John Wilkes Booth Essays - Assassination Of Abraham Lincoln

Morianda Key Mr. Williams US History 13 April 2011 Dead or Alive? All through school we were taught that John Wilkes Booth was the man who shot Abraham Lincoln and, furthermore that Booth was hunted and killed on a farm on April 26, 1865. However, what if I told you John Wilkes Booth did not die on that day and he escaped and took the name of John St. Helen or David E. George? Would you believe me? Well, that is exactly what I am about to tell you. It has been reported and has been considered controversial that John Wilkes Booth did in fact not die on that day, but instead many years later. On April 14, 1865 John Wilkes Booth shot and murdered President Lincoln in the Ford theater, as he jumped from the balcony in his escape he broke his left leg as he hit the floor. Booth in the midst of all the confusion managed to escape on horseback and found a doctor by the name of Samuel Mudd who fixed the leg and sent him on his way. However, this is where history changes from what we were taught. It is said that he was shot and killed at the Garrett Farm; although some historians say and believe that John Wilkes Booth did not die, but that someone else did and Booth took on the name of John St. Helen. John St. Helen was a man who lived in Glen Rose, Texas as a bartender and local actor who took the stage with amazing skills and often recited Shakespeare with excellency. Helen lived in Glen Rose no less than a year until one of the local politicians daughter was getting married and she had invited several military officers and the US Marshal for Texas. When Helen received word of this he fled town quickly and left no trace of himself anywhere in Glen Rose. However, close to a year after his disappearance from Glen Rose, he showed up in Granbury, Texas and befriended a man by the name of Finis L. Bates. During this time as Bates and Helen were becoming good friends Bates began to notice something strange about Helen. Helen never was a drinker, but every April 14-the anniversary of President Lincoln?s death?he would get into a drunken stupor. Therefore, this led Bates to believe something was wrong with Helen. While living in Granbury John St. Helen became very sick and was announced by several doctors that he would die, meanwhile, Bates was standing by Helen?s bedside he thought he heard him say what sounded like a deathbed statement saying, ?My name, is not John St. Helen. I am John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of Abraham Lincoln.? However, Helen recovered and instead of taking back what he had told Bates he left quickly leaving no sign of where he may have went. When Bates went back to the apartment Helen was staying in, he came across a Colt Pistol that was wrapped up in the newspaper that was issued announcing President Lincoln?s death. That was the last anyone heard of St. Helen that is until 1903, when a man by the name of David E. George showed up in Enid, Oklahoma. Within three weeks of living in Enid, George had already become known as a successful entertainer in reciting poetry, Mostly Shakespeare, in local bars while he would be drinking himself into a coma. Back in that time, you could go to your local drug stores and get just about any kind of heavy dosages of medication like morphine. Early one morning, George set out from the hotel and headed over to the local drug store and bought strychnine, saying he would use it to dispose of a stray dog. Instead, several days later George took the medicine and admitted while dying that he was also the man who killed Abraham Lincoln. George?s body was taken to W. B. Penniman's mortuary and furniture store. Then, a few days later, Penniman was at work on the body and the Harpers?a couple from El Reno?came in saying that they new George back before moving to Enid. Mrs. Harper said that George had once overdosed before. Just like John St Helen while he

International Differences on Professional Communication

Intercultural/International Differences on Professional Communication Introduction Culture influences the way people behave. It is thus important to understand it in relation to global work place where professional communication is employed. Every country that has Multinational Corporation and other businesses dealing with international firms should recognize the fact that cross-cultural differences have a negative impact on the professional communication process (Hall, 1976).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Intercultural/International Differences on Professional Communication specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A good case study is the culture of Taiwan. Taiwanese unit of social organization is the group. This is because their culture encourages them to live as extended families. For this reason, people in Taiwan are seen to work comfortably in teams and groups. In addition, the Taiwanese culture is made up of other several subculture including Chinese and Japanese. Moreover, it has been greatly influenced by imperialism and colonization. Another case study is that of American communication style. The American Business communication style does not encourage them to discuss issues directly. They believe in talking less without wasting time. Moreover, the Americans are polite and friendly but do not keep relationship for a long time. They also use a lot of protocols in their language. Comparison of Taiwanese and Americans cultures Taiwanese communication culture is characterized by use of non verbal language, indirect verbal language, close relationship between the parties involved as well as face to face communication when intending to make decisions. In addition, they prefer group discussions and use of wide sources of information in order to achieve accuracy. On the other hand, the Americans communication culture is comprised of verbal communication. It is usually task centered and involved the key personnel only. They meet to make decisions and do not co nsider relationships at all. They do not consult wide sources of information and thus the process is fast (Hofstede, 1980). An Analysis of the Two Cultures Effective communication can only be achieved once the cultural difference between the Taiwanese and Americans cultures are realized. Once they are realized and recognized, the appropriate methods of communications are adopted depending whether you are dealing with individual or both cultures. The difference between the two cultures can be described in terms low and high context culture. In this case, the Taiwanese culture is the high context culture while Americans is the low context culture. When both high and low context cultures work in the same environment, communication problems are bound to happen (Hofstede, 1991). For example in such an environment, the Taiwan people are seen to communicate in groups especially to those people they are close to. The communication is always intensive. That is, it is usually comprised of wid e and detailed information. This is not the case with Americans.Advertising Looking for research paper on business communication? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Their communication is basically at personal or individual level. They give information that is only necessary for their work environment. The professional communication in Taiwan is thus effective. This is because they are formal and plan their meetings on time. Moreover, they attend meetings once they have agreed on something. The Americans are informal and usually meet without having made the decision on a particular issue. Recommendations In intercultural environment, effective communication can be attained by understanding other people’s culture. This means that they know what is expected of them while communicating. This includes the tone, language in terms of formality and body posture when talking to different people. The key point in having a n effective communication in a cross-cultural environment; is to understand other people’s cultures and the things that make the difference between your culture and theirs (Moran, 1991). An individual should be aware differences that are as a result of different cultural background. First, one should be aware of contextual differences. These are brought about by different cultural contexts. They are associated interpretation of messages during communication. In such a case, an individual should be able to differentiate a high and low culture context. For example Taiwan is high context. For this reason it values and emphasizes on non verbal communication unlike American who prefer verbal communication. Secondly, one should be aware of social differences as well as non- verbal differences. Socially, one has to know how to behave while communicating. In addition, one should be able to understand the meaning conveyed by non-verbal communications. This depends on different cultura l environment. References Hall, E. T. (1976). Beyond Culture. Garden City, NY: Anchor/Doubleday. Hofstede, G. (1980). Cultures consequences: International differences in work-related values.Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications. Hofstede, G. (1991). Cultures and organizations. New York: McGraw-Hill.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Intercultural/International Differences on Professional Communication specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Moran, R. T. (1991). Successful international business negotiations. Houston: Gulf.

The Significance of Red Envelopes in Chinese Culture

The Significance of Red Envelopes in Chinese Culture A red envelope (ç ´â€¦Ã¥Å'…, hà ³ngbÄ o) is simply a long, narrow, red envelope. Traditional red envelopes are often decorated with gold Chinese characters, such as happiness and wealth. Variations include red envelopes with cartoon characters depicted and red envelopes from stores and companies that contain coupons and gift certificates inside. How Red Envelopes Are Used During Chinese New Year, money is put inside red envelopes which are then handed out to younger generations by their parents, grandparents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends. At some companies, workers may also receive a year-end cash bonus tucked inside a red envelope. Red envelopes are also popular gifts for birthdays and weddings. Some four-character expressions appropriate for a wedding red envelope are Ã¥ ¤ ©Ã¤ ½Å"ä ¹â€¹Ã¥ Ë† (tiÄ nzuà ² zhÄ «hà ©,  a marriage  made in heaven) or ç™ ¾Ã¥ ¹ ´Ã¥ ¥ ½Ã¥ Ë† (bÇŽinin hÇŽo hà ©,  a happy  union for 100 years). Unlike a Western greeting card, red envelopes given at Chinese New Year are typically left unsigned. For birthdays or weddings, a short message, typically a four-character expression, and signature are optional. The Color   Red symbolizes luck and good fortune in Chinese culture. That is why red envelopes are used during Chinese New Year and other celebratory events. Other envelope colors are used for other types of occasions. For example, white envelopes are used for funerals. How to Give and Receive Giving and receiving red envelopes, gifts, and even business cards is a solemn act. Therefore, red envelopes, gifts, and name cards are always presented with both hands and also received with both hands. The recipient of a red envelope at Chinese New Year or on his or her birthday should not open it in front of the giver. At Chinese weddings, the procedure is different. At a Chinese wedding, there is a table at the entrance of the wedding reception where guests give their red envelopes to attendants and sign their names on a large scroll. The attendants will immediately open the envelope, count the money inside, and record it on a register next to the guests’ names. A record is kept of how much each guest gives to the newlyweds. This is done for several reasons. One reason is bookkeeping. A record ensures the newlyweds know how much each guest gave and can verify the amount of money they receive at the end of the wedding from the attendants is the same as what the guests brought. Another reason is that when unmarried guests eventually get married, the bride and groom are typically obliged to give the guest more money than what the newlyweds received at their wedding. The Amount Deciding how much money to put into a red envelope depends on the situation. For red envelopes given to children for Chinese New Year, the amount depends on age and the giver’s relationship to the child.   For younger children, the equivalent of about $7 is fine. More money is given to older children and teenagers. The amount is usually enough for the child to buy a gift, like a T-shirt or DVD. Parents may give the child a more substantial amount since material gifts are usually not given during the holidays. For employees at work, the year-end bonus is typically the equivalent of one month’s wage though the amount can vary from enough money to buy a small gift to more than one month’s wage. If you go to a wedding, the money in the red envelope should be equivalent to a nice gift that would be given at a Western wedding. Or, it should be enough money to cover the guest’s expense at the wedding. For example, if the wedding dinner costs the newlyweds US$35 per person, then the money in the envelope should be at least US$35. In Taiwan, typical amounts of money are NT$1,200, NT$1,600, NT$2,200, NT$2,600, NT$3,200, and NT$3,600. As with the Chinese New Year, the amount of money is relative to your relationship to the recipient  -   the closer your relationship is to the bride and groom, the more money is expected. For instance, immediate family like parents and siblings give more money than casual friends. It is not uncommon for business partners to be invited to weddings, and business partners often put more money in the envelope to strengthen the business relationship. Less money is given for birthdays than other holidays because it is viewed as the least important of the three occasions. Nowadays, people often just bring gifts for birthdays. What Not to Gift For all occasions, certain amounts of money are to be avoided. Anything with a four is best avoided because å›› (sà ¬, four) sounds similar to æ ­ » (sÇ , death). Even numbers, except four, are better than odd  -   as good things are believed to come in pairs. For example, gifting $20 is better than $21. Eight is a particularly auspicious number. The money inside a red envelope should always be new and crisp. Folding the money or giving dirty or wrinkled bills is in bad taste. Coins and checks are avoided, the former because change is not worth much and the latter because checks are not widely used in Asia.

Business research skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business research skills - Essay Example conomies around the world saw a booming trend and governments in different nations began to play a larger role in American workers pay determination and remuneration. The American government soon ratified the Act Executive order 11246, Title 7 of equal pay within the Civil Rights Act of 1963 (Noe, et al., 2003). In this context, one can cite the case of Nigeria, where Decree of 1987 provided for details of workmen compensation wherein all businesses and companies had to give a workman’s compensations coverage that was designed for the benefit of employees even in case of any injury or incapacity to work while being on the job. The Decree was modified and followed by the Reform Act in 2003, which made it mandatory for companies to have a life insurance policy for each employee, working in favour of employees. Such insurance was to account for a minimum of 3 times the total gross emolument of the employee compensation (Bernadin, 2007). Compensation has a significant effect on success of any organization. This comes through with the treatment of employees as a capital investment. The company should focus towards improvement of their skills and productivity along with the comprehensive human element in the workplace. The prime objective of the compensation design program was to divide the entire compensation format into two basic groups, which were the direct compensation group and the indirect compensation group. Direct compensation is related to direct wages and salaries, while indirect compensation relates to benefits that are enjoyed by workers from the company. It was devised by Cascio (2003) that integration of the two formats contributes towards attainment of organizational goals through employee motivation and content. The term compensation might have quite a few meanings through its diverse attempts to conceptualisation; however, it is usage of the concept that holds more importance. According to views presented by Armstrong and Brown, (2001) it can be

Advertising features Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Advertising features - Essay Example consciousness of customers. In order to enhance the alertness of the customers regarding the various amenities, it is apt to hire an external advertising agency for the promotion of the activities. It can improve the growth and market share of the business thereby enhancing revenue and position of ‘Doggie Dip and Do’. Recommendations There are many external advertising agencies but as ‘Doggie Dip and Do’ is a newly opened outlet, print advertising media might be more beneficial for it. This would include newspaper or magazines in order to promote the benefits. This is because if other media such as broadcasting media, outdoor advertising or public service advertising is used then it would be quite expensive for you at this initial stage. Hence, it might not be retained by you for longer terms which may again affect the growth prospects of the business as well as impede the brand image and awareness of the products among the competitors in the market. However , for this type of business, it is essential to retain the external advertising agencies as it would provide various innovative ideas and plans for the promotion of the products or services of Doggie Dip and Do. ... e newspaper or the magazine, the requisite cost in both cases based on preference of the place of advertisement, special editorial column related to pets, public reach, pinpoint targeting, short deadlines for preparation of the advertisements, extensive market coverage, tech support such as toll-free numbers and emails and distribution frequency. If any above stated external agency such as newspaper or magazine fulfils these criteria then it can be selected for promotion (Patsula Media, 2001). The newspaper or magazines are read by all age groups so it might attract the attentions of the pet loving individuals. This would augment the brand awareness, brand identity and potency of ‘Doggie Dip and Do’ among others in the market. It would also improve the market position and the revenue of ‘Doggie Dip and Do’ (Department of Science and Technology, 2005). Moreover, the cost incurrence may be quite less as compared to other advertising media, which would be extre mely beneficial for ‘Doggie Dip and Do’. Apart from this, the other vital factor which can be considered is public reach. This would improve the brand identity of ‘Doggie Dip and Do’ (Missouri Department of Transportation, 2012). In addition, distribution channels, customer demand and market coverage are also other vital aspects which might be beneficial. In addition, availability is the other important factor which might be viable for the promotion of ‘Doggie Dip and Do’ (Clow, 2007). Besides, display of various pictures along with information in the newspapers or magazines can also attract customers. Hence, it can be affirmed that the feasible options for promotions of ‘Doggie Dip and Do’ are newspapers or magazines due to the above discussed factors (Engeseth, 2006). Proper distribution

Academic Skills Plus Essay Example for Free

Academic Skills Plus Essay Atwood writes: â€Å"What I mean by ‘science fiction’ is those books that descend from H. G. Wells’s The War of the Worlds, which treats of an invasion by tentacled, blood-sucking Martians shot to Earth in metal canisters – things that could not possibly happen – whereas, for me, â€Å"speculative fiction† means plots that descend from Jules Verne’s books about submarines and balloon travel and such – things that really could happen but just hadn’t completely happened when the authors wrote the books. I would place my own books in this second category: no Martians.† (From In other worlds, p.6) With these remarks in mind, is it useful to distinguish between science fiction and speculative fiction? In answering this question you might consider Le Guin’s suggestion that people who refer to their works as ‘speculative fiction’ rather than ‘science fiction’ are simply trying to protect themselves from some of the negative connotations associated with science fiction (see In other worlds)? Discuss in relation to at least two works. ‘Science fiction’ is often defined as a wide literary genre related to fictional stories. It contains many subgenres, such as space opera, cyberpunk, utopia, dystopia, alternative histories and speculative fiction. Although there are an extensive number of subgenres, some writers, as Margaret Atwood, have been trying to differentiate ‘speculative fiction’ from ‘science fiction’. Maybe this wideness of subgenres existing under the genre ‘science fiction’ is exactly the reason why Atwood found interesting to present this differentiation. When we consider science fiction stories, many different things can came up to our mind, such as aliens, intergalactic travel, artificial intelligence and utopian (or dystopian) societies. Considering that, as we can notice in these examples, these topics can differ a lot from each other and it might be understandable that Atwood  wanted to differentiate (more than just defining different subgenres) the kind of fiction related to more ‘plausible’ things (things that could really happen, as she says). Definitely, ‘speculative fiction’ books have a completely different scenario from cyberpunk, aliens or space opera works and this could awake a desire to disconnect them in a more significantly manner. However, it is possible to affirm that this distinction between ‘science’ and ‘speculative fiction’ is not useful and that there is no reason for making it, especially considering that speculative fiction is just one more subgenre of science fiction. This thesis will be supported by a number of points presented throughout this essay. Firstly, it will be argued that the subgenre ‘speculative fiction’ fits perfectly into the definitions and requisites related to ‘science fiction’. Secondly, it will be discussed that Atwood’s definition of ‘speculative fiction’ is vague and can change according to interpretation, and also that it can be used to define as speculative fiction other books that she clearly had classified as belonging to ‘science fiction’. Thereby, her definition can be seen as not clear, which makes it not useful at all. Finally, it will be presented that Atwood seems to reinforce this division specially because distinguishing ‘speculative fiction’ from ‘science fiction’ is convenient for her. There are some evidences for that, for example, Le Guin once said Atwood was trying to protect herself from negative connotations associated with ‘science fiction’. This is even noticeable considering that many of her attempts to define the genre contained irony and clichà ©s. Firstly, it will be discussed that ‘speculative fiction’ fits perfectly into the definitions and requisites related to the ‘science fiction’ subgenres, which makes unnecessary and not useful the distinction between them. It was stated before that ‘science fiction’ has a big number of subgenres and it is clear that they differ considerably from each other. However, despite their singularities, all of them have one kind of cohesive element in common, which brings each subgenre to be defined as part of the genre ‘science fiction’. To define this common element noticed in all the science fiction subgenres, it is useful to consider two Suvin’s definitions about science fiction: SF is, then, a literary genre whose necessary and sufficient conditions are the presence and interaction of estrangement and cognition,  and whose main formal device is an imaginative framework alternative to the authors empirical environment (Suvin 1979, p. 7) and â€Å"Science Fiction is distinguished by the narrative dominance or hegemony of a fictional novum (novelty, innovation) validated by cognitive logic† (Suvin 1979, p. 63). Considering these two definitions, it is possible to affirm then that the necessary and sufficient conditions to identify one science fiction work are: the presence of a ‘novum’ and the presence of a ‘cognitive logic’, the logical consistency which makes the ‘novum’ become part of our knowledge about real things. With this in mind, we can analyse the book The Handmaid’s Tale from Atwood. She clearly have classified this book as not being ‘science fiction’, however, it is easy to identify the ‘novum’ and also the ‘cognitive logic’ in her book. The ‘novum’ is represented by the whole system of political organization in the Republic of Gilead described on the book and the ‘cognitive logic’ is given by some similarities that can be noticed between our society and the society described on the book. In the same way, for the book of H. G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, we can also identify the ‘novum’, which is given by the Martians and their technology; and the ‘cognitive logic’, given by the similarities existing between both societies. Thus, it can be affirmed that both books The Handmaid’s Tale and The War of the World belongs to the genre ‘science fiction’, contradicting Atwood’s previous proposition. This proves that although Atwood’s book can be classified as ‘speculative fiction’, it truly belongs to ‘science fiction’, leading us to verify again that ‘speculative fiction’ is just one more subgenre of ‘science fiction’. It makes clear then that the division between ‘science’ and ‘speculative’ fiction is not useful and not justifiable. Secondly, it will be presented that Atwood’s definition of ‘speculative fiction’ is imprecise and also can be used to define as speculative fiction other books that were categorized as ‘science fiction’ by her. In order to illustrate these points, we will analyse Atwood (2011) definition about ‘speculative fiction’ as â€Å"things that really could happen but just hadn’t completely happened when the authors wrote the books.† This is a vague and inaccurate idea. It could encompass different definitions because the range of things that could really happen is highly dependent of each person’s  beliefs and ideas, what makes this definition extremely subjective. Also, with just a few exceptions, it is not possible to say for sure what is and what is not going to happen. Besides, Atwood even gives us another definition: Oryx and Crake is not science fiction. Science fiction is when you have chemicals and rockets. (Watts 2003, p. 3). Considering both definitions given by her, it could be understood that she considers rockets and chemicals as things that really could not happen, as they belong to science fiction. However, it is known that rockets and chemicals are not things impossible to happen, especially because nowadays we can see some examples of them. Both definitions become contradictory then. Considering her first definition, books about this theme would be classified as speculative fiction; however, she decided to use these two themes to exemplify ‘science fiction’. Atwood’s definitions about ‘speculative fiction’ are imprecise, therefore, what is the purpose in using an imprecise and cloudy definition? It is simply not useful to distinguish ‘science’ from ‘speculative fiction’ then. Thirdly, it will be presented that Atwood seems to reinforce this division specially because distinguishing ‘speculative fiction’ from ‘science fiction’ is convenient for her. Le Guin (2009) states that Atwood was trying to protect herself from negative connotations associated with science fiction and also â€Å"from being relegated to a genre still shunned by hidebound readers, reviewers and prize-awarders†. Considering Le Guin’s remarks, it is possible to observe that ‘science fiction’ was not a literary genre with considerable prestige in the intellectual audience. This could reduce her reputation on the high literary society. One possible reason for ‘science fiction’ being underestimated is that science fiction could be related to some works produced for mass audience like Star Trek and Dr Who and intellectuals would associate her books to these works. Then it would be interesting for her to dissociate the connecti on between her books and the genre ‘science fiction’ once it was not so appreciated by the intellectual audience. And this is also noticed by considering that some of her remarks about ‘science fiction’ contains irony, as she frequently uses clichà ©s to refer about it, such as ‘rockets’, ‘chemicals’, ‘blood-sucking Martians’, ‘talking squids in outer space’, and ‘skin-tight clothing’. Thus, it is possible to verify why Atwood reinforces the division between ‘speculative’ and ‘science’ fiction. And  considering her reasons we can see that they are not justifiable and strong enough to make the distinction between ‘speculative’ and ‘science fiction’ useful. Finally, this essay discussed a number of points in order to support the thesis that the distinction between ‘speculative’ and ‘science’ fiction is not useful. Firstly, it was stated that although it may be hard to define some literary genres it is noticeable that ‘speculative ficti on’ fits perfectly in most of definitions of science fiction, making it a subgenre only. Secondly, it was presented that Atwood’s definition about ‘speculative fiction’ is vague and could classify as ‘speculative fiction’ some books that she clearly classified as ‘science fiction’. Thirdly, it was discussed that is convenient for her to separate ‘speculative fiction’ from ‘science fiction’ since the genre of ‘science fiction’ was not so appreciated by reviewers and prize awarders and was associated to some mass audience works. She does not want to be linked to this image so she tries to put her works under a different literary classification. This point shows us clearly that there is no consistent and general reason for her to do the distinction. In conclusion, this essay illustrated that is not useful to distinguish between ‘science fiction’ and ‘speculative fiction’ and the reason for this was explained by all of the arguments stated previously. References Atwood, M 1985, The Handmaid’s Tale, Anchor Books, New York. Atwood, M 2011, In Other Worlds SF and the Human Imagination, Doubleday. Le Guin, U 2009, ‘The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood’, The Guardian, 29 August. Available at http://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/aug/29/margaret-atwood-year-of-flood Suvin, D 1979, Metamorphoses Of Science Fiction, Yale University Press, New Haven Watts, P 2003, ‘Margaret Atwood and the Hierarchy of Contempt’, On Spec, vol. 15, no. 2, summer, pp. 3-5. Wells, H 1898, The War of the World, New York Review Books, New York.

McDonalds Brand Essay -- Fast Food Empire, Hi-Fat, Hi-Sugar

Much like a smile, the â€Å"Golden Arches† can be understood in any language. The McDonalds brand is the most well-known, internationally embraced fast food empire. McDonalds operates over 31,000 franchises throughout the world, with the United States leading the way with a whopping 13,381outlets as of May 2009 [1]. McDonalds has the fast food market cornered, offering an increasing variety of food of beverages, marketed to people of all ages to eat at any time of the day. However, being a corporate giant has its issues. McDonalds has faced a lot of criticism for its high-fat, high-sugar, potentially addictive menu. While the corporation is not likely to outright admit responsible for its actions, McDonalds has seen some changes to address some of the issues. Despite the flaws in the public elements of the brand, McDonalds has established an almost recession-proof economic base [2]. Some of the benefits of the McDonalds brand are pretty obvious. The golden arches and the mascot Ronald McDonald have some the best recognition worldwide. This stems from the benefit of having global operations and the availability of culturally diverse foods that are provided based on the location of the restaurant [3]. McDonalds also utilizes installations in prime locations such as theme parks, airports, superstores and even in hospitals. The business is ranked number one in Fortune Magazine's 2008 list of most admired food service companies [4]. McDonalds is also associated with cheap prices, good tasting food and fast service. McDonalds also maintains a strong community oriented vibe with its Ronald McDonald Houses which provide charitable services to families with sick children requiring extended hospital stays (www.rmhc.org). McDonalds also sponso... ...y are creating "cradle to grave" marketing, entice children as young as one year old with special meals, toys and playgrounds then children grow up eating McDonalds which continues into adulthood. [4] They have also been sued multiple times for having "unhealthy" food, allegedly with addictive additives, contributing to the obesity epidemic in America. McDonalds is a strong company that has been around a long time and is ingrained into the memories of many people. They have indisputably strong brand recognition and loyalty. However, it may be time for McDonalds to undergo a makeover, especially in the areas of quality and their link to health concerns. It is pretty clear that McDonalds isn’t going bankrupt anytime soon. McDonalds has the ability to do good things for the world if they exchange some of their money saving ways more socially responsible practices.

Hamburger †Fast food Essay

We’ve all heard it, whether it be through a friend, the news, or in the newspaper. Lawsuits being filed against McDonald’s for the cause of obesity in the accuser or their family. In August 2002 two different parents of two different girls both living in the Bronx sued McDonald’s for the obesity of each individual child. They stated that McDonald’s had failed to disclose clearly the ingredients in its food, therefore, accounting for the obesity. Again in February 2003 another claim was made by an unknown â€Å"victim† that McDonald’s food is more dangerous and harmful than a customer would have reason expect. In July 2002 a man by the name of Caesar Barber filed a suit against McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Burger King. He alleged that their food caused his obesity, heart attacks, and diabetes. We’ve all heard it, whether it be through a friend, the news, or in the newspaper. Lawsuits being filed against McDonald’s for the cause of obesity in the accuser or their family. In August 2002 two different parents of two different girls both living in the Bronx sued McDonald’s for the obesity of each individual child. They stated that McDonald’s had failed to disclose clearly the ingredients in its food, therefore, accounting for the obesity. Again in February 2003 another claim was made by an unknown â€Å"victim† that McDonald’s food is more dangerous and harmful than a customer would have reason expect. In July 2002 a man by the name of Caesar Barber filed a suit against McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Burger King. He alleged that their food caused his obesity, heart attacks, and diabetes. We’ve all heard it, whether it be through a friend, the news, or in the newspaper. Lawsuits being filed against McDonald’s for the cause of obesity in the accuser or their family. In August 2002 two different parents of two different girls both living in the Bronx sued McDonald’s for the obesity of each individual child. They stated that McDonald’s had failed to disclose clearly the ingredients in its food, therefore, accounting for the obesity. Again in February 2003 another claim was made by an unknown â€Å"victim† that McDonald’s food is more dangerous and harmful than a customer would have reason expect. In July 2002 a man by the name of Caesar Barber filed a suit against McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Burger King. He alleged that their food caused his obesity, heart attacks, and diabetes. We’ve all heard it, whether it be through a friend, the news, or in the newspaper. Lawsuits being filed against McDonald’s for the cause of obesity in the accuser or their family. In August 2002 two different parents of two different girls both living in the Bronx sued McDonald’s for the obesity of each individual child. They stated that McDonald’s had failed to disclose clearly the ingredients in its food, therefore, accounting for the obesity. Again in February 2003 another claim was made by an unknown â€Å"victim† that McDonald’s food is more dangerous and harmful than a customer would have reason expect. In July 2002 a man by the name of Caesar Barber filed a suit against McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Burger King. He alleged that their food caused his obesity, heart attacks, and diabetes. We’ve all heard it, whether it be through a friend, the news, or in the newspaper. Lawsuits being filed against McDonald’s for the cause of obesity in the accuser or their family. In August 2002 two different parents of two different girls both living in the Bronx sued McDonald’s for the obesity of each individual child. They stated that McDonald’s had failed to disclose clearly the ingredients in its food, therefore, accounting for the obesity. Again in February 2003 another claim was made by an unknown â€Å"victim† that McDonald’s food is more dangerous and harmful than a customer would have reason expect. In July 2002 a man by the name of Caesar Barber filed a suit against McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Burger King. He alleged that their food caused his obesity, heart attacks, and diabetes. We’ve all heard it, whether it be through a friend, the news, or in the newspaper. Lawsuits being filed against McDonald’s for the cause of obesity in the accuser or their family. In August 2002 two different parents of two different girls both living in the Bronx sued McDonald’s for the obesity of each individual child. They stated that McDonald’s had failed to disclose clearly the ingredients in its food, therefore, accounting for the obesity. Again in February 2003 another claim was made by an unknown â€Å"victim† that McDonald’s food is more dangerous and harmful than a customer would have reason expect. In July 2002 a man by the name of Caesar Barber filed a suit against McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Burger King. He alleged that their food caused his obesity, heart attacks, and diabetes. jsjsjsWe’ve all heard it, whether it be through a friend, the news, or in the newspaper. Lawsuits being filed against McDonald’s for the cause of obesity in the accuser or their family. In August 2002 two different parents of two different girls both living in the Bronx sued McDonald’s for the obesity of each individual child. They stated that McDonald’s had failed to disclose clearly the ingredients in its food, therefore, accounting for the obesity. Again in February 2003 another claim was made by an unknown â€Å"victim† that McDonald’s food is more dangerous and harmful than a customer would have reason expect. In July 2002 a man by the name of Caesar Barber filed a suit against McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Burger King. He alleged that their food caused his obesity, heart attacks, and diabetes. hzjzjzznnzWe’ve all heard it, whether it be through a friend, the news, or in the newspaper. Lawsuits being filed against McDonald’s for the cause of obesity in the accuser or their family. In August 2002 two different parents of two different girls both living in the Bronx sued McDonald’s for the obesity of each individual child. They stated that McDonald’s had failed to disclose clearly the ingredients in its food, therefore, accounting for the obesity. Again in February 2003 another claim was made by an unknown â€Å"victim† that McDonald’s food is more dangerous and harmful than a customer would have reason expect. In July 2002 a man by the name of Caesar Barber filed a suit against McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Burger King. He alleged that their food caused his obesity, heart attacks, and diabetes. nzjziaksolahGaa We’ve all heard it, whether it be through a friend, the news, or in the newspaper. Lawsuits being filed against McDonald’s for the cause of obesity in the accuser or their family. In August 2002 two different parents of two different girls both living in the Bronx sued McDonald’s for the obesity of each individual child. They stated that McDonald’s had failed to disclose clearly the ingredients in its food, therefore, accounting for the obesity. Again in February 2003 another claim was made by an unknown â€Å"victim† that McDonald’s food is more dangerous and harmful than a customer would have reason expect. In July 2002 a man by the name of Caesar Barber filed a suit against McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Burger King. He alleged that their food caused his obesity, heart attacks, and diabetes.

Employing People with Mental Illness/ Psychiatric Disabilities Essay

Employment of people who are homeless and with serious mental challenges is a pertinent issue in the society. This is because many employees view homeless people with serious mental challenges as a great limitation to optimization of their business endeavors. In reality, this may not be true especially because disability whether in financial or physical means is not necessarily inability to work productively. This paper will look at the aspect of employing people with mental illness/ psychiatric disabilities. Homeless people can be defined as people who are displaced and living in the streets because of limitations for instance financial implications (Anthony& Blanch, 1987). The fact that such people are homeless and living in abject poverty, it does not mean that they cannot work productively. With this in mind, it is unfair for employers to generalize homeless people as unable to be successfully integrated in the current work force. Consequently, people with serious mental challenges can be productive with medication and supervision if given the chance. When homeless mentally challenged people are excluded from the work force, stereotypes against such people increases. This makes it hard for the society to accept and integrate them in the workforce as part of the society. In this manner, employing mentally challenged people will come a long way in preventing their alienation from the society and also making them contribute to their own social economic development. Literature review of people who are homeless and who have serious mental Illness Overview Homelessness and mental disabilities can be argued to have a significant effect in the modern society. This is because of the high numbers of people who present poverty and mental disability problems. However, their existence in the society is not easy because of the various cultural stereotypes which present them as of less value in the current work force. Currently over 16% of inmates in jail suffer from mental disabilities (BJSSR, 1997). This means that when the 16% is finally released majority of them will be homeless and this may result to many negative implications. For instance, such homeless due to poverty may be forced to get into crime posing a threat to security. The society has to realize that the problem of homelessness is a social evil cultivated by poverty. With this in mind, the society has to work together to ensure a viable solution of offering employment to the disabled and homeless people. What we know so far On the other hand, it is morally wrong to alienate homeless and mentally disabled people from the current workforce. This is because homeless people are the way they are because they lack the social economic capacity to make them look like the other ‘normal elite’. On the other hand, poverty does not mean that someone is incompetent. Subsequently, severely disabled people also have the capacity to work successfully and earn a living from their work (Bond, 1987). This can be done through giving such individuals supervision, training and patience in order to be able to work. Currently, there are lobby groups and organizations which are creating awareness against alienation of homeless and mentally disabled people. However, more needs to be done in order to help reduce dependency and poverty among homeless and mentally challenged people. Employment outcomes and Rural vs. Urban Employment Program Considerations  Employment is a core ingredient to the social economic development of an individual. For instance, a homeless person can be able to raise his living standards as a result. The employment rate of homeless people in America accounts for about 26% (Cocozza & Skowyra, 2000). On the other hand, mentally challenged people can also be able to get well as a result of raised self esteem and acceptance by the society. In the United States the employment of people with severe mental disabilities account for about 15% (BJSSR, 1997). The government of US spends a lot of money in reach out programs for homeless and mentally disabled people. In this manner, there is need to rehabilitate homeless and mentally disabled people to be able to enter into the workforce and earn a living. However, the employment rates in the urban places are much developed compared to the rural areas. This calls for more employment organizations to be based in the rural areas. For instance vocational rehabilitation agencies should be enhanced in rural areas. Discussion A Recovery-based foundation for Employment Services A recovery based foundation for employment services plays and integral role in the rehabilitation of homeless and severe cases of mentally challenged people. A recovery based foundation for employment services acts as a link between homeless and mentally challenged people and their employees (Mullins, 1997). On the other hand, a recovery foundation for employment also offers necessary advice to their clients. Consecutively, recovery based foundation has strategies which enhance employment for homeless and mentally challenged people. Hence, the government needs to employ more recovery based foundations for employment services for homeless and mentally challenged people. Worker Role Recovery When homeless and mentally challenged people are integrated in the workforce, the rate of recovery is increased and so is their social economic status. In other words, integrating these vulnerable groups in the workforce helps in making them to become objective and enhances their personality (Mullins, 1997). Worker role recovery is employed to enhance the process of integrating mentally challenged people in the workforce. There are supervisors who are set to analyze the progress of the mentally challenged individuals. In this manner, such individuals are helped in the process of integration in the workforce. Framework for providing employment services A laid out strategy is needed to provide employment for mentally challenged individuals. The first step is for an employment foundation to get in touch with the necessary social worker and integrate the homeless and mentally disabled people in the programs (Mullins, 1997). Hence, the employment service should have relevant information for the person who is mentally challenged. Supervisors are needed to ensure that the recruits follow the laid out program. In this manner, recruits are sensitized on what is supposed to be done so that they can follow the instructions of their employees. Hence, the staff at the employment center should be diverse in nature to deal with all people. On the other hand, the framework also ensures that people are not misused by employees because of their disabilities. For example some employees may accord much work to homeless and mentally challenged people. Others may offer fewer incentives or use words to intimidate such people. Cultural and Environmental Considerations Consecutively, the employment framework is set in such a way that it is able to reach out the needs of diversity (Virginia, 1997). This is because teaching a severely mentally challenged person a new language could be a bigger challenge. In this manner, it is important for the employment agencies to use the advantage of diversity to get to reach out to their clients. Approaches to Employment for people with Serious Mental Illness There are various approaches to the employment of people with serious mental illnesses. These approaches have been tailored to meet the needs of mentally challenged people and at the same time act as a lasting solution to unemployment problems. Transitional Employment  Transitional employment is popularly known as TE and it encompasses the model of teaching mentally challenged people about the work they are supposed to do (David & John, 2004). In this manner mentally challenged people are able to do their work effectively. Consequently, TE helps mentally challenged people get the needed experience to venture into the competitive jobs. TE is time bound and by the end of the program those who persevere get acknowledged for their efforts (David & John, 2004). In other words, TE programs are like achievements for the mentally challenged people. Supported Employment Supported employment refers to employment of mentally challenged people with zero tolerance to discrimination (David & John, 2004). The process of supported employment starts with onsite support. In this stage people with disabilities are supported as healthy and not dysfunctional. This makes them feel like the rest of the people and integrating in the normal workforce is very easy. On the other hand, rejection policy is not supported at all. The alienation of mentally challenged people is highly discouraged in supported employment. Supported employment is a core ingredient in successful integration of individuals to the work force. The PACT Vocational Model Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) is support provided in the community level (David & John, 2004). This kind of support is about eliminating support not because the mentally challenged people need it. Hence mentally challenged people under this arrangement are given the chance to work and carter for their needs. PACT vocational model is a successful means of facilitating successful employment of mentally challenged individuals. Individual Placement and Support Individual placement support requires that a mentally challenged person gets integrated in a vocation directly (David & John, 2004). In the kind of vocation or employment placed in, the person is under supervision just like other people. Social enterprises and Affirmative Businesses Mentally challenged people have the ability to venture in any businesses and become successful. This is because mentally challenged people are also able to learn and this means that they can work just as other people do. Hence, social enterprises and affirmative businesses can be used as major targets for employment. Self-Employment Disability cannot be termed as inability. In this manner it should be noted that mentally challenged people also have the ability to get integrated in self employment. A mentally challenged person has the ability to maintain his/ her business with the necessary help. A Note about Supported Education Supported education on the other hand plays an integral role in the lives of mentally challenged people (Phyllis, 1997). This is because mentally challenged people need to be taught just as other normal people to be able to be integrated in the community. Supported education is not done in seclusion but is done in a normal institution where other normal individuals are educated. The impact of homelessness on people with serious mental illnesses seeking employment. Homelessness on people with serious mental illness who are seeking employment can be termed to be a challenging situation. Homelessness makes mentally challenged people seem vulnerable and not able to complete the tasks accorded to them. in this regard many employees may dismiss them without even giving them a chance. The following are some of the challenges faced by mentally challenged people in employment. Personal-Level Challenges Personal level challenges for mentally challenged people present themselves in many ways. For instance, mentally challenged people may have a hard time trying to get integrated in the workforce (Phyllis, 1997). This is because their operational speed may be less compared to their normal functioning individuals. Program and Services Provider-Level Challenges Program and service provider level challenges come when the staffs are not patient and polite enough. This makes it hard for the mentally challenged people to keep pace with the employment training (Phyllis, 1997). On the other hand, the programs being taught may not be easily assimilated by the mentally challenged individuals. Addressing Challenges in Service Systems The challenges faced in service systems are many and also there are several ways which can be used to deal with these challenges. One way to deal with these challenges can be through the government offering more financial support for such institutions. The enhancement of these institutions will come a long way in empowering mentally challenged people in the society. Helping People who are Homeless and Have Serious Mental Illnesses Obtain Work  There are many ways people who are homeless and with serious mental illnesses can be helped to integrate in the society and workforce. The following are some of the ways. Underlying Principles In helping homeless people with serious mental problems obtain work, it is important to first of all learn to appreciate them as part of the society. In this manner, any form of rejection is eliminated to ensure that mentally challenged people are treated with respect. On the other hand, training should be done in normal bases so that homeless mentally challenged people don’t feel discriminated. Rejection or prejudice of any form should be avoided completely to enhance trust and self esteem of the mentally disabled people. Consequently, it is also important to ascertain their level of mental challenge (Phyllis, 1997). Key Services and Supports To make sure that programs for mentally challenged people work out successfully, there is need for provision of key services and supports. For instance, mentally challenged people are in dire need of services like housing to help the homeless ones get shelter (Phyllis, 1997). Hence, the government needs to invest in cheap housing to help homeless people to get shelter for themselves. Consequently, lobby groups need to sensitize the community against rejection of mentally challenged individuals in the society. This way, business people will not discriminate against mentally challenged individuals. On the other hand stereotypes created in the society because of disabilities would also be reduced significantly. Working with the State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency One way the challenge of mental disability is dealt with in the American society is through working with the state vocational rehabilitation agency. VR agency ensures that mentally challenged persons enjoy various benefits just like their normal counterparts. Purpose and Scope of VR Services VR agency has various services to mentally challenged people. For instance, this group offers mentally disabled people with social security disability funds which help to raise their living standards (State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, 2007). On the other hand, mentally disabled people have to work and gain benefits termed as gainful benefits.

The eNotes Blog Erudite Frights for All Hallows Night Ten Spine-Tingling Lines fromLiterature

Erudite Frights for All Hallows Night Ten Spine-Tingling Lines fromLiterature Here at , we would NEVER let Halloween pass without a few good scares from the masters of horror!   Lets all take a break from the tedious terror of government shutdowns and 404 Errors of the new healthcare law and enjoy some scares that are a lot more fun. 1.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"The shortest horror story:   Ã‚  The last man on Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door.† ―  Frederic Brown 2.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"At bottom, you see, we are not Homo sapiens as all. Our core is madness. The prime directive is murder. What Darwin was too polite to say, my friends, is that we came to rule the earth not because we were the smartest, or even the meanest, but because we have always been the craziest, most murderous motherfuckers in the jungle. And that is what the Pulse exposed five days ago.†   Ã‚  from Cell  by Stephen King   3.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"A lover finds his mistress asleep on a mossy bank; he wishes to catch a glimpse of her fair face without waking her. He steals softly over the grass, careful to make no sound; he pauses fancying she has stirred: he withdraws: not for worlds would he be seen. All is still: he again advances: he bends above her; a light veil rests on her features: he lifts it, bends lower; now his eyes anticipate the vision of beauty warm, and blooming, and lovely, in rest. How hurried was their first glance! But how they fix! How he starts! How he suddenly and vehemently clasps in both arms the form he dared not, a moment since, touch with his finger! How he calls aloud a name, and drops his burden, and gazes on it wildly! He thus grasps and cries, and gazes, because he no longer fears to waken by any sound he can utter by any movement he can make. He thought his love slept sweetly: he finds she is stone dead.      Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 4.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Hello Clarice†Ã‚  The Silence of the Lambs  by Thomas Harris 5.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"We ask only to be reassured About the noises in the cellar And the window that should not have been open† ―  The Family Reunion  by  T.S. Eliot 6.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Wendy? Darling? Light, of my life. Im not gonna hurt ya. Im just going to bash your brains in.†      The Shining  by Stephen King   7.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Now this is the point. You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded –with what caution –with what foresight –with what dissimulation I went to work! I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him. And every night, about midnight, I turned the latch of his door and opened it –oh so gently! And then, when I had made an opening sufficient for my head, I put in a dark lantern, all closed, closed, so that no light shone out, and then I thrust in my head. Oh, you would have laughed to see how cunningly I thrust it in! I moved it slowly –very, very slowly, so that I might not disturb the old mans sleep. It took me an hour to place my whole head within the opening so far that I could see him as he lay upon his bed. Ha! –would a madman have been so wise as this? And then, when my head was well in the room, I undid the lantern cautiously à ¢â‚¬â€œoh, so cautiously –cautiously (for the hinges creaked) –I undid it just so much that a single thin ray fell upon the vulture eye. And this I did for seven long nights –every night just at midnight –but I found the eye always closed; and so it was impossible to do the work; for it was not the old man who vexed me, but his Evil Eye. And every morning, when the day broke, I went boldly into the chamber, and spoke courageously to him, calling him by name in a hearty tone, and inquiring how he has passed the night. So you see he would have been a very profound old man, indeed, to suspect that every night, just at twelve, I looked in upon him while he slept.†      from  The Tell-Tale Heart  by Edgar Allan Poe   8.   Of course, the script cant be a simple one; its not supposed to kill a man straight off, but only after an interval of, on an average, twelve hours; the turning point is reckoned to come at the sixth hour.      from In the Penal Colony by Franz Kafka 9. â€Å"No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood so for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone.†   Ã‚  from The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson 10.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Garrett, said Stendahl, do you know why Ive done this to you? Because you burned Mr. Poes books without really reading them. You took other peoples advice that they needed burning. Otherwise youd have realized what I was going to do to you when we came down here a moment ago. Ignorance is fatal, Mr. Garrett.†    from  The Martian Chronicles  by Ray Bradbury

Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling

Asian culture is becoming more and more seen in the western world, with Asian restaurants and settlements such as china town becoming regular parts of most urban areas and the prominence of Asian employees and managers in western businesses will continue to grow along with that. Asian culture is having a growing impact in western society and this should carry over into a larger role for Asians within western companies. The bamboo ceiling, for the large part, does not exist due to intentional racism or discrimination, but instead exists due to a variety of underlying factors that most business managers would not even think twice about. The lack of intentional racism or discrimination as factors is shown in the statistic that over 88% of Asians feel happy and good about their workplace and that 85% feel that there are no disrespectful or offensive actions (Reid amp; Berry, 2010). These factors must be exposed so that western society can focus on correcting this flaw in the corporate world and improving the upper managerial job prospects for Asians. It is wrong of our society to discriminate against other cultures, even if it is an nintentional discrimination, we must be diligent in determining why this is happening and from these factors determine how we can right the situation and help break through the bamboo ceiling. Evidence of the Bamboo Ceiling: The bamboo ceiling can be seen to exist due to the small number of Asians in management positions when compared with the large number of Asians that exist within the western business world. While Asians make up around 5% of the American population, they only represent 2% of CEO’s and upper management of the Fortune 500 companies. Varki despite his clearly excellent qualifications. Eventually he made his way into the academic industry and slowly climbed the corporate ladder, becoming the very first foreign president of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the first foreign editor of the Journal of Clinical Investigation (Ruttimann, 2009). This was a milestone for many Asian immigrants looking to break the bamboo ceiling. This step was one of the first of many positive examples of Asian immigrants succeeding in western corporate society, yet there is still a long way to go. A more negative example can be seen through the case of Alice Huang who was in the final round of interviews for a position as university president. Throughout the interview she was continually asked what she would be willing to give up if she got the job, and eventually came out and told them she did not think she would get the job due to how she looked and what her race was. In response to this she only received silence from her interviewers which confirmed her suspicions, and shows that the bamboo ceiling is indeed real and that it can have detrimental impacts on the life of Asian immigrants and their careers (Ruttimann, 2009). Conclusion: Companies can greatly benefit from diversifying their management staff as the business world becomes more and more global every year. If you expect to compete on the world stage then you must have a diverse staff with a large knowledge base of overseas areas, such as Asian countries. Having Asians in high level management roles would offer that company valuable information on how to break into markets overseas, as well as how to market products to all Asians, including the growing number of those residing in western society (Reid amp; Berry, 2010). This information could prove to be the difference between a company succeeding and failing in a foreign market, or with the Asian demographic in western society. To receive the benefits that comes with this diversity, western corporations must be very careful to avoid stereotyping and should be more sensitive to others cultures. Understanding that the western way doesn’t apply to everyone and it isn’t necessarily the best practice will help many corporations to get over these stereotypes, be more sensitive to Asian culture and to increase the chance of seeing Asians in top management.

Interest Rate Changes in Construction Activity Essay

Interest Rate Changes in Construction Activity - Essay Example Generally the construction activity is sensitive to changes in the interest rates and business cycles in the short term and to population growth and economic advancement in the long-term. This paper intends to present a short report on the short term effects interest rate changes on the construction industry. The behaviour of any economy can be greatly influenced by the monetary policy. It is observed that decisions about official interest rates by the central banks affect economic activity and inflation through several channels which are collectively known as the Transmission Mechanism of the Monetary Policy. According to the Bank of England Paper on the Transmission mechanisms of monetary policy; Changes in exchange rates have a direct impact on the prices of imported goods and services and an indirect impact on the prices and the competitive ability of the products which compete with the imported products/services. The change in exchange rate is likely to affect the prices of those products in the domestic market which uses imported inputs. Thus through the transmission mechanism of the monetary policy, any changes in the official interest rates affect the savings and investment behaviour of the individuals and firms and also thereby affect domestic demand and supply of production and other manufacturing sectors of the economy. Normally following a monetary contraction in the economy, as a result of the changes in the interest rates, the construction sector reaches the trough of the cycle first, while the manufacturing sector reacts little slowly. However the manufacturing sector reacts very strongly than the construction sector. 3.0 Money Supply and Construction Activity: In general construction activity is very sensitive to credit conditions. According to Goh (1998) the amount of mortgage loans has an influence on the demand for residential construction, since house purchases are financed mainly by mortgage loans from banks. The monetary theorists are of the view that changes in money supply cause fluctuations in national outputs and because of the interdependency the disturbances in one sector will be transmitted to other sectors and markets. A review of the different channels of mechanisms reveals that credit is the primary source of money supply to the construction activity. "A restrictive credit supply leads to decreases in demand for real estate, bonds, stocks, and other assets. Since real-estate prices are sticky, ultimately the supply of credit will affect the construction industry." (Raymond Y.C. TSE and John Rafetry 1999) Similarly a contraction in money supply reduces bank lending to all sectors in the economy including property developers and thereby causes a decline in the industry. Any change in money supply will have its impact on the demand for