Monday, December 30, 2019

Effects Of Birth Control On American Women s Lives

Effects of the Birth Control Pill on American Women s Lives Over the centuries, women have tried a number of methods to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Some of the pregnancy control measures that existed before the invention of the pill included abstinence and withdrawal. Unfortunately, such methods often failed to prevent unintended pregnancies. As such, birth control advocates continued researching for effective birth control methods. Americans did not meet the idea of birth control methods with enthusiasm. In fact, those who advocated the use of birth control devices experienced challenges, including being jailed. In the 1950s, birth control pills were introduced in the United States (Windsor, 2002). Over the past seven decades, the pill has changed the American women’s lives in several ways. The pills have allowed women to delay marriages, invest in their career development, and secure well-paid jobs in areas that were previously dominated by men. The pill has also improved family relationships and prevented abuse and marriage dissolutions. This paper explores the history of birth control methods in the US and how the pill became available on a large scale to women. The paper further examines how the pills has given women the freedom to advance their careers, strengthen the marriage relationships, and participate in the workforce. A Brief History of Birth Control Methods Prior to the 3000 BC, women tried various birth control methods. Some of the common methods includedShow MoreRelatedThe Birth Control Of Women937 Words   |  4 Pages Male Birth Control The birth control pill took the nation by storm when first being introduced over fifty years ago. When the oil was first introduced in the late 1950’s, numerous American women both single and married were thrilled (People Events: Mrs. America: Women s Roles in the 1950s , 2001). They were so open to the pill due to social factors that affected their reproductive lives (People Events: Mrs. America: Women s Roles in the 1950s , 2001). Since being introduced in the UnitedRead MoreKilling The Black Body By Dorothy Roberts1347 Words   |  6 PagesAmilet Armenta-Ruiz SOC 423X Book Analysis Paper April 13, 2016 In Killing the Black Body, Dorothy Roberts describes the history of African-American women and the dehumanizing attempts to control their reproductive lives. Beginning with slavery, to the early beginning of birth control policy, to the sterilization abuse of Black women during the 1960s and 1970s, continuing with the current campaign to inject Norplant and Depo-Provera along with welfare mothers, Roberts argues that the systematicRead MoreWe Live A Democracy?1256 Words   |  6 PagesWe live in a democracy. Every four years the people of America have the opportunity of voting for someone who best represents their political views and who they feel is best fit to run our country. Whoever is elected into office, has the power of implementing policies and regulations to help run the country smoother. Under the Obama administration, birth control is covered by all insurance companies with exceptions. However, under Trump s administration they are making plans to repeal and replaceRead MoreGertrude Stein : A Feminist Approach Of Seeming Weak And Unstable1635 Words   |  7 PagesOnce there was a movement for women to grow and expand what they wanted to do there were many poets and writers that wanted to write about the actions that were occurring in that time period. Once poet was Gertrude Stein, in Food and Objects, there is a feminist approach of seeming weak and unstable. Her use of word choice with at first thinking that nothing is making sense about her writing, along with her talking about domestic spaces and always looking outside. Her having multiple pieces of workRead MoreEugenics and Planned Parenthood Essay1405 Words   |  6 Pages When one contemplates the concept of eugenics, few think of modern contraception and abortion when in reality they are one in the same. The American Eugenics Society, founded in 1923, proudly proclaimed that men with incurable â€Å"conditions† should be sterilized. However these conditions were often n one that could be helped, such as, one’s intelligence, race, and social class (Schweikart and Allen 529-532). The purpose of the society was to create the perfect class of men; elite in allRead MoreRisky Business1206 Words   |  5 PagesWomen, no doubt had it hard in Americas past. It is still difficult for women today to feel as if they are treated equally to men, but nowhere near as much so as in the past. Many women have fought hard and dedicated their lives to bettering the future for women. Some even risked and gave up their freedom to demonstrate how important it was for society to change. I believe a great example of someone who risked many things for the future of women in society was Margaret Sanger. Sanger began herRead More Birth Control Essay1564 Words   |  7 Pageshow to gain control over reproduction, in essence, how to prevent unwanted pregnancies. This is a challenge, even today, in an age of technological advancements, mass communication and education. However, through the years, the spread of information and awareness surrounding birth control has resulted in its increased availability and an improvement in the lives of both men and women. People are very clever and ingenious and have, throughout history, devised a variety of birth control methods. TheRead MoreBirth Control And Reproductive Rights1513 Words   |  7 PagesIn the early 1900 s Margaret Sanger revolutionized the lives of women forever by securing the rights of women to control their own fertility and the rights of a child to be wanted. Today we take birth control for granted and it is indeed a right that we give little or no thought too therefore It is difficult to imagine Sangers struggle to introduce birth control and reproductive rights in the U.S.A as being fraught with controversy and causing her to be pursued as a criminal. The Comstock ActRead MoreProgression Of Women s Rights1229 Words   |  5 Pagesabout business. He states, â€Å"The typical American citizen is a business man. The spirit of business is profit, not patriotism; individual gain, not national prosperity.† In saying that, he confirms the thought of corruption during the Gi lded Age, especially in businesses. Women’s rights was a huge issue during this time, specifically, in the Gilded Age. Only an unmarried woman was allowed to make contracts and own property in her own name. But, married women were not seen as having legal rights apartRead MoreAbortion And The Side With Academic Education1533 Words   |  7 Pageshas become a forwarding for this action. Promoting moral education by the side with academic education can help ease this touchy problem. It could take a long time to achieve, but educating solution can be applied in a wide range and have a deep effects on people. It also promote our society in many positive ways. Now a day, modern life grants people freedom and technology to touch a great prosperity, but it also lures people to normalize the importance of human being; abortion is a disseminated

Sunday, December 22, 2019

The Economic Development Of Kenya - 1251 Words

Kenya is the regional leader in East Africa and this position is expected to be a constant over time. The economy is fairly diversified with a strong and well developed services sector. The financial services industry in particular is well developed and established, moreso the country is considered East and Central Africa’s hub for financial services. Kenya is also the preferred entry point for companies wishing to expand further in the region. Moreover, East Africa’s largest economy is one of the most innovative on the African continent, which bodes well for future economic development. The country is a key investor within the East African commmunity, while the largest chunk of intraregional trade is due to Kenya. However, economic†¦show more content†¦The country has been able to take advantage of the region’s positive prospects and should continue to do so in coming years. The country has good prospects for economic growth and foreign direct investment (FDI), import cover levels are comfortable, and political risk is relatively low. Tanzania’s notable economic expansion in recent years has been facilitated by open market policies related to global commerce. The financial sector and the investment framework are relatively well developed for the region. However, these strengths are offset by weak socioeconomic indicators, structurally large current account and budgetdeficits, and rising debt levels. Growth in the agricultural sector has been driven by increased production of major food crops such as maize, sorghum and cassava, but the sector’s performance remains below potential. In turn, the services and industrial sectors have shown strong growth. The nascent banking sector and expanding telecommunications sector are key drivers behind services growth, while construction, electricity generation, manufacturing and mining are salient sub-sectors in industrial activity. Looking ahead, the banking and telecommunication sectors will continue to support services growth, while increased electricity generation capacity will benefit the expansion of the manufacturingShow MoreRelatedKenyas Foreign Policy1523 Words   |  7 PagesFOREIGN POLICY The conduct of foreign policy in Kenya is a prerogative of the Head of State the Chief Executive (President). These powers are rested in the Presidency by section 16 of the Constitution of Kenya, Amendment Act No. 28 and in Section 23 of the Constitution. Consequently, the Chief Executive is the initiator, articulator and director of foreign policy. This applies universally and is not unique to Kenya. The Foreign Ministrys responsibility is that of advice and execution in consultationRead MoreThe Between Chile And Jamaica Essay1034 Words   |  5 PagesKenya, Chile and Jamaica are three counties represent Africa, Latin America, and Caribbean.Africa, Latin America, and Caribbean have a lot of similarity.They shared history that dates back to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, these regions are also part of the Global South and most countries of them are colonies of Europe.Therefore, their cultures are mixtures of European and indigenous cultures and their regions and office languages ar e very similar.Along with development of the times and progressRead MoreKeny Economic Engine And Key Driver Of Strength1136 Words   |  5 Pages Kenya is one of the top economic engine and key driver of strength in Eastern Africa. Its strong private division and business services contribute greatly to the growth in the region. Kenya is home to some of the most fascinating natural wonders and people in the world. Kenya is reflected as a wealthy and culturally diversed country. Although Kenya’s economic climate is progressively improvising, their education and the increase in population growth has cause major problems for Kenyans whichRead MoreHistorical Development of Risk Management1354 Words   |  6 PagesHISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF RISK MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS. INTRODUCTION Risk management is the idea that a logical, disciplined approach to the future’s uncertainties to live with it productively and efficiently. Prior to risk management, faith and luck were the two pillars of managing the future. Events have causes. Believing in luck obscures the causes. Difficulties arise in tracing the history of risk management in Kenya, but from various sources of information we have come up with some reportRead MoreCorruption Is A Matter Of Great Concern For The Nation1742 Words   |  7 PagesBritish Government in 1963, Kenya has been plagued with corruption. Combating corruption is a matter of great concern for the nation, largely because corruption in Kenya is not just centralized at the head of government, but systematically rooted throughout all levels of government and normalized within society. Kenyans have developed a culture of corruption that cannot be easily broken, and poor governance can be attributed to the entrenchment of corruption thro ughout Kenya. Government institutionsRead MoreA Brief Note On Uganda And Uganda Are Neighbours892 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction: Kenya and Uganda are neighbours. They are all within East Africa together with Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan. Even though they are within the same region; their development status in agriculture, industrialization, democracy, health, and education economies differ greatly. Discussion: Uganda: Uganda has considerably natural resources. These include fertile soils, regular rainfall, small deposits of copper, gold, and other minerals, and recently they discovered oil. AgricultureRead MoreKenya And The Kenyan Police Force1674 Words   |  7 Pagesde-radicalization initiatives. Secondly, Socio-Economic and Political Marginalization of Muslim Communities. Currently, Kenyan youths account for 70% of the total unemployment rates in the entire country. It is argued that the rapidly growing youth population in Kenya has been associated with a strong sense of political and socio-economic marginalization. The frustrations among youths in the communities serve as the major driving force to engage in extremism behaviors. Kenya is mainly dominated by ChristiansRead MoreKenyas Tourism Policy 656 Words   |  3 Pagesintricate role in the development of Kenya. In the past Kenya depended greatly on their agricultural exports such as flowers, tea and coffee. As of 2006 tourism generated a whopping $803 million dollars and over $650 million the year before. The vision of the tourism board is to achieve global recognition for Keya as an outstanding tourist destination. Kenya’s service sector accounts for about 65 percent of the countries GDP , however; the largest foreign exchange sector in Kenya is now the TourismRead MoreOutlook On Kenyan Development Kenya941 Words   |  4 PagesOutlook on Kenyan Development Kenya is a third world country in Eastern Africa, with bright opportunities to develop into an african superpower. They have been a state since 1963 and before Kenya was independent, they were apart of the British Empire. Kenya’s capital is Nairobi, which also happens to be the center of industrial activities and the economy. Kenya’s development appears to be heading in a good direction as their GDP is rising, as well as their population to furthermore expand the economyRead MoreLegacies of Kenya Essays1058 Words   |  5 Pages Many different tribal communities inhabited Kenya, during its pre-colonial period. Today there are about 42 different tribes in Kenya who are all different from each other (Safari in Africa†). The Agikuyu and the Miji Kenda were farmers, the Maasai and the Samburu lived off of livestock, and the majority like the Luo and the Abagusii practiced a mixture of crop cultivation and pastoral work. Subsistence production was the norm and manual labor came from the family. Classes were mostly non-existent

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Monitoring Evaluating Marketing Comm Free Essays

Monitoring and evaluating marketing communications is a difficult process with imprecise outcomes. Critically review this statement for both on-line and off-line campaigns, making reference to appropriate theory, the organisation and tools previously selected. Innocent: Campaign regarding â€Å"Veg Pots† Monitoring and evaluating are different but complementary functions, which mutually reinforce one another. We will write a custom essay sample on Monitoring Evaluating Marketing Comm or any similar topic only for you Order Now Monitoring is an enduring function that uses the systematic collection of data on specified indicators to provide management and the main stakeholders of an on-going development intervention. Evaluation is the systematic and objective assessment of a continuing or completed project, programme or policy, (Third International Roundtable, 2007). Monitoring and evaluating marketing communications can be a difficult process as there are no real metrics for measuring advertisements within a campaign, advertising is not seen as a scientific or mathematical process and therefore evaluating the effectiveness of the campaign holistically can be made challenging. A wide range of criteria could be used by Innocent to monitor effectiveness of the Veg Pot campaign, ranging from awareness or advertising through absorption of product message and other intermediate factors to sales, the closer the sales figures are the better. Innocent Veg Pots offline/online campaign is filled with mixed-media tools, the differences in the way different mediums work can mean that they complement one another, in a mixed-media campaign each enriches what the other conveys. Magazine ads can communicate additional ideas, and also make the television advertising work harder; billboards can result in awareness and responses’ resulting on online hits, what this shows is that monitoring but also evaluating can be done not statistically but making consumers aware of the full product campaign through all mediums. Pelsmacker et al (2004) demonstrates with the use of figure 1. 1 different tests and research how monitoring and evaluating advertising campaigns can work. Figure 1. below illustrates the advertising planning process by stages, different advertising research methods can be adopted at certain points in the planning process. Innocent’s Veg Pot campaign can work in accordance with this model, at the different planning processes Innocent can carry out the research/tests as appropriate in order to efficiently improve decision making in each process and successfully move on to the next stage knowing that previous stages are fully completed and justifiable reasoning can be made as to why the next stage was then carried forward in the planning process. The pre- test is an evaluation method but can be seen as a monitoring method in assessing whether the campaign at that time matches to the expectations of the set objectives for the campaign, objectives should be measurable in order to quantify the effectiveness of the marketing communications (Ouwersloot and Duncan, 2007), the post-test could then help evaluate how well the advertising has been, through typical methods as recall or recognition analysis as suggested by Pickton and Broderick (2005) but have been criticised for association with several methodological problems by Singh et al,(1988 pp72-80). Figure 1. 1: Stages in the development of an advertising campaign and the role of advertising and advertising research Figure 1. 2 below shows the objectives of a pre-test, they could help to monitor if the set objectives are going to be met but also the pre-tests could be carried out to see whether the created adverts for the campaign are effective from the consumers perspective this may then allow Innocent to be efficient with time and money as they have already spent a lot previously promoting the Veg Pots which have been around since 2008, (Leahul, 2008). Figure 1. 2: Objectives of a Pre-Test Monitoring website behaviour has been made easier through advances in technology over the years, web servers automatically collect data of visitors of whom visit websites Nielsen data are one firm who analyse these views with the help of cookies it allows experts to see consumers who revisit the website or where they go after leaving the advert they had just been exposed to on a certain website which helps evaluation of effectiveness of online adverts. Viewing of television commercials tends to be relatively passive, whereas exposure to magazines is more active. The process of scanning the pages means constantly taking decisions, with relatively high attention, and this active selection is maintained throughout the reading of the issue. Typically, all or almost all of the pages of a magazine are opened, (Consterdine, 2000). Reading a magazine requires more mental engagement than viewing television, magazines are purchased voluntarily and purchased based on interest so it is likely that the consumer is to actively seek out information from that magazine, television which is another of Innocents chosen mediums can however engage with more of the senses than magazines, visual stories can be formed and viewed, jingles and catchy music can be a form of retrieval cues whilst the consumer is shopping. Monitoring television can be done by investigating how many people were watching during that advert break, monitoring magazines could be done by issues sold; evaluating the effectiveness of the ad can be seen through sales after exposure, however it cannot be stated that the increase in sales is because of the adverts it could be through desirability of product and the attractiveness of the offer it has along with it. Monitoring campaigns as Innocent’s mixed media one has proven to have its difficulties but shown to be reduced by Pelsmacker et al (2004) work of test marketing, evaluating the campaign is not any easier as there are many challenges in the way. Post-testing is one possible solution to evaluating the campaign communication effectiveness. Post-testing is carried out after an advert has been exposed to the target market the post-test hopes to find if the advert exposed has generated demand and increase sales figures. Post-test areas include media evaluation, sales affect, message content design of the marketing communication and lastly the effect of that marketing communication on awareness, attitude, purchase intention, claimed purchase behaviour and the like, (Pickton and Broderick, 2005 and Pavlou and Stewart, 2000). Pelsmacker et al (2004) found that recognition tests which consist of ‘evaluation of message content on the basis of an awareness of the marketing communication, (Pickton and Broderick, 2005) are better than recall tests which are an ‘evaluation of message content on the basis of aided or unaided recollection of the stimulus material’ (Pickton and Broderick, 2005), in measuring ad effectiveness if this is the case then Innocent could use recognition tests to evaluate the campaign of the Veg Pots however Singh et al (1988) suggested that recall and recognition tests have methodological problems in both broadcast media and print media Pelsmacker et al (2004) did also find that in recognition tests consumers can lie or guess creating erroneous results, single ads would be more difficult for a consumer to recognise or recall but similar ads that are part of a campaign will be more likely to recognised and recalled. Innocent is creating several different adverts all in line with each other to help consumers have the thought of Veg Pots in the top of their mind whilst they are shopping or just hungry. When monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of mixed-media campaigns special care is necessary if attempting to isolate the contributions of each medium. Isolating the effect of an advertising campaign is not always obvious’ according to Pelsmacker et al (2004), if Innocent are to fulfil their objective of increasing family consumers and advertise that free Veg Pots are available to limited consumers, that may increase the demand of the Veg Pots but the question is, is the increase in demand attributable to the advertising efforts or the attractiveness of the offer, (Pelsmacker et al, 2004), because of this it makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness of the individual tools used within the campaign to see what contributions each tool has brought. In order to assess this issue Pickton and Broderick’s (2005) concept of assessing the whole campaign through integrated marketing seems a much more appropriate method to use than struggling to assess individual tools effectiveness used within a campaign. Campaign evaluation research focusses on the effectiveness of the whole campaign rather than just one ad in which a post-test does. Integrated marketing suggests it is irrelevant to assess the effects of a single ad the effects of the whole campaign should be carried out, (Pickton and Broderick, 2005) which is agreed upon by the workings of Pavlou and Stewart (2000). Almost half of all personal computers are in the same room as the television set, and simultaneous viewing of television and access to the Internet are common,’ (Cox 1998) what this means for Innocent is that their mixed-media tools for the Veg Pot campaign work in accordance with each other suggesting that one medium helps the other in generating more and more awareness, in a campaign like Innocents it is impossible to state that effectivene ss of one medium is more useful or successful than the other as it may possibly be that one medium helps the other gain its credibility for example the television advert may direct the consumer to the website for more information which then offers information regarding vouchers in certain magazines therefore creating a triangular formation of connection between the campaign tools. Figure 1. 3: Continuum of integration . Figure 1. above illustrates that increasing levels of integration results in marketing communications benefiting from synergy creating positive effects, this ties in with the work of Yeshin ( 2005) and Pelsmacker et al (2004) who stated integrated marketing is better than assessing the effects of one single medium which is irrelevant therefore the whole communications mix should be assessed, however Pickton and Broderick (2005) also state in their three levels of integration model (figure 1. 4) that not huge integration is needed like a military station just some int egration is needed to keep a connection flowing through the hierarchy to avoid any communication failures. Figure 1. 4: Innocents new commercials that have been proposed to be created for the Veg Pot range is sure to not interest the entire audience the commercial is exposed to, Heath (2005, in Pickton and Boderick) said If the advert generates an interest for the person watching, that individual has more attention on the advert as it appeals to them compared to an individual watching the advert who does not have an interest in the product being advertised. The AIDA model could be an evaluation method that demonstrates how the appeal of the advert leads to purchasing of the Veg Pot as the awareness creates the interest then leading to desire ending in purchase, however the AIDA model has been discredited by Consterdine (2000) as to why consumers switch brands or select the brand because of an advert. There is now wide agreement that advertising works in different ways for different products in different situations, which doesn’t have to comply with the findings of the simplistic AIDA model. Unlike the findings of Pelsmacker et al (2004) and Pickton and Broderick (2005) who talk about evaluation of effectiveness being through tests, Ouwerloot and Duncan (2007) suggest that evaluation can be done through feedback in forms of interviews, meetings and general discussion not only internally but externally out of a company too, this then creates qualitative information for a company such as Innocent to use constructively. Speed, scope and scale of interactivity are what the mediums Innocent had for the Veg Pot campaign allowed. The degree of the success of the campaign can to an extent be evaluated through the mediums used. The internet can be used to fill out a questionnaire relating to the Veg Pots finding out whether consumers would purchase again, where and if they saw any of the campaign relating to the Veg Pots, television commercials can direct consumers to other more informative mediums, magazines can offer coupons when they are redeemed, billboards offer awareness, all these mediums combined can be evaluated not singularly though as found by Pelsmacker (2004), Pickton and Broderick, (2005) and Pavlou and Stewart (2000). Monitoring and evaluating marketing communications is a difficult process with imprecise outcomes’ this statements to an extent has been found to be true to an extent as many challenges are faced when monitoring and evaluating as there are no real metrics to underpin th e exact effectiveness of campaign communications it is hugely based upon perceived judgement and estimated predictions it is helped however through pre and post-tests yet through those tests it is still unclear the exact amount of people the campaign proved to be a success towards. Monitoring and evaluating marketing communications of Innocent can be difficult but hardship can be reduced through different methods, by examining the objectives of the campaign of the Veg Pots and seeing whether or not they had been reached can possibly answer the question ‘has the campaign been a success,’ but the actual monitoring of a campaign can be easier than evaluating a campaign, adverts that are singularly produced and not part of a campaign can be better evaluated and monitored as there will be no other influences or support with that particular advert. Saying that monitoring and evaluating can have imprecise outcomes is not generally true as strategies and tactics are put in place throughout campaigns an outcome is always known as measureable objectives are put in place at the beginning therefore knowing in the mind where or what the end result should be. References Consterdine, G. (2000) ‘Magazine advertising effectiveness’. [Online] http://www. consterdine. com/report. asp? articleid=50 Cox, Beth (1998), â€Å"Report: TV, PC Get Equal Time,†Ã‚  Advertising Report Archives, InternetNews. com (November 17). De Pelsmacker, P. and Geuens, M. and Van den Bergh, J. (2004), Marketing Communications, Prentice Hall, Harlow Leahul, D. (2008) Innocent Tackles food with Veg Pot. Brand Republic [Online] [Accessed on 2nd April 2012] http://www. brandrepublic. com/news/844321/innocent-tackles-food-veg-pots/ Ouwersloot, H. nd Duncan, T. (2007) Integrated Marketing Communications, Mc-Graw Hill Pavlou, P. A. and Stewart, D. W. (2000) ‘Measuring the Effects and Effectiveness of Interactive Advertising. ’ Journal of interactive advertising, 1(1) Pickton, D. and Broderick, A. (2005) Integrated Marketing Communications, Prentice Hall Singh, S. N et al (1988) ‘Recognition versus Recall as Measures of Television Commercial Third International Roundtable. (2007) Monitoring and Evaluation: Enhancing Development Results. Vietnam. [Online] [Accessed on 2nd April 2012] http://www. mfdr. org/rt3/Glance/Documents/EM_final. pdf Yeshin, T. (2004) Advertising. Thompson London How to cite Monitoring Evaluating Marketing Comm, Papers

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Roman Military Essay Example For Students

Roman Military Essay Roman MilitaryThe Roman army was one of the greatestforces of all times. The Roman army ,at its finest point, was nearly inconquerable. This was due to the discipline of the soldiers, the hard and effectivetraining of the soldiers, the speed at wich new tactics were learned, andto theorganization of the soldiers. From early times right down to the 3rdcentury A.D, the Roman army was based on its legions. A legion varied instrength from four-thousand to six-thousand men, and was subdivided ontoten cohorts. Its leader used the title of legatus. His staff officers werecalled tribuni. Senior non-commissioned officers were called centurions,who varied greatly in rank. The soldiers of the legion were picked men:They were all Roman citizens and received a higher pay than the auxillarytroops ,that is, foreigners who serve with the Roman army. A legion consisited of heavily armouredinfantry foot soldiers. The Roman infantry became a feared force, welldisciplined and well trained. Their weapons were two javelins each anda short thrustingsword. Cavalry was supplied by the auxilaries ,secondline troops, and was organised mainly in units of 500 men. When it was on campaigns the army wasaccompanied by a number of 7 specialists. One was the camp commandant,who was responsible for the organisation of the camp. The Romans were verycareful about their camps. No Roman army halted for a single night withoutdigging a trenches and fortifying its camp. Each soldier took his sharein establishing the camp and striking the camp the next day. Another specialistwas the quaestor, whose duty was to look after all the money matter. thenthere were the engineers and all kinds of craftsmen and artisans. Theywere responsible for siege operations and for the rather primative Romanartillery, which consisted of big catapults and complicated machinesa little like crossbows. These were mainly used for hurling big rocks andstones at the walls of a defence place. The engineers also had to buildthe moveable towers that were used in sieges. The Roman soldiers went upinside these towers so that they could see over the walls of a fortifiedplace and shoot their stones and arrows into it. The engineers also madethe scaling ladders that were used for getting over walls.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Faith Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience by Sharon Salzberg Essay Example

Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience by Sharon Salzberg Essay It is important for all of us to have spiritual moorings. To be able to negotiate the vagaries of life, a spiritual support is essential. Sharon Salzberg’s informative book Faith is a personalized account of the necessity of faith. Talking from her experiences as an American Buddhist teacher, Salzberg offers readers several insights on the subject. One of the main concepts spoken by Salzberg is the ‘discovery of truth’. Citing Buddhist understanding of cognitive processes, she reckons that human senses are not adequate to comprehend spiritual insights. To be able to get enlightened, disciplined pursuit of truth is necessary. Salzberg talks about how her own spiritual journey was marked by phases of doubt and confusion. Indeed, it is these challenges which make knowledge concrete, pulling away from its conceptual abstractions. In her own case, she encountered confusion whether to follow the Burmese or the Tibetan tradition of spiritual contemplation. She states that such challenges are a rite of passage for entering a higher realm of consciousness. Even when it comes to techniques of meditation there are numerous methods. As far as spiritual awakening is concerned there is no one text-book method to follow. Spiritual progress is a personal journey and it is achieved through the individual’s own striving. Salz berg contends that although Buddhist teachers can offer guidance, the ‘truth’ cannot be revealed through instruction. Salzberg cites her own experiences as an abused child to explain how Buddhist philosophy can come to aid. Having been abandoned and abused by her parents at a very young age, Salzberg was yet able to overcome such trauma. It was purely as a result of Vipassana meditation, that she successfully conquered her past. What more, the example of her life is in itself an inspiration for many of us with similar childhoods. Salzberg forewarns that though the fruits of meditation are undeniable, attaining them requires lots of patience and persistence. Buddhism does not offer any quick-fix solutions but instead takes the seeker through trials and tribulations. It is only those with conviction and faith that come through this arduous journey. Salzberg implores us to take up this challenge, for the fruits it bears are invaluable. We will write a custom essay sample on Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience by Sharon Salzberg specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience by Sharon Salzberg specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience by Sharon Salzberg specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer I personally subscribe to what Salzberg has said in her book. Although I am not a Buddhist, I am able to see the value of Buddhist contemplative practices, especially meditation, for healthy living. It should be remembered that most modern illnesses are stress related. So, for practical benefits, if not for obscure goals like spiritual enlightenment, one should embrace meditation. In my own life, I used to be prone to depression when I was young. I found meditation to be a very effective tool to keep depression at bay. In conclusion, I agree with most of the points raised by Sharon Salzberg in her work. After reading her book I am motivated to take up the practice of meditation. Beyond the ultimate goal of spiritual enlightenment, at first I would aspire to gain practical benefits. For example, I hope that it will make me a better person – one who is socially responsible and morally righteous. But with sustained practice, I hope to eventually mature and experience spiritual awakening. Sharon Salzberg’s success in her journey of faith will always continue to inspire me. It is important for all of us to have spiritual moorings. To be able to negotiate the vagaries of life, a spiritual support is essential. Sharon Salzberg’s informative book Faith is a personalized account of the necessity of faith. Talking from her experiences as an American Buddhist teacher, Salzberg offers readers several insights on the subject. One of the main concepts spoken by Salzberg is the ‘discovery of truth’. Citing Buddhist understanding of cognitive processes, she reckons that human senses are not adequate to comprehend spiritual insights. To be able to get enlightened, disciplined pursuit of truth is necessary. Salzberg talks about how her own spiritual journey was marked by phases of doubt and confusion. Indeed, it is these challenges which make knowledge concrete, pulling away from its conceptual abstractions. In her own case, she encountered confusion whether to follow the Burmese or the Tibetan tradition of spiritual contemplation. She states that such .

Monday, November 25, 2019

Brave New World is Possible essays

Brave New World is Possible essays The story is set six hundred years past the year of Ford. The people have had time to be inbred enough that no inkling of the word freedom remained. The world is one government ran by ten world leaders and the people enjoy life free from war, hatred, poverty, disease, and pain. The scientists have every detail worked to the point of exasperation. Standardization and progress are valued above all else. In this society, children are subject to mind programming and that is what makes it work. As a child, one is considered to be an innocent mind willing to learn, but still not sure on the difference between right and wrong. In Brave New World, Mr. Foster explained, We . . . predestine and condition. We decant our babies as socialized human beings, as Alphas or Epsilons, as future sewage workers or future [World controllers]. Even from the conception of egg and sperm, they control the path in which each person goes. Those controlling the path had been pre-selected in controlling pre-selections. The never-ending loop makes this possible. Theoretically, in almost every aspect, Brave New World could function. That is based on the fact that sometime around the year of Ford the nuclear bombs took most of mankind away. Those that remained were put into camps that later on turned into savage reservations. The victor took advantage of this whole thing and created for the world a new population of genetically altered people. These people were conditioned from birth to know the ways of Ford. The kind of mind control techniques used may not be effective, but certainly the introduction of free love and drugs took care of that. The widespread acceptance of free love would definitely not work if it werent for the techniques of sterilization and the three-month period women can occasionally go through. However, the occasional romantic just cant get the idea of being happy, and when that happens they are dealt with...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Social Entreprise Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Social Entreprise - Assignment Example Therefore, they profit from building a unique corporate image which helps to win customer loyalty in the long term. In the recent past, the social enterprises have faced numerous challenges that have made it difficult to address social issues within their target communities. For instance, business organizations are experiencing financial challenges as they attempt to invest more on corporate social responsibilities within competitive business organizations. International social enterprises are facing complex cultures that are difficult to handle making their effort futile. Therefore, it is recommendable that the social enterprises adopt innovative strategies to accomplish their role in the community. There are numerous forms of social enterprises in the world today that focus on social issues within the community. To begin with, we have the not-for-profit social enterprises in the society. These organizations are either formed by the government or international governments to address social issues that impact on the social responsibility of the community. For instance, the United Nations is a not-for-profit organization that focuses on the rights of the people to ensure that internationally accepted human rights are acquire by every human being. For many years, the UN has focussed on the human rights to ensure that the all countries treat all citizens fairly irrespective of their cultural or religious differences (Smith et al., 2012). The UN laws provide that all human beings are equal and must see each other as brothers and sisters while relating in the social scopes (Amao, 2011). The issue of cultural discrimination is an issue that has become severe in many countries especial ly after globalization. People are moving from one country to another in search for employment or even further education. Therefore, such

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism all spring for the same part of the Essay

Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism all spring for the same part of the world and share many of the same symbols, concepts, and prac - Essay Example Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism all originated from India though at different times in history. Buddhism is a form of religion that is based on virtues such as wisdom, freedom from greed, compassion, and love. The term Buddha was the name of an individual who is believed by the Buddhists to have attained the listed virtues. It is believed that Buddhism is 2500 years old. Buddhists view life as a process of change, where an individual develops systematically towards attaining the good personality. Buddhists believe that the mind is the channel through which an individual can change for the better and therefore meditation is an important practice among the Buddhists. Buddhists believe that meditation is the cure to problems of the mind such as lack of sleep, confusion, anxiety, and hatred among others. Festivals are considered important in Buddhism religion as it brings the followers together. The Buddha has various festivities around the year. For instance, the Buddha day marks the ce lebration of the full moon when the followers celebrate enlightenment by reviewing their lives and works. Dharma day is another festivity in Buddhism that marks the full moon and followers commemorate how Buddha shared his experience with the first disciple. Other celebrations include, Sangha day which the community celebrate spiritual community and the Parinirvana which symbolized the death of Buddha. Hinduism is a religion characterized by religious traditions and philosophy. The Hindu religion is also believed to have originated in India. The noble people who lived in India and recorded their ideas, beliefs, and practices on books founded it. The key teaching in Hindu religion is that human nature is not confined in the mind or the body. The Hindus believe that there exist spirits in the human souls all other things that are visible. Hinduism believe on wisdom, joy and peace among the things that make be considered good. Hindus believe in the existence of god in all creation and that god can incarnate is something. Hinduism also believes that god is infinite and manifests in different ways by which he can be contacted or prayed to. The behavior of Hindus is determined by the position an individual hold in life and the responsibilities attached to it. The religion also believes that human beings undergo development stages in life. Hinduism have many festivities around the year. These festivals are marked with prayers, worships, magic, and processions among others. The rituals are meant to cleanse the society, expel bad omen, and revive the power of nature. Some of the Hindu festivities include, celebrations of birthday for the gods, bonding festivals, celebration of victories among others. Sikhism is a form of religion that was founded by a man called Guru Nanak in India approximately five hundred years ago. The Sikhs believe that there is only one god and that all people are equal before god. The Sikhs also believe that before the soul becomes human form, i t undergoes a cycle of development. Another aspect of Sikhism is the practice of leading a virtuous life while balancing between temporal and spiritual obligations. Sikhism religion does not believe in some rituals such as fasting, superstitions, and idol worshiping. In the ritual dimension on religion, it is evident that all these three religions perform certain rituals to

Monday, November 18, 2019

ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR - Essay Example Another reason for the inability of a manager to manage creativity is the fact that change whether positive or negative will always receive criticism when introduced to a firm. It is not the role of management to create animosity in its daily operations and it will therefore not push for changes in production unless the methods proposed will lead to a very significant change in productivity (Kreitner 2009, p.434). The role of creativity and innovation although important in any field could be expensive as finances are necessary in order to conduct research into the feasibility of the new proposals. Therefore, management might not always be inclined to invest in this research as it does mean diverting resources into risk prone areas when already proven departments in a company might need money to fund other methods of production and projects whose profit is guaranteed (Finney 2010, p.149). Therefore, for creativity to grow in a company, management should strive to reduce its level of s upervision in the company’s daily operations. ... These include the employees’ freedom to operate, encouragement from their work group, encouragement from their immediate supervisor and as well as encouragement from the team as a whole (Williams 2008, p.159). Other factors to consider would be occupational obstacle due to policy and the degree of sophistication of the work, by evaluating these factors the management can see how to promote creativity in the organization. This is such as by increasing the difficulty of the work for the employees, the firm will see innovativeness nurtured as the employees will be forced to think critically as opposed to when doing repetitive rudimentary tasks. Creative people tend to have a disregard for rules and therefore do not stay in places with many policies and procedures it is therefore imperative to give them space to perform lest they become discouraged (Andriopoulos and Dawson 2009, p.339). Although creativity cannot be managed, management must find a way of dealing with the demands o f creative people lest they demoralize them and lose out. Why is environmental awareness important and what are the likely consequences to organizational effectiveness of failing to take account of environmental factors? Environmental awareness is very important for any business especially in this error where preservation of natural resources has been put as a priority by most governments. The environment always changes and it is important for a business to respond to emerging trends in a good time before it is viewed as irrelevant and therefore surpassed by its competitors. Detecting trends before they have become mainstream is very important for businesses as its gives them an edge over others in product design and branding.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Advantages And Disadvantages Of RFID

Advantages And Disadvantages Of RFID The significant advantage of all types of RFID systems is the noncontact, non-line-of-sight nature of the technology. Unlike a bar code, a large number of RFID tags can be read almost instantaneously through other materials (though some materials may cause problems) and they can be read through plastic, cardboard, wood and etc. Theoretically, this means that you could take a pallet of mixed products, all of which contain individual RFID tags, and have an RFID reader read all the tags within the palletized load without having to physically move any of the materials or open any cases. Thus, inventory can be performed in a highly efficient method. The RFID tags can store data and can also be read in challenging circumstances at remarkable speeds, in most cases responding in less than 100 milliseconds. In interactive applications such as work-in-process or maintenance tracking, the read/write capability of an active RFID system is also a significant advantage. RFID equipment damage occurs much less frequently than is the case with magnetic strips or barcodes. RFID tags are less susceptible to damage and can be read through a variety of substances such as ice, snow, paint, fog, crusted grime, and other visually and environmentally challenging conditions, where barcodes or other optically read technologies would be useless. RFID tags can be sealed within a plastic enclosure eliminating many of the problems that plague bar codes in harsh environments where they are exposed to chemicals, high temperature or moisture, abrasion, dirt and grease buildup, etc. If the implementation provides a significant method to improve business processes, the total cost of ownership should go down over the years and provide a good Return on investment (ROI). Supply chain management forms the major part of retail business and RFID systems play a key role by managing updates of stocks, transportation and logistics of the product. The aim is to reduce administrati ve error, labor costs associated with scanning bar codes, internal theft, errors in shipping goods and overall inventory levels. The combination of all above mentioned advantages will provide quick access to a wealth of information, eliminate human errors, and reduce labour which lead to reduce project activity times and to save project costs. 5.2: Disadvantage of RFID technology Lack of standardization, high costs of implementation, technology deployment risks, and the elimination of unskilled labour are all contributors currently preventing the adoption of new RFID technologies in the construction industry. Cost is the biggest hurdle to RFID tags replacing bar codes for item-level tracking of low-cost products. RFID systems are typically more expensive than alternatives such as barcode systems. In addition, software and support personnel needed to install and operate the RFID reading systems (in a warehouse for example) may be more costly to employ. Liquid and metal surfaces tend to reflect the radio waves, which makes the tags unreadable so, RFID tags cannot be read well when placed on metal or liquid objects or when these objects are between the reader and the tag. The tags have to be placed in various alignments and angles for taking proper reading. This is a tedious task when the work involves big firms. Tag and reader collision are common problems with RFID. Tag collision occurs when numerous tags are present in a confined area. The RFID tag reader energizes multiple tags simultaneously, all of which reflect their signals back to the reader. This result in tag collision, and the RFID reader fails to differentiate between incoming data. RFID reader collision results when the coverage area managed by one RFID reader overlaps with the coverage area of another reader. This causes signal interference and multiple reads of the same tag. RFID standards are still being developed. You dont want to invest in an RFID system that is based on soon-to-be obsolete specs. RFID technology ultimately involves software that allows each user to be identified by a central database. This infrastructure will certainly be under attack by hackers. Water, static discharge or high-powered magnetic surges (such as lightning strike) may damage the tags. With more research, the flaws and limitations of this technology can be removed. This will make RFID technology very useful for diverse sectors like retail, and transport. Developments in RFID technology continue to yield larger memory capacities, wider reading ranges, and faster processing. RFID will continue to grow in its established niches where barcode or other optical technologies are not effective. If some standards commonality is achieved whereby RFID equipment from different manufacturers can be used interchangeably the market will very likely grow exponentially. 6: RFID APPLICATIONS There are various applications of RFID technology in different industries for both logistical traceability for tracking the location and progress of an object, and qualitative traceability for associating any additional information to products (Karkkainen, 2005). Retail, food, defence, pharmaceutical, healthcare, manufacturing and transport are just some of the sectors where RFID has already been extensively applied (Wilding and Delgado 2004, ERABUILD Report 2006, and Smith and Konsynski 2007). Tagging provides asset visibility, identification and positioning, and enables total inventory management. Different sectors require different approaches but a common factor to all is adequately determining a basic unit or unit set for tagging (e.g. pallets, packages, single items, containers, etc.)(Radosavljevic and Dan-Asabe, 2007). Increasingly, retail/CPG and Pharmaceutical companies are looking to use RFID to track goods within their supply chain, to work in process and for other applications. Today, CPG and retail companies are using RFID to track promotional displays, reduce out-of-stocks and improve shipping and receiving accuracy. Manufactures are using RFID to track work-in-process, perfect just-in-time manufacturing, improve shipping accuracy, and manage inventory and warrantee information (RFIDJournal, 2010). Auto manufacturers are among the leading users of RFID technology today. Most cars have an RFID reader in the steering column and a transponder in the key. If the ID in the key doesnt match the number the reader is looking for, the car wont stop. This system has greatly reduced auto theft. Auto companies also use RFID to track work-in-process, perfect just-in-time manufacturing, improve shipping accuracy, and manage inventory and warrantee information (RFIDJournal, 2010). Hospitals and health-care providers are using RFID technology to track patients and high-value assets, as well as ensure patient safety. One company offers a system to track surgical sponges to ensure they are not inadvertently left behind in patients. And many hospitals are now tracking patients to ensure the right patient is given the proper care. These systems tend to reduce the data-entry workload of nurses, and also let them spend more time caring for patients and automate the process of billing. Additionally, hospitals are tracking high-value assets, including gurneys, wheel chairs, oxygen pumps and defibrillators. These systems reduce the time employees spend looking for assets, improve asset utilization and enhance the hospitals ability to performed scheduled maintenance (RFIDJournal, 2010). Pharmaceutical companies are exploring RFIDs potential in many areas, including improving supply-chain efficiencies, complying with government information-collection requirements, reducing counterfeiting; creating electronic pedigrees and ensuring public safety by making sure only legitimate drugs enter the supply chain (RFIDJournal, 2010). Thousands of companies around the world use RFID today to improve internal efficiencies. Club Car, a maker of golf carts uses RFID to improve efficiency on its production line (Jonathan Collins, 2004). Paramount Farms one of the worlds largest suppliers of pistachios uses RFID to manage its harvest more efficiently (Bob Violino, 2004). NYK Logistics uses RFID to improve the throughput of containers at its busy Long Beach, Calif., distribution center (Jennifer Maselli, 2003). http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/purchase/839 http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/purchase/810 http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/purchase/617 http://www.rfidjournal.com Wilding, R. and Delgado, T. (2004). RFID Applications within the Supply Chain. Supply Chain 6(2), 36-49. Smith, H. and Konsynsky, B. (2003). Developments in Practice X: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-An Internet for Physical Objects. Communication Association for Information System, 12, 301-311. Karkkainen, M. (2005). Forwarder Independent Tracking System-Problem Description and Solution Design Proposal. Ph.D. Diss., Dept. of Ind. Eng., Helsinki University of Technology, Espoo.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

One Small Pill for Womankind: One Big Dose for the U.S. Essay -- Healt

Gregory Goodwin Pincus created the birth control pill stimulating a new tidal wave of women's rights movements. From one small pill, new channels that had been dammed down to a trickle became a mighty flood again. With the ability to prevent pregnancy without risking a dangerous abortion women found the strength to fight against male-dominated areas that were still left untouched from the first series of movements by their predecessors. From how long they stayed in the workforce to the freedom of their sexuality to changing laws and stepping up for their rights, women came alive again with renewed ferocity. Women and the workforce met in few places, for only brief time and very rarely in the general public eye. If seen in the public eye they were with their male counterpart, their husbands or fathers. In the 1960s because it was legal and acceptable within society, companies openly discriminated against women based on their sex. â€Å"In 1961 there were 454 federal civil-service-job categories for college graduates, and more than 200 of them were restricted to male candidates† (Collin 7). Women were not doctors, if they were so inclined even after counseling they were advised and directed to towards taking a position as pediatrician. They were not lawyers and even those that were legally lawyers infrequently practiced because of the extreme lack of hiring firms, instead they would become clerks and secretaries. Their jobs only consisted of labor, only if a farmer's wife or daughter (Collin 6) or when the country was at war and all the men were unavailable and not wanting for the position. â€Å"There was, for all practical purposes, a national consensus that women could not be airplane pilots, firefights, television news anchors, c... ...950s† (17). Women, especially single women, found uncharted freedom of being able to find pleasure in their sexual activity that twenty, even five years ago would have been thought of as absurd and unlikely (MacLean 17). In 1966, the National Organization for Women (NOW) a civil rights group for women formed (MacLean 14) started with just one thousand members but its size grew to an incredible four hundred thousand by 1974 (MacLean 16). NOW originally was mainly focused on equal opportunity for women in the workplace but they also fought for â€Å"maternity leave and child care; equal education; a woman's rights to control her own fertility; and passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)...† MacLean 16). A new generation of activists was born and much like the women before them they began to realize the the abundance of â€Å"'sexism' (a word they coined)'† (MacLean 16).

Monday, November 11, 2019

Influence of celebrities X parents Essay

Invasion of the celebrities in homes around the word have an impact in children life. Celebrities are everywhere. Media like television shows, Internet, and magazines make the presence of celebrities constant in daily live, and this presence result an influence under younger. Sometimes this impact agrees with parents’ values but sometimes diverges. While parents work hard to give a good education for their children, the widely spread of some celebrity behavior make a mess in younger minds. As well as parents, personalities have a meaningful presence in young lives. Appearing al the time celebrities concur with parents for children attention. Occasionally, teenagers prefer to be in front of television watching their favorite shows than spend time with family. In some cases, celebrities can have a positive influence under children. Teens might admire a disciplined athlete, a philanthropic actor and also they might be impressed by parents ethical conducts. It is known that misbehavior of celebrities is widely divulged, and adolescents that are exposed to these behaviors might change their comportment. Young usually follow the celebrities tends like hairstyles, clothing, and even ideal. Opinions and values may change and sometimes can go against the father and mother principles. Family usually teaches their successors what is right and wrong. However, celebrities behavior like the singer Justin Bieber, that get involved in a minor scuffle with paparazzo, may give to children an impression that it is normal, and also they may think that these conducts are acceptable by society. The disclosure of celebrity lives may make children mind sometimes resulting in a divergent values of their parents, in other perspective agree with parents education. The incessant presence of personalities involves the younger mind and leads boys and girls to change their behavior. Comportment example tends copied from children. The comportment can come from TV stars and parents. Depending the type of example, younger shift their thoughts to better, but maybe it can prompt in a behavior in opposite to their parents. Notably, as well parent celebrities easily influence children. For this  reason, parents cannot underestimate their power, and they have to assume the control of their children.

Friday, November 8, 2019

HRM Practices at Superior Energy Services

HRM Practices at Superior Energy Services Introduction Superior Energy Services is an oil and gas corporation that operates in different countries, backed by its engineering experts that map and devise resolutions for clients. The company has a record of setting up particularized tools and expertise with the purpose of satisfying the requirements of its customers.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on HRM Practices at Superior Energy Services specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More During the initial times of operation, Superior Energy Services established the application of rigless plugging, in addition to desertion services (Dinger Schell, 2014). From its establishment in 1980, the company has retained a leading position in numerous developments that profit oil and gas customers and producers. As a consultant in Human Resource consulting firm, Superior Energy Services has hired our firm to carry out a Human Resource Management analysis and give recommendations to impr ove its alignment of Human Resource practices to the major business projects of the company. Despite its leading position, Superior Energy Services encounters a number of Human Resource Management issues that it requires addressing to ensure that it upholds success and boosts performance. History The remarkable development of Superior Energy Services was attained in a comparatively short period and could be attributed to hard work, tactical possessions, and a concentration on satisfying customer anticipations. Superior Energy Services began its operations in 1980 (Dinger Schell, 2014). From its inception, Superior Energy Services has developed from 125 workers and 12 million dollars in profits to a publicly traded corporation that has more than 4.5 billion of profits per year and about 14,000 workers across the globe. At around 1995, Superior Energy Services provided a comprehensive inventory of particularized instruments for boring, production, and well workover actions. To fund e nhanced development in its operations, the company started an initial public offering (IPO) of stock in mid-1990s.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More After the IPO, the company developed rapidly through acquisition of over ten small and medium-sized companies in a period of 3 years. Before the end of 1999, the company had combined with Cardinal Services, the market leader in the Gulf of Mexico and the biggest holder and user of liftboats in the area. By around 2005, the marketplace in the Gulf of Mexico was alive with congestion and encountering low product prices. To boost asset exploitation, the company turned global. In 2006, the company extended its onshore activities in Northern America via acquiring of Warrior Energy Services, which made Superior Energy Services the best Northern America production improvement company. In 2008, the expansion of Superior Energy S ervices intensified with its progression in the offshore market (Superior Energy Services, 2015). With the constant expansion of the capabilities of Superior Energy Services, its reach similarly expanded and it was ranked position fifteen by FORTUNE Magazine in the list of the highest growing 100 companies. In early 2010, the company declared David Dunlap its new Chief Executive Officer. Strategy The winning strategy employed by Superior Energy Services in its development has been making the most of industry successions, expanding its reach, acquiring other companies, and adapting to varying situations. Such endeavors have been strengthened by the dedication of the company to customer service and offering resourceful, lucrative services anywhere they are required.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on HRM Practices at Superior Energy Services specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For instance, in 2012, the company, in accordan ce with its proactive advance to development, started shifting its endeavors to land markets and global expansion via a couple of objectives, the sale of some of its liftboats and the fusion with other companies, such as Complete Production Services. Attributable to merger with other companies, Superior Energy Services attained greater access to other markets (Dinger Schell, 2014). The merger of Superior Energy Services with other companies and the ensuing surplus cash flow have made the company hasten its efforts to meet its rising global opportunities. Market Position Superior Energy Services operates offshore in its Gulf of Mexico market, onshore in the US, and in numerous global marketplaces. Superior Energy Services has locations in different strategic positions in Texas as well as Louisiana for gas and oil endeavors in places such as Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Pennsylvania just to mention a few. The drilling products and services division of Superior Energy Services carries out activities in Northern America, the Middle East, Europe, and West Africa among other areas, and encompasses pressure management tools, distinctiveness tube-shaped supplies, encompassing drill tube, linking iron, and handling devices amid others. The main customers of the company encompass independent gas and oil companies, for instance, Chevron Corporation and BP to mention a few. The main competitors of the company include other growing companies, for example, Global Industries and Helix Energy Solutions Group (Dinger Schell, 2014). Attributable to their global expansion, other rivals in the sector such as Weatherford International and Schlumberger have posed great competition to Superior Energy Services. In the production of gas, in addition to oil, the company encounters competition from the above named companies, over and above other companies, for instance, ENSCO International and Transocean, which concentrate on offshore drilling along with production of oil.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Area of Alignment Superior Energy Services is entailed in carrying out the drilling, completion and production associated requirements of gas and oil companies internationally via oilfield services and tools that are employed all through the fiscal development of gas and oil wells. Superior Energy Services works via 4 sections that encompass Drilling Products and Services, which rents, produces, and trades particularized devices and instruments for application in well boring, manufacturing, conclusion, and workover actions. The second section is the Onshore Completion and Workover Services, which provides fluid management, servicing of wells, as well as pressure pumping (Superior Energy Services, 2015). The third section is Production Services, which comprises of intervention services, in addition to specialized pressure management devices. The fourth section is Subsea and Technical Solutions, which provides services and products handling client-specific requirements with functions characteristically necessitating particularized engineering, production, and mapping of projects. Superior Energy Services provides services to the energy sector clients who center on producing and increasing gas and oil internationally. Job Pricing and Compensation Package Due to the need for modern expertise in the company to decrease risk, boost completion effectiveness, and capitalize on production, the pay rates amid most employees in the company is based on external competitiveness (Dinger Schell, 2014). The company, as well as its subsidiaries, acts as a fair and Affirmative Action boss where minority groups, veterans, individuals with disability, and women are given employment opportunities based on merit. Via involvement in the E-verify plan, the company automatically authenticates the employment qualification and legality of Social Security Number of every one of its new employees. The job positions in the company provide an excellently-supported compensation package enco mpassing a high basic salary, in addition to a bonus plan. The employees also get excellent benefits package that includes Dental, Health, Life, and Vision insurance to mention a few. Achieving Organizational Objectives Superior Energy Services improved its earlier targets and established new targets to enhance continued advancement and direct the company towards its leadership objectives with the purpose of better aligning the performance of the company with environment, health, safety, and social responsibility strategy. A number of the targets encompass end-of-process targets, for instance, enhanced safety performance, decreased air emissions, and concentrating on the outcomes of its strategies. Further targets are the in-process targets that concentrate on the best manner in which the company could carry out its endeavors (Guest, 2011). Even though adherence to environment, health, and safety is still the major section on the company’s operational anticipations, the compa ny comprehends that its activities have to be centered on offering a significant involvement in the interests of the societies where they function. Additionally, with the requirements of enhanced transparency, it is vital to have a strong practice of stakeholder involvement in position. With the state-of-art skills, Superior Energy Services will achieve its organizational objectives. In this regard, the concentration of the company is developing and attaining new outcome targets, considerably boosting the overall performance and setting up methods to emphasize line management accountability. This will necessitate the company to turn its approach into a game plan and ensure accurate assessment of its performance. Technology Deliberations To accomplish productivity with respect to the organizational goals, Superior Energy Services requires offering strategic management and guidance in the creation of consistent, organized, responsive, and lucrative best practice expertise. The company should address Architecture Governance to make sure that the application of technology is in line with the overall planning roadmap, technological values, and present and rising best practices in the sector while coordinating with Information technology to ascertain that the applied technology encompasses every applicable contribution and viewpoint. The managers should cautiously guide, mentor, and supervise a technological team of experts such as engineers and architects while watching over the establishment of technological policies and systems. Such professionals in the company will establish and suggest policies for technological resolutions anchored in the evaluation of the company’s aims and future objectives (Buller McEvoy, 2012). Labor Marketplace and the Suitable Labor Law The stresses of oil and gas companies in the labor market are turning greatly evident. Such stresses keep on affecting the set project outlays with some of the plans being interrupted or abandone d. A common difficulty for oil and gas companies lies in infrastructural limitations. The varying competitiveness and rising technologies and skills have turned into a great challenge to many companies. With increased demand in the labor market, companies encounter the unparalleled pressures to maintain and develop talent. To stay abreast of the exceedingly vibrant and competitive labor market, Superior Energy Services requires developing a strong talent channel (Tooksoon, 2011). With different challenges in the labor market, labor laws are devoted to safeguarding working families that have the heaviest burden in case of violations. For instance, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) normally deals with violations arising from inappropriate compensation of overtime. The FLSA demands that every covered worker has to be compensated a minimum of 7.25 US dollars per hour, in addition to time and 50% their normal rates for each hour they operate past forty each week. The law also forbids e mployers from hitting back in opposition to workers that apply their rights in accordance with the law. The FLSA affirms that employers that go against the law are liable to workers for redress (Weissbrodt Mason, 2013). Another applicable labor law is the occupational safety and health (OSH) Act, which is interested in the security and wellbeing of employees. Additionally, the OSH Act is also set to safeguard co-workers, members of the family, clients, employers, and other people that could be distressed by the workplace setting. For instance, employers have the task of taking sensible care for the wellbeing of their workers. Companies Preparing To Embrace Change Apart from Superior Energy Services, other companies preparing to address changes in their Human Resource Management practices include Citrus Energy, Anadarko Petroleum, and Chesapeake Energy. These companies possess the mining rights and safeguard the technological and specialized labor force required to identify extracti on locations, build them up, finish drilling, and get wells set for production. In alignment of Human Resource practices to the main business projects, the companies are employing subcontractors for nearly all operations in the drilling or well locations. The employed subcontractors do extraction and geological activities, land renting and acquirement, and oilfield backing services. Human Resource Concerns Cutthroat competition for talent in the industry is compelling Superior Energy Services to mull over its human capital requirements and the policies needed to maximize its approach to and maintenance of professional and experienced employees. Since some of the necessary skills are highly transferable to other sectors, the oil and gas sector might get itself competing with other industries for required talent while as well struggling to create new talent (Alfes, Shantz, Truss, Soane, 2013). The requirement for competent employees will compel Superior Energy Services to sharpen its focus with respect to hiring, training, and retention of talent, in addition to establishing a lasting inclusive human resource policy. Devoid of execution of excellent strategies, Superior Energy Services risks losing for poor performance in the sector. The gains will be immeasurable if the company centers on developing and fostering its talent team, and difficulties overwhelming if it takes a more lackadaisical advance to its human capital. Recommendations Ensure Retention and Stability of Workforce To ensure the development and retention of a stable labor force, Superior Energy Services should promote a competitive skill-based pay and offer inducements to workers that demonstrate inventiveness and leadership attributes. This will persuade the employees to attain the necessary skills and offer the company the flexibility to handle the varying needs of the clients (Tooksoon, 2011). Enhance Training The required understanding and responsiveness of employees varies with time and mar ket demands. To ensure a lasting, competent labor force, the company should change its training approach with varying market demands and offer fresh training to old employees as a way of updating them for improved effectiveness (Dreher Dougherty, 2002). Keep Employees Safe and Occupied For competitive advantage in the struggle for skilled labor, Superior Energy Services should concentrate on first-rate, safe, and encouraging environments for its employees. One way would be through ensuring growth by fair promotion of employees from new hires, supervisors, to senior managers and offering seniority-based pay (Tooksoon, 2011). Conclusion From its establishment in 1980, Superior Energy Services has retained a leading position in numerous developments that profit oil and gas customers and producers. Nevertheless, regardless of taking a leading position, the company has Human Resource Management issues to handle to ensure that it sustains its success and improves its performance. The str esses in the labor market are turning greatly evident and could affect the set project outlays resulting in interruption or abandonment of some plans. Aggressive competition for talent is compelling the company to mull over its human capital requirements. Some of the recommendations offered encompass enhancing training and seeking ways to ensure retention and stability of the workforce. References Alfes, K., Shantz, A. D., Truss, C., Soane, E. C. (2013). The link between perceived human resource management practices, engagement and employee behavior: A moderated mediation model. The international journal of human resource management, 24(2), 330-351. Buller, P. F., McEvoy, G. M. (2012). Strategy, human resource management and performance: Sharpening line of sight. Human Resource Management Review, 22(1), 43-56. Dinger, E., Schell, T. (2014). Superior Energy Services, Inc. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, Cengage Learning. Dreher, G., Dougherty, T. (2002). Human resource strategy: A be havioral perspective for the general manager. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Guest, D. E. (2011). Human resource management and performance: Still searching for some answers. Human Resource Management Journal, 21(1), 3-13. Superior Energy Services. (2015). Retrieved from https://superiorenergy.com/ Tooksoon, H. (2011). Conceptual framework on the relationship between human resource management practices, job satisfaction, and turnover. Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, 2(2), 41-49. Weissbrodt, D., Mason, M. (2013). Compliance of the United States with International Labor Law. Minnesota Law Review, 98, 1842.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Rubin Huricane Carter essays

Rubin Huricane Carter essays In the court case of Rubin Hurricane Carter, that covered from the years of 1966 the year he was convicted to 1988 the year he was proven innocent, Rubin was charged with murder on November 30, 1966, Carter and Artis are indicted for first-degree murder in the deaths of James Oliver, Hazel Tanis, and Fred Nauyoks. Carter and Artis face the death penalty, if convicted. April to May 1967: After a 31-day trial, an all-white jury convicts Carter and Artis of first-degree murder. The jury Rubin spent the next 30 years of his life in prison as an innocent man due to the lack of equality. Rubin was denied his rights and treated like a murder. He was forced to live the life of a guilty man, he was always seen as guilty till proven innocent, and not innocent until proven guilty. Carter was portrayed as a murder just because of something none of us can control. He was black. Many events from the night of June 16, 1966 do not and havent ever made sense. Even 34 years later, a number of mysteries, unanswered questions, and contradictions of the Carter murder trials are yet un answered. Within hours of the shootings, police suspected a third man, who flunked a lie detector test and later refused to cooperate in the investigation, citing his constitutional rights against self-incrimination. His role has never been fully resolved. While consistently denying any link to the killings, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter and John Artis nevertheless told wildly inconsistent versions of their whereabouts that night, and, say police and others, encouraged friends to concoct false alibis. What's the truth? Carter and Artis have never offered a full explanation. Police bungled a series of key steps early in the investigation, such as not taking fingerprints at the shooting scene, not photographing tire skid marks, and failing to chase a possible getaway car immediately. The ...

Monday, November 4, 2019

Nursing research Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nursing research - Assignment Example On the other hand Van Schoonhoven defines the concept as the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of the best current evidence which is available in the decision making process. The decisions made should be applicable to the individual patients; above all the optimality of the evidences is core (Herdman & NANDA International 2011). EBP helps nurses to make informed decisions on the quality of the services they offer, it is very crucial to base judgements and formulate decisions based on the use of EBP as compared to the traditional methods. By doing this it improves the health care system as it basically facilitates and ensures consistency in the decision making process. According to Prior, Wilkinson, and Neville (2010) the system helps nurses to make informed decisions based on an up to date technology, thereby ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in the practice (Herdman & NANDA International 2011). EBP is the right channel towards achieving fully functional nursing services. Each of the techniques imparted on these nurses is a clear functional criterion which will spearhead the whole process of efficiency and effectiveness. Most times patients will have beneficial and improved outcomes where the EBP mechanism has been utilized which typically gives maximum results on different topologies in the practice. By doing this different preference of the individual and the entire society are addressed (Hoffmann, Bennet & Del Mar 2010). Prior, Wilkinson, and Neville (2010) quantitative analysis was the start incarnation to formulate a robust and quantitative question which was intended to provide a clear cut direction to the literature search. This study suggests that a strong question corresponds to the research technique, it also touches on; methods used for research, the interactions and the general outcomes of interests. It is also evident that there are three aspects of consideration; search of relevant evidence, the decision on whether the evidence is

Friday, November 1, 2019

Discuss the role played by morality or obligation in Antigone Essay - 1

Discuss the role played by morality or obligation in Antigone - Essay Example Both assertions are legitimate and are present in an unavoidable tension. Another probability is to interpret the play as a mere justification of Antigone over Creon, as an absolution of the individual’s appreciation of right and wrong over the assertions of the state and nothing more. In the story Antigone, the literary style of tragedy is accentuated by the arrangement of the events from order to chaos. The two central characters in the story were the tragic heroine Antigone and pragmatic but weary ruler Creon. Both Antigone and Creon primarily played significant roles in the story; yet, the former one was the character who brought about relevant changes in the kingdom through her insistence of personal desire. The death of Antigone became the glaring signal of the sudden demise of the central characters of the story such as Haemon, the fiancà © of Antigone, and Eurydice, the knitting wife of Creon. The suicides of Haemon and Eurydice were the last punishment bestowed upon Creon. Antigone was a headstrong and unruly heroine at first but then after her failure to bury his brother’s body, Polynices who died in the battle for the throne, she underwent an internal change that is manifested in her utter rejection of the desire to live longer and happily with her love Haemon. She courageously accepted the punishment of execution for her acts which consequently symbolized her solitary combat against state power. In her bold decision not to cede to Creon, Antigone’s beauty as a tragic heroine surfaced in the crucial moments of her hopelessness and misery. Ismene, her physically enticing sister, admitted that Antigone is beautiful in way that doesn’t please the eyes but in an unsettling, frightening and remarkable way. The activities of Antigone in the story resultantly affected the fate of the other characters. Creon, on the other hand, failed in his

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Patient safety officer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Patient safety officer - Essay Example e that standards of the institution are maintained to meet the needs of the client, and continuous improvement of systems in response to hazards that may occur are important in patient safety. By developing the hospital staff through trainings, workshops, drills, et cetera, there will be improvement in rendering care towards clients. Responsibilities of the patient safety officer include overseeing if standards for safety are followed, taking action for hazards, and facilitating staff development activities. As a responsibility of health care institutions to prevent patients from acquiring hospital-associated infections (HAI), infection control programs are given importance in hospitals. Recent studies propose that the use of evidenced-based practices (EBPs) can help prevent HAIs (Yokoe & Classen, 2008, p.S3). In addition, monitoring of performance based on patient outcomes are recommended evaluative measures. Documentation of infections that occur, if any, as well as the outcomes of EBPs application are important ways to â€Å"improve care and as a means to enable customers to choose safer care† (p.S6). In the United States, the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Health care Organizations directs the participation of health care facilities in hazard surveillance rounds (Prezant, et al., p.92). This is done to assess compliance gaps and identify hazardous conditions, performed semiannually in hospitals and annually in clinics (p.92). It is the duty of the safety officer or manager to lead the activity, record the process, report data, and facilitate improvements with the safe committee (p.92). Risks or hazards identified are managed according to the four Ts strategy of terminating, treating, transferring, and tolerating which may also be adapted in health care. Termination can be done either by making changes in materials used or terminating the operation associated with the risk (Stephans, 2004, p.121). Treatment is performed by applying controls that

Monday, October 28, 2019

Harrison Bergeron Essay Example for Free

Harrison Bergeron Essay In the short story, â€Å"Harrison Bergeron†, Kurt Vonnegut portrays a society in which â€Å"everyone is equal†. Through the efforts of the Handicapper General, all persons who were endowed with anything more than moderate talents are forced to wear various devices meant to make everyone equal, intellectually and physically. Through showing his audience what a truly â€Å"equal† society could be, as well as how government could regulate equality, Kurt Vonnegut clearly makes the point that truly equality leads to a loss of true individuality within a society. Each person in society has talents that another does not, which is what creates diversity in our communities and careers. By removing this diversity from society by making every person equal, the government is inviting its own demise. The first example of how idealistic equality creates a lack of individuality is in the scene where George and Hazel Bergeron are watching ballerinas on television. George notes, â€Å"They weren’t really very good – no better than anybody else would have been, anyway†. By leveling the playing field, and forcing ballerinas to wear weights and masks to hide their talent and beauty, the Handicapper General has taken away from the dancers their unique talents for dancing and eliminating any competition between ballerinas. If all dancers must be equal, this eliminates the need for any one ballerina to spend extra time practicing, or trying to be a better ballerina. This, in turn, could create a less than desirable work ethic, as the ballerinas do not have to work as hard to be competitive. As Philip Fetzer explains, â€Å"†¦ even if it were possible to create a society based on equality of ability, it would not be desirable to do so. A society without differences of ability would generate no leaders, no great works of art or literature, no new ideas. The society would quickly stagnate†. The second instance in which Vonnegut shows his readers the impact of an equal society is when George and Hazel are talking about what society would be like without handicaps to make everyone equal. George cannot think for more than a few seconds at a time because of the handicap that he must wear in his ear, to distract him from his thoughts by blaring loud noises at random. All people who have above â€Å"average† intelligence are required to wear such a device to eliminate any unfair intellectual advantage over others. However, by scaring off the thoughts of truly intelligent people, the government is also creating a society in which nothing will ever change. Without the truly intelligent men and women in any society, there are no new inventions or new ideas that, in the past, have revolutionized a society. By making all people intellectually equal, the government and the society itself will remain unchanged and unadvanced. Ironically, George believes that without handicaps to keep everyone equal, â€Å"pretty soon we’d be right back to the dark ages again, with everybody competing against everybody else†. However, without competition, society would revert to the dark ages, unable to compete with other societies and develop new technology and innovation. As Christopher Alexion points out, human beings must be careful with creating equality, because of the risk of taking it â€Å"to extremes that eventually destroy whatever it was we were trying to protect. Thats why our efforts toward equality need vitally to be guided by a love of liberty. Naked equality is just another name for tyranny – for if everyones going to be equal in all aspects, then no one can really be free†. The final example of the effect of a truly equal society occurs when Harrison Bergeron appears on television with all of his clanking weights and extreme handicaps. Harrison is athletic and intelligent, and has an obscene amount of handicaps because of this. Harrison attempts to overthrow the government, by declaring himself â€Å"the Emperor†, and removing all of his handicaps, as well as those of his chosen Empress. By having independent thoughts and beliefs, Harrison leads his own revolution in an attempt to change society for the better. Harrison sees that the constant equality means that people are no longer competitive, and he decides to try to change that. However, he is killed by the government in the process, and any dreams of change die with him. As Steven Saus notes, â€Å"The maximization of human potential and the potential of society can only be achieved by allowing all individuals to have the best opportunity to succeed within the limits of their primary characteristics†. Any person who has new ideas or tries to initiate change within an equal society would be met with the same fate, and consequently, nothing would ever change. By creating a society in which every person is equal, Kurt Vonnegut is able to show his readers how devastating to a society equality could be. At a time when political correctness is a must, and society strives for equality, it is easy to see how true equality could lead to a lack of diversity and competition within a society. Although Vonnegut’s society was a fictional one, a society similar to the one in â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† would become a stagnant and unmotivated environment, falling behind in innovation and invention. Ultimately, the equality in this story will lead to the demise of the society.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Greek Gods - The Historical Background Essay -- Classics

Greek Gods - The Historical Background Greek gods were an essential part of Greek mythology. Our proper knowledge of the ancient Greek gods can be traced back to Homer who wrote The Iliad and The Odysse. It is also believed that the myths were heavily influenced by the Mycenaean culture that existed in Greece from 1700 to 1100 BC. However there is some evidence that the beginnings of Greek mythology and beliefs can be traced back to the ancient Middle Eastern cultures. There are many similarities between the mythology of these ancient Middle Eastern cultures and the ancient Greeks. Greek Gods - Religious & Social Background The Greek gods were created in order to explain the world around them in order to put a reason or explanation behind everything, and to provide entertainment for the masses. In the Greek religion however there was not a sole source or reading that could be studied and preached, i.e. Muslims study the Koran, and Christians the Bible. However the Greeks were broader and less strict in the way they practised their faith, each different Greek city-state would devote itself to a particular god or a set of gods, and depending on the location of the state the characteristics of the gods could vary many city-states erected temples to their particular gods, and these gods were honoured in festivals and animal sacrifices. The ancient Greek gods were believed to take on human form and lived in a society similar to human society, ...

Thursday, October 24, 2019

The Two Towers :: essays research papers

The Lord of the Rings – The Two Towers Frodo and Sam lower down on an elf rope, Sam isn’t very good in that and drops a piece of bread. When Frodo tried to catch it he fell down. It didn’t hurt him because there were only a few more meters. During the night they caught Gollum who wanted them to give him the ring of Power. Sam thought that Gollum only want to kill them, but Frodo knew that the creature Gollum was the person Smà ©agol a long time ago. In the lands of Rohan Aragorn, Gimbly and Ligulas were searching for Merry and Pippin. In the morning a red sun came up, which mean that someone died. A few minutes later they saw a group of horsemen. They let them pass and then they asked if they had seen the two. The cousin of the king, who is the leader of the group, told them that they saw a troop Uruk Hais and that they had killed them. The elf, the man and the dwarf were given two horses. Later in the Fangorn wood they tried to fight against the white wizard, but he is too strong. Shortly after that he showed them his true face. They couldn’t belief their eyes – it was Gandalf. He told them that Merry and Pippin were saved and that he would go to the capital of Rohan. The king wasn’t able to do what he wants when they arrived. Gandalf helped him and the king through his adviser out of his lands because he had a black character. The king decided to go to Helms Clam, where his nation should be saved. Gandalf didn’t have the same opinion and ridded away. On the way there they were attacked by War riders. In the fight Aragorn fell into a river. The kings adviser arrived in Isengard and told Saruman about the plan of the king. With this information Saruman sent his troops to Helms Clam. Merry and Pippin were in the middle of a huge wood with an Ent. The Ent made a Enting to decide if the two were orcs or if they are from Auenland. But M and P wanted him to fight against the dark side. His only answer was that the Ents had never fought a war. The Ents didn’t want to fight, but Merry and Pippin pleased them to bring them to Isengard.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Concert Paper About Blue Man Group

Sarah DeMattio LA 321-801 Concert Paper 2/2/13 Though I had often heard of them growing up, I never really knew who, or what, Blue Man Group was. When my nineteenth birthday came along earlier this past January, my best friend decided that in celebration of my birthday, we would be solving our own age-long mystery about Blue Man Group. We were going to a show to see what exactly it was that these blue men did. My initial reaction was certainly less than satisfied when my best friend told me that she got us tickets to see Blue Man Group for my birthday.I remembered a discussion we had had a few months prior when we spoke avidly about how our parents always made references to something called â€Å"the blue man group† as we were growing up, and that we still to that day had no idea what it was or why it was being referenced in the first place. Though still not completely convinced, I bit my tongue, thanked my friend for the gesture, told her I could not wait to see the show, and calmed myself with the thought that at least finally, my questions of the smurph band would be answered. On January 6th, 2013, my friend Kaya and I made our way downtown.We had tickets to see the 8 p. m. show of Blue Man Group at the Astor Place Theater. Upon arrival to the venue, my reservations about the experience became even more acute; the theater looked like some kind of underground grunge dungeon I’ve heard about and warned of. We entered the theater lobby where I immediately noticed the concession and souvenir stand, because aside from the usual assortments of cookies, popcorns and soft drinks, the top recommended item to buy was a poncho. My suspicions instantly hit their zenith. â€Å"Kaya, what the heck did you bring me to?! Kaya laughed off my remark and once we were seated, elaborated about the ponchos. She told me that contrary to typical shows, where the closer your seat is to the stage in orchestra, the more expensive the seat becomes, Blue Man Group actuall y offers a discounted price for the first 5 rows of Orchestra. The â€Å"splash zone,† if you will. And that of course, explains the need for ponchos. Our seats happened to be the first row behind the last row of the â€Å"splash zone†, so obviously I spent the entire show holding my breath a little in fear that bodily fluids of any kind would make their way to me. They didn’t, thankfully.Blue Man Group consisted of three men that were all bald, blue, wore black clothing, and had extremely large mouth capacities. My favorite moment of the entire 105-minute show is hard to decide, both honestly and to my surprise. One of my top favorite and most impressed moments of the show was each time the men played their large bongo-type, garbage receptacles as drums. Two men played their own drums simultaneously while the third man stood in the middle of the two and squirted different colored liquids onto the drums, thus splashing colorful water everywhere and creating some kind of a rainbow waterfall.It was both visually fantastic and musically pleasing. The Blue Man Group’s abilities varied, but certainly never failed to impress. I cannot really describe what they played, or even did. They seem to have a knack for making instruments out of anything but instruments, and creating art with anything but art supplies. The combination of the sarcastic, poking-fun-at-society nature of the Blue Man Group along with their quirky abilities, talents, and looks, was what made the entire experience such a pleasantly surprising and enjoyable one.I am not a big fan of freaky looking characters that do odd things, spit into the audience, and chew Captain Crunch cereal in harmony, but for Blue Man Group, I made the exception and would again and again in a heartbeat. The show was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It is a different and interesting approach to having fun, and I am determined to make any other doubters in my life see what Blue Man Gro up is all about for themselves.