Children and Violent Videos Essay - 275 Words

Children and Violent Videos (Essay Sample) Content: Studentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s Name:Instructorà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s Name:Course:Date:Do children who watch/play violent videos for hours become physically and emotionally violent?Over the last few years, there has been a very heated debate in the courts, the house of senate, house of congress, and in the public domain. There are people who believe that watching violent videos and playing such games actually causes violent behaviors among the young people. Some other people are of the opinion that only playing video games does bring such behaviors. Lastly, another groups of people do believe and argue that only playing violent games does bring such behaviors rather than watching such videos.Although education does have a positive impact in a personà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s life, it does not actually ensure success in their life. Success in life means attaining ones goals in life or becoming prosperous. One can achieve success through education but one does not necessarily need to be educated to become prosperous or attain their goals.Senator Jay Rockefeller was asked by Michael Venables why he had earlier suggested that there is a very close link between children watching violent videos and playing violent video games with developing violent behaviors. He replied that there had been some casual studies that pointed to the direction that watching and playing violent videos did have influence on the behavior of the young people. He said that over the last 28 years, he had been working for the people of West Virginia. In those years, he has interacted with several people and families (Rockefeller, 2013). He argued that he had several experiences that show that it does actually have influence on developing violent behaviors in the young people. He believes that there is enough evidence showing that there is an effect of watching such videos and playing game. However, he acknowledged that it is very hard to scientifically prove this, but he believed that the national academy of sc iences would work out a way to prove this.When playing the video games, the young people are actively involved. According to Bushman (2013) several researches that has been done in the world proves that actively involvement in or playing such games creates violent thoughts and ideas among these people. In most cases, they would want to associate with the characters who are in that game as well, more so their favorite ones. Some research, according to Bushman (2013) shows that watching and playing violent videos creates eye-hand condition. Although he acknowledges that non violent videos and games could also create similar eye-hand conditions. According to Bushman (2013) some of the reasons as to why people believe that there is nothing wrong with watching such violent videos is that they believe they have not killed anyone. Another reason is lack of understanding of personal characteristics as much as one does to biological characteristics, where he argued that people who watch the se videos and games do not understand the effects they have on their emotions but only look at the physical impact. He argued that the impact of watching and playing such video games has more if psychological impact than it has physical impact. The psychological impact is the one that could lead to the violence behaviors and activities when it becomes unmanageable.Studies done in the past have shown that video games are closely related to children becoming cognitively aggressive emotionally and in their behavior. The people who watch these videos and play such games become more positive towards violence and they develop the use of violent language and genres. In several schools, there have been reports those children who play violent video games are often more physically aggressive as compared to their counterparts who do not play or watch violent videos. A research in the effects of violent movie and videos came to a conclusion that watching these videos does have an effect in that it increases violence and aggressive behavior. A group of researchers reported that there was 49% increase in violent behavior among a group of people who were heavy television viewers of violent programs. From the research, there is less evidence that watching violent videos does lead to violence crime. However, violent behaviors are very common if the research is to go by. There is also a question of the difference in the impact of watching violent videos and playing violent video games. Some researchers argue that among of negative impact of playing games is more than that of watching videos.There has not been any scientific relationship between violent behaviors with watching violent movies and playing games. Chris Ferguson who is the chairman of the psychology and communication at the Texas AM International University said that he believes that there is no scientific relationship between watching violent videos and crime (Gardner, 2013). He said that if the government was cons idering reducing the amount of violence in movies and games was the wrong way which it could achieve a reduction of crime through. Laura Davies, who is an adolescence psychiatrist, said that the children were able to distinguish between reality and fantasy. She argued that these people would seldom do the things they do in fantasy, in reality (Gardner, 2013). As the kids grow older, they become more and more realistic about the difference between fantasy and reality. Both Ferguson and Laura were of the idea that parents bare the biggest responsibility when it comes to guiding the children. The parents should guide their children and advice them accordingly.Most of the research that has been done in the world on violent videos does not prove the cause of violence. In fact, the rates of crimes that have involved young people have been on a reduction since the year 1996. During the same time, the numbers of violent video sales have been on the increase (Harvard health, 2010). This pro ves that actually watching violent videos does not actually lead to violence and crime. Dr. Patrick, from Villanova University and Dr. Charlotte, his compatriot from Rutgers University said that some young people were affected by watching violent videos and games but most of them do not get affected. They said that the personality of these young people had a big role to play in determining whether they would be affected. Dr. Cheryl from the Massachusetts Hospital conducted a study on 1,254 students where they realized that the children who played games with their siblings opted to play games there were mature rated. Dr. Cheryl concluded that the situation which the young people watched these videos determined their behavior.A report after the comic books debate that was phenomenal in the 1950s said that reading crime comic books has severe negative influence to the good development of young people psychologically. The report said that the books taught contempt of police and other authorities. After this report, there was development of codes of ethics on which comic books were written henceforth. In the case of Schwarzenegger vs. Entertainment Merchants Association, the judge was highly expected to base the ruling on the report on the comic books (Hall, Day, Hall). However, the judge did the unexpected. The court ruled that banning the violent videos was uncalled for and would interfere with the freedom of speech. The judge said that the bill was unprecedented and mistaken. There has not been any scientific connection between watching violent videos and games with being aggressive. A research done in Iran, shows that playing video games give people an opportunity to actively exercise their minds just like in sports (Hall, Day, Hall). Actually, the report said that play...

Zen Gardens Essay - 1489 Words

Zen Gardens Zen Buddhism began to show up in Japan during the eighth century. It went through various periods of popularity and disregard, but constituted one of the most important influences on Japanese culture. All Buddhist temples include gardens. The first temple gardens evolved from well-groomed landscaping around Shinto shrines. Later, the gates and grounds surrounding Buddhist temples began to use gardens to beautify the temple, similar to the Heian mansion gardens. Jodo Buddhism (Pure Land) used temple gardens as a way to symbolize the pure land created by Amida Buddha to aid suffering souls in pursuit of enlightenment. These Zen gardens were meant to encompass the nature of the universe. The garden†¦show more content†¦Fishing on small boats to catch fish in their ponds was one popular activity. Poetry reading and writing was also essential. According to Feng shui, all structures have to be laid out carefully along compass lines and in certain configurations to allow ki (Chinese chi), the mystic energy of life to flow properly. A reduced ki flow in a home was thought to cause sickness and disharmony. For example, the builders, after consulting with a Yin-yang diviner, would usually create special arrangements to prevent bad ki from entering the home from the northwest. In the first Japanese garden design manual, the Sakuteiki, it is explained how water courses should flow from the northwest to the southeast so that any bad ki could be cleansed by the protective deity of the east Kamogawa (blue dragon), then proceed west again passing under a veranda of the house so as to draw away any evil spirits that might have somehow slipped into the house. Heavy stones were thought to serve as gates or landing points for spirits and were thus placed very carefully. Other design rules applied as well. Influenced by esoteric Buddhis m, the garden design was expected to include an island in a pond connected to the mainland by a bridge. This represented the world of enlightenment separated from the world of man. The bridges were frequently arched and coated with bright red lacquer (another Chinese influence). The Heian noblesShow MoreRelatedThe Culture Of Japan And Japan1187 Words   |  5 PagesJapan has been one of the very few countries in the world that is influenced from Zen Buddhist and Shino ideas. This culture is very distinct and also carries specific traditions and consists of living life a different way from other religions around the world. In addition, Japan has been known for their amazing work in architecture which is said to have been guided by Chinese architecture in the past. Surprisingly, gardens are something that Japan has been known for as well as they contain many differentRead More Muromachi Period Essay1738 Words   |  7 Pages The Muromachi style of Zen Buddhism has influence art and design ever since it’s beginning in the 14th century. Although it was influenced by the Chinese styles at a parallel time, they both are still influential and noticed in today’s world. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;For years Japanese Ink Painting continued to be consistent with a basis on nature, and simplicity. Was the beginning of Minimalism in Japan? Was it intentional? The open composition of space and content on paper is a key of today’sRead MoreZen And Pure Land Buddhism1470 Words   |  6 PagesA brief comparison between Zen and Pure Land Buddhism, both of these are very popular amongst the Vietnamese community. The word Zen has been used many times in the West, due to the hard work of Japanese culture; Zen Buddhism does not have a strong influence as that of the Pure Land Buddhism. Also in the school of Zen, they reject claims of scriptural authority and embrace many different practices. Zen Buddhism rests on claims to an exclusive lineage that has been passed down from teacherRead MoreClassical Chinese Garden Of Suzhou And Japanese Dry Landscape Garden1098 Words   |  5 PagesThe Interpretation of Nature in Classical Chinese Garden of Suzhou and Japanese Dry Landscape Garden of Ryoan-ji Luis Barragà ¡n, the influential Mexican minimalist architect and Pritzker Prize winner once said that, â€Å"In the creation of a garden, the architect invites the partnership of the Kingdom of Nature. In a beautiful garden the majesty of nature is ever present, but it is nature reduced to human proportions and thus transformed into the most efficient haven against the aggressiveness of contemporaryRead MoreArt Of Evoking Nature s Majesty Within A Tight Space1313 Words   |  6 Pages A Japanese garden embodies the art of evoking nature’s majesty within a tight space. Throughout 5th to 8th century Japanese gardens sprung up for ritual purposes. From the late 8th to the 12th century the Japanese gardens started to become more of aesthetic and social piece. These Japanese gardens hold many styles and elements. What make a Japanese garden so special are the natural materials, evoking the beauty of nature on a smaller scale. They’re three types of Japanese gardens the most commonRead MoreThe Chinese Garden At The Huntington Library1850 Words   |  8 PagesThe Chinese garden at the Huntington Library was an extravagant garden. The Chinese garden included water, rocks, plants, architecture, and arts. The Chinese garden created multiple feelings. The flowers in the garden provided a special feeling to the season. The water creates a feeling of a forever ongoing life and the rocks a neutral balance in the surrounding environment. The arts created a feeling that encourages people to look for the literary, philosophical, and artistic traditions of ChinaRead MoreJapanese Gardens : A Garden Style1450 Words   |  6 PagesJapanese Gardens is a garden style that originated in Japan with a design elements that in line with the Buddhism belief. Buddhist teaching is symbolized in the different elements are make up the garden as a whole. The specific element that will be focused on in this paper is water, stone, architectural elements of paths, stone lanterns, pagodas and bridges. Buddhism religion was used in the inspiration of all the elements in the Japanese Gardens. The Japanese Garden that used to break down theRead MoreEssay on Yamashiro Restaurant Review1661 Words   |  7 Pagesrenown landmark, Yamashiro palace, to the left, are the hillside terrace garden with a walk way leading through the vibrant flowers, shrubs, trees, goldfishes, and the stunning view of Los Angeles. Inside contains the lavish woodwork and silk wallpaper that has not been torn down due to its significance this structure had in Los Angeles history. People that go there have a choice of where they prefer to be seated: The Japanese Garden Court, Koi room, Skyview room, Sunset room, pool bar, or the loungeRead MoreEssay about Japanese Gardens2462 Words   |  10 PagesJapanese Gardens The role of gardens play a much more important role in Japan than here in the United States. This is due primarily to the fact the Japanese garden embodies native values, cultural beliefs and religious principles. Perhaps this is why there is no one prototype for the Japanese garden, just as there is no one native philosophy or aesthetic. In this way, similar to other forms of Japanese art, landscape design is constantly evolving due to exposure to outside influences, mainlyRead MoreEssay on Religions and Japanese Culture597 Words   |  3 Pagesthat big and great exists only because Kami, or spirit, resides within the mountain. In this fashion, they give great respect to nature. These Shinto beliefs have great influence on the ways Japanese today do things and their values. Japanese garden designs also reflect Shinto beliefs. Careful arrangements of rocks and plants are attempts to create a miniature universe or attempts to move a piece of nature into their house. Similarl y, the principles of floral design show their interest in nature

Movie Review Food, Inc. - 1655 Words

Timothy Fang Christopherson Social Science 1A 15 December 2014 Film Guide Review Introduction 1. Give the name of film, producer and the year. The film I chose is titled Food, Inc. It was directed by Robert Kenner, and produced by Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein in 2008. 2. Why did you select this film for your review? I chose Food, Inc. for my film review because it was on Netflix, and because I have always been interested in food production documentaries. 3. Had you seen it before? If so, how did a second viewing help in your understanding or enjoyment? It was my first time seeing the film. 4. What was the film’s purpose or thesis? Was it clear or did you have to infer it? The film’s purpose was to reveal the secrets of the food production industry, as well as to call for change in the biased policies. 5. Who is the primary audience for this film? The primary audience of this film is for the consumers of food products and for anyone interested in where our food comes from. 6. Was the format strictly documentary or were there some dramatic recreations? Why do you think they used recreations? This film was strictly a documentary, and includes numerous interviews with farmers and people in the industry. It does include some animations, but animations are not used as dramatic recreations. Relevance to coursework How does this film relate to what you are learning the SS1A course lectures or readings? This is a very important question, think about it, scroll throughShow MoreRelatedEssay about Food Inc873 Words   |  4 PagesFOOD INC.: An unflattering look inside Americas corporate controlled food industry. Movie Review by Markovist Wells Professor Patrick Elliott POLS 1101-511 Essay Question: In what ways does this movie demonstrate the â€Å"Iron Triangle† and its powerful influence in the manner that our government functions? In the documentary Food Inc. The message is that the food industry does not want us to know about what we are eating. . This problem mayRead MoreRedbox Kiosks and Streaming Technology Essays783 Words   |  4 Pagesautomated kiosk or electronic device based streaming video. Kiosks are located at select fast food restaurants, grocery stores and convenience stores. Each Redbox kiosk holds approximately 630 DVDs/Blu-ray Discs/Video Games. DVDs rent for $1.20 per day, Blu-ray discs at $1.50 per day and video games at $2 per day. How does it work? Customers use a touch screen to scroll through movie selections and select a movie choice paying with credit or debit card. If the customer doesn’t return the rental afterRead MoreA Description Of Lafayette728 Words   |  3 Pages * Average age is 33 years old. * There are three senior housing facilities in Lafayette, LA 70508. This includes The Brookdale, Garden View and Colonial Oaks. Brookdale has received numerous outstanding reviews and has received an award from SeniorAdvisor.com for consistent, exceptional reviews. * Average weather in Lafayette is mild and outdoor activities such as canoeing, fishing and hiking are very popular. The annual high is around 79 degrees Fahrenheit with an annual low of 60 degrees FahrenheitRead MoreMonsanto, The Evil One982 Words   |  4 Pagesthe agricultural field has changed dramatically. Most farmers and businesses who are specialize in food production utilize pesticides and hormones to mass produce the food we eat. While these processed are great for business, it is harmful for the human body. It is for this reason that people must be conscious about what they consume. As the inhabitants in America increase, the population of organic food decreases. Both, people and animals, had to make adaption in various ways because of the changementsRead MoreCoca Cola And The Soft Drink Manufacturing Market1161 Words   |  5 Pagesincreased internet use by placing their product advertisements in computer games, social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, and almost e very other website. Coca-Cola is competing with other soft drink companies such as Dr Pepper Snapple group, Inc, PepsiCo, and Nestle. The consumers in that Coca-Cola is trying to appeal to consist of Millennials who value brands that communicate openly and transparently. Coca-Cola appeals to the Millennials by incorporating emotional marketing such as the â€Å"ShareRead MoreCase Study Nabisco Essay1365 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ Case Study: RJR Nabisco By July 20, 2013 One of the most famous leveraged buyouts (LBOs) that have has been studied is the RJR Nabisco LBO. There was also a movie made about this LBO entitled Barbarians at the Gate, which you may be interested in watching. 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The proprietary library of over 4700 characters contributed to the success of the company, in which the characters have been featured in various media forms for over 70 years. However due to various issues, Marvel was forced to file for bankruptcy in the late 1990s. Nevertheless after Toy Biz, Inc. acquired the company out of bankruptcy, it formedRead MoreEssay about The Abuse of Power in the Military1186 Words   |  5 PagesA Few Good Men is a movie that adequately causes debate among renowned professors, philosophers, and psychoanalysts. The film demonstrates multiple qualities of commands and power in the military, specifically the Marines. A Few Good Men has an early distinguishable gender distinction, where women are subordinate to men, despite being higher in rank. Marines use a punishment known as a Code Red to discipline any soldier who fails t o comply with any and all given orders. Philip G. Zimbardo is a professorRead MoreSpecific Qualities That Make Your Business Successful1897 Words   |  8 Pages2. Literature review. 2.1 Introduction This literature review will be focused on specific qualities that make your business successful. We will name both personal (entrepreneur’s) and company qualities that could help us to achieve our goals. This literature review is divided into 3 parts: Be in the Right Industry, Character (personal qualities) and Company qualities. We will introduce in details content of each of these parts. For this report we have chosen only relevant information and reliable

Surgery free essay sample

â€Å"Alright, were ready for you Chris,† the surgeon’s assistant said in a lighthearted voice. This was the moment that had been troubling me for the past few days. It was my time. I was fighting back the tears. I was petrified. My mom was weeping away as I, walking at a snails pace, slowly made it into the hallway. It seemed as if everyone was staring at me. To see what though? Perhaps to see if I would cry or have an emotional breakdown. This was the worst thought of all. Maybe they were looking at me because this was the last time that anyone would ever see me. A million and a half thoughts ran through my head. What if I die? Am I ever going to see my parents again? No of course I am not going to die, I trust the surgeon, but then again what if he makes a mistake? This was the worst thought of all, what my brother said the morning of my surgery: â€Å"Can I keep all of your money when you die?† All of these thoughts ran through my head as I trudged down death row. We will write a custom essay sample on Surgery or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page At last, I was there, standing at the door of the very room that they would put me under and sever into my skin with a sterilized precision tool to reattach my tendon. Bupbup, bupbup, bupbup. The ticking time bomb in my chest was about to explode. I was laying down on the table in the operating room. To me, it looked exactly like what you saw in the movies. Looking up, all you could see was an tremendously luminous light that made you feel like you didn’t know whether you were about to die or if you on the table in an operating room. To tell you the truth, I felt both. Looking around to the sides of the table, it was even scarier; people in Scrubs and sterilized precision tools. I stared as they put the intravenous tube in my arm. I knew that the end was near. In my head lay a vivid image of my mom crying which did not help me at all. Looking over to the side, I saw my dad who was about to leave and the surgeon with his helpers getting ready to make an incision into my hand. There was only a less than one percent chance of me bleeding internally or something going wrong, and like anyone that was ever in this situation, you always think that that will be you. Then all of a sudden, â€Å"We’re going to start giving you the anatisia now,† said the anatisiologist. â€Å"Ok,† I replied. All of a sudden, my limbs began getting heavy, I started to get extremely tired, my eyes started to close, they put and oxygen mask on my face. Two hours later I woke up only to see not the surgeon, but my parents. I was so contempt at that very moment. It is not everyday that you realize how much your parents mean to you. I was so caught up with seeing my parents that I did not look at my hand. When I did, I was shocked; it was all bandaged up and appeared huge. It did not hurt then. As we were leaving the hospital, they took me out in a wheelchair because I had difficulty walking from just getting out of the surgery. I was so worn out from the surgery that I could barley walk or talk. Later that evening, when the medications from the surgery wore off, I was in excruciating pain, I only slept a couple hours that night. It was as is someone kept stabbing me again and again. I hardly slept at all that night.

Posh Pastries and Economic Environment

The economic environment in Colombia is more promising than that of Venezuela. Colombia now boasts of a GDP of $365.4billion, which makes it the 29th largest economy in the world.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Posh Pastries and Economic Environment specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In 2012, it grew by 4.3% and was a continuation of growth rates of 4% and 5.9% in 2010 and 2011 respectively (CIA, 2013). Venezuela has a GDP of $402 billion, which leads to position 34 in the world rankings. The country experienced a growth rate of 5.7% in 2012 but this was a dramatic shift from negative growth patterns in the previous years. In 2010, Venezuela reported a decline of 1.5% in its economy followed by an increase of 4.2% in 2011. Therefore, Colombia appears to have a more stable economic environment in comparison to Venezuela. An international business such as Posh Pastries needs to select a country that has sustainab le economic growth rather than peaks and plunges at different times. Inflation is a significant problem to Venezuela as this reached a record 26% in 2011 and reduced slightly to 21% in the subsequent year. Conversely, Colombia has a manageable inflation rate of 3%. High inflation rates are never desirable for businesses because entrepreneurs could get less value for their money irrespective of their input. Obtaining foreign exchange will also be a problem for businesses. Posh Pastries needs to consider this fact before it expands into Venezuela. Venezuela is highly dependent on oil as its source of revenue. In fact, only 5% of the country’s exports come from non-oil related industries. Therefore, the country is increasingly vulnerable to fluctuations in international fuel prices.Advertising Looking for proposal on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Even the high growth rates that have been reported rec ently are due to increases in oil prices. Similarly, Colombia depends on oil exports. The country has also suffered from changes in crude oil prices. However, it has mitigated this vulnerability by promoting other exports that include coffee, bananas and flowers. While both countries are oil dependent, one of them is worse off than the other. This implies that consumers may appear to flourish in one year and then do poorly in the next year. Such a pattern could cause them to cut back on luxurious spending. Some people may consider pastries luxurious and this could hurt Posh Pastries. The political environment of Venezuela has been relatively tumultuous over the past decade. The country’s key political stakeholders disagreed with their leader President Chavez concerning his socialist leanings. This led to a series of infrastructural and communication failures. Furthermore, the country has undergone unconventional political decisions. In certain instances, the executive authori zed nationalization of key business sectors and instated price controls. This has led to a high degree of mistrust from foreign and local investors (CIA, 2013). Colombia’s political situation is quite promising. Their government has entered into free trade agreements with several countries around the world, including the US. Therefore, Posh Pastries could benefit from doing business with such a partner. Additionally, the country’s political leadership is moving towards privatization as seen through the sale of Ecopetrol, which was the nation’s oil corporation.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Posh Pastries and Economic Environment specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Foreign direct investment is much higher in Colombia than Venezuela as a result of the political decisions that the country’s leadership has made. If foreign investors lack goodwill and support from the political leadership , then Posh Pastries may not do so well in that country. Political stability also guarantees the security of the business when it targets any potential foreign market. One should note that insecurity is a serious problem in Colombia. The country has struggled with rival armed groups that stem from the drug trade (Verma and Soydemir, 2006). One such entity is known as the FARC. Colombia’s leadership is trying to promote dialogue with the group but this has not yielded lasting results. The groups sometimes attack civilians. Furthermore, because Colombia has one of the highest unemployment rates in the region, it is susceptible to violence and other social ills like drug trafficking. In fact this country is the largest supplier of cocaine to the US. Conversely, Venezuela’s security situation is not as problematic as Colombia’s. The country has a lower unemployment rate, and this makes it less complimentary to social ills. Posh Pastries will need to consider the rel ative safety of its employees and partners prior to selection of a target market.Advertising Looking for proposal on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Transportation and infrastructural challenges exist in both countries. However, Venezuela has a worse record than Colombia. Venezuela is still struggling with a housing crisis that stems from the unfavorable social policies of the Chavez regime. Additionally, the electricity producer is inefficiently managed thus leading to a series of blackouts in 2010 and 2011 (CIA, 2013). This crisis in electricity production also emanated from an overreliance on one organization for provision of all electricity needs in the country. Conversely, Colombia has not reported any infrastructural crises. However, it is still relatively undeveloped compared to western nations. The country must invest in infrastructure for it to compete with key production centers of the world. Posh Pastries should consider a country that has stable electricity supply and transportation systems that work. Transport capabilities might be at par in both countries but Colombia fares better with regard to electricity supply. Cultural environments in both countries are somewhat similar to each other but different from the US market where Posh Pastries is based. Both countries speak Spanish and have strong Latin American cultures. They are relatively friendly people who have collectivist traditions and pay attention to indirect communication. Even their food preferences are quite similar, their national diets consists of a range of dishes combined in one plate. They often place meat at the heart of their meals and even use it to make pastries. In Colombia, famous desserts include the Arroz con Coco, which is a pudding made from rice, coconut, lemon and cinnamon. Most pastries are deep fried rather than baked. In Venezuela, Arepa is one of the famous dishes; it comes from baked, fried or grilled cornmeal. Many of the pastries consist of meat or other types of fillings. Posh pastries would fill a gap in both markets as minimal western-style baked goods exist. The company would have an edge over locals as i t would be offering something they have not encountered (Teixeira et. al., 2008). In conclusion, Colombia would be a better foreign market than Venezuela. The country has enjoyed sustainable economic growth and political stability. Furthermore, its infrastructural climate is better than Venezuela’s. Nonetheless, Posh Pastries must take caution because of its insecurity. It can address this by choosing a city or location that is relatively safe. When entering the market, this organization must also market the exclusivity and exotic nature of its products as they are significantly different from the local diet. References CIA (2013). The world fact book. Washington DC: CIA. Teixeira, M., Klotzle, M. and Ness, W. (2008). Determinant Factors of Emerging Markets Risk: A Study of Specific Country Risk. Bogota, D.C.: Colombia Verma, R. and Soydemir, G. (2006). Modeling country risk in Latin America: A country beta approach. Global Finance Journal, 17(2), 192–213. This proposal on Posh Pastries and Economic Environment was written and submitted by user Yoda to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Americans Spend Over 100 Hours a Year Commuting

Americans Spend Over 100 Hours a Year Commuting At a nationwide average one-way drive-time of about 25.5 minutes, Americans spend more than 100 hours a year commuting to work, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Yes, thats more than the average two weeks of vacation time (80 hours) taken by many workers during a year. This number has increased by over a minute in 10 years. â€Å"This annual information on commuters and their work trips and other transportation-related data will help local, regional and state agencies maintain, improve, plan and develop the nation’s transportation systems,† said Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon in a press release. â€Å"American Community Survey data will provide valuable assistance to agencies offering housing, education and other public services as well.† Data has been released through 2013. Compare this with the federal governments estimate of computing the hourly rate based on working 2,080 hours per year. Spending 100 hours commuting adds a significant amount of unpaid time to the work day of the American worker. Map of Commute Times You can find the average commute time for most communities in the U.S. with a map based on the U.S. Census Bureau data provided by WNYC. The color-coded map shades commute times from white for zero minutes to deep purple for more than an hour. If you are deciding on where to move, the map can give you interesting information on your commute times. The data released for 2013 showed that only 4.3 percent of workers had no commute because they worked from home. Meanwhile, 8.1 percent had commutes of 60 minutes or more. A quarter of commuters cross county lines going to and from work. Maryland and New York have the highest average commute times while North Dakota and South Dakota have the lowest. Megacommutes Almost 600,000 American workers have megacommutes of at least 90 minutes and 50 miles. They are more likely to carpool than those with shorter commutes, but that number is still only 39.9 percent. Carpooling in general has declined since the year 2000. However, not all of them are driving as 11.8 percent take rail and 11.2 percent take other forms of public transportation. Long commutes are highest for those in the state of New York at 16.2 percent, Maryland (14.8 percent), and New Jersey (14.6 percent). Three-quarters of megacommuters are male and they are more likely to be older, married, make a higher income, and have a spouse who doesnt work. They often depart for work before 6 a.m. Alternate Commutes Those who take public transit, walk, or bike to work still make up a small part of the total. That overall number hasnt changed much since 2000, although the segments of it have. There has been a slight increase in those who take public transit, with 5.2 percent in 2013 compared with 4.7 percent in 2000. There was a dip in those who walk to work by one-tenth of a percent and growth in those who bike by two-tenths of a percent. But those numbers are still small at 2.8 percent walking to work and 0.6 percent biking to work. Sources: Megacommuters. U.S. Census Bureau Release Number: CB13-41. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2013.

IS strategy development and implementation Essay

IS strategy development and implementation - Essay Example The IS strategy prioritizes the initiatives that are primarily designed to benefit the organization in the short run as well as investing in the long term projects. This IS strategy is like a plan or method that has been chosen in order to accomplish future goals of the organization. It helps in marshalling and planning resources for their most effective and efficient utilization. IS strategy defines competitive forces that determines the product or service ability of the organization to accomplish a strong strategic position in the market (Williams, 2007). For instance, the IS strategy in our case studies will determine competitive forces such as: entry, the ease of entry into the organizational market by other competitors, and whether they face some significant barriers. This will include barriers to market entry; threat of substitution, this will discuss whether there are particular services or products that can substitute the products and services of the organization in our case study; the bargaining power of the consumers, whether a small number of consumers are responsible for the better part of the organizational sales, and whether they can easily switch suppliers; the bargaining power of suppliers, whether the organization have various suppliers and whether there are substitutes to be used; and rivalry among the currently existing competitors, the intensity of the rivalry among the competitors and the way in which that competitors affect the ability of the organization to sustain profits. The developed IS strategy will deal with the above forces in both our case studies. According to Mr. Porter, a firm may take generic strategies in order to create much superior profits. Some of these strategies include: overall cost leadership, differentiation of products and services, and focus on the unique needs of the consumers. It is hence critical that organizations make clear strategy choices in their approach. This is what the implementation of IS strategy is l ikely to result in the organization. This paper therefore seeks to critically examine two main aspects of IS strategy development and/or implementation through the use of case studies to illustrate the arguments and conclusions. In so doing the paper will discuss how and why the IS strategy has been developed through the Venkatraman, and how and why the IS strategy has been implemented through ERP; CRM or MRP. The paper will do this through illustrating a literature review, explaining the two case studies and then giving a conclusion of the arguments in the paper. The case studies are of two different information technology firms that aim to address a serious economic organizational recession and plan the cuts in the public sector as well as the funding. The two firms are also looking up to achieving their long term goals using the IS strategy to be developed and implemented through the mechanism that will be described in this paper. Literature Review This section will illustrate ho w and why the IS strategy is developed as well as how and why the same strategy is implemented. According to the Strategic Alignment Model of Venkatraman, one determination that separates successful business from failed business is the ability to develop and analyze business strategy for success. Mastery of the steps of developing a strategy and creating a concrete business strategy approach to the business helps one to flourish with the business (Spinelli, 2005). The Strategic