Nike and “King Consumer”

Popular culture, indeed, has always held athletes in high esteem, dating back to the days of the ancient Greeks and the first Olympiad events, thousands of years ago.   However, in recent decades, talented athletes in sports which had in the past been relegated to the upper class, such as tennis, are now embraced by the masses of all socioeconomic levels.   A case in point is the Russian tennis phenomenon Maria Sharapova.   Admittedly, she is an excellent tennis player, but there are countless other talented tennis players who have not gotten even a fraction of the media attention as has Sharapova. Taking a closer look at this pop culture frenzy, the adoration that has been showered upon Sharapova and many other athletes comes down to how our culture has influenced advertising (USA Today); more specifically, one can clearly argue that Sharapova and others grabbed their biggest share of fame once they began to commercially promote products such as Nike brand clothing and shoes, showing the power of advertising to focus the love of the masses on someone based on an image seen in commercials, as well as the ways that culture has influenced product brands. The Rise of Consumerism As was alluded to in the introduction of this paper, the common denominator in the rise of athletes to god-like status in society, and the growth of companies like Nike into multi billion dollar marketing machines, can all be attributed to the masses, leading to academic studies of consumers in such frequency that terms like consumerism have been coined to identify the analysis of the behavior and power of the consumer to dictate how the business world ultimately operates, what it offers to the public, and how the future of consumer goods will unfold. Experts in the study of consumerism have attributed the rise of consumerism itself to the global spread of what can best be described as material desire; in other words, the economic freedom that many parts of the world have been exposed to for the first time over the last quarter century or so has bred a new generation of consumers, who have the desire to possess consumer goods and finally have the financial means to buy them (Sussman).   Especially desirable are the â€Å"brand name† goods which consumers view as a symbol of affluence; the Nike â€Å"swoosh† symbol, for instance, is something that people consider a sign of success when it appears on their shoes or clothing. This, in itself, speaks volumes about the extent of consumerism with the use of a simple, yet telling example.   Because of the availability of foreign made, inexpensive clothing and shoes, it would make sense that if one merely wanted to keep warm or protect their feet, they would buy the least expensive, yet functional merchandise they could obtain; however, more often than not, consumers will pay much more than they have to for clothing items because of the presence of a Nike symbol or any of a score of others which have universal appeal.   In fairness to Nike and others, they do make products of sufficient quality and functionality, but also in fairness, one can find goods of similar, or even superior quality at lower prices, â€Å"sans swoosh† if you will.   The difference, once again, is the power of consumerism to dictate what one should wear on their bodies to be considered worthy in society. Catering to King Consumer When looking at the role of the consumer, it can fairly be said that we are really looking at â€Å"king† or â€Å"queen†, as marketing efforts target, and effectively reach, both genders.   In the case of Nike, the understated in fact speaks volumes; for example, the previously mentioned Maria Sharapova is presented by Nike as â€Å"just a tennis player† (Nike-United States).   In this case, what is not said actually screams out to the consumer.   The implication on the part of Nike is clear- their products hold the potential to bring out greatness, or to satisfy the highest needs of the most talented athletes like Sharapova.   This speaks volumes not only about the power of advertising, but also a bit about our culture. Culture’s Influence on Advertising The all-powerful consumer also wields a great deal of influence in terms of how companies like Nike advertise their products.   Going back to an example similar to the one in the previous section, Nike, in investing multiple millions of dollars in advertising, could purchase quite literally a ton of advertising year-round, but will spend the same amount for one quick television advertisement during the Super Bowl. The reason why is that the consumer dictates that for Nike and others, Super Bowl advertising is a command performance, much like attendance at a family dinner party to maintain harmony with one’s siblings.   This is indicative of both the power of the consumer to direct marketing strategy, and the power of the media to create powerful companies quite literally overnight in some cases (Kellner).   In the words of our old friends at Nike, consumerism and culture are tied together as such: â€Å"In a commercial culture that blends celebrity, product, and image, it is only natural that the sports shoe transnational Nike – as well as many other corporations – would purchase   star power to promote its products. Accordingly, I argue that the Nike connection calls attention to the extent to which media culture is transforming sports into a spectacle that sells the values, products, celebrities, and institutions of the media and consumer society† (Kellner, p. 64) . Culture is also a powerful ingredient in the consumerism mix; when one takes a look at the styles of clothing and shoes that Nike offers, as well as their advertising, it is clear that urban culture is a strong influence, leading to farm kids in Iowa, for example, wearing Nike gear, even though the closest they may have ever come to city life is seeing graffiti on a tractor trailer rolling through their town, on the way to somewhere else.   The point to be made is that popular culture is a driving force in marketing today. Conclusion In an image-obsessed society such as ours, material goods can, and do, create legendary, larger than life individuals, who in turn sell billions of dollars in products, and the cycle continues.   As a conclusion, perhaps the old saying is the best: â€Å"consumer is king†! Works Cited Kellner, Douglas. Media Spectacle. New York: Routledge, 2003. (Nike-United States  Ã‚   2007)Nike-United States. 2007. Nike, Inc.. 5 Mar. 2007 . Sussman, Charlotte. â€Å"Consumerism in World History: The Global Transformation of Desire.† The Historian 66.1 (2004): 211+. â€Å"Tennis Royalty Crowned by Prince.† USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education) Nov. 2005: 78+.    Nike and â€Å"King Consumer† Popular culture, indeed, has always held athletes in high esteem, dating back to the days of the ancient Greeks and the first Olympiad events, thousands of years ago.   However, in recent decades, talented athletes in sports which had in the past been relegated to the upper class, such as tennis, are now embraced by the masses of all socioeconomic levels.   A case in point is the Russian tennis phenomenon Maria Sharapova.   Admittedly, she is an excellent tennis player, but there are countless other talented tennis players who have not gotten even a fraction of the media attention as has Sharapova. Taking a closer look at this pop culture frenzy, the adoration that has been showered upon Sharapova and many other athletes comes down to how our culture has influenced advertising (USA Today); more specifically, one can clearly argue that Sharapova and others grabbed their biggest share of fame once they began to commercially promote products such as Nike brand clothing and shoes, showing the power of advertising to focus the love of the masses on someone based on an image seen in commercials, as well as the ways that culture has influenced product brands. The Rise of Consumerism As was alluded to in the introduction of this paper, the common denominator in the rise of athletes to god-like status in society, and the growth of companies like Nike into multi billion dollar marketing machines, can all be attributed to the masses, leading to academic studies of consumers in such frequency that terms like consumerism have been coined to identify the analysis of the behavior and power of the consumer to dictate how the business world ultimately operates, what it offers to the public, and how the future of consumer goods will unfold. Experts in the study of consumerism have attributed the rise of consumerism itself to the global spread of what can best be described as material desire; in other words, the economic freedom that many parts of the world have been exposed to for the first time over the last quarter century or so has bred a new generation of consumers, who have the desire to possess consumer goods and finally have the financial means to buy them (Sussman).   Especially desirable are the â€Å"brand name† goods which consumers view as a symbol of affluence; the Nike â€Å"swoosh† symbol, for instance, is something that people consider a sign of success when it appears on their shoes or clothing. This, in itself, speaks volumes about the extent of consumerism with the use of a simple, yet telling example.   Because of the availability of foreign made, inexpensive clothing and shoes, it would make sense that if one merely wanted to keep warm or protect their feet, they would buy the least expensive, yet functional merchandise they could obtain; however, more often than not, consumers will pay much more than they have to for clothing items because of the presence of a Nike symbol or any of a score of others which have universal appeal. In fairness to Nike and others, they do make products of sufficient quality and functionality, but also in fairness, one can find goods of similar, or even superior quality at lower prices, â€Å"sans swoosh† if you will.   The difference, once again, is the power of consumerism to dictate what one should wear on their bodies to be considered worthy in society. Catering to King Consumer When looking at the role of the consumer, it can fairly be said that we are really looking at â€Å"king† or â€Å"queen†, as marketing efforts target, and effectively reach, both genders.   In the case of Nike, the understated in fact speaks volumes; for example, the previously mentioned Maria Sharapova is presented by Nike as â€Å"just a tennis player† (Nike-United States).   In this case, what is not said actually screams out to the consumer.   The implication on the part of Nike is clear- their products hold the potential to bring out greatness, or to satisfy the highest needs of the most talented athletes like Sharapova.   This speaks volumes not only about the power of advertising, but also a bit about our culture. Culture’s Influence on Advertising The all-powerful consumer also wields a great deal of influence in terms of how companies like Nike advertise their products.   Going back to an example similar to the one in the previous section, Nike, in investing multiple millions of dollars in advertising, could purchase quite literally a ton of advertising year-round, but will spend the same amount for one quick television advertisement during the Super Bowl. The reason why is that the consumer dictates that for Nike and others, Super Bowl advertising is a command performance, much like attendance at a family dinner party to maintain harmony with one’s siblings.   This is indicative of both the power of the consumer to direct marketing strategy, and the power of the media to create powerful companies quite literally overnight in some cases (Kellner).   In the words of our old friends at Nike, consumerism and culture are tied together as such: â€Å"In a commercial culture that blends celebrity, product, and image, it is only natural that the sports shoe transnational Nike – as well as many other corporations – would purchase   star power to promote its products. Accordingly, I argue that the Nike connection calls attention to the extent to which media culture is transforming sports into a spectacle that sells the values, products, celebrities, and institutions of the media and consumer society† (Kellner, p. 64) . Culture is also a powerful ingredient in the consumerism mix; when one takes a look at the styles of clothing and shoes that Nike offers, as well as their advertising, it is clear that urban culture is a strong influence, leading to farm kids in Iowa, for example, wearing Nike gear, even though the closest they may have ever come to city life is seeing graffiti on a tractor trailer rolling through their town, on the way to somewhere else.   The point to be made is that popular culture is a driving force in marketing today. Conclusion In an image-obsessed society such as ours, material goods can, and do, create legendary, larger than life individuals, who in turn sell billions of dollars in products, and the cycle continues.   As a conclusion, perhaps the old saying is the best: â€Å"consumer is king†! Works Cited Kellner, Douglas. Media Spectacle. New York: Routledge, 2003. (Nike-United States  Ã‚   2007)Nike-United States. 2007. Nike, Inc.. 5 Mar. 2007 . Sussman, Charlotte. â€Å"Consumerism in World History: The Global Transformation of Desire.† The Historian 66.1 (2004): 211+. â€Å"Tennis Royalty Crowned by Prince.† USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education) Nov. 2005: 78+.   

American Football and High School

ballFootball is life. football change everything. i started playing football when i was eleven years old. but before that, my father want me to play basketball. it was not nice playing basketball for me because i do not fit on these game. Here comes football which was introduce to me by may childhood friend. we always play a small sided game in our village and then i found out that i was good on it. so i trained to play football. i have been playing football for six and a half years and now, i am in college. ut football here in the Philippines is not well organize and they do not recognize it. i do not want to end my career as a football player and i do not want to end my career as a football player with no good things happened. my dream, is to go to a country that organize football and to be a professional football player like the the young super star Cristiano Ronaldo and the like. God gave me a gift to play football and the skill to play football so i am going to use it to work an d train hard to make may dreams come true.My family can not afford to send me abroud to play football or to enroll me in to a football school. so i am just hoping that miracle could happen and a school or somebody would conact me and offer me a full scholarship or to sponsor me in to a football school . My contact number is09065885273  or you can email me at  [email  protected] com if you know someone who could help me please tell them about my situation and contact me. Becoming a professional football player is a dream of many young men around the country.While many dream of the opportunity only a few get to make it a reality. If you're serious about being a football player and think you have what it takes, keep reading. To become a professional football player, you'll not only need be very good at playing football, but also to think strategically and make the best use of your talent. There are things you can do in both high school and college to boost your chances of being a ble to join a league, including developing your skills, knowing how to perform for scouts, and choosing the right school for your skill level.You may want to consider putting together a press kit to send out to college and league recruiters. If you're having trouble getting schools or leagues interested in you, you might want to work with a  sports agent  as well. If you can't get into the  National Football League  (NFL) or United Football League (UFL) immediately, then it's important to try to keep playing in another one, like the Canadian Football League (CFL) or  Arena Football  League (AFL); or a semiprofessional league. Pre-College Experience While you're in high school, it's essential to develop your physical skills and play as much as possible.Most college football players are scouted from high school teams, and getting a scholarship to play football is seen as a good indicator of talent. You can also join local football leagues and camps to help develop yourself physically and build your sports resume. Make sure to find out what scouts in your area or college of choice are looking for — common criteria include  agility, jump height, the amount of weight you can bench press, and your 40 yard dash time. If possible, try to make highlight videos of yourself to send to  coaches  and schools, and attend any college football camps that you can.You should also start considering which colleges you want to go to while you still have a few years of high school left. Most professional leagues tend to recruit from bigger schools, but if you think you'll be in over your head or won't get any playing time, then look at smaller schools where you know you can excel. If you do end up needing to go to a smaller college, then try to choose one that's near a bigger college that gets a lot of scouts, as recruiters will be more likely to visit your school if they're already in the area.You can start looking for open tryouts at this time. Though mos t college football teams send personal invitations before allowing players to try out, some hold open tryouts for anyone interested. You can check out the teams’ official websites to keep updated on any information, such as the dates, venues, and other requirements and documents needed for enlistment. If you start getting a lot of media buzz or interest from colleges, you should make sure you understand the recruiting process in your country.In the US, college football recruiting is done under the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) guidelines, which include regulations on the ways, times, and frequency with which college recruiters can contact players. They also detail the legal aspects of National Letters of Intent (NLI), which is a legally binding agreement in which a high school student agrees to play for a specific college for at least one year. If you don't get any invitations or scholarship offers, then you can try to go to a school that plays in a lower division and work your way up, or you can try to join a ollege team as a walk on. College Experience Once you're in college playing for a team, you should continue to hone your physical skills. Look for players on professional teams who are in the position you want to play, and try to get to the point where you can match their playing statistics. You should develop your sense of teamwork and character as well, as this is an important aspect to many league scouts. It's important to have a good relationship with your coach too, since many coaches know scouts and having a good recommendation from them can make a big difference in whether you get chosen or not.Similarly to when you were in high school, try to play as much as you can and generate media buzz, especially if you're from a smaller school or one that plays in a lower division. If a scout does visit your school, it's crucial that you are on your best behavior before, during, and after practice. Besides the physical aspects, sc outs look for things like how you treat your teammates, what your relationship with your coach is like, how energetic you are during warm ups, and whether or not you have a good attitude. If you get scouting feedback that's negative, use it as an opportunity to improve.You should start thinking about what league you want to join, and educate yourself about their recruiting process and what specific things they look for in players. Though many college players hope to be drafted by the National Football League (NFL), if that doesn't happen immediately you shouldn't give up. Keep playing for any league you can so that you can keep yourself in top shape and you won't have gaps in your playing experience. Press Kit Whether you're in high school or in college, you can often benefit by having a resume or press kit that you can send to teams you want to play for.Your resume should include your basic information, the position you play for, and your accomplishments as a football player. A pre ss kit, on the other hand, can include copies of articles where you or your team had been previously mentioned, photographs, and even a CD that contains a video of some of your best performances on the field. All these will help you stand out among other candidates and increase your chances of becoming a professional football player. It is important that you follow up on your submissions by calling or sending e-mails, to express your sincerity and to keep track of our application status. Working with an Agent You may also want to find your own sports agent who will help establish your career as a professional football player. An agent often has connections with football teams and can represent and endorse you as a competent and valuable player. He or she keeps your best interest at heart by being involved in contract and  salary  negotiations, finance management, and even in monitoring your practice schedules. In this way, you can focus on honing your football skills without hav ing to worry much about the legal and financial issues that come with being a professional athlete.How to Become a Professional Football Player Answer This Question Report as Glamorousbulb:1 year ago Join your high school football team. The road to football stardom usually begins in high school. Scouts regularly check standout high school seniors, and performing well in high school is what leads to a college scholarship. Then, know and understand the game. You can't hope to be a professional football player if you don't understand how the game works from all sides. It's not just important for you to know your position, but all the positions on the field and how they work together to create the game. Next, practice.Become the best at whatever your position is. There are thousands of boys around the country who are vying for the same opportunity so the more you practice the better your chances of being a standout at your position. Also, land a scholarship to a D-1 school. If you follo w Steps 1 through 3 then you will position yourself to get that all-important scholarship. If you don't get a scholarship, attend a D-1 university and walk onto the team. This makes it a lot harder to become a professional football player but your chances will be better than sitting at home uneducated. Become a standout on your college team.However you make it onto the team you want to make sure you're one of the star players of that team. This means applying Steps 2 and 3 to your college career. Get an invite to the Combine and impress the scouts. If you've been a standout on the college team and garnered some All-American honors you may be asked to the Combine. This is your chance to impress the scouts who are responsible for drafting for the pro teams. While not getting invited doesn't mean you won't be in the NFL, it definitely increases your chances. Lastly, sit back and wait to be drafted. Your dream of being a professional football player is around the corner.

Strategy management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Strategy management - Essay Example This paper briefly analyses team dynamics, leadership and details of team roles, team processes, and formation of team culture. â€Å"Team Dynamics are the unseen forces that operate in a team between different people or groups. Team Dynamics can strongly influence how a team reacts, behaves or performs, and the effects of team dynamics are often very complex†1. Personality traits, organizations culture, tools and technologies etc can affect the team dynamics in different ways. The communication and cooperation between the team members are essential in ensuring the success of teamwork. The team members should work for attaining the team objectives rather than the individual objectives. In such circumstances, individuals sometimes might be forced to sacrifice their interest for the benefit of the team’s interest. Such a healthy attitude is important in ensuring the success of the functioning of a team. But, it is not necessary that all the members in a team may think in the same manner and perform equally well. Under such circumstances the team leader should ensure that the team dynamics or the bondage between the team members is adequate for attaining the team goals. The organization should provide a healthy environment in which team dynamics prosper in a better way. Proper equipments and technology like laptops, mobile phones etc should be provided to each member of the team by the organization in order to improve the communication between the team members and also the team dynamics. The success of a team depends on how well the team leader was able to distribute the works within a team. No team member should feel that he is overloaded with work while other team members have fewer amounts of responsibilities. The team leader should distribute the work equally to the team members so that no discrimination based on the allotment of work should be felt inside the team. Under normal circumstances, team members may

Microbial Biofilms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Microbial Biofilms - Essay Example The continuous culture systems chemostat and turbidostat could also be used to culture the biofilms. The type of environment they are grown in, effects their ultimate morphological, clustering and adhesion character. For Visualization, traditionally electron microscopy was the method of choice to examine microbial biofilms under high resolution. Unfortunately, sample preparation for electron microscopy results in dehydrated samples. Consequently, this approach provided a deceivingly simplistic view of biofilms, since the biofilm collapsed when water was removed. (Davey and Ootle, 2000) Phase microscopy was also an alternative to visualization of living biofilms. Biofilms are removed and either directly visualised or fixed and stained prior to examination. Several techniques for microscopy examination of biofilms in situ on the substrata supporting their growth have been used in this study. These have included transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), episcopic differential interference contrast microscopy (DIC) with and without fluorescence, Hoffman modulation contrast microscopy (HMC), atomic force microscopy ( AFM). ... Light microscopy techniques, although unable to reproduce the high magnification of the methods described above, are still of importance in the examination of intact biofilms. HMC allows the in situ examination of biofilms, a clear image is produced without artefacts. DIC may be used to examine biofilms on opaque surfaces and if used in conjunction with fluorescent vital stains can be used to assess the viability of the microbial population. (Surman et al, 1996) Viability of the microbial biofilm populations can also be determined by LIVE/DEAD BacLight bacterial viability staining kit (Hentzer 2001) The application of confocal scanning laser microscopes (CSLM) to biofilm research radically altered our perception of biofilm structure and function (Laurence 1991). Before the use of CSLM, electron microscopy was the method of choice to examine microbial biofilms under high resolution. Unfortunately, sample preparation for electron microscopy results in dehydrated samples. Consequently, this approach provided a deceivingly simplistic view of biofilms, since the biofilm collapsed when water was removed. On the other hand, CSLM, which allows the visualization of fully hydrated samples, has revealed the elaborate three-dimensional structure of biofilms (Costerton 1995). CSLM is used very effectively to monitor Microbial Biofilms. It is used to investigate not only the presence and the viability of the biofilm consortium but also biofilm/substrata interactions. CSLM has been used very effectively to monitor biofilm development in flow cells. Flow cells are small continuous-flow systems with a viewing port that allows direct observation of the biofilm without disrupting the community. These systems are often once-flow, meaning that fresh medium

Cybercrime Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Cybercrime - Essay Example Data breaches can be combatted by propertizing data or by individual businesses informing consumers about their rights regarding the use of their data. Illegal downloads can be combatted by actions by the music artists themselves, as well as remedies that involve shutting down the sites that sponsor the downloads. Child pornography, in and of itself, is best combatted with legal means, such as criminal prosecution. However, the two types of pornography that are examined in this paper – extreme pornography between adults and child pornography that involves , characters - should be dealt with other means. The data breach section examines United States law, as does the section regarding illegal downloads. The pornography section involves UK law. Hence, the topics are examined with a multinational perspective, which is the best way to examine these topics, as these topics are global in nature. Cybercrime – Data Breaches One major example of cybercrime is the data breach, wh ich results in â€Å"the distribution of personal information 'beyond the bounds of...consent and expectations.'†1 These breaches may be the result of an unauthorized person accessing a company's database, or might be the result of an employee losing his or her laptop or other portable storage device. These are only some of the ways that breaches might result, and there are many more. 50% of the data breaches are committed by employees of the company that is breached.2 Breaches can lead to identity theft and fraud, such as when TJX Companies, Inc., the operator of TJ Maxx and Marshall stores in the United States, announced in January 2007 that it was the victim of a security breach, which exposed 94 million credit card records to outsiders, and these outsiders made fraudulent credit card purchases with this information about TJX customers.3 Since the cardholders had to pay for the fraudulent charges, not the individual customers, the banks who issued these cards filed suit ag ainst TJX an won a $41 million verdict ordering TJX to pay reimburse them for their losses.4 Moreover, since up to 400,000 of the TJX records included their customer's social security numbers and driver's license numbers, the thieves were able to steal identities as well.5 Stealing social security numbers is an infinitely more serious problem than accessing the individual's credit cards, as identity thieves are able to use the social security number to open up new accounts for which the individual is responsible, and gives the thief â€Å"virtual keys† to the victim's financial life,6 enabling the thief to â€Å"empty bank accounts, obtain credit cards, secure loans, open lines of credit, connect telephone services, and enroll in government benefits in the victim's name,†7 while merely stealing credit card information only leaves the individual with the inconvenience of having to close that particular account. Moreover, â€Å"[i]dentity thieves also commit crimes in t he victims names. A victim of criminal impersonation risks arrest and a criminal record for an identity thief's transgression†8 Breaches resulting in thefts of social security numbers are very expensive and time-consuming for the victims, as they spend an average of $1,000 in out of pocket expenses and 600 hours in personal time cleaning up the mess, and lose on average $16,791.9 The risks of social security numbers and other personal information falling into the wrong hands can also be deadly, as in the case

Identification of the Two Missing Romanov Children Essay

Identification of the Two Missing Romanov Children - Essay Example ethods used to determine the identity of the skeletal remains, and whether they were in fact the lost Romanov family, including Tsarevich Alexei (the royal heir) and one of his sisters. ‘We report forensic DNA testing on the remains discovered in 2007 using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), autosomal STR, and Y-STR testing.’ This line from the examining officers’ report shows the tests used. (PubMed, 2009) A brief description of each will show how the team came to their conclusion. A person’s mother-line ancestry can be determined with mitochondrial DNA testing. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a type of DNA that is carried by both men and women but is only inherited from their mother. It is passed by a mother down to all her children. An exact match might mean the tested person is very likely to share a common maternal ancestor within the last 500 years. Exact matches are rare, but slight differences (one or two) can also lead to decisions about common relatives on the mother’s side.(Sorensen, 2009) The testing is done by sequencing nucleotides. The Romanov gravesite skeletons were tested in this way. Autosomal STR testing examines Short Tandem Repeats, using the knowledge that most humans share about 99 percent of their DNA, while the rest is very different. This small portion is examined because, although its function in the body is not completely understood yet, it provides a high degree of variation that can be measured and compared. (Orchid Cellmark 2009) These sequences repeat a number of times - between six and 40 - in a particular location on the DNA. For example, ACGTACGTACGTACGTACGTACGT. Each person can have a different number of repeats in the same place. Many STRs occur on each chromosome. One subset has been developed for identity testing purposes. (Orchid Cellmark Ibid). This was used in the Romanov case, and helped the scientists decide the relationship between the skeletons and that they belonged to one family. Y-STR testing is done on the

Holy Spirit in the New Testament Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Holy Spirit in the New Testament - Essay Example Since He knows each person perfectly and it is understood that people think differently, He can transfer information to people in ways that they would comprehend it (Acts of the Apostles 2:7)." In this case, the Holy Spirit plays a significant role in transformation and teaching believers on what to do as Christian as well as fellowship among Christians through His presence. Also, the Holy Spirit is included when baptizing believers as Matthew 28:19-20 states that "19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." If we are to deal with the origin of Christ when He entered here on erath in Human form, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:20-21 says "But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c] because he will save his people from their sins." Also, when Jesus was Baptized, the spirit of God appeared. In Matthew 3:16-17 it was stated that "16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased" The communication of Jesus with his Father is the Holy Spirit. A passage in Luke 10:21 says "21At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure." How can we today understand this gift of Jesus: The Holy Spirit Jesus during His time here on earth uttered that if He will not leave then the Holy Spirit not come furthermore, In John 14:26 it is stated that "26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." T The goal of life is to know fully who I am In 2 Timothy 1:9, in Paul's letter to Timothy, it was stated that "9who has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time," We are created for God's purpose. How can we recover the lost contemplative dimension of life We lost our lives due to sin and in this case, we lost everything in life including our souls. However, when Christ died for us, he freely gave us everything including our access with God. It would be once again possible if we accept the Lord Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior ( and admit that we are sinners (Repentance) the common passage for this is found on John 3:16. Also, 1

Ji-Woon Kims A Bittersweet Life Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ji-Woon Kims A Bittersweet Life - Movie Review Example The second type of narration could come under a nonlinear form of narrative, as the story is revealed in a disjointed and non-chronological order. Even when the film takes a chronological or linear narrative structure, certain events could go to and fro. So, films could maximally include different narrative structures or could take a narrative structure, which could balance different aspects of the plot or the character. This balancing act or tightrope walking form of narrative structure is adopted by many filmmakers. In the case of the Korean film, A Bittersweet Life, written and directed by Ji-Woon Kim, the narrative structure takes an intense and at the same time stylish tightrope walk between violence and philosophy of life, or if said in another way between recklessness and reflection. Visually also, it mixes well-choreographed action scenes with more transcendental based settings, wide-angle shots, character’s outlook, body language, etc. As a function of a film’s narration, characters around Sun-woo appear increasingly bizarre and unpredictable all the time, but his character was one of calmness, with violence exhibited at appropriate situations. Sun-woo, who is a manager of hotel La Dolce Vita, is a no ordinary manger, there is a ‘volcano’ behind that calm facade. Young and handsome, a tightly controlled gang enforcer in a narrow black suit who is decisive and efficient, he is also the trusted right-hand man of his underworld boss (Mr.Kang). He served Mr.Kang like a faithful dog for 7 years committing extreme violence for him, but at the same, he leads a lonely existence with his unflinching loyalty In line with the narrative structure of philosophy mixed with violence, the film starts with a Buddhist parable, â€Å"Master, are the branches moving or is it the wind?†

Dissenminating Evidence O BESITY IN cHILDREN Essay

Dissenminating Evidence O BESITY IN cHILDREN - Essay Example Decision makers are identified as senior health workers who have the powers of implementation of policies in the health facility. It also includes local government representatives who rationalize ideas generated from research and scientific studies of this nature and make them work (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.a). For these decision makers, the strategy to disseminate the information to them is through the use of formal memos or proposals, outlining the key findings of the research and explaining to them why it would be a prudent decision to implement the ideas within the identified setting in a bid to battling obesity in children. The reason for choosing a memo or a formal proposal is that it makes the dissemination more official, making it possible for the issues raised in the memo to be considered at all levels of official or formal decision making meetings. The nursing community is identified to include colleague nurses and other health professionals who work mainly as service providers to patients. Because the battle against obesity in children have been identified to be a collective task that cannot be implemented successfully without the involvement of other nursing officers within the nursing community, the findings and ideas shall be made available to them also. The strategy of dissemination has been targeted to be the use of fliers, which will be made up of summary of the objective of the study, key findings of the study, as well as approaches to tackling obesity in children. Because of the target group involved, which is the nursing community, the researcher shall ensure that the specific roles and duties needed to be played by these nurses will also be clearly outlined on the flier. It is the hope of the researcher that because fliers are very handy and portable, nurses, who are normally busy with patient care can easily carry them in their bags and purse and take them home and use them in their own

The Benefit of Games Essay Example for Free

The Benefit of Games Essay A sound education system is one that seeks the overall development of an individual, both in mind and in body. In fact the main purpose of education is to encourage the growth of a healthy mind in a healthy body. A good career that brings a high income alone does not guarantee a happy life. One must also be endowed with good health. Only a healthy lifestyle with a healthy eating habits and lost of exercise can bring about health. Therefore, games should be made compulsory in schools. Games promote positive qualities like team work and sportsmanship. In games which involves in team like football, volleyball and basketball, players must cooperate with one another to ensure the success of their team. There is no place for selfish desires and personal glory. On the other hand, when the team loses, all the teammates share the blame. Games and sport make the school life interesting. They add variety. Imagine having to study a whole day and then having to sit for exams. It will be both monotonous and boring, just as the saying goes ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. ’ Every game has its own set of rules and regulations. Players must adhere to these rules and regulations. If a player goes against any of them, he will be penalized. Games, thus, help students to be disciplined. Similarly, students become aware that as they grow older, they have to conform to the norms of society. If they do not, they run the risk of being ostracized. Games which are held after school hours will keep students occupied. They will not have time to pursue undesirable activities such as loafing and watching blue movies. This proves the adage, ‘An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. ’ Taking into consideration the numerous benefits games and sports have to offer, it is imperative that they be included in the school curriculum.

Advantages and disadvantages of domestic and international franchising

Advantages and disadvantages of domestic and international franchising Introduction Buying a Franchise offers many benefits over starting a business on your own. The franchisees benefit from the training and ongoing support that they receive whilst trying to make their business successful. People starting a business on their own often have no help or guidance in the day to day running of the business! The franchisees receive guidance on location, fixtures and fittings, marketing and operation of the business model. This guidance is based on years of experience the franchiser has gained not only from running the business model but also from advising other franchisees. Buying a franchise business is at least a five year commitment and as such should not be taken lightly. It is important to make the right lifestyle choice rather than basing the decision to buy purely on profitability of the business model. A prospective franchisee should always look at the market trends to ascertain whether the need and requirements of the products of the franchise opportunity are predicted to grow or decline over the medium and long term. Getting advice from an experienced accountant can help in this respect. What makes the franchisers products better than the competition? Is the franchisor continually investing in improving the products to reflect changes in latest trends and requirements of the customers? Analysing which products have been changed and new ones introduced over the last five years will help in this regard. The territory is just as important as the franchise model. Not all franchises work in all territories as each area has their demographics and buying patterns. Decent knowledge of the local area is invaluable and the choice of which type of franchise business to buy should be made with regards to this information. Making the right choice of franchise that is based on individual skills as well as the individual requirements of each particular territory should serve to ensure that the business model works both in the short term and the long term International Franchising International franchising refers to a domestic businesss expansion into foreign countries and markets. International franchising is a complex process that requires thorough considerations of many factors, such as feasibility, adaptability, and benefits versus risks. Replication: During the process of international franchising, companies often strive to replicate successful domestic business models in foreign markets. Challenge: Differences in language, laws and financial systems, between franchising business and host foreign market can pose serious challenges during international expansion. Benefits: International franchising means new markets with new customers and selling potentials. International franchising also places companys name and presence in a global market. Adaptability: learning to adapt to the needs and demands of a new foreign market can attract local customers and buyers and lead to higher business success in a new country. Counsel: International franchising experts help companies understand a foreign market before expansion. Consultants advise businesses on a number of subjects, from financing to culture gaps. Advantages: There is a higher likelihood of success since a proven business formula is in place. The products, services, and business operations have already been established. Bankers usually look at successful franchise chains as having a lower risk of repayment default and are more likely to loan money based on that premise. The corporate image and brand awareness is already recognized. Consumers are generally more comfortable purchasing items they are familiar with and working with companies they know and trust. Franchise companies usually provide extensive training and support to their franchisees in effort to help them succeed. Many times products and services are advertised at a local and national level by the main franchise companies. This practice helps boost sales for all franchisees, but individual franchisees dont absorb the cost. Disadvantages: Franchises can be costly to implement. Also, many franchises charge ongoing royalties cutting into the profits of franchisees. Franchisors usually require franchisees to follow their operations manual to a tee in order to ensure consistency. This limits any creativity on the part of the franchisee. Franchisees must be very good at following directions in order to maintain the image and level of service already established. If the franchisee is not capable of running a quality business or does not have proper funding, this could curtail success. Sometimes franchisors may be lax on their commitment to support the franchisee. Also, they may make poor decisions that would have an ill effect on the franchisee. Therefore, it is important to research any franchise concept thoroughly before signing any agreements. Benefits on International Franchising Purchasing a franchise is one way for an entrepreneur to get started in business. Franchises offer a proven business model to follow as well as support in areas like financing and training. International franchises can provide the opportunity to take advantage of growing global markets, although the franchisee will need to overcome the hurdles associated with adapting to the ways of a new country. Cultural Adaptation Franchises provide the business owner with a full range of support services. This proves beneficial when it comes to adapting to the ways of a foreign country. The company can help you hire local management and workers who are familiar with the methods of doing business in the country, which can make the transition much smoother. Business Expansion If you already own an established franchise and are looking to expand, adding units in another country can provide a more profitable alternative to an already saturated market. This is particularly meaningful if you sell a product or service that is rather common in your home country. Cornering the Market You may even be fortunate enough to open a franchise in a country where there is little competition and there is a great need for your product or service. This will enable you to corner the market and possibly open several locations, establishing you as the leader in your business before the inevitable entrance of competitors occur. Change of Lifestyle Owning a franchise in another country can result in a new and exciting way of life. Franchisees from a cold climate may relish the opportunity to move to a warm, sunny locale to open a business. Some may also look forward to expanding their horizons by experiencing and assimilating into a new culture. Taking Advantage of Growth If current franchisees are experiencing slow business due to the home countrys stagnant economy, they can seek to open another unit in an area experiencing strong growth. Countries and areas exhibiting growth as of 2010 include China, Latin America and the Middle East. Advantages of international franchising Franchising is a unique form of business arrangement. The original company (called the franchisor) enters into a contract with a second business (called the franchisee) in which the original company offers the second business the right to operate under the original businesss name and the right to sell its product. The franchisor usually offers guidance and expertise to the franchisee. All of this is done for a fee, and though having a franchise isnt the same as starting a business from scratch, there are a number of advantages to the system. This is also true for international franchises. Reputation The major benefit of a franchise is that franchises reputation. If a franchise is well known for offering a certain type of product or service and a new branch of that franchise opens up locally, then people know roughly what to expect. For international franchises there are some additional issues of reputation to consider. For instance, the country of origin that the franchise comes from could be viewed as exotic, which will bring in additional business. Financing Franchises are viewed as a business plan thats already undergone a trial by fire and succeeded. Generally speaking, this makes them much easier to finance, as far as getting loans from banks is concerned. If a franchises reputation and success can be clearly shown, then the bank knows the franchisee has a much better chance of succeeding than he would if he were trying to start up a new and independent business. This is even truer for companies that are known internationally, which makes banks feel even more generous when it comes to assisting with business financing. Support Regardless of whether or not the franchisee sets up in the franchises hometown or on the other side of the world, an international franchise has the capability of extending support, advice and training to franchisees. The franchise offers training manuals, access to supply networks, advice and other forms of help to the franchisees. This is especially true where an international franchise is concerned, because every franchisee impacts the franchises reputation and reach. If all of the franchisees do well, then it will increase the franchises reputation, reach and even their brand recognition. Franchising primary benefit is risk minimization. Starting a new business is risky. Most studies show that over 90 percent fail within three years. The primary reason that the failure rate is so high is because the owners have to go through the learning curve of operating that specific type business. Franchising reduces that curve substantially. Another reason to buy a franchise is that a franchise investment can be thoroughly researched before any significant expenditure is made. Existing franchisees offer a wealth of information about the business so that new franchisees can try the business on before they buy to make sure its a good fit for them. Franchisers sell a defined, proven business format or method of operation, offering a product or service that has sold successfully. An independent business is based on both an untried idea and operation. The experience of the franchisers management team increases the potential for success. This experience is often conveyed through formal instruction and on-the-job training. Franchisees can often buy lower-cost goods and supplies through the franchiser, resulting from the group purchasing power of all the franchises. Established franchisers offer national or regional name recognition. While this may not be true with a new franchiser, the benefit of starting with one is the potential to grow as its business and name recognition grow. Franchising provides a uniform system of operation, so that consumers receive uniform quality, efficiently and cost-effectively. A uniform system brings with it the advantages of mass purchasing power, brand identification, and customer loyalty, capitalizing on the proven format. A franchiser also provides management assistance, including accounting procedures, personnel and facility management. An individual with experience in these areas may not be familiar with how to apply them in a new business. The franchiser helps a franchisee overcome this lack of experience. Franchisors help franchisees develop a business plan. Many elements of the plan are standard operating procedures established by the franchisor. The most difficult part of a new business is its start-up, since even experienced managers lack the knowledge to set up a new business. One of the biggest benefits to franchising is marketing. The franchiser can prepare and pay for the development of professional advertising campaigns. Regional or national marketing done by the franchiser benefits all franchisees. In addition, the franchiser can provide advice about how to develop effective marketing programs for a local area through a cooperative marketing fund, to which the franchisees contribute a percentage of their gross income. Its possible to receive assistance in financing a new franchise through the franchiser, who often makes arrangements with a lending institution to lend money to a franchisee. The franchisee must still accept responsibility for the loan, but the franchisers involvement usually increases the likelihood that a loan will be approved. A franchiser also provides training for the franchisee. This is especially important if the concept is complex. The best training combines classroom or one-on-one training at the franchisers facility with field training at the franchisees place of business. Finally, franchising has found a solid economic niche that caters to specialized needs. Many American consumers no longer want a muffler installed by a service station, a hamburger from a diner, a pizza from someone who wont deliver it within 30 minutes or their hair cut by a local barber. Specialists, it seems, do it better, and the franchise industry is only too willing help. Once you become a franchisee and part of a franchise organization, What are your roles and responsibilities? Financial The first function you have in your new endeavour is as an investor into your business. You will need to invest financially with an initial franchising fee, but also be prepared to pay any additional costs that might be necessary to get the business up and running such as equipment costs. Also, there will be ongoing royalty fees that you will need to be aware of. Time Secondly, you will need to be sure that you can invest an adequate amount of time in the business. Although the system is basically set up in franchising, you will still need to initially spend extra time learning how the system works. The franchisor usually offers training and continuous support, hence the ongoing royalty payments. Like anything else, once you know the ins and outs of the system, the time investment decreases somewhat. Leadership and Partnership One of the most important skills you need to possess as a franchisee is the ability to be pro-active and take initiative. You should be able to easily assume a leadership role. You need to be certain that you understand how the entire system works and not be afraid to ask the franchisor questions. It is especially important to communicate with the franchisor anything that you notice that doesnt seem right to you. After all, you are basically assuming a partnership role with the franchisor. Therefore, you should be able to work together, share ideas, and resolve issues together. You may notice something that the franchisor was not aware of since you are much closer to the business. The franchisor would probably appreciate your bringing concerns or discrepancies to the table, especially if you offer possible solutions. Communication With all of the responsibilities that the franchisee holds, communication and organizational skills are key skills to possess as a franchisee. As mentioned, it is important to keep in close communication with your franchisor. In addition, you will need to be able to communicate effectively with your customers, employees, vendors, and other business contacts. Furthermore, it can be quite beneficial to team up with other franchisees on a regular basis. It can help you run your business more smoothly if you share ideas and solutions to problems experienced with others in the same capacity. Organization In your role as franchisee, you should be prepared to wear many hats. In operating the business, you will most likely have to manage all the daily operations involved in operating a business, including ordering supplies, meeting with customers and vendors, preparing payroll, resolving discrepancies, etc. These are just a few of your sub-roles depending on the type of business you are running. It is essential to be able to organize all of your responsibilities so that everything gets done accurately and in a timely manner. In conclusion, as long as you understand your role as a franchisee and make every effort to carry it out thoroughly, you should be able to manage a successful franchise.