyclic adenine monophosphate(cAMP) in the liver cell. cAMP is a small molecule that acts as an intracellular mediator or a second

Research in Urban education Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

In Urban education - Research Paper Example In most cases, gender differences have been noticed when it comes to selection of particular subjects of study and overall college performance as well. In this paper, I would like to achieve an understanding of both sociological and psychological effects that single sex schools have on a student’s preference of certain major over others and also the impact that it may have on one’s personal development and ability to perform well in college and subsequently perform well in life. In the past few decades the interest in single sex education in both private and government schools has risen drastically. In fact the trend is the same in most countries including U.S, Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain. This has been attributed to underachievement of students and the practice of taking up gender-stereotypes subjects for study (Smyth, 2010). An individuals’ life choices is often based on his schooling and school attainment. This is simply because the quality of education at the school level plays a pivotal role in shaping a persons’ cognitive and behavioural aspects. Schooling and schooling atmosphere has broader implications on a student’s future choices and ability to perform in a much demanding college environment. Our education system regards single sex schools or sex segregated classes as an antidote to the inequality present among the genders. Single sex schools have been looked upon as an attempt to influence school attainment (Lee and Marks, 1992). From a more personal perspective I believe that the existence of the debate about the affect that single schools may have on education and career choice is very much vindicated. There exists both pros and cons when it comes to single sex schooling and co-educational schooling. In fact, the effect of such schooling is known to have more impacts on female students than on their male counterparts. Therefore, we one may say that the schooling system potentially impacts a female student’s life and

Main Reason Behind Trade Union Decline Commerce Essay

Main Reason Behind Trade Union Decline Commerce Essay Trade Union decline is today common across the world. However, in the first half of the last century unions were at the zenith of their power, and were almost synonymous with employment relations in most of the industrialised nations. They were perhaps the only vehicle for employee voice through collective bargaining and industrial action in those times (Freeman and Medoff, 1984). Since the early 1950s, the union movement started seeing a downfall in the United States (Blanchflower and Bryson,2008). While the effect was more pronounced and early in the USA, the trend soon caught up in the UK and European nations. By the 1980s, the effects started to show dramatically on union membership and density figures in UK. Countries like Australia (Waddoups, 2001), Japan, India, and China (Kuruvilla et al.,2002) have also seen a southward trend in membership since the 1990s. Even in a country like Germany where the union membership has not declined sizeably, a variety of factors suggest that u nion power has been declining (Katz, 2005). In the UK, as per the WERS2004 data, aggregate membership density fell from over 50% in the late 1970s to around 30% by 2000. The number of workplaces with union members present fell from 73% in 1984 to 54% by 1998. The proportion of workplaces where unions are recognised by employers fell from 53% in 1990 to 45% in 1998. The number of employees whose pay is determined by collective bargaining fell from around 70% in the late 1970s to 27% in 2004 (Bryson and Forth, 2010). But why is membership so important? Unions derive power by controlling the supply of labour through union organisation and thus union membership is an indicator (or rather a prerequisite) of trade union power (Blyton Turnbull, 2004 p138). The other headspring of union influence is their voice within the political arena and the ability to clog businesses through industrial action. All of these have taken a hit since the 1980s owing to multiple influences arguably leading to membership decline. The scope of this essay is to examine the critical reasons for this decline through the workers lens largely in the UK, with support from similar trends in other parts of the world. It is now beyond dispute that union membership and density have fallen beyond imagination causing much agony to unionists, but, what needs to be explored is whether the perception of unions in the eyes of the worker has indeed diminished. Hence Diminishing Worth, Increasing Woes might have been an apt title for this essay. The CBIs Director of Employment Affairs had once quoted: collective bargaining no longer presents itself as the only or even the most obvious method of handling relations at work; fewer employees and employers feel the need for union mediation in their dealings (Gilbert 1993: 252 as cited by Claydon in Beardwell,1996 p144); Millward et al, (2000) have also concluded that union membership decline was the result of a withering of enthusiasm on the part of workers ( cited in Charlwood, 2003); So, one might be tempted to agree that workers no longer see value in membership; but there is not one single reason which can be attributed to this precipitous fall in union membership. A myriad of factors like the political landscape of the times along with the legal reforms, some macro and micro-economic issues, and the socio-demographic changes have to be considered. In fact, some researchers have looked internal to hint that unions are the architects of their own fall (Dunn, 2009). In order to understand the reasons for decrease in union membership, it might be prudent to ask , Why do workers join a union? Why or Why Not Unions?: The main motive for employees to join a union comes from a pluralist view where they feel they have different interests from managers (Bacon in Redman Wilkinson, 2006). Waddington and Whitstone(1997), provide the top two reasons as to why employees continue to join unions; first, to get support if there was any trouble and second, to improve their pay and conditions. Guest Dewe, advocate a relationship between job dissatisfaction and willingness to unionise (1988); Ratified to some degree by Charlwood,(2002). The rational choice theory explains that workers are inclined to join a union if the benefits they receive exceed the cost of joining (Guest and Dewe,1988). The sociological point of view provided is that, an individuals social context, parental occupation and pattern of social interaction are likely to influence the desire to be a union member (Guest and Dewe,1988; Visser, 2000). Therefore, people do come with a pre-conceived belief whether to join or not join a union which might get subsequently modified based on their experience and political inclination(Charlwood, 2002). Hyman was quoted on BBC News, (2004), being a union member has ceased to be the social norm, and a new generation has grown up who not only are not trade unionists, but whose parents have never been in unions either. John Monks (2001), former General Secretary of the TUC, also confessed, there is a general assumption among non-union workers that unions are for blue collar workers with problems, not white collar workers with opportunities (Blyton and Turnbull,2004 p141). These socio-psychological contexts are to be borne in mind before we look at the other reasons which might have influenced workers attitudes and thereby union membership. Thatcherism: 10 Downing Street is considered to be the place where it all began; where the future of employment relations in the UK was rewritten by the conservative government under Mrs Thatcher in 1979. The impact of the iron ladys legislative reforms on trade unions and membership is an all time favourite with most writers. The exclusion of unions from any role in national policy making, encouraging management to assume greater control within the workplace (Waddington, as cited in Edwards 2003 p216) were direct hits on the source of the Unions power. At the peak of union membership and density in 1979, almost 40 per cent of all trade unionists (23% of all workers) were covered by a closed shop (Dunn and Gennard, 1984). So in 1980, when closed shop agreements were almost made illegal, coverage fell to 8% and in 1990 to 2 %.(Millward et al., 2000 as in Blyton and Turnbull 2004). The 1982 Employment Act, also delivered a severe blow to the Unions which had its desired repercussions ( Taylor, 2000). In fact, the WERS98 data indicates that only a minority of members (46%) believe that unions can make a difference to what it is like to work here'( Cully et all,1999, p213) Blyton and Turnbull suggest the reason behind this cynical view might be the impact of the legislation that weakened both individual and collective employment rights (2004). Hence government legislation combining with employer policies can be seen as a synergistic project to create a potent gradualist route to union exclusion (Smith and Morton 1993: 100 as cited in Beardwell 1996 p156). But this might not hold true in hindsight today, since the Conservatives have lost power for over 15 years and yet the trend has not reversed or even rectified even after some of the future governments have taken a liberal view of the unions with the statutory support for unions reinstated in 1999. In his book charting the growth and leadership of the TUC, Robert Taylor (2000) indicates that the union leadership wa s well aware of the changing times much before the Thatcher government came into power and that the termites of ineffective leadership had already hollowed the unions from within; so when the winds blew hard after the winter of discontent the structure just fell apart as a natural process. Union De-recognition: Managements attitudes towards unions and their growing indifference to union recognition has also been considered to be an additive to union decline (Disney et al., 1995). Ackers and Payne are of the view that, businesses are increasingly turning hostile to unions (1998). Edwards, mentions a unitary view where unions are looked upon as external pathological elements causing disturbance [to management] (2003). Encouraged by the changing legislations, management in the private sector did not miss the opportunity to sideline unions. While they did not really work towards de-recognition, they carefully eliminated collective bargaining rights affecting pay conditions from unions in newer and private sectors (Beaumont and Harris, 1995). This has been a key determinant in membership decline as mentioned by Bryson and Forth, (2010). Thus, Charlwood, (2003) agrees any withering of enthusiasm for unions on the part of the workforce was a response to the assertion of manag erial prerogatives. Undoubtedly, the presence of a union is the least required for an employee to join a union. Green (1990), for example, found that ( using data from the general household survey) 30% of female part-time workers were Union members, but where a union was available to join, the membership rose to almost 60%. The 1998 British Social Attitudes survey shows 40% of non union employees expressed a willingness to join a union if they had one. If all these people join a union then membership will increase by 3.2 million, this is consistent with similar studies in North America (cited in Charlwood, 2003). Rise of HRM: When the news of alternative practices in non unionised companies like IBM and HP travelled the Atlantic in the early 80s, it affected management practices here in the UK and Europe as well. It has been suggested by Lucio and Weston(1992, as cited in Blyton Turnbull,1992) that unions were unable to focus on the emerging issues concerning employment such as health and safety, equal opportunities, worker participation and others and continued to reflect on the narrow areas of pay and conditions; and as they neglected to tie the new issues back into collective bargaining , the legislative framework surrounding these issues left management the task of unifying these rights within Employment relations as HRM. In a study of an IBM plant in the UK by Dickson et al(1988), employees identified with the individualistic ethos of the company and deemed no requirement for a Union, since the company provided them with good pay and conditions, fair performance management systems and i ncentives, opportunities for growth and development, job security and grievance mechanisms, and a positive ER climate which might have been the functions of a union (cited in Redman and Wilkinson,2006). The rise of newer practices of voice representation and direct employee participation have added to the agony of traditional IR practitioners. These HRM strategies are perceived by trade unionists as an encroachment into their territory (Blyton and Turnbull, 1992) However, empirical evidence does not support this view in totality. The first general finding from WERS98 is that HRM practices are strongly associated with a recognised union presence (Cully et all 1999). Guest (2001), mentions in the 1998 IPD survey among union members 26% employees felt they were more fairly treated because they were union members; only about 3 percent felt that they were treated less fairly. This means about 69% were indifferent about unions; a similar trend showed in non union members where almost 70% thought union membership made no difference. It also showed that workers are more likely to put credence to a union at work where they felt management did not have great HRM practices (Storey, 2001). Workforce Composition: In the 1950s union membership was largely concentrated among the 3M workers male, manual and manufacturing (Visser, 2000). Between 1999 and 2009, the pedigree of union members became more feminized, older, educated, dominated by workers in non-manual jobs and those working in the public sector (Bryson and Forth, 2010). Many researchers (Brown et al., 1997; Millward et al., 1992, Bryson and Gomez, 2005, Towers, 1989) have argued that the changing composition of the workforce, like the shift in employment from manufacturing to services and the growing labor market participation of women and part- time workers have been important contributory factors to lesser propensity to unionisation . However, this is just a symptom, not a diagnosis of the problem. As Kelly(1990) pointed out there is no reason why a decline in manufacturing or growth of female employment should automatically signal a decline in union membership'( as cited in Blyton and Turnbull, 2004 p142). A point worth considering is that with the rise in real wages, workers had no stipulation to join unions, while the rampant unemployment of the times provided employers with wider choices and hence an opportunity to resist unionisation. The increase in free-riding and never- membership have also posed a setback to unions as mentioned by Bryson and Forth(2010). There are currently almost three million free-riders among the eight million covered employees in Britain. This increasing trend is causing more problems for trade unions since they are representing such workers in collective bargaining without receiving anything in return in terms of membership dues. By 2006-8, half of all employees were never- members (Bryson and Forth,2010). This might be attributed to a rise in individualism among workers as opposed to a collective approach in the past or it might be an indication of failure to organise on part of the Unions. Failure to Organise: Undoubtedly, the perception of union power has diminished over the years leading to the waning of appetite to join unions. One of the primary causes might be that Unions could not organise themselves well in the changing years to retain their agenda or increase their agenda. Whether pressurised by legislation or de-recognition by management, unions have accepted concessions in collective bargaining in recent years, which has led to further erosion of their perceived powers. Trade unions were initially slow to meet the neo-liberal challenge posed by the Conservative government, with the consequence that its impact was amplified. Until 1987, the majority of unions openly opposed the legislation and hoped for the election of a Labour Government that would repeal the legislations (Taylor, 2000; Edward 2003). Millward et al, (2000) and Machin (2000) believe the key reason for union decline is their failure to organise workers and gain recognition for collective bargai ning in new firms and workplaces. The poor organisation of the union leaders and stewards has also led to a loss of faith in members and left no choice for workers but to renounce their collective rights and give in to the devils bargain in lieu for a more individualistic employment contract. Geary, (2006) found that only 24 percent of non union employees in unionised companies were ever asked to join the union and the remaining 76% were never even approached. In difficult times as these, this lackadaisical approach has cost unions a lot more than what they could anticipate. Union Response and Future Trends: Unions of late have embarked on a series of reforms to policy, structure and activity to pull up their act (Williams, 1997; Wright ACAS, 2011). In spite of the decline in membership, Unions still have many areas of opportunity. As Hyman (1997) has indicated, workers have a broad range of potential and competing interests, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (as cited by Heery, 2003) and Unions as representatives have the choice both in terms of picking the interests and the methods. Some studies suggest that HRM initiatives introduced over the past 20 years have had little impact on workers perceptions of them and us ( Kelly and Kelly 1991;Dart and Turner 1999) So unions will benefit if they were to take a more proactive approach rather than reactive to HRM practices. Guest (in Storey, 2001) mentions that WERS98 offered a list of nine conventional items like pay, payment systems, grievances handling, health and safety and training. There was no negotiation with union re presentatives over any of these nine issues in half the workplaces where unions were recognised. On a average unions negotiated on only 1.1 of the nine issues while non-union reps negotiated over 0.9 issues. Hence, the picture that emerges is one of limited industrial action. There are almost half of all organisations and a majority in the private sectors where there is neither a union presence nor great HR practices this could be an opportunity for unions. the other ray of hope for unions is that, the percentage of employees in British Social Attitudes Survey (BSA) who say the workplace union is doing its job well has been rising since 1997 both among union and non-members (as seen in Fig 1. Bryson and Forth, 2010). There is thus some support for the notion that unions have re-oriented themselves in recent years. Fig. 1 Percent age agreeing union doing its job well, 1983-2008 (Note: Employees working 10+ hours in unionised workplaces.) Source: British Social Attitudes Survey. In conclusion, it cannot be denied that the perceived power of unions has been severely affected and this could have led to workers not seeing value in their membership. The reason why workers might have been indifferent to unions are manifold but the key reason that emerges is the inability of the unions to organise and sell their benefits to their customers. The legislation, alternative management practices, undoubtedly aided the workers feelings and so the statement given cannot be the main reason for trade union decline. But if we take the BSA in fig 1. above, this notion is slowly giving way to some expectations from unions. While the image and brand of trade unions has been severely affected and the damage is considered beyond repair by many, as Purcell (1993) said, this is the end of institution IR, but there are areas where unions can make a difference only if they organise themselves well and there are pockets of opportunity if they are willing to look beyond traditional IR practices. But can they reverse the trend? Do they have the will or skill to do it ? Only time can tell.

Telecommunication Industry Analysis

The domestic telecommunication industry offers a broad range of services through four primary product segments: radio, television, voice communications, and broadband services, the two largest being voice communications and broadband services (Industry). These services are offered to businesses and personal consumers, and are the industry’s primary user segments. Companies in the telecommunication industry are the primary means by which communication is provided, whether it is by telephone, Internet, or television. Using transmissions of signals over networks of radio towers, data is transferred to customers using devices, such as a phone (Telecommunications). Determining which segment to market to and who drives the market is integral for companies in the telecommunication industry to understand. User Segments The telecommunication industry markets to two segments: business and personal consumers. The business segment utilizes the services of the telecom industry for better communication, higher efficiency, and better distribution of data (Telecommunications and Business). As businesses require communication devices for email, phone, teleconferencing, and data transferring, companies are marketing to businesses offering the most advanced and efficient products. Businesses also allow for a larger budget for spending, and consequently telecommunication companies are refining their product to fit their needs on a larger scale. AT&T and Verizon Communications are the leading providers in the business segment, offering services such as videoconferencing, networking, Internet, and voice communications. Personal consumers are the other segment the telecommunication industry markets to. With over 290 million subscribers in the United States (U.S.), companies in the telecommunication industry are on a very competitive playing field. AT&T and Verizion, again the leading providers in the personal consumer segment, spend a large amount each year on advertising trying to reach their markets (The Account). Consumers want products with the most speed and reliability, which forces companies to update constantly. With new products and features coming out regularly, it is imperative these companies stay current with the latest technology. Product Segments The two product segments that define the telecommunication industry are voice communications and broadband services. Voice communications entail phone services such as phone calls and voice messaging. Businesses and personal users rely heavily on this service, as people are requiring reliable and efficient phone service in their everyday lives. Features play an integral role in defining the product, so companies must have feedback from consumers to know how to improve their product (Cell Phone). Broadband services offer Internet access to its users. This technology is improving constantly, becoming faster and more efficient. Integrating into phones, television, and DSL, broadband services are becoming increasingly important to having a reliable product and reaching customers (Industry). Over the past decade, Internet subscribers have doubled, reaching over 266 million customers (World), which shows the prevalence of broadband services in the United States. As many of the telecommunication companies have merged in recent years, they are able to offer a larger product as well as â€Å"bundled media packages†, which brings in new revenue sources and opportunities for growth (Industry). In the telecommunication industry, the consumer is driving the market. As technology is advancing and more features are becoming available, companies must customize their products to fit the consumers’ needs. Many consumers require different features and options, which require the companies to stay current with recent trends. Customer service has also played a large role in the satisfaction of customers, and the companies take a lot of feedback to improve their products (Industry). Trends in the Telecommunication Industry As the telecommunication industry evolves, so do the trends that drive it. Demographics have become less important, although age and occupation does play a major role (Market). Teens are becoming a target for companies, as well as business professionals (Teens). Consumer trends are driving adoption of phones in the market, as social networking, jobs, and personal use are becoming parts of everyday life (Consumer). Technological advancements are playing a major role in the development of the telecommunication industry. Products are becoming faster, cheaper, and of higher quality, as well as including features and applications for consumers so they can communicate and work more efficiently (Top). Competitors One of the top competitors in the telecommunications industry is AT&T. With over $124 billion in total revenue (T), AT&T is one of the largest providers of telecommunication services in the United States. Their main products are for businesses as well as the consumer, including wireless, broadband, phone, and data solution services. AT&T’s strategy involves working with its suppliers and customers to improve their efficiencies and form a positive, long-lasting relationship with them. They improve their company by becoming more sustainable, in hopes of promoting a positive impact on the communities it serves (AT&T Corporate). Verizon Communications is also a leading competitor in the telecommunications industry. With $106.5 billion in total revenue last year (VZ), Verizon is another leading provider of telecommunication services in the United States. Verizon offers products similar to AT&T, which enables them to compete closely with AT&T. Their basic strategy involves being proactive in improving their services to satisfy customers. Verizon continually adapts to new technology and brings innovation to all its products. Their goal is to improve the quality of life for its customers by offering innovative products (Verizon). Sprint Nextel Communications, totaling $32 billion in total revenue in 2010 (S), is a smaller competitor but is still among the top companies in the domestic telecommunication industry. Sprint offers phones for business and personal use, as well as business solutions to help the company operate its communications with more ease. Part of their strategy is to foster and develop relationships with organizations to form alliances and deliver integrated products and services. Sprint is also involved in becoming more responsible, in regards to its products, the environment, and its customers (About).

The Definition of a Princess

Every little girl has once wished (upon a star) to one day be a princess in a fairy tale. However, do they truly understand what the definition of a fairy tale princess is? Fairy tales have created a definition and a set of requirements of a true princess, a definition and a set of requirements that could easily be applied to a pretty teacup or any other inanimate object. These fairy tales have defined a princess as someone who is unrealistically beautiful, passive, with no voice, and helpless and dependent. Beauty is one of the key requirements to be a princess. Every woman in a fairy tale is either a beautiful princess or an ugly witch or stepmother. There are no average looking women to be found in these tales. Since physical qualities are often an allegory to the goodness or evil of a character, beauty has been a requirement for a princess. In the picture books and movies of these fairy tales, audiences will see tall skinny girls whose waists are almost the size of their necks with eyes that are abnormally large. Though unrealistic, this appearance has been made necessary in these tales. Would Cinderella be let in to the ball or ever have a dance with a prince if she were ugly? Would Prince Charming even consider kissing â€Å"Sleeping Beauty† if she were â€Å"Sleeping Ugly†? Beauty is such an important part of a princess but how does it affect those young girls who wish to be like them? These fairy tales give the message that the only way to find love or Mr. Perfect is to be beautiful. Young girls watch and read storybooks and movies that have princesses with body types that are considered anorexic. This image will sink in to their minds subconsciously and affect them for the rest of their lives, since most children will never be able to reach the standard of beauty required to be a princess. Along with beauty, a princess has been defined to have no voice or say. In almost every fairy tale a princess never gets to express her opinion or personality. The ultimate example of this is in the Little Mermaid (Disney Version) when Ariel trades her voice so she can alter her appearance. She is told that she won’t need a voice to get the prince and all she needs to do is look pretty. This leads young girls to think their voice and opinion don’t matter and to have their â€Å"happily ever after,† all they have to do is stay quiet passive and be visually attractive. Lastly a princess is defined as someone who is helpless and dependent. Almost every single fairy tale has a damsel in distress waiting for the prince to save them. Sleeping Beauty has to wait for Prince Charming, Rapunzel has to wait in her tower, and Prince Eric saves Ariel. In all fairy tales this is a common factor; the princess is always helpless and needs saving. Never in a traditional fairy tale does a princess save the prince. In addition to the sexism in these tales, they present and promote a negative message for girls. It communicates to girls that if something bad is happening or if there is a problem, wait for a male to come and solve the situation. Putting these ideas in little girls’ heads at such an early age will discourage them from to ever becoming strong and confident women. Understanding the true definition of a fairy tale princess is, princesses should not be role models for so many girls. However so many little girls still want to be princesses, even if they are defined to be unrealistically beautiful, passive, voiceless, and helplessly dependent on others. This needs to change in order to have more confident and smart women. Society should think about these fairy tales and really consider if the princess in the tale is someone young girls should have as their role models.

One Minute Manager essays

One Minute Manager essays The One Minute Manager provides a concise and simple method for planning, coaching and evaluating people for organizational and personal success. For many, the book sets forth the principles for productive relationships between a manager and his or her associates. There are three different methods portrayed that will help employers and employees find such a relationship. The first is One Minute Goal Setting. The second is One Minute Praisings. Lastly, the book suggests One Minute Reprimands. With these work ethics in practice, a friendly, more productive work place results for everyone. One Minute Goal Setting is the foundation and first secret to being a One Minute Manager. The One Minute Manager spends time at the beginning of a new task or when an associate first starts at the organization to detail areas of responsibility and what he or she is being held accountable for. The first part of One Minute Goal Setting is being absolutely clear of ones goals. Once one determines his/her responsibilities, those goals should be written in 250 words or less. These goals are written to the individual can review these goals at any point in time considering that it would only take a few minutes to review those goals. Then one can reflect as to whether or not his/her behavior is adding up to the goals. To know if one is behaving in an efficiently productive manner, one must have an understanding of performance standards. Feedback is the number one motivator of people. One Minute Praisings develops people by "catching people doing things right" and praising them for their performance. When someone does something that is worthy of praise, that person must be praised immediately. The person must be told in a very clear and specific manner what he/she is doing right. Let the person know how you feel towards them and how well it contributes to the company. Even pausing for an uncomfortab ...

Negotiating Your Childs Resistance to Homeschool

Negotiating Your Child's Resistance to Homeschool Shouldering the full responsibility of your child’s education can be  an overwhelming feeling.  Discovering that your child doesn’t want to be homeschooled compounds those doubts and fears. Whether its a child who has  previously attended public school  and wants to return or a child who has always been homeschooled who wants to try traditional school, it can be disheartening to discover that your child isnt on board with homeschooling What should you do when your homeschooled student doesn’t want to be homeschooled? 1. Look for Reasons the Child Doesnt Want to Homeschool The first step in working through this homeschooling dilemma is figuring out what’s behind your child’s reluctance. A child who has never gone to public school may be fascinated with its portrayal in books or  on TV. Your 5-year-old may see starting kindergarten  as an expected rite of passage, especially if its something most of  their friends are doing. An older child who has been in school may be missing their friends. They may miss the familiarity and predictable routine of a traditional school day. Kids may be missing particular classes or activities, such as art, music, or sports. Your child may feel singled out in social groups as the lone homeschooler. For homeschooled teens, especially, it can be awkward to answer the question, Where do you go to school? Find out exactly why your child doesnt want to be homeschooled. 2. Discuss the Pros and Cons of Homeschooling Creating a pros and cons list for homeschooling and one for public (or private) school can be a practical way to help you and your child objectively weigh the benefits of both options. Let your child list whatever pros and cons come to their mind, even if they seem silly to you. Cons for homeschool might include not seeing friends every day or not getting to play on the school playground.  Cons for public school might include an early start time and not  having control over  the daily school schedule. After compiling the lists, compare them. Then, brainstorm ideas for fixing the cons for each list. For example, you may be able to arrange more frequent play dates with friends or visit the big playground at the city park, but you cant  change the public schools start time. Making pros and cons lists  validates your childs concerns. After some discussion, you and your child will be able to weigh the  benefits of homeschooling  versus those of public school.   3. Look for Ways to Compromise There may be specific social or educational aspects of a traditional school setting that your child is missing. Consider if any of these voids could be filled while still homeschooling. Some ideas to consider are: Co-op classes can provide the opportunity to forge friendships, cover topics about which you’re unfamiliar, or provide a group learning setting for activities such as science labs or drama classes.Sports teams are available for your homeschooled athletes.  There are recreational leagues for casual athletes and travel teams for more competitive players. Many areas offer homeschool teams. Other sports, such as swimming and gymnastics, are often not associated with schools to begin with, providing opportunities for homeschooled students to compete outside of a school league setting.Private lessons may fill a void for activities such as music instruction.Homeschool support groups can provide social interaction, group activities, field trips, and clubs. 4. Consider Your Child’s Input It makes sense  to seriously consider your child’s input and address their concerns, even if the reasons seem childish. Homeschooling is, after all, something that deeply impacts your child’s life. It is particularly important to consider their argument  if theyre an older student with sound, mature reasons for preferring a more traditional educational option.   However, it is equally  important to remember that you are the parent. While you want to think about all the possible consequences  of  homeschooling a child who is vehemently opposed to it, you must ultimately make the decision that you feel is in your child’s best interests. It can be frustrating and disappointing when your child doesn’t want to be homeschooled. However, by keeping an open line of communication; acknowledging and addressing their concerns; and seeking out workable solutions, most children will be able to see the benefits of homeschooling and embrace it.

Brand Management for Rolex Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Brand Management for Rolex - Essay Example The essay "Brand Management for Rolex" analyzes the strategies that have made Rolex a famous brand. It is a descriptive case study. In this case study, the qualitative method has been followed. The data that is used in this case study is secondary data and it has been collected through websites and books. Brand management is about developing an image of a brand and also maintaining it. Brand management helps a company to define any product, position the product, and deliver it to the customer. It is an ability to generate and sustain the brand. A strong brand is an asset for a company which discriminates any product from other alternative products. It can set an additional image to the product of the company. With regard to establishing brand image, Rolex always prefers to use certain traveler or singer or other stylish people for advertisement purposes. Rolex seeks selective media for advertising their products which can help to form the image of the brand as well as control the advertisement cost. Rolex is extremely elegant to accomplish multiple factors while spending least amount of money which can help to maintain the balance between optimal cost and profit. Through their good marketing skills, Rolex successfully increases their fans and earn the honor and faith of Rolex user. From the early 1930s, Rolex focuses on product quality. The advertisement of Rolex was limited to just product level and made by using verbal statements and graphics. Rolex depicted that its products are targeted to only high-class customers.

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

Story - Essay Example But the plagiarism was just too much to be ignored. There were entire passages and paragraphs that had been copy-pasted from the web. Jason Blair was a rising journalist in 2003 (Bailey). He was rendering his services to the New York Times as a reporter. Everything was going fine until one day, an editor at the San Antonio Express-News found out certain common things between a column written by Blair and a previous report authored by Macarena Hernandez. This led to the starting of an investigation by the Times into Blair. As a result of the investigation, 36 out of the total of 73 articles written by Blair were found to contain fabrication, plagiarism, or some other kind of unethical behavior (Bailey). Blair was left with no option but to resign from his job as a reporter and a journalist from the New York Times. Bailey, Jonathan. â€Å"5 Famous Plagiarists: Where Are They Now?† Plagiarism Today. 21 Aug. 2012. Web. 16 Apr. 2015. . Grimes, A. C. â€Å"5 Insanely Blatant Acts of Plagiarism by Famous People.† 18 Feb. 2014. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.