Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Ethical Health Care Organization Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Ethical Health Care Organization - Case Study Example Again, I strongly believe that if I want my organization to be based on ethics than I have to lead and set an example for everyone. Unless, I am performing my duties based on ethics and values, I cannot expect others to do so. Setting up tone at the top level- For me to believe and wish that my employees should followed strong values and ethics; I have to lead the group. If I adhere to the highest standards of behavior, the rest of employees are more likely to follow suit. In building ethics from the onset- To ensure that the organization is built on strong foundation of ethics, I would like to communicate company's ethics and value and imbibe them in all the employees from the time they are hired. Providing safe channels for employees to report wrong doing- Unless employees are sure of privacy and confidentiality, they will be scared of stepping ahead and informing the management of any sort of wrong doing. I will have to make sure that the company has safe channels to report any kind of wrong doings or violations. Formed a year ago, EDS is a profit organization that aims to become a pioneer in providing health care services, which can be helpful to medical practices in improving their efficiency, maximize their revenue potential, and increase operational control. EDS provides back office services t... Providing safe channels for employees to report wrong doing- Unless employees are sure of privacy and confidentiality, they will be scared of stepping ahead and informing the management of any sort of wrong doing. I will have to make sure that the company has safe channels to report any kind of wrong doings or violations. Now few things about the Organization- EDS Formed a year ago, EDS is a profit organization that aims to become a pioneer in providing health care services, which can be helpful to medical practices in improving their efficiency, maximize their revenue potential, and increase operational control. EDS provides back office services to the medical practitioners all across the US from scheduling an appointment to processing the insurances. This helps the medical practices to focus on their real work- that is patient care. The company has a unique web based application- Synerios that provides an integrated set of tools for medical billing, collections, transcription, document management, electronic medical records, online medical supply purchasing, and business office staffing and health information exchange. The company's application- Synerios is based on the model that medical practices using this application do not need a big IT staff or a large upfront investment. Our staff takes care of the technology for clients. All that is required by clients is high-speed Internet access, computer, and a scanner to become a more efficient and profitable practice. The company even provides trainings to the client's staff on using the application efficiently and conveniently Plus EDS has 24 * 7 support staff to take care of

Monday, October 28, 2019

Education-Benchmark Assessment Essay Example for Free

Education-Benchmark Assessment Essay Several theories explain the concept of Early Childhood Education (ECE). Deiner (2013) describes that all of them share the same opinion that an early childhood educator is extremely essential in the development of a childs intellectual and educational abilities. It is also commonly agreeable among the theories that the early childhood education can have a great impact in the life of an individual since education is progressive, and each stage leads to a higher one. However, there are some contradictions in the theories, which regard to some aspects of ECE. For instance, some studies feel that the intellectual development depends on the genes of the child as acquired from the parents. Other studies hold a different opinion, that the environment plays a great role in ECE. Some assert that both the environment and the biological play a great role in early childhood development. This study is based on the fact that the educator is part of the environment in which the child is subjected to, and all children can learn. The educator has several roles that make them have a great impact on a child. An early childhood educator has the responsibility to ensure that a child gains as much knowledge as possible depending on the level of the child, where the level is to a large extent determined by the age of the child. A child spends most of the waking time with the educator. There are differences presented by the various personalities of children. As a result, each child should be treated differently from the other by the educator. As a result, the educator needs to have sufficient knowledge on how to  understand each child, so that each child gains maximally. The educator defines the environment in which a child lives in school. It is agreeable that children have some common interests. For instance, most studies point out that using objects in educating children in grade three or lower can have on enhancing their knowledge by having them relate to things they frequently use. This means that the environment needs to have various objects and pictorial presentations for more effective learning. There are other considerations that the educator needs to be aware of, such as ensuring that the relationship among students themselves and between the educator and children is supportive to the education to be acquired. An early childhood educator deals with children who might not be much exposed, and they are open to what they are learn. It is clear from this essential role of educators that they should be having some personal characteristics. Grotewell Burton (2008) explains that one of them is that the educator should be role model to the children. In addition, the educator should maintain a healthy lifestyle since children are much vulnerable to communicable illnesses. The use of clear communication is also relevant, not only to convey information to the children, but also because it can affect the childrens communication skills as well. Moreover, the educator needs to work closely with the children, their parents and the fellow educators so that they can learn more about each child. This means that sometimes they are involved in settling conflicts between the children and families. The role as the professional in the teaching and learning of children is achieved through several ways. One of them is by the educators developing and implementing programs that are designed to meet the childrens physical, intellectual, social, emotional, developmental and cultural needs and interests. The programs are basically considerate on a play environment. The programs also consider the age of the children. The educator can improvise some of the equipment that can be needed by the children. Secondly, the role can be attained by building the childrens interpersonal and social skills. Positive self-concept can also be achieved by having the educator  establishing positive guidelines that let the children to feel comfortable, safe and secure. Third, as aforementioned, constant communication with the other stakeholders in ECE, mostly the parents, should be considered. Forth, activities that actively involve the children ensure that the children gain maximally. Such activities could include outdoor play, various play experiences, snacks and meals as well as field trips (Deiner, 2013). The child educator also plays a role as an advocate on behalf of children. The educator is expected to understand children in general. Sometimes, children can be presented by challenges that they cannot easily express verbally to the relevant authorities. This means that they can suffer silently over issues such as domestic violence, bullying and lack of basic commodities. The educator has sufficient knowledge to realize a child who is having some pressing issues. Some children can gain the confidence and trust to open up to the educator, virtues that the educator should possess. The educator could as a result gain information that could not be realized by the parents and other people close to the children. Bhavya (2007) feels that children might not be sure on how to approach these issues. Some may be living in fear of exposing how they feel. However, the educator is in a better position to assist. For instance, the educator can ensure that the bullies in the educational institution are warned against it in the best way possible. The educator can be aware on how they can assist when cases of violence where a child is a direct or indirect victim are presented, such as involving lawful measures as well as talking with the parents and guardians of the children. Children whose parents cannot sufficiently offer basic needs can have their needs sought from other sources. Therefore, the educator represents the children in cases where the child might be unable to express themselves. Educators should work with the mentality that all children can learn. Learning involves various aspects of gaining knowledge, and not exclusive to study of books. It involves interpersonal and communication skills. Children are also expected to learn values that are generally acceptable in the society. Each child consequently needs to learn. In addition, each child has  the capability to learn. Although there can be variances in the capabilities, children are able to continually gain knowledge on the aspects noted. The educator should understand how much each child can contain. Moreover, it is relevant to know exactly what a child needs in order to learn. For instance, some children could require frequent reminders and assignments so that they can understand some concepts (Grotewell Burton, 2008). As the different aspects of learning are concerned, there needs to be various assessments to test the success of each. Apart from the writing and reading skills, tests such as etiquette, posture and arts can be conducted regularly. Although the tests might not be recordable, an educator who clearly understands each of the students can clearly tell whether there is progress in the development of a child. The assessment practices should ensure that the children gain from the basics to the complex contents so that all children can learn (Bhavya, 2007). Technology currently plays a role in the education to young children. Educators are increasingly using technology due to the several benefits it has in enhancing gaining of knowledge among them. There are equipments that have been developed with an aim to create fun as children learn. For instance, counting machines are attractive to the children, and they can enjoy using it. The technologically developed equipments are also safe and easy to use. This means that the children can learn some things on their own after being guided by the educator. Some technology can be used in displaying information that could not be better displayed in any other means. Photos that are presented in screens can be relevant in showing children objects that can help them to learn. Technology also reduces costs in teaching children. For instance, a trip to view some objects in far places can be avoided by having the objects displayed. Therefore, technology is significant in teaching children (Morgan, 2011). The environment is crucial in the teaching and learning among children  between birth and grade three. It affects the emotional, intellectual, psychological and physical aspects of a child. The environment concerns several things, but most importantly the people who interact with the children. The environment should support learning, and it could contain learning inhibiting factors, or can contain motivating ones. If the environment does not support learning, the child cannot concentrate. Children are much likely to put more focus on issues that constantly happen to them. For instance, if they are being physically or emotionally abused, they cannot gain much in the learning process (Morgan, 2011). Children are much motivated by some aspects in the environment. One of them is the availability of ample playing space. Since the children gain a lot when playing, space and equipment provided by the environment can enhance their learning greatly. The environment can also be motivating by just being safe for the children. Therefore, the environment is crucial in the learning of children. References Bhavya, M. S. (2007). _Early childhood education_. Delhi [India: Kalpaz Publications. Deiner, P. L. (2013). _Inclusive early childhood education: Development, resources, practice_. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Grotewell, P. G., Burton, Y. R. (2008). _Early childhood education: Issues and developments_. New York: Nova Science Publishers. Morgan, H. (2011). _Early childhood education: History, theory, and practice_. Lanham, Md: Rowman Littlefield.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Aphra Behn and the Changing Perspectives on Ian Watt’s The Rise of the

Aphra Behn and the Changing Perspectives on Ian Watt’s The Rise of the Novel Ian Watt’s The Rise of the Novel (1957) remains one of the most influential texts in the study of the English novel. However, an increasingly strong case for a revision of both the work itself and the discourse it personifies has been gradually building over the past twenty years. While the initial stages of, first, feminist and, later, post colonial perspectives may have sought only to insert marginalised texts into the existing literary discourse, their long term ramifications are obliging a wider analysis of how we approach the English novel and the manner in which we link it to its surrounding culture. Its exploration reveals the methods with which we trace our histories, what we choose to include and exclude the positions from which we do so. A key to the structure of this discourse lies in the critical fortunes of Aphra Behn, from her feminist ‘rediscovery’ in the early eighties, through the post colonial informed revisions of the early nineties, and into th e rising push for the redefinition of literary history. The complications that have surrounded her indicate the merits and failures of the study of the novel, providing avenues for the development of the discourse as a whole. In approaching such issues one will invariably need to begin with Ian Watt. David Blewett claims that The Rise of the Novel casts a shadow â€Å"so long that general studies of the early novel are still written in its shade† (p.141). Its central â€Å"realization that the novel’s rise has long been a defining feature of the modern world† (Carnochan, p.184) seems to remain largely unchallenged. On similar terms Michael Seidal argues that ‘Watt’s greater contribution remains his ... ...t American Novel: Aphra Behn’s Oroonoko† Nineteenth-Century Fiction v38 n4 (1984) 384‑414. Todd, Janet, â€Å"Behn’s Fiction and the Restoration Letter† Eighteenth-Century Fiction v12 n2-3 (2000) 391–416. ——, The Secret Life of Aphra Behn (London: Andre’ Deutsch, 1996). Warner, William B, Licensing Entertainment: The Elevation of Novel Reading In Britain, 1684–1750 (Berkeley, University of California Press, 1998). ——, â€Å"Staging Readers Reading† Eighteenth-Century Fiction v12 n2‑3 (2000) 391–416. Watt, Ian, The Rise of the Novel: Studies in Defoe, Richardson and Fielding (London: Chatto and Windus, 1957). Woolf, Virginia, A Room of One’s Own (1929; rpt, Triad/Panther Books: Frogmore, 1977). Wyrick, Laura, â€Å"Facing up to the Other: Race and Ethics in Levinas and Behn† Eighteenth Century: Theory and Interpretation v40 i3 (1999) 206‑220.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Fantasys Integral Role In The Creation Of A Killer :: essays research papers fc

Fantasy's Integral Role In The Creation Of A Killer Through out history seldom has an individual been able to hold a city in fear. Most times people will just either ignore the individual, let the police handle the situation, or call them wacko or crazy. But then there are the extreme cases. On this end of the scale people may have extreme mental problems or very strong motives, so extreme or so strong that they captivate an entire city or even nation. Jack the Ripper did it by killing and murdering five prostitutes. In recent times it has been people like Charles Manson and the Boston Strangler, who assaulted and murdered thirteen women keeping the entire city captivated in a state of fear. Serial Killers... Fantasy plays a very important role in creating and or modeling a serial killer and it is shown through remorse, uniform and weather or not they have or follow a trademarked style. All of these elements combined expose the fantasy portrayed by a serial killer. Pain, does a serial killer have or feel pain for their victims? Sometimes the killer may depending on the psychological state they are in. But then regarding the fact most serial killers grow up in violent households one might say that the killer does not or even can't feel remorse because violence is what they were brought up in and to believe is true so it is what they have been conditioned to believe. Or you could take the approach that the killer feels they are being threatened by their victims so they had to be removed from the picture altogether. Or finally it might be the killer is so mentally unstable that they have very little to no consciences awareness of what they are doing. But what if they do feel sorrow? Can a serial killer feel sorrow? One researcher says no. "The inner workings of the mind of a serial killer cannot grasp the feeling of any kind of sorrow or remorse". Therefore a serial killer is hate manifested into a physical state and may or may not have motives to kill. Serial killers may be killing For many reasons weather it be for revenge or whatever but one thing remains as a standard among killers you have to be smart to stay alive. Once you have that intellect comes avoidance from the law and your capture. One of the best cases of a extremely intelligent killer was the case of the Zodiac Killer in California. His uniform was to kill couples parked in cars, by shooting through the window with a .

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Advantages and Disadvantages of Education

Share on facebookShare on twitterShare on emailShare on pinterest_shareMore Sharing Services130 Knowledge is power and for those reading this article, at least a basic level of that power of education has been accessible. However there are instances in the world where the distribution of education is skewed. The advantages and disadvantages of education although seemingly quite clear can be explored to quite a detailed level.It is usually the benefits of education that are extolled from time to time and there is much strength in that argument since the one thing that separates man from animals is the ability to advance knowledge and expertise from one generation to the next. On the other hand some may argue about the difference between ‘having an education’ and ‘possessing knowledge’. Here we try and develop a debate about the advantages and disadvantages of education keeping in mind all points of view. Advantages of EducationHuman Capital – To build upon the previous point, when looked at from a macro perspective, an educated population provides a more valuable human capital base to the economy. A developed economy has maximum concentration of jobs in the tertiary sector which requires a highly skilled work force which has expertise in specific fields. For instance the most developed country in the world, the USA has the most skilled human resources with maximum efficiency. Also, developing countries which adopt tried and tested technologies from other nations require skilled engineers, technicians and managers who can put it to good use.This can only be achieved by providing quality education to the population at a primary, secondary and higher secondary level. Broadens perspective – This is one of the key advantages of education. Even if we consider economic benefit of education but its most important contribution that it helps in changing minds of people. Education makes people understand other cultures, religions, pl aces and culture. It helps gain understanding of what the world is all about. This very important if we see from perspective of developing nations which are plagued by old notions.In countries such as India girl and boy child are differentiated. Even worse women are considered cause of girl child while science tells that it is the other way round. Similar old style dogmas exists everywhere in the world and the only way to eradicate them is proper education. Hones potential – An education provides individuals with the ability to develop their potential to a much greater extent. Exposure to different fields and interests allows a person to choose between a number of options and hone in on the one field that they have the ability to excel in.This also helps develop interest in a number of other non-academic fields such as art, culture, music, all of which are important to have a wholesome life. It improves interaction between people and results in more efficient exchanges. Bette r job prospects – The conventional way of proceeding in life through the ages has been in four stages: childhood and education, putting knowledge to work by obtaining a career, raising a family, growing old and retiring from the daily conundrums of life.The logical step after the initial childhood years is to attend an educational institute and gather as much knowledge and information as possible for a better life in the future. This helps in developing a better base for securing a career later thus advancing the individual into the next phase of life. This helps in providing the basics such as food, water and shelter as well as a host of other needs. Thus, a better education will ensure higher returns and subsequently a better quality of life.Dispels inequality – For individuals who do not have a wealthy or fortunate background, the provision of quality education puts them at the same footing as the vast majority of job seekers allowing them to rise from their present level. This phenomenon, also known as distributive justice, helps in reducing inequalities, both economic and social, in society. The importance of education has been recognised by the international community as can be observed by the Right to Education Act which has been in existence since 1952 in the European Convention on Human Rights and obliges all signatories to guarantee the right to education.The United Nations’ International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1966 guarantees this right on a global scale. These facts display how seriously countries the world over have taken the aspect of education to be. Especially for developing countries, improving the quality of life of its population through education and all its subsequent effects is of utmost priority and has indeed been undertaken on a large scale by all such countries. Disadvantages of EducationThough it is widely accepted that education is essential for the growth and development of an indiv idual, the medium through which this is carried out can vary from one place to another. Some societies may be of the opinion that education can be transmitted just as well through unconventional media as it is through schools, colleges and other education institutes. In olden times knowledge was passed on over generations through learning on the job and elders’ stories; a formal route of attending school and college was not stressed upon. Here we explore some of the disadvantages of education.Status symbol – These days a quality education has become a means for discrimination. As if the regular economic and social barriers weren’t enough, now the level of education and place from where it has been obtained, have become valid grounds for looking down upon people. As has been claimed by an Ivy League graduate himself, an elite education has its own inadequacies. The atmosphere in which these ‘elite’ students are instructed and taught brings upon most a sense of false achievement and superiority which widens the chasm between members of society.People who attend other less prestigious schools are regarded with disdain and the entire concept of self-worth is derived from the grade or CGPA system. People are judged by the numbers they carry around – GPAs, ranks, grades which may not be a wholesome representation of who they are or what their potential is. Although it is no crime to nurture excellence, refraining from making it a criterion to judge people on is important. Restricts ideas – Some forms of education blindly impose ideas upon young minds instead of teaching them to think for themselves.The whole purpose of an education is to allow the learner to apply themselves to think bigger and better. However a faulty education system can do more harm than good in this respect. It can be argued that those without a formal education are more ready and equipped to handle a dog eat dog world. They may have gathered their knowledge from experience for which there is no substitute. Hence, unless the mode of education is wholesome and nurtures all aspects of an individual’s personality, it may not be as advantageous as expected.After exploring both aspects of the argument, it is safe to say that the advantages and disadvantages of education point toward one direction. Though it has its drawbacks, if implemented correctly, an education system is very helpful in improving the quality of human life. It helps in transmitting knowledge, skills, customs and values, all of which are essential in the development of an individual. Thus, this discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of education have led us to the conclusion that the importance of education far outweighs its negatives. ï » ¿Advantages and Disadvantages of Education Share on facebookShare on twitterShare on emailShare on pinterest_shareMore Sharing Services130 Knowledge is power and for those reading this article, at least a basic level of that power of education has been accessible. However there are instances in the world where the distribution of education is skewed. The advantages and disadvantages of education although seemingly quite clear can be explored to quite a detailed level.It is usually the benefits of education that are extolled from time to time and there is much strength in that argument since the one thing that separates man from animals is the ability to advance knowledge and expertise from one generation to the next. On the other hand some may argue about the difference between ‘having an education’ and ‘possessing knowledge’. Here we try and develop a debate about the advantages and disadvantages of education keeping in mind all points of view. Advantages of EducationHuman Capital – To build upon the previous point, when looked at from a macro perspective, an educated population provides a more valuable human capital base to the economy. A developed economy has maximum concentration of jobs in the tertiary sector which requires a highly skilled work force which has expertise in specific fields. For instance the most developed country in the world, the USA has the most skilled human resources with maximum efficiency. Also, developing countries which adopt tried and tested technologies from other nations require skilled engineers, technicians and managers who can put it to good use.This can only be achieved by providing quality education to the population at a primary, secondary and higher secondary level. Broadens perspective – This is one of the key advantages of education. Even if we consider economic benefit of education but its most important contribution that it helps in changing minds of people. Education makes people understand other cultures, religions, pl aces and culture. It helps gain understanding of what the world is all about. This very important if we see from perspective of developing nations which are plagued by old notions.In countries such as India girl and boy child are differentiated. Even worse women are considered cause of girl child while science tells that it is the other way round. Similar old style dogmas exists everywhere in the world and the only way to eradicate them is proper education. Hones potential – An education provides individuals with the ability to develop their potential to a much greater extent. Exposure to different fields and interests allows a person to choose between a number of options and hone in on the one field that they have the ability to excel in.This also helps develop interest in a number of other non-academic fields such as art, culture, music, all of which are important to have a wholesome life. It improves interaction between people and results in more efficient exchanges. Bette r job prospects – The conventional way of proceeding in life through the ages has been in four stages: childhood and education, putting knowledge to work by obtaining a career, raising a family, growing old and retiring from the daily conundrums of life.The logical step after the initial childhood years is to attend an educational institute and gather as much knowledge and information as possible for a better life in the future. This helps in developing a better base for securing a career later thus advancing the individual into the next phase of life. This helps in providing the basics such as food, water and shelter as well as a host of other needs. Thus, a better education will ensure higher returns and subsequently a better quality of life.Dispels inequality – For individuals who do not have a wealthy or fortunate background, the provision of quality education puts them at the same footing as the vast majority of job seekers allowing them to rise from their present level. This phenomenon, also known as distributive justice, helps in reducing inequalities, both economic and social, in society. The importance of education has been recognised by the international community as can be observed by the Right to Education Act which has been in existence since 1952 in the European Convention on Human Rights and obliges all signatories to guarantee the right to education.The United Nations’ International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1966 guarantees this right on a global scale. These facts display how seriously countries the world over have taken the aspect of education to be. Especially for developing countries, improving the quality of life of its population through education and all its subsequent effects is of utmost priority and has indeed been undertaken on a large scale by all such countries. Disadvantages of EducationThough it is widely accepted that education is essential for the growth and development of an indiv idual, the medium through which this is carried out can vary from one place to another. Some societies may be of the opinion that education can be transmitted just as well through unconventional media as it is through schools, colleges and other education institutes. In olden times knowledge was passed on over generations through learning on the job and elders’ stories; a formal route of attending school and college was not stressed upon. Here we explore some of the disadvantages of education.Status symbol – These days a quality education has become a means for discrimination. As if the regular economic and social barriers weren’t enough, now the level of education and place from where it has been obtained, have become valid grounds for looking down upon people. As has been claimed by an Ivy League graduate himself, an elite education has its own inadequacies. The atmosphere in which these ‘elite’ students are instructed and taught brings upon most a sense of false achievement and superiority which widens the chasm between members of society.People who attend other less prestigious schools are regarded with disdain and the entire concept of self-worth is derived from the grade or CGPA system. People are judged by the numbers they carry around – GPAs, ranks, grades which may not be a wholesome representation of who they are or what their potential is. Although it is no crime to nurture excellence, refraining from making it a criterion to judge people on is important. Restricts ideas – Some forms of education blindly impose ideas upon young minds instead of teaching them to think for themselves.The whole purpose of an education is to allow the learner to apply themselves to think bigger and better. However a faulty education system can do more harm than good in this respect. It can be argued that those without a formal education are more ready and equipped to handle a dog eat dog world. They may have gathered their knowledge from experience for which there is no substitute. Hence, unless the mode of education is wholesome and nurtures all aspects of an individual’s personality, it may not be as advantageous as expected.After exploring both aspects of the argument, it is safe to say that the advantages and disadvantages of education point toward one direction. Though it has its drawbacks, if implemented correctly, an education system is very helpful in improving the quality of human life. It helps in transmitting knowledge, skills, customs and values, all of which are essential in the development of an individual. Thus, this discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of education have led us to the conclusion that the importance of education far outweighs its negatives.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Racial Profiling Essays - Offender Profiling, Race And Crime

Racial Profiling Essays - Offender Profiling, Race And Crime Racial Profiling The topic of racial profiling amongst minority individuals in the state of New Jersey has been a heated issue for the past several years. This department has been charged with numerous allegations of racism and is the main focus for racial based events in police departments nationwide. Although racial profiling amongst police officers in the state of New Jersey has been a major issue for many years, it has not been until recently that action has been taken in order to investigate the alleged profiling that has occurred. Hence, until recently, African American drivers on the New Jersey turnpike stood a much greater chance than white drivers being stopped by the state police for a random drug search.(Cohen) However, racial profiling is not only holding victims of minority simply on the road, but also minority-based officers within the department are being victimized as well. Moreover, the issue of racial profiling has been raised in the courts and will continue to be analyzed. On April 21, 1999 Governor Christie Todd Whitman spoke at a press conference in Newark, NJ. She stated that, - 1 - evidence of racial profiling is not something the state had any reason to anticipate.(Whitman) In contrast, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey stated, officials have been fighting this issue for more than five years. (ACLU) Moreover, Based on statistical evidence presented to the courts in 1994 and 1995, they found in a 1996 decision that a policy of racial profiling was in operation on the New Jersey Turnpike(Diamond). Moreover, the state has consistently disputed the courts' findings, yet up until one week before the state's appeal was to be argued in court, the state had dropped all charges of its appeal. In evidence, reports presented at trial in the case of State vs. Soto, it revealed that although African Americans comprised only 13.5% of drivers and 15% of the vehicles speeding along the stretch of the turnpike in South Jersey, they comprised 46.2% of the people stopped by the State Police. (Diamond) Furthermore, State vs. Soto was the case in which broke the ice when addressing the problem of racial profiling in New Jersey. After the case of State vs. Soto was ended in the courts, the U.S. Justice Department led allegations against the New Jersey State Police. In order to rectify the - 2 - situation, reports stated, the State Police do not consider race ethnicity or national origin in deciding who is stopped.(Cohen) Thus, in lieu of the accusations forced upon the state police the department, they were ordered to implement racial hiring quotas imposed by the U.S. Department of Justice. However when addressing this issue it was stated by Carson Dunbar, Superintendent of Policing in New Jersey that, many of the minority applicants still failed the easier application requirements. Furthermore, due to the rigorous accusations, officials implemented rules that required minority officers. However, they claim that they were unable to reach their quota due to their lack of qualified minority applicants. Hence, the statistical breakdown of the applicants in 1999 was as follows, out of 5,023 candidates, 57% were white, 18% black, 15% Hispanic and 3 % Asian.(Diamond) However, out of the 105 recruits that were selected for training , 85% were white, 10% Hispanic, 4% black, and 1% Asian.(Diamond) Consequently, under the terms of the legal agreement set forth by the Department of Justice, the state police were mandated to recruit at least 22% black candidates and 11% Hispanic. As figures above - 3 - state, even if combined black and Hispanic recruits, the number would still not amount to 22%. Thus, although legal documents are created, they are respectively not being implemented. Besides implementing new quota regulations on hiring, Christie Todd Whitman made the decision to replace 58 year old white Superintendent Williams with black FBI Agent Carson Dunbar Jr. who became the first minority to lead the states predominately white 2,700 member trooper force. Many still debate that the only reason Williams was replaced was to take the issue of racial profiling out of the limelight. Furthermore, about 4 months after firing Williams, Whitman echoed comments in a New York Times Magazine article that quoted her saying, troopers can use race as one of several factors

Monday, October 21, 2019

History of the Orchestra in the 19th 20th Century

History of the Orchestra in the 19th 20th Century This paper reviews the major developments of the symphony orchestra in the 19th and 20th century, with particular emphasis on the addition of certain instruments and the removal of others, as well as the influence of composer Ludwig von Beethoven, whose influence still endures. The paper also highlights the orchestral innovations of Russian born composer Igor Stravinsky from the period 1908 to 1919, and discusses his influence on the symphony orchestra through his works Fireworks, The Firebird, Petrushka, and The Rite of Spring.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on History of the Orchestra in the 19th 20th Century specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The long history of the symphony orchestra resembles a story of ever expanding creativity, with quite literally hundreds of artists contributing their personal innovation over centuries, to establish the symphony orchestra we know today. For the purposes of this paper, the focus will be fixed on the period of the 19th and 20th centuries. However, some background will help contextualize and narrow this broad and potentially unwieldy topic for the reader. This paper is organized as follows: section one will review the major developments of the symphony orchestra in the 19th and 20th century, with particular emphasis on the addition of certain instruments and the removal of others, as well as the influence of composer Ludwig von Beethoven, whose influence still endures. Section two follows the Russian born composer Igor Stravinsky from the period 1908 to 1919, and discusses his influence on the symphony orchestra through his works Fireworks, The Firebird, Petrushka, and The Rite of Spring. By the time the symphony orchestra’s fundamental make up was established in Beethoven’s time, composers continued to evolve its form in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Composers and innovators such as Beethoven set the precedent for future artists to c ompose more emotionally rich sonic arrangements, epic, highly moving, and resonating symphonies which stirred audiences then, as they do now. Beethoven also has been recognized as the progenitor of the fervent style of conducting that we expect to see from symphony orchestra conductors today. Equally, Igor Stravinsky’s works remain fresh, original, and imaginative pieces which made revolutionary use of the orchestra in his time, and produced some of the most explosive and ground-breaking symphonies in the 20th century.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Main Developments in the 19th Century Many of the developments of the 19th century, as far as the symphony orchestra is concerned, have been attributed to the composer Ludwig von Beethoven (Randel, 1986). As he created his nine symphonies, Beethoven simultaneously expanded the orchestra to suit his needs. In order to compose and perform the Fifth, Sixth, and Ninth Symphonies, Beethoven added the trombone to the orchestra, and exchanged the minuet for the scherzo (Randel, 1986). Interestingly, many biographers and aficionados of Beethoven conclude that his so-called Middle Period, characterized by incredible innovation, pain, and passion, including the Third through the Eight symphonies, owes much of its creative genius to Beethoven’s Herculean struggle with his progressive hearing loss (Cooper, 2000). One of the major advances that Beethoven affected in the symphony orchestra occurred when he began emphasizing wind instruments in his First symphony. Herein, Beethoven created what Cooper (2000) called a â€Å"new approach to orchestration in symphonies, where wind and strings were equal partners† (Cooper, 2000). The composer also became more and more interested in the use of the timpani. In the Fourth symphony, for example, Beethoven created what Cooper (2000) explains as â€Å"a new approach to the links between sections, † and a â€Å"raised profile of the timpani,† further â€Å"integrating the timpani into the thematic design† of the symphony orchestra (Cooper, 2000). Cooper also credits Beethoven with the creation of a much more passionate relationship between the orchestra and its conductor, as Cooper explains, â€Å"designed to draw out maximum expression from the orchestra [that] were in some ways far ahead of their time† (Cooper, 2000). Beethoven also added innovation to the style of music which symphony orchestras of his time played. Prior to Beethoven, many symphonies ended with a light finale, whereas Beethoven’s Fifth, Ninth, and Third symphonies introduced a â€Å"highly influential development of†¦finales†¦[that] function as a climax or apotheosis of all that has gone before†¦This shift in the center of gravity from the beginning to the end of the symphony†¦is designated by the term finale -symphony† (Randel, 1986). Beethoven was able to use the symphony orchestra in a way no other composer before had: to plumb the depths of emotion musically. The symphony orchestra, in Beethoven hands, became a means to depict â€Å"heroic character†¦struggle and ultimate triumph,† not to mention fear, anger, and loss (Randel, 1986). Beethoven’s â€Å"cyclic† approach to the symphony orchestra combined with his addition of the aforementioned instruments gave tremendous power to his compositions.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on History of the Orchestra in the 19th 20th Century specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Significantly, Beethoven adapted the orchestra to meet his creative needs, as opposed to bowing to the conventional standards of the symphony orchestra make up of his day and creating static, derivative works for a pre-existing orchestral model (Cooper, 2000). Beethoven’s w illingness to take these kinds of risks in turn laid the foundation for future composers, such as Stravinsky, to create similarly emotionally fiery pieces of music. Stravinsky The 19th century symphony orchestra saw an increase in the use of percussion within the symphony orchestra, according to Randel (1986), and this innovation was heavily influenced by â€Å"Berlioz’s pioneering use of percussion,† a tradition which Stravinsky paid homage to in many of his symphonies (Randel, 1986). Interestingly, Randel (1986) points to the influence of Beethoven’s earlier orchestral innovations in Stravinsky’s later works, especially the choral symphony works. Randel (1986) explains that one of the most vital innovations attributed to Beethoven was â€Å"the use of the chorus in his Choral Fantasy and Ninth Symphony†¦[which]†¦suggested a new concept of symphonic work with chorus that was pursued by many later composers in a variety of ways, from the use of a wordless chorus as adjunct to the orchestra†¦to the choral symphony† later used by Stravinsky (Randel, 1986). One of the first to draw attention to Stravinsky’s startling orchestral originality was author Aaron Copland in his seminal work Music and Imagination. Copland described Stravinsky as a â€Å"master of the orchestra†, and carefully delineated the extent of Stravinsky’s genius when describing The Rite of Spring: After 40 years [The Rite of Spring] remains the most astonishing orchestral achievement of the twentieth century. We must not underestimate the importance of the new rhythms and polytonal harmonies in the creation of this amazing orchestral sound†¦for the most part it depends on an unprecedented degree of virtuosity in the marshaling of orchestral forces. The pitting of energized strings and piercing woodwinds against the sharp cutting edge of brass, the whole underlined by an explosive percussive wallop†¦inaugurates a new era in orchestral practice (Copland, 1952). The Rite of Spring, which Stravinsky began composing in 1911, was initiated by one of the composer’s dreams. The Rite of Spring is perhaps Stravinsky’s most famous piece, in no small measure because it was met with outrage during its premiere in Paris in 1913. The performance produced a riot, punctuated by guests pummeling each other in the aisles and hisses, yet its controversy launched Stravinsky’s work onto the international scene (White, 1996).Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Stravinsky’s use of the orchestra became more and more personal and idiosyncratic as his career progressed. As his fame grew, he seemed more able, like Beethoven, to take certain calculated risks with the make up of the orchestra and to demand more from it (White, 1996). Also, as White suggests, earlier in his career, some of Stravinsky’s touring compositions had suffered some indignities, as the â€Å"scores of The Firebird, Petrushka, [and] The Rite of Spring were written for an orchestra of nearly a hundred players – a formidable requisite when there was no resident full scale orchestra [where] the company was visiting – and occasionally some very bad musical performances resulted† (White, 1996). As a result, White (1996) suggests, Stravinsky began to â€Å"search for the right combination of instruments† (White, 1996). The composer also began to experiment with the size of the orchestra and become extremely specific as to which instrumen ts were included in the symphony orchestra make up (White, 1996). An example occurred when Stravinsky adapted The Nightingale as a â€Å"symphonic poem for orchestra† (White, 1996). Stravinsky â€Å"chose a slightly smaller orchestra for the purpose†¦with double instead of triple woodwind, and other instruments scaled down in proportion†¦[and] also changed his attitude to the principle of orchestration† (White, 1996). Stravinsky became fascinated with diminutive groups of instruments, or instruments by themselves, which drew attention to certain sounds at key moments in the symphony, while simultaneously underscoring the absence of others (White, 1996). The result, according to White (1996), was that the orchestra no longer served as â€Å"padding, or merely to fill in and inflate† (White, 1996). Rather, says White (1996), Stravinsky’s individual attention to instruments in the orchestra created â€Å"a purer palette of instrumental colours, li ghter orchestral texture, greater variety and contrast in the use of tones, and less insistence on the importance of blend† (White, 1996). Stravinsky appeared to have a somewhat antagonistic relationship with the orchestra. He seemed always to want to challenge it, to test its limits, and even its patience. This fact is made evident in Stravinsky’s own correspondence. When discussing his work Petrushka, Stravinsky wrote that he â€Å"wanted to refresh myself by composing an orchestral piece in which the piano would play the most important part†¦I had in mind a distinct of a puppet, suddenly endowed with life, exasperating the patience of the orchestra with diabolical cascades of arpeggios† (Hill, 2000). Another of Stravinsky’s innovations occurred, similar to Beethoven, when he used the symphony orchestra differently, according to his creative needs and the needs of the particular symphony. As White (1996) points out, Stravinsky often called for a sym phony orchestra and yet deliberately avoided using all of the instruments: Although a big symphony orchestra (with triple woodwind) is specified, the full orchestra is hardly ever used as such. Even at important climaxes†¦certain instruments are withheld, particularly those that are going to be heard immediately after the climax, and this helps to lighten the texture and refresh the ear†¦[Stravinsky] uses the symphony orchestra both as a symphony orchestra and as a chamber orchestra, and a considerable part of the musical argument is carried out by small groups of instruments or single instruments conversing on chamber music lines† (White, 1996). Stravinsky’s Fireworks, composed in 1908, was described by White (1996) as a â€Å"fantasy for large orchestra,† one that contained the â€Å"timpani, triangle, cymbals, big drum, celesta, campanelli, two harps, and strings† (White, 1996). In Fireworks, according to White (1996), Stravinsky overcame his last creative hurdle and â€Å"broke away from the four-plus- four-plus four-plus-four barring that had given his previous works a stamp of monotony, and for the first time achieved a satisfactory degree of asymmetry† (White, 1996). Fireworks was praised for its â€Å"compact, explosive force† and â€Å"whirling movement† (White, 1996). In Fireworks, Stravinsky makes full use of the brass section, particularly the trumpets that â€Å"echo the horns bar by bar,† as well as the woodwinds, all of which culminates in a â€Å"series of instrumental explosions† (White, 1996). The Firebird, composed from 1909 through 1910 in St. Petersburg, Russia, is an example of Stravinsky’s thematic use of the orchestra to create emotion. Based on Russian fairy tales, the music that Stravinsky composed for The Firebird had to somehow â€Å"differentiate in musical terms between the natural and supernatural elements† (White, 1996). To achieve this, Stravi nsky used the orchestra to associate â€Å"the human element†¦with diatonic themes and the magical element with chromatic arabesques of an oriental character† (White, 1996). In conclusion, the 19th and 20th centuries saw tremendous innovation in the area of the orchestra. Part of this innovation happened in standard ways: orchestras were scaled back or plumped up according to individual composer’s needs, instruments were added, deleted, held back, or substituted, percussion became more prevalent, and largely as a result of Beethoven’s earlier innovations in the 18th century, the emotional palette of the symphonies themselves became richer and dealt with more complex ranges of emotions. However, another innovation began in the 20th century, mostly under the influence of composer Igor Stravinsky, wherein the relationship with the orchestra became more personal and more demanding. As the complexity of Stravinsky’s compositions intensified, he proved tha t the orchestra itself could be manipulated to serve the composer’s artistic vision. References Cooper, B. (2000). Beethoven. New York NY: Oxford University Press. Copland. A. (1952). Music and Imagination. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Hill, P. (2000). Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Randel. D.M. (1986). The Harvard Dictionary of Music. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Spitzer, J. Zaslaw, N. (2004). The Birth of the Orchestra: History of an Institution: 1650-1815. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. White, E. W. (1996). Stravinsky: The Composer and his Works. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Asian Families essays

Asian Families essays Being the biggest continent in the world, Asia contains about 60% of the worlds population and growing each year. Though China, and India are two of the most populated countries in the world, having about 30% of the worlds population, there are about two-fifths of the countries that have less than five million habitants. Though forty-two different countries make up this great continent, much of the similarities are family values. Customs and traditions might be different, however, western ideas and influences have wiped out many of those customs and created new ones in most of the countries in Asia. Even in comparison from country to country, the new ways and ideas are similar. The basic Asian family would be the same as in any family in comparison to the rest of the world. Patriarchy families are more popular amongst many Asian families. It is believed that the man is in charge of the house in most if not all the countries in Asia. However, there is some form of equality between men and women in Asia. Some countries have more equal rights than others. Some countries such as the Middle East countries give very minimal rights to women. Even a great country like the United States doesnt have full equality between men and women. Because of urbanization, western ideas and influences are reaching the average Asians. Asians are moving into cities with phenomenal speed. In an article by Michael Sivy of Time International Magazine, Malaysias Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim states, Today, half of all Malaysians live in cities. Sivy adds, the result is an irreversible change in the family structure that has prevailed in Asia for thousands of years. The urbanization of these families helped to promote further growth in all aspects. It has converted the extended family into a nuclear one, says Richard Robison, director of the Asia Research Center at Murdoch University...

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Describe B2B market opportunities for Belvita Breakfast Biscuits( Essay

Describe B2B market opportunities for Belvita Breakfast Biscuits( Offer examples) - Essay Example Belvita Breakfast biscuit has great potential for B2B marketing because of the areas of the product use. Being a food product, it can be consumed by organizations as part of the meals or snacks provided by the company, which includes snacks for promotional campaigns (Preston 112). For instance, a fast food restaurant can use the biscuits to promote the purchase of drinks or tea by offering free biscuits on every purchase of a drink. In such situations, the fast food restaurant offers business to business platform for product purchase and promotion. In order to be effective, Belvita Biscuits can market the product to fast food restaurants such as McDonald and other established organizations. These organizations will be using the products to achieve their organizational goals of selling high volumes of food stuff. There are other business targeting children such as childrens stories for candy, and toys. These businesses can also employ the promotional approach can be employed by the fa st food joints. However, these businesses may not be dealing with foodstuff leading to the creation of seasonal promotions and marketing campaigns. Regardless of the focus, the main role in the purchase of the biscuit is to encourage the consumers to purchase from the various organizations. In addition, there are other organizations that do not deal with food stuff, but purchase for organization consumption. The consumption it to ensure that employee welfare is catered for. Such organization includes banks, electronic businesses and Software Company. Their purchases are basically for organization consumption and not for sale. The product of a variety of biscuits ensures that the purchase organization can provide the employees with a variety of biscuit products. The purchase for consumption has a goal of improving human resource effectiveness and reduces the time

Friday, October 18, 2019

Strategic management in action Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Strategic management in action - Essay Example The successful implementation of the structure has made Google become a case study for other companies that once dominated the technology industry such as IBM and General Electric (Peng et al, 2007). The Silicon Valley-based Information Technology uses the laissez-faire management structure. The laissez-faire management style gives employees freedom to undertake their tasks without severe control from the management. Employees are given an opportunity to manage themselves without reporting to their seniors as is the case for many well-established organizations. Such working environment encourages employees to implement their ideas and apply their skills and talents in coming up with creative products and services (Porter, 2008). In Google, the management is less structured compared to other blue chip companies. With the less structuring, it is easier to control the workflow and the quality of work being undertaken. Interestingly, the ratio of employees to managers is 1:20.The ratio is less compared to other well-established companies. The fewer ratios allow engineers of the company to work with manageable teams. With a small and manageable team, work efficiency is enhanced something that leads to quality work (Taylor et al., 2008). Google uses a very competitive hiring process that only attracts to notch candidates in various fields. For instance, the company only employs engineers from reputable institutions. In addition, the engineers must have attained remarkable achievements in the education. Furthermore, the engineers are taken through a vigorous interview process as to identify the best-suited candidates. The competitive hiring process has enabled the company attract the best talents in the technology industry. Also, the employees are given attractive salary packages in a bid to retain them. The strategy is also useful in ensuring that Google does not lose its talented

Managing people (case study - King Fahad hospital) Personal Statement

Managing people (case study - King Fahad hospital) - Personal Statement Example It was a sunny Wednesday morning, when I was walking in the corridor of the hospital to attend one of my patients, while walking I realized I 'd a stiff back that day and my job demanded lot of mechanical work so it wasn't any good for me. But my happy go lucky nature and my attitude of taking problems light helped me again that day and I made my entry in the intensive care unit almost completely forgetting my pain. In the ICU when I reached to a patient REHMAAN, a nice man though but very disappointed with his health, I gave him a routinely check up and then guided the ward boy to do the needful so as the treatment is well in place. And after analyzing few more patients I headed towards my cabin to take a small rest bout. While resting I heard a sharp voice as if someone dropped the medicine tray and all the bottles broke down, being a senior in that wing it becomes my responsibility to keep track of such incidents and reach out for any kind of help. As soon as I came out of cabin I saw Ryan lying down on ground holding his left arm with right hand and the medicine tray was near his right shoulder. All bottles were broken and drug stains were all over. Ryan was crying in pain, and was breathing very heavily as he has this problem of anxiety at times, I tried to help him to sit against the wall but he being a healthy guy it was a difficult task for me alone to do it. I tried to calm him down a bit but his breath was really going very abnormal, I got him a glass of water from he merely had a sip as he was not feeling comfortable at all. At the same time I required to make sure that calling any wad boys for help should not result in attention degrade for patients, so after making Ryan sit against the wall I went into the adjacent ICU and quickly analyzed the current scenario like who all patients need extra care and who are almost

Thursday, October 17, 2019

The growth of new media has changed the way media products are Essay

The growth of new media has changed the way media products are produced and consumed. Particularly, mobile phones, the Internet, - Essay Example To understand this further, I supplement my discussion with reference from combined cognitive behavioral theory in communication and mass media. In this essay, I will be discussing the importance of cognitive and behavioral approach in creating a successful message direct to the audience, which must have been the case Apple used in order to generate future substantial market share particularly in urban populations in Asia. In this paper, I am able to argue that the advancement of effective communication channel from the new media creates a successful integration of information, which makes cognitive and behavioral appeal so appealing and effective. Cognitive and Behavioral theory Cognitive and behavioral theories have their focus on psychology of individuals. Marketing products is remarkably about trying to understand customers’ behaviors, especially on their buying behaviors. These are all observable activities that marketers for many years considered important information pr ior to creating product or service offerings. These can all be measured or observed as behavioral psychology focuses on observable behaviors (Feldman, 2006). However, down deeper in understanding what are the things going on prior to a certain behavior, some experts believe that customers or people in general have internal mental processes, so this is the point of cognitive theory (Feldman, 2006). One therefore could not be able to understand the internal mental processes within a person, unless a certain behavior which is believed to be a certain output is observed. Marketers for many years have tried to understand the complex human behavior in order to integrate product or service offerings that have messages to make sense with its target audience when already out in the market. However, today, companies like Apple Incorporated have been trying to create a need for their product and service offerings for the belief that there must be something unconscious needs in everyone that re quire to be unleashed, which could only be realized when a person finally would come to consider seeing something to motivate such unconsciousness. Sigmund Freud believed that our behavior is motivated by the unconscious, a part of us that we are not actually aware (Feldman, 2006). Apple Incorporated in its goal to innovate possibilities tries to impress us with its fresh innovation. We can actually live without smartphones, but Apple is trying to reach such unconsciousness in us, by creating it to a point that we must live to a necessary luxury. Apple is therefore successful in creating a need for its product offerings, as its innovation has become one of the leading products out in the market today. Apple therefore has been successful in reaching the unconscious part in its prospective and target customers, in a way that could be proven from the actual behavior of consumers towards its product offerings, but this could be applicable in other parts of the world somewhere, for the m ean time. In Asia, the potential market such as Indonesia and India are still price conscious and would be willing to invest in products that could satisfy such criterion, but it cannot be denied Apple has become a personal choice even if the price of its offerings was not comparable to other related products in its industry (Arakali and Master, 2012). In this case, I am trying to construct the idea

Aviation strategy- course assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Aviation strategy- course assignment - Essay Example Making use of its point to point flights, the airlines gives regular direct flights for the short distances, for example from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, etc. In 2008, Southwest served 438 nonstop city pairs, in 64 cities in 32 states and carried over 101.9 million passengers, the most of any domestic carrier. As the low-fare leader, Southwest's average ticket price was $119.16 in 2008, up from $106.60 in 2007 compared to an average price of $139.40 in 2008 at its closest competitor, Jet Blue. The Southwest Airlines has a focused strategy, it has defined target market and does not scramble its efforts to gain benefits from all over. Instead, it has selected a niche segment, to cater their needs better. Target market - the market that the company focuses are the low cost and value conscious travellers, with no frills but a comfy journey. It focuses on customers that have to travel short haul, these include passengers that travel for their business, are time conscious as well and also include residential customers that prefer travelling for vacations and seeking best value for their spending. Product offering - With focused target market, Southwest has a differentiated product (service) offering, it describes its service offering as short haul, low fare, high frequency, and a point to point carrier in the United States' airline industry. The informal and casual but dignified journey experience is the whole package. It does not provide meals, a pack of peanuts would do, there are no assigned places, no transfer of luggage and no class differentiation either, in form of first class or the business class etc. Whilst the average cost of a meal serve per passenger in the airlines industry is approximately $5, the cost for Southwest airlines is around 20 cents (Rose, 1999)3. Pricing structure - since Southwest Airlines distinguishes itself as the low fare

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

The growth of new media has changed the way media products are Essay

The growth of new media has changed the way media products are produced and consumed. Particularly, mobile phones, the Internet, - Essay Example To understand this further, I supplement my discussion with reference from combined cognitive behavioral theory in communication and mass media. In this essay, I will be discussing the importance of cognitive and behavioral approach in creating a successful message direct to the audience, which must have been the case Apple used in order to generate future substantial market share particularly in urban populations in Asia. In this paper, I am able to argue that the advancement of effective communication channel from the new media creates a successful integration of information, which makes cognitive and behavioral appeal so appealing and effective. Cognitive and Behavioral theory Cognitive and behavioral theories have their focus on psychology of individuals. Marketing products is remarkably about trying to understand customers’ behaviors, especially on their buying behaviors. These are all observable activities that marketers for many years considered important information pr ior to creating product or service offerings. These can all be measured or observed as behavioral psychology focuses on observable behaviors (Feldman, 2006). However, down deeper in understanding what are the things going on prior to a certain behavior, some experts believe that customers or people in general have internal mental processes, so this is the point of cognitive theory (Feldman, 2006). One therefore could not be able to understand the internal mental processes within a person, unless a certain behavior which is believed to be a certain output is observed. Marketers for many years have tried to understand the complex human behavior in order to integrate product or service offerings that have messages to make sense with its target audience when already out in the market. However, today, companies like Apple Incorporated have been trying to create a need for their product and service offerings for the belief that there must be something unconscious needs in everyone that re quire to be unleashed, which could only be realized when a person finally would come to consider seeing something to motivate such unconsciousness. Sigmund Freud believed that our behavior is motivated by the unconscious, a part of us that we are not actually aware (Feldman, 2006). Apple Incorporated in its goal to innovate possibilities tries to impress us with its fresh innovation. We can actually live without smartphones, but Apple is trying to reach such unconsciousness in us, by creating it to a point that we must live to a necessary luxury. Apple is therefore successful in creating a need for its product offerings, as its innovation has become one of the leading products out in the market today. Apple therefore has been successful in reaching the unconscious part in its prospective and target customers, in a way that could be proven from the actual behavior of consumers towards its product offerings, but this could be applicable in other parts of the world somewhere, for the m ean time. In Asia, the potential market such as Indonesia and India are still price conscious and would be willing to invest in products that could satisfy such criterion, but it cannot be denied Apple has become a personal choice even if the price of its offerings was not comparable to other related products in its industry (Arakali and Master, 2012). In this case, I am trying to construct the idea

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

E-service Web Portal Accounting Software Assignment

E-service Web Portal Accounting Software - Assignment Example The objective of the participants such as the Lockheed Martin is to solve similar problems. In this case, the market is usually competitive, however within a defined market niche. For the case of Lockheed Martin Company, which contracts with various governments across the world, the accounting package should have distinctive features such as the foreign currency translation due to the issue of diverse currencies in each country. Moreover, features such as an integrated CRM, and bulky marketing abilities are fundamental considerations when selecting an accounting package for a government contracting company. This follows that this investigation focuses on the eService Web Portal accounting package and its integration within the Lockheed Martin system to ensure smooth contracting processes (findaccountingsoftware.com). This refers to web-based portal software that offers and performs enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM). It helps in strengthening associations with larger customers who include national and international contractors. For our case, the system is critical in making its contract correspondence with governments. The eService system is an online system that performs automated work orders, subcontractors, invoice services and approvals among others. This software has an ability to translate multiple currencies. The following are the services that this accounting package software offers to the clients, subcontractors and contracting company (findaccountingsoftware.com). The most fundamental aspect of eService is the ability for customization. The eService can be customized to include both the company and clients’ logos. In addition, the eService offers an extension of creating an interface that indicates the brand of the company.  Other applications that can be integrated with the eService Web Portal include Accounts payable and receivables, Inventory and equipment Job costing, Payroll, Mobile Field Service which are essential in carrying out operations that pertains a government contracting company (findaccountingsoftware.com).     

Animal Farm by George Orwell Essay Example for Free

Animal Farm by George Orwell Essay Napoleon is the main character from the book Animal Farm written by George Orwell. He is a demanding, overpowering pig who always gets what he wants. In the book Napoleon is a common pig that gets rid of the pig that shares power with him, Snowball and takes over the leader ship of the farm which he later turns into a dictatorship. The difference between Napoleon and Snowball is what makes the book powerful and refers to what real people get manipulated easily. Napoleon is based on the real life person Joseph Stalin, who ruled the Soviet Union for 30 years. The name Napoleon comes from the French general Napoleon Bonaparte, who was power crazy and a dictator. In the book Napoleon is a bad pig from the beginning. He fights along with his fellow pig, Snowball to free the farm from humans but later on starts making some suspicious decisions such as drinking the milk that the animals have worked for and taking the puppies of Jessie and Bluebell for himself. Napoleon takes over by sending his dogs after Snowball, who runs away, do to fear. Slowly but surely we see him take one step at a time towards the crown of being the only leader. For example he changes the seven Commandments rules against killing, drinking, and sleeping in bed. All the animals are forced to work just as hard as before the rebellion and they don’t even get enough food. Napoleon makes the other animals fear him by killing the animals that have made wrong decisions and starving some of them because they don’t do as he says. Soon enough everyone does as he wishes and behaves after his will. Napoleon praises himself for all the things that he has done for the animals which in the end is nothing.

Monday, October 14, 2019

‘Fair Dealing’ Defences in UK Copyright Law: An Analysis

‘Fair Dealing’ Defences in UK Copyright Law: An Analysis â€Å"The ‘fair dealing’ defences occupy a pivotal position in copyright law. They ensure a balance between the interest of the copyright owner in securing a just return on creative work and the public interest in ensuring that intellectual property does not impede the flow of ideas and information.† J Griffiths Preserving Judicial Freedom of Movement –Interpreting Fair Dealing In Copyright Law IPQ 2000, 2,2 164-186. To what extent do you consider that the fair dealing provisions and the supporting case law provide a desirable and consistent balance between these interests? This paper will criticize the restrictive approach of ‘fair dealing’ defences in UK copyright law. American copyright law will be examined in comparison to discuss the alternative attitudes towards ‘fair dealing’ defences in infringement disputes. Changes to the rule will be proposed and discussed to demonstrate how the current copyright defence can be improved to maintain the balance of protecting intellectual property and freedom of information. Fair Dealing defences which are used against copyright infringement cases raise important philosophical issues at the heart of Intellectual Property. There is a need for society to share and build on existing knowledge for progress. For example it can be argued the need to allow freedom of expression, is ‘more than necessary to incentivise creative expression in the first place.’[1] Fair dealing defences attempt to mediate between the fine line of the commercial proprietary rights granted through copyright and the legitimate public use of material in good faith, to teach, educate and share cultural works. Thus there is a fundamental dichotomy between the free expression of ideas in the public domain and the rightful protection of creative works which use such knowledge and information. This is termed the ‘idea-expression divide.’[2] Kretschmer [3] argues against the concept of copyright, due to its capacity to act as an ‘artificial barrier’[4] i mpeding the exchange of ideas in society. One explanation behind such divisions can be suggested to lie in the historical Lockean conceptualization of property. This is defined negatively creating ‘rights to exclude access.’[5] This ‘absolutist conception of property rights’[6] allows the creators to exploit and monopolize economic, cultural production at the expense of fair uses in the public interest and freedom of expression. But there are those who support the rights of the author. For example the French system of droit d’auteur enables an artist to control how their work is distributed in the market. While concerned about economic exploitation of work, moral rights also ensure the author has rights to protect the integrity of a work. Thus the British concept of fair dealing defences must balance these conflicting tensions. British copyright law protects the manner of expression or form of the idea, not the idea itself. A book can be protected but not the actual underlying ideas and themes conveyed in the written text. This was stated in the case of Donoghue[7] where the judge held ‘the person who has clothed the idea in form, whether by means of a picture, a play or book’ will enjoy the benefits of copyright protection. Fair Dealing in UK copyright law is a defence under Sections 28-76 of the CDPA 1988[8]. The legislation provides for a set of prescribed circumstances, where reproductions of copyright material will not be considered an infringement. Fair dealing is outlined in sections 20-30. There are three categories where copying can be considered a fair action to take when using copyright protected material. They are 1) for research and private study under section 29; 2) for criticism and review in section 30; and 3) reporting current events under section 31. It must be noted that the legislation provides no clear definition of what constitutes fair use of material which attracts copyright. Thus the act restricts the defence to the non exclusive purposes as stated above. One reason for restricting fair use to a number of permitted acts enables the judge to consider other factors which are unique to the case itself. Fair dealing in this sense is shaped in the UK by judges as a ‘matter of im pression’[9] on a case by case basis. The scope of fair dealing was clarified by Lord Denning in Hubbard v. Vosper. [10] This case suggested certain criteria to be considered by the judge in order to determine whether fair use can be permitted in different situations involving the use of copyrighted material. Denning outlined considerations, such as the frequency and extent of quotations, and subsequently the nature of using quotations. Denning states in response to this test, ‘If they are used as a basis of comment, criticism or review that may be fair dealing. If they are used to convey the same information for a rival purpose, they may be unfair.’ Another rule of thumb is the extent of the quotation within copyrighted work. This considers the size of the actual quote used and its justified proportions in fair use. For example Denning suggests ‘to take long extracts and attach short commentary maybe unfair.’ Each case of infringement is judged by objective standards, through the eyes of an hon est person as to whether they would have dealt with the protected material in the same way as the infringer has acted. Existing fair dealing case law, only serves to highlight the ambiguity of the defence under English law. It is difficult to provide a desirable balance which protects the exclusive rights of the copyright holder but maintain a consistent approach which provides certainty to use material which is permitted in law. For example the purposes of legitimate research, the courts will not allow commercial research if it is used to produce a competing product or work. This was highlighted in the case of Time Out.[11] It can be suggested large amounts of copying will be allowed for private research and study in the eyes of the law. Academics argue in this context fair dealing functions to enable freedom of individual research and study. To require and enforce protective measures to prevent the use of copyrighted material is impractical and uneconomic. It is argued copyright should not be used as a bar to those who wish to use the work in their own studies. Torremans argues copyright property rhetoric should not be allowed to supersede important value of free ideas. For example ‘copyright should not become a financial and practical obstructing barrier. There needs to be a balance between the interests of the copyright owners and society in the good functioning of the copyright system and the inter est of society for its development.’[12] It can be suggested this same line of reasoning underpins the fair dealing doctrine for educational purposes. Copying is permitted for intellectual property in dramatic, literary, artistic or musical work for purposes of instruction. Thus a student would be allowed to copy a part of an academic article in order to support their research or point of view in an essay. Under the category of infringing material for the purposes of criticism and review, it has been established that infringement will not occur if there is adequate acknowledgement of the author, the title or description of work is made available, as held in the case of Sillitoe.[13] Fair dealing was extended in the case of Pro Sieben Media AG [14] which held criticism of work can be fair, even if including the ideas in a work to discuss its ethical implications. The case stated that the ‘defence is limited to criticizing or reviewing that or another work or a performance of a work.’ The function of the defence is to allow a critic a sensible degree of leeway to conduct a review of the work. The courts stated the use of infringing material in a documentary was ‘a genuine piece of criticism and review rather than an attempt to dress ordinary copyright infringement up as criticism.’[15] This case suggests it is fair to critically treat copyrighted material using the ideas within the work. But crucially ‘the defence does not cover those cases where only ideas, doctrine, philosophy and events are criticized.’ [16] Therefore the fair dealing doctrine is narrow in scope, restricted only to the fair use for the purposes of critical review. This case been criticized by Torremans who has argued it is not sufficient to rely on the infringers ‘sincere belief’ they are conducting fair criticism. There is an imbalance for those to wishing to exploit the fine line and cynically infringe work and simply claim the fair dealing defence for the purpose of criticism and review. It can be suggested in comparison to US legal ‘multi – purpose’[17] concept of fair use, the UK fair dealing doctrine is too restrictive in scope and interpretation. The UK is restrictive because the CDPA legislates three categories of permitted copying under the fair dealing defences, which are determined on a case by case basis of the judge. Thus anything else will be uncovered by the doctrine. The American legal system in contrast uses four standard ‘balancing’[18] tests to determine the extent of copying protected material which is covered under the fair use doctrine. The fair use doctrine is a wider and more flexible legal concept to balance the ‘idea-expression’ division in intellectual property. Under the American Copyright Act 1976 17 U.S.C Section 107 states: ‘In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include- 1.the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or it is for non profit educational purposes; 2.the nature of the copyrighted work; 3.the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole, and 4.the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.’ The fair use doctrine is not defined within the statute, it is left open to broad interpretation by judicial opinion. This ensures a degree of flexibility for the continued transmission of ideas in society. This for example can be seen when analyzing the primary factor of purpose and character. The concept of fair use rests on the idea of limited ‘transformative use’[19] for similar purposes of educating, parody or comment. The standard allows the courts to asses whether the use is fair and justified. It also requires the burden of proof on the infringer to ‘demonstrate how the consideration is the extent to which the use is interpreted as transformative as opposed to merely derivative.’[20] This point of law was considered in cases such as Mattel Inc.[21] The toy company lost the claim against an artist who parodied the iconic â€Å"Barbie† doll figure in a non derivative manner. The doll was used in an entirely different context which defeated the c opyright infringement claim. Secondly the benefits of American fair use can be seen when considering the nature of the work. The standard allows for the distinction between created work and factual information which serves the public through its dissemination into the open arena. It is argued there is more ‘leeway’[22] to copy factual material. This provision directly allows the courts to ‘prevent the private ownership of work that rightfully belongs in the public domain, as facts and ideas are separate from copyright.’[23] This was held to be the case in Time Inc [24]concerning the public interest of the film depicting the assignation of President Kennedy. The social need to keep this in the public domain was greater than the commercial need to uphold the copyright in the film footage. The third factor assessing the amount and substantiality of the original copied work is a more troublesome standard to determine in the courts. For example the issue of sampling in hip hop music, which reclaims existing music and uses it to create a new track, was litigated. Here the courts have been unusually strict seen in the decision Grand.[25] The case enforced the copyright of a Gilbert O’Sullivan song and lead to the restrictive requirement of licensing samples of music from the copyright owner, if the sample if substantially recognizable. The fourth factor of investigating the effect upon the work’s value attempts to quantify the commercial impact infringement has had on the protected material. The ‘Betamax’[26] case involved the copyright owner Universal loosing the infringement claim as it could not prove with any reliable evidence that the Betamax technology had dented the commercial broadcaster’s profits. Such an approach allows the courts to factor in alleged market harm to copyrighted material, and give equal consideration to economic concerns of the rights holder to make a fully informed assessment of the situation. These four non exclusive factors provide enough flexibility for judicial opinion to consider other important considerations in relation to each individual case of infringement. In addition flexibility is encouraged as the fair use doctrine is a positive ‘defense to copyright, which means if the defendants actions do not constitute and infringements of the plaintiffs rights, fair use does not even arise as an issue.’[27] Thus a broader view is established in the US system. You do not need the consent of the copyright owner under American law to engage in fair use of material which attracts copyright. However further criticism of the UK approach to fair dealing arises in the wider context of digital copying technology and file sharing. The doctrine is made to look ineffective, mainly through the botched nature of the UK implementation of the EU Directives on the Information Society. This paper believes it is necessary to resolve these problems and rethink the traditional approach to copyright infringement in a digital environment. The aim to balance the conflicting factors of the author’s rights and the need to allow the free exchange of knowledge in society is harder to perform with widespread digital copying. But it is possible through Digital Management Systems, to distribute copyrighted content through technology which limits the capacity to duplicate files by the consumer. Despite DMS, this paper believes the frequency and simplicity of replication facilitated through digital technology far outweighs such content managed systems that use inbuilt licensing restrictions. For example peer 2 peer file sharing and online digital content has facilitated the exchange of copyrighted music in huge numbers among users of a globalised network on the internet. It can be suggested that the UK’s implementation of the EU Information and Society Directive (2001) shows how outdated the present conception of fair dealing defences are. Article 5 deals with the exceptions and limitations to the use of copyright, in order to harmonize European policy. Under Article 5(5) a ‘draconian’[28] three step test is used to assess any infringement exceptions in special cases. This section is to be ‘applied if they do not conflict with normal exploitation of the work and if the exception does not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the rights holder.’[29]Critics suggest this is an even stricter standard providing no fair use for ‘copy protected on demand services.’[30] Critics view the directive to mistakenly allow principles of freedom of expression to be ‘handed over to the rights owner.’[31] For example under article 6(4) availability of research material through on-demand services c an be contractually blocked by the copyright holder. This has major repercussions for the role of UK fair dealing defences as it renders the doctrine ineffective in the digital arena. Kretschmer worries this amounts to a ‘possibility of perpetual copyright.’[32] In addition to this under 5(1), the directive provides for technical exceptions which involve necessary copying for technological process and digital content. Temporary reproductions such as the cache of files within a browser which copy files of data will not infringe copyright as such acts are ‘incidental and should have no economic significance.’[33] In light of such developments it can be suggested there is a need to find alternative solutions to reward copyright owners interest within a digital context. There is a need for copyright to ‘generate new resources of remuneration’[34] for rights owners instead of functioning in a prohibitive manner. Kretschmer proposes alternative system of royalties to be used to compensate owners who can not stem the tide of digital copying. For example ‘a small royalty percentage on content traffic revenues from ISP’s would have been the obvious legal innovation.’[35] Such novel solutions are needed in order to successfully balance the freedom of information with traditional copyright interests. In conclusion this paper argues for the need to make changes and decided upon pragmatic alternative solutions to the current legal situation. Fair dealing should be redefined to enable copyright infringement defences take into account the development of digital content. It can be suggested to ensure greater flexibility the UK should adopt the wider US fair use doctrinal approach to defending infringement. Legislation should widen the scope of fair dealing through standard factor based tests. Adopting such standards would promote a liberal approach to asses the degree and nature of infringement. This is needed to make sure the vital balancing act of competing ideological tensions continue within intellectual property law. Bibliography Klang Murray (eds) Human Rights in the Digital Age, 2005 Cavendish Lloyd, Information Technology Law 4th Ed, 2004 ,OUP Bently Sherman, Intellectual Property Law, 2nd Ed, 2004, Oxford Holyoak Torremans, Intellectual Property Law, 3rd Ed, 2001, Butterworths Intellectual Property Law, Fourth Edition 2004, Cavendish Publishing J Griffiths, Preserving Judicial Freedom of Movement –Interpreting Fair Dealing In Copyright Law IPQ 2000, 2,2 164-186 M. Kretschmer, Digital Copyright: End of an Era, 2003 www.cippm.org.co.uk Joint Information Systems Committee and Publishers Association, Guidelines for Fair Dealing in An Electronic Environment, 1998, www.ukonln.ac.uk/services/elib/papers/pa/fair/intro.html R. Buchan, Fair Picture, Guidance from the English High Court on Fair Dealing for the Purpose of Criticism and Review, as Applied to Copyright Material, The Journal of Law and Society, August 2005, Page 52, www.journalonline.co.uk/article/1002090.aspx 1 Footnotes [1] W. Landes and R. Posner, An Economic Analysis Of Copyright Law, (1989) 18 Journal of Legal Studies, 325-366 [2] Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/idea-expression_divide [3] www.cippm.org.uk, M. Kretschmer, Digital Copyright: The End of An Era [4] http:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/copyright/fair_use_and_fair_dealing [5] www.cippm.org.uk, M. Kretschmer, Digital Copyright: The End of An Era [6] as above [7] Donoghue v Allied Newspapers Limited (1938) Ch 106 [8] Copyright, Designs and Patent Act 1988 [9] Lord Denning Hubbard v. Vosper (1972) 2 QB 84 1 All ER [10] Hubbard V Vosper (1972) 2 QB 84, 1 All ER 1023 [11] Independent television Publications Ltd v. Time Out Ltd (1984) FSR 545 [12] p. 258 Holyoak and Torremans, Intellectual Property Law, 3rd Edition, Butterworths, 2001 [13] Sillitoe v. McGraw-Hill Book Co (UK) Ltd (1983) FSR 545 [14] Pro Sieben Media AG v. Carlton TV (1999) [15] p.259 as above [16] p.259, Holyoak and Torremans, Intellectual Property Law, 3rd Edition, Butterworths, 2001 [17] www.cippm.org.uk, M. Kretschmer, Digital Copyright: The End of An Era [18] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/fair_use [19] http://fairuse.stanford.edu.copyright_and_fair_use_overview/chapter9/index.html [20] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/fair_use [21] Mattel Inc v. Walking Mountain Productions [22] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/fair_use [23] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/fair_use [24] Time Inc. v. Bernard Geis Associates 293 F Supp. 130 [25] Grand Upright v. Warner 780 F Supp 182 (S.D.N.Y 1991) [26] Sony Corp v. Universal City Studios , 464 U.S 417, 451 (1984) [27] as above [28] www.cippm.org.uk, M. Kretschmer, Digital Copyright: The End of An Era [29] p.268, Holyoak and Torremans, Intellectual Property Law, 3rd Edition, Butterworths, 2001 [30] p.8 www.cippm.org.uk, M. Kretschmer, Digital Copyright: The End of An Era [31] as above [32] p.10 as above [33] as above [34] as above [35] p.3, M. Kretschmer, Digital Copyright: The End of An Era

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Adoptees Must Have Access to Their Original Birth Certificates Essay

Have you ever been to a new doctor and filled out the required paperwork on family medical history? After moving recently, I went to a new doctor. I had to have all those papers filled out. It was easy because I know all of the information or can get it. Most people know who their biological family is and therefore also know about medical history. However, in the 1940s many birth certificates of adoptees were sealed. This continued to occur for four decades. Now depending upon the state the adopted person lives in and how the laws have evolved, they may not be able to easily access their original birth certificate just like everyone else. Adoptees should have total access to their birth certificate and family medical history because this information will help them to understand where they came from, as well as know of the likelihood of contracting various genetic diseases. Children need to know where they came from so they can avoid embarrassing and awkward situations later in life like Luke and Leia Skywalker from Star Wars. It will also give them a sense of belonging in the world. Full access to an original birth certificate is something many people take for granted. For those people who have been adopted a changed birth certificate is given with the adoptive parents names instead. As an adopted child grows older, most will become curious. For Jeffrey Hannasch his curiosity started when his daughter was born (Ensslin). He started out on a journey to find his parents. After finding some papers in his adoptive father’s possessions, he was able to find out his mother’s name. Some internet searching and letter writing later he was able to find out that she did not actually know who his father was. She also was shocked that he was... ...elease of the information (Access). Works Cited Bahrampour, Tara. "Invisible Ties to Faraway Lands." Washington Post 2012 Jan 22: A.1. Web. 28 Jan. 2014. Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2012). Access to Adoption Records. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau. Ensslin, John C. "Landmark Adoption Ruling a Bittersweet Victory for Falcon Man." Gazette (Colorado Springs, CO) 2009 Aug 02: N.p. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. Hamilton, James M. "Adult Adoptees Should Have Unconditional Access to Their Original..." MinnPost.com [Minneapolis] 14 Mar. 2013: N.p. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. O'Connor, John. "Unsealed Birth Records Give Adoptees Peek at Past." Daily Register 2013 Jul 28: N.p. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. Reyes, Emily Alpert. "Internet Lifts Shroud of Secrecy on Adoption." Los Angeles Times 2013 Dec 12: A.15. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

war :: essays research papers

CONFIRMED KILLS IN THE HUNDREDS’ The commander of the operation near Gardez said the U.S.-led offensive had cleared several enemy caves honeycombing the mountains. â€Å"We’ve got confirmed kills in the hundreds,† Maj. Gen. Frank Hagenbeck told a news conference at Bagram air base north of Kabul. â€Å"We truly have the momentum at this point.† He said U.S. intelligence had pointed to 150 to 200 enemy fighters in the hills of the Shah-e-Kot mountain range when the operation began on Friday. By Wednesday, however, he estimated that as many as 600 to 700 al-Qaida and some Taliban troops had filtered into the territory. <a href="/news/target_front.asp"><img src=/c/0/61/361/bcol_nav.gif border=0> Part 1: Changing perspective †¢ The new views from America †¢ Hard choices on defense Part 2: About face on Sudan †¢ U.S. warms to 'rogue' regime Part 3: Who defines terrorist? †¢ For Syria, opportunity and peril †¢ In Lebanon, no black and white Part 4: Distant echoes †¢ U.S. crosses a line in Colombia †¢ Broadcasts make Prague a target Part 5: Spinning on the 'axis' †¢ 'Axis' missiles fall short †¢ Where China fits in Part 6: Special forces †¢ The 'special forces' war †¢ The perils of new tactics 1 of 11 The new views from America â€Å"Conservatively speaking right now, I’m convinced from the evidence I’ve seen that we’ve killed at least half of those enemy forces,† he said. Eight U.S. troops have been killed in the operation, seven of them in two incidents Monday in which two U.S. helicopters came under fire. Around 50 have been wounded. Rumsfeld and Franks were peppered with questions Wednesday about whether a U.S. Navy SEAL killed Monday had been executed by the enemy. They acknowledged that an aerial drone had videotaped the incident but said it was still not clear whether the soldier had already been dead when he was dragged off by enemy fighters after falling out of a helicopter. â€Å"We may never know that,† Rumsfeld said. â€Å"What’s important,† he said, is that the United States did not withdraw and instead sent a helicopter back in to retrieve his body. â€Å"The United States is leaning forward and not back,† he said. MORE TROOPS, LESS BOMBING Advertisement The U.S. reinforcements were ferried overnight by Chinook helicopters from Bagram. Troops were armed with shoulder-launched rockets, equipped with night-vision equipment and dressed in winter uniforms to combat the sub-zero temperatures.