Intern for Contrabandit.com

For the past 10 weeks of the Fall 2004 quarter, I've had the opportunity to work as intern for Contrabandit.com. Contrabandit ran by West Coast political and cultural editor of the Source Ryan Ford aims to provide an uninhabited voice for the hip-hop community as well as inform most of the Minority readers of politics, social and educational news and issues that occur in the world. As a History major, with my interest in Film and Television journalism, Contrabandit has allowed me to study contemporary and cultural history through the medium of Hip-Hop music. I looked at this internship as a starting point to acquiring work experience and possibly advancing into working within the field of entertainment journalism. But as an African-American student at UCLA, Contrabandit has allowed me to chronicle events within hip-hop as they happen and apply the broader historical significance as they occur. Being an African-American student, I view hip-hop as not only just a musical art form, but also as a voice and representation of an entire community. Unlike Jazz and R&B, Hip-Hop was a genre truly formed out of the African-American community after the post-civil rights movement and really feels uncorrupted by mainstream pop culture, where it sets the trend, instead of following the pack. When covering the medium of Hip-Hop music, I discovered how far reaching and expansive it has become and with my education at UCLA I've been able to view hip-hop from scholarly approach. The main theme I've noticed throughout my internship has been Hip-Hop music's growth and the changes that become of it as it has become an acceptable musical genre generating billions of dollars for the recording industry studios. The three biggest new stories that I was able to cover were the Eminem-Michael Jackson confrontation, Russell Simmons' Hip-Hop Summit Action Network's Presidential voter registration campaign, and the violent incident that occurred at the Vibe Awards. On the surface there just current events that needed to be covered to feel up space on the website, but with little probing they actually had far reaching and historical impact on the website, Hip-Hop music and with me in developing my critical writing skills and applying historical analysis from my UCLA course and history major. Jackson boots Eminem off BET (published October 12, 2004) That article resulted in an immediate phone call from my editor, as well as a lecture from him on the role and responsibility of a journalist. He proclaimed my article was blatantly bias and that I was leading the reader to take one point of view or side on the issue, but my job instead was to report the facts in a news story. Which, as my editor expressed to me, is something that's continues to occur since he beginning of entertainment, and its should not be allowed despite the fact Eminem makes a very good living off of doing â€Å"Black Music† much like Elvis, but again, difference being, Elvis never insulted a African-American musical icon like Michael Jackson, like Eminem has. I'm sure this issue will be glanced over, much like the controversy of the tapes being made public by Hip-Hop magazine â€Å"the Source†, where what occurred was an investigation into why Eminem recorded these racist lyrics, but the Source was attacked for bringing this issue to the public. I must admit, just looking on the surface of the controversy I was quick to pass judgment upon BET for what I saw as its hypocrisy by stating it would not air videos disrespectful of any celebrity. Considering that's how they made their notoriety during the whole east coast-west coast beef that many attribute to the deaths of Tupac Shakur and Christopher â€Å"Biggie† Wallace. But my editor expressed to me that I needed take it into context along with Eminem's previously uncovered studio recording where he's referring to African-American men as â€Å"niggers† and African-American women as â€Å"black bitches† in a derogatory manner, is not possible to let this pass as artistic and playful expression. Again he's shown disrespect to a community that he continues to make million of dollars off of through doing their music, and can be argued is allowed to get away with such offensive behavior because he is a white. Not just with the African-American community, he's c ome under fire for his anti-gay remarks from the Gay and Lesbian community, but continues to get way with or at least not suffer any ill effects, whereas if a comparable black celerity had done similar offenses, they would find it difficult to maintain the type of celerity that Eminem enjoys. Working alongside Ryan with Contrabandit, I was able to view the controversy as bigger than Eminem just poking fun and having a laugh at Michael Jackson's expense, but greater historical, racial, and industry-wide ramification that this cause. The images of Eminem done up in â€Å"Black face† and portraying Jackson as buffoon and monster have long term consequences upon not only his image but that of African-Americans as they see one of their longest musical icons ridiculed in a way not only personally but racially offensive. And even more importantly with no consequences or accountability from Eminem. Russell Simmons; HSAN proclaims 21 million registered youth/minority voters for 2004 election(published November 4, 2004) In the aftermath of the national presidential election, it brought into prospective the efforts of voter registration among young, minority voters. The day after the election, a press release went out from Russell Simmons Hip-Hop Summit Action Network proclaiming that 21 million registered voters from 18-35 voted in the 2004 election, up from the 18 million that had voted in the 2000 election. Although that's encouraging it was disappointing to know that the voter registration campaign and awareness of the importance of this Presidential election that still George Bush was re-elected. But looking at the numbers and statistics shows a deeper issue and problem arising in America. Working with Contrabandit got me access to covering Russell Simmons' Hip-Hop Summit Action Network fundraiser at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Co-sponsored by Sony Playstation, the fundraiser was an entertainment industry party to bring awareness as well as funding to the organization for needed increased minority voter registration and education. Despite their efforts, the hip-hop community that was being courted by Simmons' HSAN paled in comparison to those of the voters in the Midwestern states. I always felt it was flawed to try to reach out to the hip-hop community as despite the growing numbers of minorities, who will soon grow to be an almost equal number to the majority of White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) constituents, some of those minorities are turning towards the conservative ideology. Also there is no unity among this minority group. With more WASP senior citizens living longer, that aging Considering that ultimately the Presidential election was determined by the Midwest, as the Democratic Party hasn't carried southern states in years, where as California and New York (with a combined 86 electoral votes) are perennial Democratic strongholds. Interestingly, the Midwest won the election for Bush and to me it was a shame that the backlash of gay marriages and abortion (as reported by news affiliates as the determining reason for voting for Bush) were more important than the situation in Iraq, terrorism, and the turbulent economy. I never want to question anyone's beliefs or morals, but gay marriages and abortion should be an individual's choice. Most important to take from this election is hopefully maintaining the interest of registered voters beyond this Presidential election, as there are more issues that will arise within the coming years before the 2008 election. In California on the ballot was the repealing of Proposition 187, the 3 strikes law. I understand the â€Å"spirit† of 3 strikes, incarcerating repeat violent offenders from 25 to life sentence in jails, but continually in the years since passage as laws, many third strike offenders have been non-violent repeat offenders. Some argue the old adage don't commit the crime, won't do the time, but there's a bigger issue of privatized prisons making hundreds of millions of dollars off the incarceration of young prisoners and the prison system being made up of predominately African-American and Latino men. Conservative republican fan base are carrying the votes. Melee breaks out at the Vibe Awards(published November 17,2004) Lastly there was the violent altercation that occurred at the, the Vibe awards On November 16. During the four hour taping inside the hangar at the Santa Monica Airport an incident broke as Quincy Jones and Snoop Dogg were presenting an award to Hip-Hop producer Dr. Dre. An unidentified man attacked Dr. Dre, who was later assaulted y several members of his entourage and left him stabbed, later identified as rapper Young Buck by authorities. With the Vibe awards, it is yet another black eye on Hip-Hop as well as on black-themed award shows. The incident alone won't spell the end of Hip-Hop or these musical award shows, but my over all perspective is the necessity of these award shows. Within the entertainment industry its become a joke that there are too many awards shows. Yet when it comes to black themed award shows, they are usually relegated to lesser channels like UPN and BET, and more often than not are taped delayed events. Such events as the NAACP Image Awards, BET Awards, Soul Train Awards and Soul Train Lady of Soul, Vibe Awards, and the Source Awards all fall into this category. And incidents like this further perpetuate the stereotypes of the safety issue that constantly trouble hip-hop events. Amazingly events like the Rock the Bells concerts a week earlier at Anaheim Stadium that I covered for Contrabandit(and the Source)doesn't garner the positive press as when chaos ensues at televised events. At that event, despite some illegal drug use, the show went off without any violent altercation or incident, in front of a mostly diverse White, Latino, and Asian audience. Myself being the only amazed at this diversity and more so shows how far hip-hop music and their artist have developed with such a diverse crowd and the artist being so comfortable in front of them. But dealing with the coverage of black themed awards shows their two sides to the argument. Those that feel that its alright that the awards shows are tape delayed and marginally watched by non-blacks because its for Blacks and its best that we have a awards show tape delayed then none at all. As a matter of fact, the NAACP dubs its annual awards â€Å"Black America's answer to the Oscars, Emmy's, Grammy's, and Pulitzer, as it continues to honor overlook performances by African-American entertainers that the mainstream Hollywood community pass over. But on the other hand there is the argument that by not being a live broadcast somehow relegates it as meaningless shows that don't really count. For starters, with most of the United States having access to the numerous channels available through cable and satellite television, and at least 5-10 music themed channels, viewing music, film and television entertainers is a lot more accessible then in any era prior to the 1990's. Before then, it was rare being able to view entertainers outside of movies, therefore making movie and television award shows the only place to see them. Likewise for most, seeing their favorite musical artist perform â€Å"live† at awards show provided a free experience to catch them performing if they were unable to go to a concert to see them performing and this is remembering that MTV didn't debut till 25 years ago in 1981. But with the emergence of MTV, BET, VH1, and even E!, it has provided a near 24 hour access to view these entertainers and even more so, know them beyond their music or the characters they portray on screen and films. Awards was more than just a night of honoring actors and musician, but that rare opportunity to view them live and has human. Speaking with my editor Ryan, he allowed me to go further with this topic and try to give our readers some prospective and insight behind awards show and why they exist. Working for the Source, he gave me some inside information about the motives behind events such as the Vibe, Source, BET, and Blockbuster Awards shows: MONEY! By organizing one awards event for on night, the sponsorship and advertising for the event generates more money in one night then the magazines do for the entire year. Even the awards presentations are staged, as more then likely the winner is determined by the artist that will appear, more than who deserves to win. When you look at the BET, Source, and Vibe awards, what they provide great revenue and backlash towards to the mainstream (white) award show are not able to properly honor the hip-hop artists that were annually disregarded for their work. Honestly for the most part the Grammy's and American Music Awards do base their nomination, and I'm sure, there awards recipient on mainstream success. But whereas the NAACP Image awards and Soul Train music awards were created to make up for these lack honors to Black performers, these proliferation of the other awards show, seems to be purely done as promotion. The experience that I take from my time working with Contrabandit, has been invaluable in applying the classroom knowledge I acquired from UCLA towards real world situations. Without the historical significance and ramification of events as they occurred and relating them to past events, I would not have been able to elaborate upon them in my writing for the website or convey the importance to my audience at the site.

Ge’s Talent Machine: the Making of a CEO

General Electric (GE) is a true global company with attendance in more than 100 countries. Clearly, with a workforce of more than 320’000 employees, GE also has to have proper human resources processes established. Its energetic Business Operation Model and sophisticated and evolved human resources strategy are results of the steady growth over more than 130 years of corporate history. Since its incorporation in 1878, many CEOs have shaped the company’s products, people and processes, few very intensive and a bit less (GE, 2011). GE has been able to create a surplus while most companies have difficulty producing sufficient quality candidates for top management succession. Producing sufficient quality top management is very difficult for most companies, GE was producing managers not only for own, but enough quantity to meet the need of industry. The philosophy that GE had adopted included some techniques, policies, and practices which allow GE to fill vacant top positions. These techniques were continuous improvement, focus strategy, emerging culture, company strategy, and meritocracy (Bartlett, 2003). As for continuous improvement, management development process of GE was very successful in which employees are developed step by step. As a focus strategy and to fill vacant top positions, GE was focusing on internal foundation. For company strategy, the company was trying not only to gain objectives but also to unite the new employees with the existing culture followed at GE. And lastly for meritocracy, GE employee’s performance was measured by quantitative and qualitatively and the basis of this evaluation, the employees were promoted. GE’s policies and practices were so good that it was producing the surplus managers. Values, culture, training programs, and performance assessment measures are factors that help GE in revealing and polishing the talent of every employee (Bartlett, 2003). Overall policies and practices are very good and fulfill the requirement and need of management development. These policies and practices were generalized in every where in the world up to some extent. Their extent depends upon the circumstances, situations, and environment of the geographical areas, laws, and regulations of state because these factors vary from culture (Bartlett, 2003). These policies and practices are implemented in European culture but it is very difficult to implement these policies in the Asian culture due to HR policies have to deal with human behavior and culture. Human behaviors are different in each country in same situations. For transferring these policies it is necessary to change and create the circumstances and situations according to that of GE. HR departments have to deal with factors like value, culture, and behavior and these things are different from each culture to culture, company to company (Bartlett, 2003). GE believes its ability to develop management talent is a core competency that represents a source of sustainable competitive advantage. Traces the development of a 25-year-old MBA named Jeff Immelt, who 18 years later is named as CEO of GE, arguably the biggest and most complex corporate leadership job in the world, and how he frames and implements his priorities for GE. Immelt's own developments and the strategic changes Immelt adopts in his first year as CEO, when he pulls hard on the sophisticated human resource levers his predecessors left him. Immelt questions whether the changes in place will foster the development of the next generation of GE growth leaders. Jeffrey Immelt was identified as a â€Å"young hot-shot† in one of these programs, and eventually rose up the ranks to become the present Chief Executive Officer (Bartlett, 2003). Under Mr. Immelt (beginning in 2001), GE shifted its business model to a more technological focus, identifying certain growth sectors such as health care IT, water technology (among others) for managers to focus on generating revenues. In addition, they emphasized greater â€Å"customer focus† in their businesses and looked towards growing internationally as well. In this stage, HR decided to include more engineers in the SEB program, and encouraged more transfer of talent into sales/marketing positions in order to emphasize their desire to establish long-term customer relations. The talent machine had to change to be in line with the changing business environment (Bartlett, 2003). Immelt has the opposite managerial approach when compared to Welch even though some similarities are found in both leaders. They both encourage anagers to follow programs that are aimed at improving management skills and get them involved with the company vision and goals. Immelt also requires a two way communication between employees and supervisors, but he prefers a quite exchange of opinion rather than a more confrontational approach that Welch was approving. Both Immelt and Welch knew or know all employees in depth. But it see ms that Welch, even though he was very tough and feared, was loved at all levels and employees felt to be part of a big family. Immelt on the other hand, is considered to be more people oriented and friendly (Bartlett, 2003). The organization under Immelt is growing a strong customer oriented culture rather than a product oriented culture that Welch created. New ideas are brought in by hiring managers from the outside business world and diversity within the employees is seen more favorably by the management. GE employees are now encouraged to come up with new ideas through â€Å"idea jams† meeting sessions, a type of group brainstorming. The best ideas are also awarded with the Excellerator Award (GE, 2011). The word GE evokes the thoughts of people focus, performance oriented growth, leadership and talent development, retention and maximum talent utilization. GE’s HR strategy is completely aligned with the business goals of the organization (Pinto, 2011). This strategic framework of double sided benefit (Employee and Employer) based on the talent or growth potential can be called as a Talent Machine. Given by the fact that the CEO and senior leaders spends valuable time helping devise the HR strategic goals division by division at the beginning of every year. Visions are communicated and shared throughout the business process (Bartlett, 2003). GE spends a huge sum of around 1 billion dollars every year for the employee development. The growth potential of the employees especially the leadership potential is tracked closely and is rewarded appropriately (Business Week, 2005). The performance review at GE is highly effective and evolved. It has a long-term direction and constructive criticism and an in built succession planning. The most important HR strategic policy is that more than 90% of the leadership positions are filled from within the organization (Hitt, 2007). Therefore, success in GE needs not just performance, but also a true present of GE culture and values. On the whole, GE’s maturity in the area of HR is clear when one looks into the sophisticated performance management process and tools and how the organization benefits itself and at the same time promises a good return to the employee (Bartlett, 2003). The quality of employees and their development through training and education are key factors in determining long-term profitability of any business. If you hire and keep good employees, it is a good strategy to invest in the development of their skills, so they can increase their productivity. Employees often develop a greater sense of self-worth, dignity and well-being as they become more valuable to the firm and to society. Generally they will receive a greater share of the material gains that result from their increased productivity. These factors give them a sense of satisfaction through the achievement of personal and company goals (Zero, 2011). Your business should have a clearly defined strategy and set of objectives that direct and drive all the decisions made especially for training decisions. Firms that plan their training process are more successful than those that do not. Most business owners want to succeed, but do not engage in training design that promise to improve their chances of success (Zero, 2011). GE believes its ability to develop management talent is a core competency that represents a source of sustainable competitive advantage. This case traces the development of GE's rich system of human resource policies and practices fewer than five CEOs in the post-war era, showing how the development of talent is embedded into the company's ongoing management responsibilities (Bartlett, 2003).

Principles of Microeconomics Essay

WEEK 1 ECO 204 NEW Week 1 Quiz 1.Question :In economics, scarcity means that Student Answer: there are not sufficient resources to produce everything that people want. poverty will always exist. a country can never feed all of its citizens. the price of a good may increase more rapidly than the general price level. there is not enough of a particular good for people to buy all they want at the prevailing price. Points Received:1 of 1 Comments: 2.Question :If beans are inferior goods, a decrease in income will Student Answer: cause beans to sell at a lower price. increase the production of beans. shift the demand curve for beans to the left. shift the demand curve for beans to the right. rotate the supply curve in a clockwise manner. Points Received:1 of 1 Comments: ECO 204 NEW Week 1 DQ 1 Circular Flow Diagram Explain how the circular flow diagram relates to the current economic  situation. Using the circular flow diagram, explain a way that your family interacts in the factor market and a way that it interacts in the products market. ECO 204 NEW Week 1 DQ 2 Supply and Demand Analyze how the law of demand applies to a recent purchase that you made. Describe how the product has changed in price and explain whether the price change is due to supply or demand. Did the change in price affect your decision to purchase the item? WEEK 2 ECO 204 NEW Week 2 Raise or Lower Tuition: Nobody State University Tuition Universities must constantly weigh tuition pricing in relation to the cost of providing quality educational services. Determining where to set tuition pricing is an increasingly critical decision which administrators and university presidents must analyze when considering the university’s goals. Not only does the cost of tuition play a factor in student enrollment, it also provides a major revenue source to an institution. The question which universities must answer is, â€Å"What effect will raising or lowering the university’s tuition have on the total earned revenue? This paper investigates this question and reviews under what conditions a change in tuition prices will cause the revenue to rise, fall, or remain constant. Finally, applying a hypothetical tuition elasticity coefficient of demand for education value of -1.2, provides a tuition increase recommendation to the Nobody State University’s president and administration board based upon the university’s potential revenue impact. ECO 204 NEW Week 2 DQ 1 Elasticity Analyze the determinants of the price elasticity of demand and determine if each of the following products are elastic or inelastic: †¢bottled water †¢toothpaste †¢cookie dough ice cream †¢fresh green beans †¢gasoline In your analysis, please make sure to explain your reasoning and relate your answers to the characteristics of the determinants of the price elasticity of demand. ECO 204 NEW Week 2 DQ 2 Externalities Explain the difference between a positive and negative externality. In your analysis, make sure to provide an example of each type of externality. Why does the government need to get involved with externalities to bring about market efficiency? What solutions need to be provided for your examples? WEEK 3 ECO 204 NEW Week 3 Quiz 1.Question :When the marginal product curve is declining because of Student Answer: increasing returns, the marginal cost curve is rising. diminishing returns, the marginal cost curve is rising. diminishing returns, the marginal cost curve is falling. diminishing returns, the marginal cost curve is constant. increasing returns, the marginal cost curve is falling. Points Received:1 of 1 Comments: 2.Question :A firm that owns a wheat farm, a grain elevator, a flour mill, a commercial bakery, and a grocery store chain is Student Answer: horizontally integrated. vertically integrated. a monopoly. an imperfect competitor. a conglomerate. Points Received:1 of 1 Comments: ECO 204 NEW Week 3 DQ 1 Short and Long Run Let’s assume that you own a fast food restaurant and you are faced with many customers each day eating in the restaurant without any tables. Describe the difference between the short run and long run in the example to bringing about more tables for the customers. How is the restaurant able to differentiate between the short run and long run? ECO 204 NEW Week 3 DQ 2 Fixed and Variable Costs After reading Chapter 8 in the text and viewing the required video for this week, Fixed, variable, and marginal cost,address the following in your initial post: †¢First, describe several different fixed costs and variable costs associated with operating an automobile. †¢Next, assume that you would like to travel from Los Angeles to New York City by either car or plane. Which costs would you take into account in making your decision, fixed costs, variable costs or both? Make sure to explain your analysis in the decision that you have to make. WEEK 4 ECO 204 NEW Week 4 Quiz 1.Question :All but which one of the following are true of monopolistic competition? Student Answer: MR = MC P>MC AR = MR The demand curve the firm faces slopes downward. Entry is easy. Points Received:1 of 1 Comments: 2.Question :At the point of long-run equilibrium for a perfectly competitive firm, Student Answer: economic profits are zero. TR > TC. TR < TC. P = AVC. normal profits are zero. Points Received:1 of 1 Comments: ECO 204 NEW Week 4 DQ 1 Market Structures Explain the most important characteristic in perfect competition, monopolistic competition, oligopoly, and monopolies and relate the characteristic to how these firms can make profits in the short run. In your analysis, make sure to relate an example for each of the market structures listed and how it relates to the particular characteristics. ECO 204 NEW Week 4 DQ 2 Barriers to Entry Analyze the major barriers for entry and exit into the airline industry. Explain how each barrier can foster either monopoly or oligopoly. What barriers, if any, do you feel give rise to monopoly that will allow the government to become involved to protect consumers? WEEK 5 ECO 204 NEW Week 5 DQ 1 Transfers: Why would cash transfers typically be preferred by recipients over in-kind transfers? What are the pros and cons of each from a government perspective? Respond to at least two of your classmates ECO 204 NEW Week 5 DQ 2 Tariffs and Quotas: Who gains and who loses from a tariff? How do the effects of tariffs differ from the effects of quotas? If you were a small country, what would you rather utilize? ECO 204 NEW Week 5 Final Paper Importance of Economic Market Structures Before an organization or investor makes a strategic decision to enter a product in today’s economy, a thorough market analysis is vital to fully comprehend the domestic and international demand, current suppliers, entry and exit barriers present, and cost of production for the product or service being provided. The culmination of this investigation identifies the market structure the product resides in, associated potential long-run profitability, cost efficiency, survivability, and incentives for future entrepreneurs. This paper will describe the characteristics of four such market structures: perfect competition, monopolistic competition, oligopoly, monopoly while providing an illustrative example of each. The paper further describes the competitive pressures with high entry barriers, preferred selling and buying markets, projected reaction to price changes for elastic and inelastic goods, government intervention and the expected effect of international trade on economic ma rkets. Understanding how a product and associated production firm fits into an economic market structure is vital to investors as it impacts the firm’s motivations, opportunities and business strategies. A successful economic analyst identifies the attributes of the applicable market structure, then using the known market assumptions predicts the implicit and explicit costs of production and projected market outcomes. However, in order to accurately classify the correct market structure, the economic analyst must first be aware of the defining attributes of each market. The paper next describes  the characteristics of a perfect competition, monopolistic competition, oligopoly, and monopoly market structure.

Event Management (Event strategy plan) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Event Management (Event strategy plan) - Essay Example People were not happy. This caused severe unrest and people began to revolt. All over the Arab world, including Syria. This revolution has done more damage than good, causing a lot of pain and suffering on the women and children of the country. (Jamoul 2012) This section of society hasn’t even had that much of a role in the uprising. But they have been tortured, abused physically, mentally and sexually, till all hope has been lost. Over 500 children have been killed in a year of the uprising. (United Press International 2012). Women and even young girls have been raped and killed, at the hands of authority – like policemen. (Women under siege Syria 2012) The rest are all miserable and scared, and it is time to do something for them. In an effort to make the lives of the victims of the uprising – especially the women and children, we shall organise a fundraiser on an international scale. An event that will show people just how much the uprising has affected this s ection of society and how badly they are affected. (Peralta 2012) The event will not only be a call for attention but also a cry for action to the privileged so that they can do something for those that have suffered. ... It will have different elements to it such as an auction by international celebrities of their favourite items, followed by live performances. There will be dances, songs, stand up and so on. But the focus of the night will be on the woman and children of Syria who have had to suffer so much. The night will not just be one of fun. It will be emotional. A rollercoaster of a night that will allow people to enjoy their surroundings and a jarring reminder that they have it easy, by showing them what the women and children are going through. We will show them videos and let them see what is happening. These people will be constantly reminded of the sad plight of thousands of innocent women and children who are suffering at the hands of authority. Strategic Aim The whole point of this event is to create awareness among the people of the world, of the plight of the women and children of Syria. That done, we feel it is our duty to aid them in any way we can. They have suffered enough at the hands of authority, and they need to be rescued. By this event, our objectives are threefold. One, to create an international awareness about the plight of the women and children in Syria. Two, to generate funds to aid these victims. And three, to set up trusts that will ensure that the victims are taken care of. All donations will be anonymous. The framework of objectives would need to be broad enough to include the large variety of event genres, but still be lean enough to work with. (Damm 2011). Research Management Events such as these happen all the time. Celebrities and the ‘big shots’ get together to support a cause, have a good time and donate what they wish to a charity of sorts.

State sponsors of Terrorism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

State sponsors of Terrorism - Essay Example Terrorists become more active and powerful because of state support to them. The motivation and support they get from state sponsorship results in increasing the threat of deadly terrorist attacks on civilians, military forces, and infrastructure. State-sponsored terrorism does not have any particular form. At one end, a state can make use of its intelligence agencies to carry out terrorist attacks on some other country either because of grudges between the two states or because of the intent to destabilize the victim state. On the other end, a state can become a safe corner or safe home for the terrorists from where they can hide after carrying out terrorist attacks on the neighboring countries. Some states even fund the terrorist groups operating in other countries to keep them carry out their criminal activities. Their intent is to weaken the political and military base of the victim state. Some states use their own forces against a particular group of people to suppress their voice and rights. This is also a type of state sponsored terrorism. For example, use of force against Kurds by former Iraqi President Saddam Husain can be termed as state sponsored terrorism (Grothaus, n.d.). Let us take some examples of active and passive state sponsored terrorism in order to clarify the evident and hidden roles of states in promoting terrorism. The first example of active state sponsored terrorism is that of Syria’s development and control of a terrorist group named Al-Saiqa. This terrorist group was based in Palestine and Syria directly and openly controlled this group to tackle the influence of Yasir Arafat who was the most prominent leader of Palestine. Another active state sponsored terrorist example is of Pakistan’s support to the militant groups operating Kashmir against Indian forces. Pakistan provides funds and training to these groups using which they carry out attacks on Indian forces. Their main

Explained on the attachment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Explained on the attachment - Assignment Example Employee motivation is key in influencing employee behavior. Mainly emphasizes on intuition and understanding. People are viewed as independent from environmental influences. On the contrary, the theory portrays people’s ability to determine the condition of the environment. A psychological approach that focuses on personal development for example through learning. Individuals are seen as seeking self-actualization through adequate learning and are able to actively control the learning activities independently. Puts emphasis on learning by observation of other people. Therefore, individuals learn from others in their environment. Role models are imperative in this case because they influence the behavior of those who look up to them. The theory stipulates that learning is context-dependent. This means that after learning, people make their own conclusions on over what was learned and develop personal meaning of the knowledge gained. It is an unstructured learning procedure that has recently been adapted by professionals. In this case, what is learnt by the workers is related to the work they do and not to other planned learning materials or procedures. Workers in organizational settings are able to learn informally through the daily activities they carry out. They can also learn from each other. Therefore, structured or planned training programs are not the only solutions to employee learning

Roman Britain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Roman Britain - Essay Example Others historians evidence the long-term effect of the Roman presence in Britain for three and a half centuries. Client kingdoms were established to speed up the process of Romanisation, whilst units of the army (legions and auxiliaries) were put in place at intervals to defend the frontiers from outside attack and to look inwards as ‘police forces’ and to act in the role of a ‘pioneer corps’ 2. Caesar’s incursions and Claudius’ invasion saw many successful changes in the relationship between Rome and the British tribes, which were largely based upon the inescapable fact that neither side could afford to ignore the other. Rome wanted at least a balance of pro- and anti-Roman forces in southern Britain, if for no other reason than to sustain conditions which would allow unimpeded progress towards Romanisation. Client kings were appointed or dismissed at the whim of the current emperor. The institution provides a good illustration of Rome’s traditional readiness to adapt to circumstances. Usually the king’s task was to form a buffer between Roman territory and potential enemies; within the borders of the imperial, however, he might be appointed to rule areas whose terrain made them difficult to police, as in Cilicia in Asia Minor, where a mountainous area known as Rough Cilicia seems to have been administered by client-kings through most of the Julio-Claudian period 3. Rome’s interest in these outer barbarian lands was confined at this time to the safety of their new province. The practice, continued from an earlier period, had been to seek protection of frontiers through friendly states. A special arrangement under the Roman method of patronage visualised the creation or recognition of kingdoms, the rulers of which had a client relationship with the Senate and people of Rome and, after Augustus, with the Emperors. It was the primary duty of the client rulers to prevent people beyond the frontier from

The treaty of guadalupe Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The treaty of guadalupe - Research Paper Example Therefore, this decision led to the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe in the late 1840s (Menchaca 215). Since Mexico lost its boundaries, it subsequently lost the current states of Arizona, California, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado including Wyoming. As a result, the country felt the need of finding a solution to compensate the entire loss. A meeting was thus held among commissioners from the two rival countries with the purpose of coming up with some brilliant ideas that would be used in coming up with the final solution (Acuna 123). History reveals that, Nicholas Trist (chief clerk of the State Department) and another American representative to President Polk (General Winfield) set off to meet their Mexican counterpart-General Jose Joaquin. The first meeting bore no fruits and not even a tiny resolution was brought to book (Schultz 422). The delegates to the meeting resolved to arrange for a second one, as their zeal to bring about peace was undoubtedly strong. When the time came , the delegates met a second time, and their talks were in vain lastly coming up without a solution. Failure to come with a long lasting solution meant no peace in the territories USA had acquired from the rival. Thus, USA sent Nicholas Trist for a third time, on the third meeting; he purposely went out to meet other leaders from the fallen government of Mexico. These were, Don Bernado Couto, Don Miguel de Atristain, and don Luis Gonzaga Cuevas. They were all government officials of a government, which in a way had fallen (Porterfield 5). In the treaty, fresh boundaries were set between the two countries, Mexico succeeded to win its bid on a number of territories namely, Alta California and Santa Fe de Nuejiijij o Mexico though not cited in entire treaty. Following the years of 1836, more and precisely straight boundaries were set in an attempt to avoid further war eruptions. The border consisted of Rio Grande at the northwest part with a successive stretch further north to border S anta Fe de Nuevo Mexico. Through the Gila River, to the west, the border took a straight dimension to the port of San Diego (Porterfield 17). This gave a more geographic outlook on the positions of various locations like the Lower California. Mexico realized that it was almost losing some important territories that had steered the occurrence of the war. By the time this realization came, the country had already lost quite a considerable piece of it land to remain on the current area of approximately 1,972,550  km?. as a result, United States succeeded in the seizure of Nevada, California, and Utah with its boundaries cutting further to western parts of New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming. At the long run, USA had claimed an additional land of 1.36 million km? naming it the Mexican cession. In accordance to Adams-Onis’ treaty relating to the boundary, Mexico recovered only 45% of the regions fought for. Mexicans agreed in the treaty that Rio Grande would be the Texas border (M enchaca 219). Nicholas Trist and Winfield Scott of the U.S.A conducted the negotiations and drafting of the treaty with the Mexicans since further war would ultimately bear no fruits. This happened in defiance of President’s Polk orders to fight further in an attempt to claim more territories. Trist presented the treaty to the â€Å"House of Senate† in his country U.S.A for complements (Acuna 248). The

Human Growth and development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Human Growth and development - Essay Example In mono-cultural classrooms, this theory is often ignored but when students have to interact with other students belonging to other cultures in the same classroom, then the acquiring of learning where cultures are preserved at the same time becomes extremely important. Bringing different social groups belonging to different ethnic background under one single educational focus is something supported by Vygotsky’s theory. Students learn to interact with different cultures and this adds to their cognitive development which would never have occurred in a mono-cultural classroom. Also, the collaborative work environment within the classrooms has many social effects which facilitate the students’ learning process and aids in their cognitive development. The teachers and more capable peers also aid in placing the student’s learning into the zone of proximal development or expanding it through scaffolding since it helps the learner to solve tasks in less time with assist ed learning. Today’s educational system can also be facilitated through the use of technology and enhanced scaffolding techniques which reduces the need for assisted learning. Works Cited Kozulin, Alex. Vygotsky’s Educational Theory in Cultural Context. UK: Cambridge University Press, 2003.

Overcoming Multimedia Addiction Essay Example for Free

Overcoming Multimedia Addiction Essay Some of the students nowadays are struggling to stay awake while the rest of the world is asleep just to read their friends’ posts and comments and status on Facebook. They even spend most of their time staring at the big screens of their personal computers just to play online games like DOTA and Counterstrike. Some also spend their money just to buy the latest mobile phones, mp3 players, and other techno gadgets out there. However, they must keep in mind that everything has its own limits. Otherwise, it can become a cause of concern and in extreme cases, addiction. Multimedia addiction can cause destruction and violence to students. Multimedia is simply defined as multi tasking of applications in a single device or gadget. This includes graphics, animation, pictures, videos, and other applications which can be opened simultaneously or consecutively. Smart phone, laptop, iPod, television, and mp4 player are some of many multimedia gadgets that are ‘in’ especially to students because of its amazing features. Consider the television. Whether it is a box, slim, or flat screen, it has become almost like another member of the household. It sits in the living room, in the kitchen, or even in the terrace of your house. It bombards us with all kinds of information about almost anything under the sun. It informs us on what laundry soap to use; what toothpaste to brush our teeth with, or which candidate to vote in the 2013 election. It brings us local news and news from around the world. And of course, it entertains us with sports, music, movies, telenovelas, lifestyle segments and variety programs. Cellular phones, on the other hand, are used for communication purposes. But because of technological advancements, new applications like built- in cameras are added to them. That’s why many people patronize it so much. Laptops are made for easy handling. Unlike personal computers, you can now bring it anywhere because of its small size. Almost every student today has his or her own laptops. The dependence on multimedia gadgets extend to students who became the primary beneficiaries of these gadgets. Tech- net survey said that 42 % of students are using mobile phones, 36 % are using laptop, 15 % are using play station, and 7 % are using mp3 players (â€Å"2012 Most Addicting Gadgets†, www. Technet.com). The use of multimedia gadgets can be constructive and destructive to students (Despabiladeras 15). Many of them consider the use of these gadgets constructive when they help them in their studies. Today, the internet is the major source of knowledge and information. In just one click, they can now find the answers to their assignments. They also use software like Microsoft office and the like for their project presentation. Many schools now use computer oriented techniques for teaching. The traditional way of teaching like writing too many lessons in a manila paper is already replaced by powerpoint presentations which are indeed favorable for the students. They no longer copy too many notes because there are handouts already prepared for them. Multimedia also gives information about the latest happenings and discoveries around the world. The use of social media sites like Facebook allows them to socialize with other people. Some also say that playing online games like DOTA and Counte rstrike have positive effects on them because they relieve stress from the hectic schedule of their schooling. In contrary, students say that multimedia gadgets can be destructive too. Problems begin when students became addicted to these gadgets to the point of discarding other activities which can truly affect their balance and studies (www. Gadgetforums.com). Because of these gadgets, they now prefer playing games that reading books. In most schools, use of cellular phones is banned but many of the students still carry them. They push their parents to buy them the latest mobile phone or other gizmos because their peers use it. The effect of this addiction is that they can no longer resist themselves from taking calls and accessing Facebook and other social networking sites during school hours. â€Å"The use of gadgets can be destructive when it makes your personality bad like when you become wild because of video games†, Bryan Capus said ( Despabiladeras 15). They forgot to budget their time because most of their time are consumed by these gadgets. The overuse of these also affects their health. Too much exposure to these gadgets can cause diseases like brain tumor and cancer caused by radiation (â€Å" Radiation From Gadgets†, www. Healthcare.com). They are prone to sickness because they no longer engaged in outdoor activities. It is alarming to know that 47 % of students nowadays are addicted to computers and other multimedia gadgets ( Despabiladeras 16.). Their parents have a big role in overcoming their children’s addiction. For example, most of the students are advised or told by their parents to limit their internet surfing time until 8:30 p.m. or 9:00 p.m. or but not to reach 10:00 p.m. as they have classes the next day ( Clifford 72). Some also advice their children to engage in other recreational activities like playing basketball or playing the guitar instead of watching T.V. or sitting all day in front of their PCs. One parent posted the following on gadgetforums.com: In today’s high- tech and modern world, we are all connected with each other through the miracle of working inventions and innovations like PC, tablets, smart phones, gaming, internet and so much more. And I think we feel that we won’t have a normal day without getting hooked to any one of these devices. The problem begins to rise when our children became addicted to these gadgets to the point of discarding other activities which can truly affect their balance and health. To avoid this, I try to ensure my son has balance in this area. Playing team sports has helped, that’s one thing in his like that doesn’t require gadget. Sports is one of the best ways to add moving activities to a child’s routine with the aim of creating a certain balance between studying and playing. We could not really avoid our children to get into gadgets as this is the wave of the future with the introduction of tablets which can he fully integrate with schools in the near fu ture ( www.gadgetforums.com). According to gadgetforums.com, there are eight ways to overcome gadget addiction. First, limit the amount of time you spent on any type of gadget. Second, learn to balance and manage your time. Make a time table on when to use your gadget. Third, spend most of your time in your studies. This will give you higher grades in return. Fourth, read books rather than playing games. Surfing the internet for recent news and discoveries will help too. Fifth, spend your free time with your family and friends. Go to an outing of family reunion that doesn’t require gadgets. Sixth, socialize with your true friends, not your ‘virtual’ friends. Your Facebook friends will never help you if you have a problem. Seventh, avoid buying newly released gadgets if you still have one that is still working. And the last is self discipline. It is interesting to know the opinions of students on multimedia gadget addiction; whether it is constructive or destructive for them and what their parents do in influencing their media habits. To prevent this addiction, students should analyze their gadget preferences and see what’s good of bad in it for them. They must set in mind that multimedia gadgets is there to help them, not to enslave them.

Analysis Of Empathy And Sympathy

Analysis Of Empathy And Sympathy In relationships, people were around often found something unpleasant emotional problem sometimes or needs to be understood by someone, then how to deal with these situations. Empathy is the cognitive process of identifying with or vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another. (Verderber, 2004, p. 211). Empathy is an important element in understanding and maintaining good interpersonal relationships. Therefore, empathy is tried to understand and experience that other people experience what is the kind of understanding. Sympathy and empathy are different, that is change the role of empathy seek to understand each others experience, feeling, thoughts and attitudes. When empathizing, there was representative the position of the position has already been converted in another persons place to try understand what is happening to other. But that will might find it difficult to avoid making judgments when is listen to someone elses problem, it is fail to empathize with others, however, that is also fail to understanding with other. So that have to exactly what must do to listen with empathy and more approaches or how to improving. (Seiler, 2005, p. 150). In the addition, when empathizing, empathy has identified some different approaches that people can use. That is empathic responsiveness, perspective taking, and sympathetic responsiveness. Firstly, Empathic responsiveness is experiencing an emotional response parallel to another persons actual or anticipates display of emotion. (Verderber, 2004, p. 211). For example, when employer tells employee will lose their job, employee will have experienced empathic responsiveness. Employer should be senses the sadness of that employee, that deeply sad feeling is the feels of employee. The empathic responsiveness approach is the most easy to use, when people have a close or intimate relationship with other person, they will have a strong relationship bond between each other, which can identify more easily with the others feelings, emotion and experiences it along with other. So back to the example, if they have a good relationship between employer and employee, the employer may know what the e mployee is feeling. The position of the employer should understands and feelings the employee feel, employer has to empathy the feelings of employee is loses their jobs. Clearly understanding of feelings of employee is a point of a successful employer must be known. So in general, empathic responsiveness is most easily with close person with each other. (Verderber, 2004, p. 211). Secondly, perspective taking is one of approaches to empathy, that defined is imagining yourself in the place of another. (Verderber, 2004, p. 212). That means is with another position of imagination, consider the situation of other, feelings of others is expected, and then assume that other people will feel similarly. For example, imagine if the employer was fires, and is expected to what the experience of their emotions if that is happens, the employer will be feelings same with that employee, then that is using empathizing by perspective taking. Sympathetic responsiveness is the one of approaches to empathy, a feeling of concern, compassion, or sorrow for another because of the situation is the defined. (Verderber, 2004, p. 212). Sympathetic responsiveness is differs with other two approaches before. That is no attempt to experience and understand each others feelings or imagine be in the place of another, however, that is rather focus on emotionally understanding what the speakers has said and experience feelings of concern, compassion, or sorrow for the that person. (Verderber, 2004, p. 212). For example, if the employer have sympathy and understanding of employee when employee is feels like embarrassed and worried, and also trying to feels emotions or experience of employee, employer will feels concern and compassion for that employee, relationship for both of them will be build up to each other . So these three approaches will be able to make accurate judgments in the cognitive process of identifying with or vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and attitudes of another. Beside that, empathizing is hard to communication with other from different culture, especially with strangers. So empathic listening will improve the ability to empathize. Listening skills also is including one of approaches. Listening with empathy occurs when have listened to what someone else is experiencing and seek to understand that persons thoughts and feelings. (Seiler, 2005, p. 149). The most effective way is by listening to feelings of other people to want to hear the voice inside the heart, which try to understand and know what it was, people or things from the perspective of others to feel and reflect these feelings back. (Hybels, 2001, p.85). So what is the procedure of empathizing, show respect for the person by actively attending to what the person says; concentrate on observing and understanding both the verbal and nonverbal messages, using paraphrases and perception checking to the aid; experience an emotional response parallel to another persons actual or anticipate d display of emotion, imagine yourself in the place of the person, feel concern, compassion, or sorrow for the person because situation or plight. (Verderber, 2004, p. 215). Furthermore, empathy is as important as element of effective interpersonal communication and the listener also is very important too. And empathy is closely related with a listener task, listeners task have to be put away their own feelings and prejudices as those of others to listen what they speaker talking about. Listener must be to do this, listener need to know and understand what the feeling by speakers say out their mind is and listen carefully the speakers say what had happened, and then comforting sympathy or encouragement to help find a solution of the problem. (Hybels, 2001, p.85). Identify the emotions is often the most difficult part for listener, listener needs to listen carefully and know what the speaker is really saying that real meaning. For example, an employee in the matter of unhappy encounter some setbacks, the employee is too excited that wanted to kill the employer. That employee said that apparently has no plans to kill the employer. In the case, it is reason able to assume that the speaker is feeling angry. If someone responded to that employee, or someone will try to replace the role of that employee to think, let that employee to say out what has happened, there might the tragedy will not happen. Moreover, listeners task besides listen attentively, also want to use an empathic-listening response way to reach is through paraphrasing, restating the other persons thoughts or feelings in the words. Back to the example, let the employee say out the whole story, listener is no need to respond with more or specific, just wants to be listened to, and show the interest and concern if listener listen and look sympathetic, let the employee finish the whole story, and discover other feelings in addition to anger. This response not only helps identify the feelings; it also helps find out whether the hearing accurately and shows that is paying attention. A paraphrasing response provides a mirror for the other persons remarks. (Hybels, 2001, p. 86). Again, sometimes listener just listening for peoples feeling and explains how to solve the problem. People are feel better when their after frequently want to vent their feelings, but sometimes just listening is not enough. The last one in empathic listening is to give the person a chance to work out the problem. Empathic listening is includes helping the other person find a way to solve the problem. In the case of that employee, the important has to solve the problem. So listener has to use the good attitudes to help that employee and have the ability to help that employee to deal with the problem. To be a good listener is required to taking on more responsibility and rather focusing on solution with that employee, also have to try focusing on feeling and listening empathically, so that is the responsibility of a good listener. (Hybels, 2001, p. 87). Therefore, everyone also a different point of view but they only stand at their own angel to see their own view. They are not use the time to assess property; it is very easy to make assumptions and jump to conclusion. This often leads to misunderstandings, bad feelings, conflict, poor morale and even divorce. Without empathy, people do not feel heard ad understood. So empathy is so important on our daily life. Beside that, empathy also so important in the workplace, if without empathy, people will not thought other persons feeling, thought and attitudes, and also including all experience moods, pain and hurt, joy and sadness. To be a leaders must seriously using the empathy to understand what the person is thinking or feeling by not trying to change or amend, and empathy to solve the problems, understand what the person think or feel, people feel valued, they will feel safe. For the example, when the employees feel value, they are feeling safe. So that indicates employees are more p roductive when they are feel valued. In the following, we have to choose to improve, to care, to get out of own way, and to bridge the gaps between-generation, cultures, religions, socioeconomics, etc. So empathetic can help to manage and avoid disruptive and assault behaviors. The 5 simple steps have provided the speaker with that undivided attention. That is one time multi-tasking will get in the trouble; Second, Be non-judgmental, maximum or rise up the speakers issue; Third, read the speaker, observe the emotion behind the words. Is that the speaker afraid, frustrated, angry or resentful and respond to the emotion as well as the words. Four, be quiet, dont give an immediate reply, often if aloe foe some quiet after the speaker has vented, they themselves will break the silence and offer a solution; Last, assure understanding, ask about clarifying questions and restate what the speaker to be saying; That is the following these simple steps will place in a better situation for addressing the key issue. Next, is followed by how to improve the empathy skills in interpersonal communication. First, stop to recognize other peoples emotions, empathy is the ability to share in their emotional experience. There are some people who have an easier time observing connecting to another persons emotions, and there is some evidence that some people have a genetic predisposition to being empathetic. For example, understanding emotional states of others will helps deepen their understanding. It helps to create the connections that are sharing in the experience. Second is imagine yourself in their position, that is once recognize what the other person feels, empathy requires that feel what are they are feeling. The means you need to put yourself in their position. But it doesnt mean you put yourself in their position in the logical sense of word. There have the ability helps create the connection and the foundation of trust. Third one is listen and accept their interpretation. Emotional intelligenc e and empathy requires the ability to listen to others and to accept that their interpretation of events, facts, or ideas is true for them. To truly exercise that empathy and that emotional intelligence, there have to be listen without immediately passing judgment on the facts or the meaning of what is being said. They have to accept their interpretation as being valid and worthwhile. That was sped a lot of time trying to change peoples minds and trying to move people from taking no action to taking action. Empathy and emotional intelligence allow to suspend the mind changing until that have built the connection that will allow to work with their point if view. Four is pause between stimulus and response and consider the outcome. Leading others and changing minds means that not only have to exercise these skills with others, and also have to emotions. Before that cans manage the emotions of others, that had to be able to manage their own emotions. One of the most powerful ways to de al with highly emotionally charged events is to simply pause before responding. Use pause to decide hoe that response will help or hurt that achieving the outcome that need. Dont focus on the emotion; focus on a response that moves you closer to you needed outcome. And the last is use emotions to drive action. Negative emotions to create a case for change and to drive their teams to take actions and positive emotions to build high-performing cultures that believe that by user will be can succeed. In the conclusion, these attributes combine to generate trust and confidence, and they are the foundation of long-term relationships. Remember it is better to learn how to become an empathetic person. Your communication skills will only become better. You social awareness will only become better. Your ability to relate to other people and understand their point of views will become much better. No one says changing is easy, but when you know there is something you need to change about yourself, taking the steps necessary is a good idea