How Do I Love Thee, Let me Count the Ways

Introduction The content of a poem coupled with its message as well as its relevance play a good role in telling the poem that the reader ought to go for on the expense of the others, as the case appears for this paper. The poem â€Å"How Do I Love Thee, Let me Count the Ways† by Elizabeth Browning stands out as the one that outstands the rest as it speaks out the truth capturing an essence of feeling, emotion, or experience that moves me.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on How Do I Love Thee, Let me Count the Ways specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The most stimulant reason for the selection of the poem comes from its touchy phrases that explain the need to appreciate and put all the love to the most high, the creator of everything, the one who remains in control of the universe. Despite the fact that it seems not clear on which ways to use, the love comes out naturally therefore posing a great chal lenge to everyone who believes in God’s words that hope should be upheld as the greatest day comes closer: the day that everything in possession will be abandoned for the new life in heaven. Sometimes, the brevity does not imply its shallowness. The poet can incorporate some intense imagery as well as rhythm in a brief poem to the level of arresting the reader’s attention completely. Such is Elizabeth Browning’s masterwork that strategically demonstrates how powerful poems are of great significance in passing of useful information irrespective of how brief they may appear. The poet through the imagery â€Å"I love thee to the depth and breath and height† (Browning, 1850, line 3) signify how one can express strong love where the writer through the phrase tries to indicate how the love for the almighty should remain fully accorded to Him with no turning back at any give point. This makes readers think critically complementing their recent and future doings and turn to the right ways of handling issues. The fluency of the poem is evidenced as the writer uses friendly language easily understood by somebody of overage ability therefore delivering the message to most of individuals. People need to express their experiences for others to understand because many though this seem bound to reflect their past life experiences and change to better ways of living. The universe consists of diverse individuals from different backgrounds and believes and through passing across ones experiences every person gets to understand the duty required for accomplishment. The writer says. â€Å"I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life! –and if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death† (Browning, 1850, line 6). This brings hope to everyone encouraging patience and perseverance in times of hardships since it insists on upholding the virtue of love to the creator because everyone seeks wisdom from Him.Advertising Looking for critical writing on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There are a number of factors that make people feel the urge to make meaning or sense of their lives; one of them being the need to achieve one’s ambitions in life. Majority of people find it necessary to work toward achieving the set goals. This as the poet puts it, the line â€Å"I love thee freely, as men strive for Right† (Browning, 1850, line 9) reveals how most of the people take most of their time to address issues that govern and of beneficial whereas securing little time of adoring the almighty. People usually mind being successful in life and therefore time to time developmental issue are tackled ignoring the need to nature the love that ties them to the almighty. Reference Browning, E. (1850). Sonnet 43. How do I Love Thee? Let me Count the Ways. Durham, DH: American book publisher. This critical writing on How Do I Love Thee, Let me Count the Ways was written and submitted by user Jade R. 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.

Assessment centre exercises

Assessment centre exercises Introduction Hiring the right person to tackle a particular job is very crucial to any organization. Hiring the wrong person can easily ruin the company’s credibility and can even cost the company a lot of money. For a long time, most organizations have relied on the traditional method of interviewing a candidate.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Assessment centre exercises specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is because conducting a personal interview is not only considered cheap for the company but that it does not also take much of the company’s time. However, research has proven that the traditional method of conducting personal interviews can no longer be relied upon to hire superlative candidates. The use of assessment centres have widely been advocated for with most researchers arguing that it is the only reliable selection method that a company can adopt to hire the best of the best. Franks et. al. (1998) state that almost 60% of British organizations have resulted to assessment centre exercises for their selection process. But how effective is the use of assessment centre exercises to hire a qualified candidate and is it the most suitable method to test a candidate? The argument has elicited mixed reactions as to the validity of assessment centres with some arguing that the centres are not really effective while others maintain that the use of assessment centres is the best invention that befell the business world. This paper is therefore aimed at reviewing some peer-reviewed journal articles that seem to have a different take on the issue. Literature Review Abraham, Morrison and Burnett (2006) argue that: ‘assessment centres and behavioural simulations are among the most effective predictors of job performance and career progress available to employers’ (p.383). This is attributed to the fact that the use of assessment centre exercises enhance the skills and the capabilities of the employees and it is one of the most appropriate strategy to measure their potential.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This has been made possible as the candidate is required to present some form of evidence to support their suitability claims (Jennifer and Duncan 2005). In their extensively researched article, Abraham, Morrison and Burnett (2006) further argue that even though the efficiency of assessment centre exercises have widely researched upon, it is not yet clear how useful they are in the employment development. This is because most studies focus on the efficacy of assessment centres and its role in employee development has not been dwelled upon extensively. This leaves a wide gap on how effective the method is. Malde (2006) on his part questions the validity of assessment centres and its role. He presents a valid argument that eve n though assessment centres has widely been praised, it does not really live up to his claims. In his article, he claims that the assessment centre is negligent enough as to not care about the interests of the candidate. He seem to give a differing opinion on the effectiveness of assessment centre as a whole. He argues that even though the method of selection is one of the best to pick out the best candidate, the interests of the candidate should also be encompassed in the process in order to conclude on the issue of effectiveness. In his view, the interests of the candidate undertaking the exercises should be put into consideration as that of the organisation. He argues that the performance of the candidate is bound to decline in future. Why is this so? He supports his argument by arguing that just like in the traditional assessment devices that have earlier been adopted, the candidate is out to please the selection assessors so as to get that job. With the economy crunch hitting t he world, one is bound to dance to any tune played so as to get their way. The interests of the candidates are completely ignored hence leading to performance decline in future when the candidate become accustomed to what he is doing. However, Thornton and Gibbons (2009) seem to differ with the argument presented by Malde. In their well researched article, they state that: ‘the overall assessment rating in assessment centre exercise predicts performance in the future in some specified job or set of jobs’ (p. 171).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Assessment centre exercises specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is because the exercises entailed in the assessment centre dwell on factors such as content representativeness. The assessor is particularly keen on the appropriateness of the content. This is made possible as the candidate is made to undergo several exercises such as filling in questionnaires an d partaking intelligence tests while the assessors rely on several other techniques to test the suitability of the candidate. The career success of the candidate from the assessment centre exercises has also been debated upon. Jansen and Vinkenburg (2006) predicted the effectiveness of assessment centre exercises on the success of the candidate in future. In their study, they examined the trend of success for a period of 13 years in order to assess the validity and effectiveness of the assessment centre in future career progression of the candidate. The authors relied on the period of entry and tenure as control measures and previous studies that had been conducted in order to ascertain the validity of assessment centre exercises to select a candidate and the success of that particular candidate in future. Though they conclude that the method was indeed effective after years of investigation, they are quick to point out that the validity pattern was indeed dynamic. They argued that the assessment centre system was more effective for candidates in their early careers and their validity increased over the years as opposed to those candidates who were late in their career lives. They also argued that the different types of techniques used in assessment centres can be a contributing factor to the future success of the candidate.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is therefore evident that different types of techniques applied in the assessment centres play a very big role to determine its validity. The most common techniques applied include interviews, in-basket exercises, filling a questionnaire, business games, leadership group discussion, projective tests, drawing autobiographical sketches and paper and pencil tests. Luo and Meng (2005) holds the opinion that the validity of assessment centre depends on different grading dimensions adopted in the selection process. In their study, they examined the differing effects on the validity of assessment centre using the leaderless group discussions, role playing and in-basket exercises. The leaderless group discussion is a technique that requires the candidates to work in a group. The candidates are handed written or spoken instructions to be assessed upon. The role of the assessor at this stage is to assess the measurable behaviour of the candidates such as how they maintain the eye contact, their body language or their involvement in the group. The leaderless group discussion is tricky as it calls for candidates who have excellent leadership and communication skills. The role playing or simulation technique on the other hand is where the candidates are required to play a particular role in an orchestrated scene to test their response to particular situations. This is to enhance their role-playing skills in the organisation. The in-basket technique is one of a kind as it requires the candidate to undertake a role in odd times and within the shortest time possible. This measures the reliability of the candidate in the organisation if he is hired. The three methods were measured more than once in different dimensions (Luo and Meng 2005). The conclusion of the study was that the behaviour ability techniques were more effective than the psychological trait techniques. This study was backed in a similar finding that measured the impact of techniques on assessment centres. In their findings, Mark and David (2006) argued that though the use of various techniques played a big role in evaluating the ideal candidate for the job, the effectiveness of assessment centre varied in the type of technique applied. In practise, specific task-based techniques have highly been rated as to increase the ratings in assessment centres (Jackson, Stillman and Atkins 2005). The use of self-assessment in assessment centres has also been advocated for in numerous studies as an effective method of evaluation. Franks et.al. (1998) argue that: ‘Most of the research in this field has looked at the effectiveness of raw self-assessments on their own and not the relative importance of self assessment in comparison to other indices of assessment (p.124). In their article, they state that self-assessment accuracy can be determined either through over-estimation, under-estimation and perfect accuracy of the candidate. This not only aid the personal development of the candidate bu t also aids in the effectiveness of the assessment centre outcome. It also enhances self-awareness and learning of the candidate. Discussion The validity of assessment centre exercises is very essential to any organisation that wishes to encompass it in its selection process. However, it is evident that most findings fail to address the weaknesses of this method and only concentrate on the strengths. Though the findings by Malde (2006) seem to veer off from the findings of other researchers, his only concern is how the candidate’s interests are featured in the method. His argument though seem to support the method as the most appropriate strategy a company can adopt to hire a qualified candidate. Lievens, Dam and Anderson (2002) bashes the use of personnel selection due to technology advancements, globalisation and other social trends. They wholly rely on the use of assessment centre exercises as the successful strategy to hire the best candidates for the job. However, the sy stem has some drawbacks such as it is a costly process. It also emphasize on a one-way mirror technique where the candidate is to perform a task and the assessors acts like big brother. This tends to scare away candidates hence decreasing their full potentials. Conclusion In conclusion, assessment centre exercises can be said to be the most effective in selecting an ideal candidate despite some of the drawbacks it faces. Consequently, it provides the perfect platform for the organisation to select the best candidates based on various techniques, and not the usual question-answer type of selection. The literature already put in place seems to concur with the idea of wholly implementing the assessment centre exercises fully in all organisations to ensure its success by hiring the best candidates they can get. Reference List Abraham, J, Morrison, J and Burnett, D 2006, ‘Feedback Seeking Among  Developmental Assessment Center Participants’, Journal of Business and Psychol ogy, vol. 20 no. 3, pp. 383-394. Franks, D, Ferguson, E, Rolls, S and Henderson, F 1998, ‘Self-assessments in HRM:  an example from an assessment centre’, Personal Review, vol. 28 no. 1, pp. 124-133. Jackson, D, Stillman, J and Atkins, S 2005, ‘Rating Tasks Versus Dimensions in  Assessment Centers: A Psychometric Comparison’, Human Performance, vol. 18 no. 3, pp. 213-241. Jansen, P and Vinkenburg, C 2006, ‘Predicting management career success from  assessment center data: A longitudinal study’, Journal of Vocational Behaviour, vol. 68 no. 2, pp. 253-266. Jennifer, S and Duncan, J 2005, ‘A Detection theory approach to the evaluation of  assessors in assessment centres’, Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, vol. 78 no. 4, pp.581-594. Lievens, F, Dam, K and Anderson, N 2002, ‘Recent trends and challenges in personnel  selection’, Personal Review, vol. 31 no. 5, pp. 580-601. Luo, F and Meng, Q 2 005, ‘A Research on How Different Types of Graded Dimensions  Affect the Construct Validity of the Assessment Centre’, Psychological ScienceChina, vol. 28 no. 6, pp. 1437-1439. Malde, B 2006, ‘Do assessment centres really care about the candidate’, British  Journal of Guidance and Counseling, vol. 34 no. 4, pp. 539-549. Mark, B and David, W 2006, ‘A Meta-Analytic Evaluation of the Impact of Dimension  and Exercise Factors on Assessment Centre Ratings’, Journal of Applied Psychology, vol. 91 no. 5, pp. 1114-1124. Thornton, G and Gibbons, A 2009, ‘Validity of assessment centres for personnel  selection’, Human Resource Management Review, vol. 19, pp. 169-187.

Analysis of an Advertisement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analysis of an Advertisement - Essay Example d that the adverts which employ the use of colors attract more attention and recognition than the adverts that either uses only one color or no color at all. The use of many colors as illustrated in the advert above, triggers excitement from the audience and hence makes it appear more appealing to both the mind and the eye (Barnet and Bedau 140). The audience gets more attracted owing to the fact that many people associate certain colors of their choices to particular success in their personal lives. The general ambience of the advert is that which triggers excitement from the audience. The animation of the advert exhibits a world of happiness that eliminates technological strain owing to the introduction of a multi tasking device (I phone). The multi colored animation provides a universal satisfaction to many individuals who may have different tastes and preferences (Barnet and Bedau 143). Similarly, the advert creates a mood of acceptance of the product on display by exposing much of the extra benefits the audience would acquire than they would ordinarily expect. A number of features have been revealed through such colors as blue, red, white, black, yellow and purple which all represent certain features. The secondary features on display depict the additional efficiency and the functions of the device. Use of signs and symbols In addition to the use of many colors in the advert to gain the attention of the audience, there are a number of symbols and signs employed to create more meaning to the advert. Similar to the other forms of communication such as speeches, signs and symbols also give more meaning to the advert. These meanings are coded in particular patterns which may however be accurately interpreted by certain individuals and not others. An example of a... Analysis of an Advertisement Comparatively, researchers have established that the adverts which employ the use of colors attract more attention and recognition than the adverts that either uses only one color or no color at all. The use of many colors as illustrated in the advert above, triggers excitement from the audience and hence makes it appear more appealing to both the mind and the eye. The audience gets more attracted owing to the fact that many people associate certain colors of their choices to particular success in their personal lives. The general ambience of the advert is that which triggers excitement from the audience. The animation of the advert exhibits a world of happiness that eliminates technological strain owing to the introduction of a multi tasking device (I phone). The multi colored animation provides a universal satisfaction to many individuals who may have different tastes and preferences.. Similarly, the advert creates a mood of acceptance of the product on display by exposing much of the extra benefits the audience would acquire than they would ordinarily expect. A number of features have been revealed through such colors as blue, red, white, black, yellow and purple which all represent certain features. The secondary features on display depict the additional efficiency and the functions of the device. In order to attract more of the audience attention and attraction, framing the animation as well as including simpler signs and symbols that may also be understood by a majority of the audience if not a few targeted individuals.

We Googled You Case Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

We Googled You Case Assignment - Essay Example acquire the high ended rich clients in the three main cities in the China where people are known to be rich enough to purchase their designer products. This can only be achieved through finding ways to penetrate the Chinese market and be accepted by the Chinese people in order to excel. The goals and objectives of the company are clear and they all point towards the direction of infiltrating Chinese market and establishing their products there. The only way it can accomplish this goal and the ones mentioned above is by having a team of experts on Chinese culture and their business market in order to smooth the way for their entry as well as help in establishing the best strategic locations to set up their stores in the three suggested Chinese cities. The main issue that has raised questions and needs a decision and a quick one for that matter is on the matter of Mimi and her information on the internet. Mimi is a very qualified team member for the Chinese market entry and her input is highly necessary if the takeover is to be without hitches as her experience of China together with her Chinese education can come in handy. The only problem is that eight years ago, Mimi was involved in non-violent demonstrations between the Chinese and the American government and this information was uploaded on Google and was found by the Human Resource Manager. The first alternative is for Fred who is the CEO and the HR manager to call Mimi back and ask her to explain about the information on Google in order to get clarification. The other alternative is for them to assume the whole issue as it happened eight years ago and sweep it under the rag and still hire Mimi for the position in the China team. Lastly, they can regard the matter heavily and not hire Mimi as it will bring bad publicity to the company since anybody can find the information online and it can lead to them losing their business in the long run or affect market relations especially with the Chinese. I

Case Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Case Studies - Essay Example The key market players of the pharmaceutical industry are the companies originating from USA, Japan, Europe, China, and Brazil. The medicines manufactured by the leading pharmaceutical companies are prevalent across the globe. USA is regarded as the world’s largest market of pharmaceutical and is the also the world leader in the Bio pharmaceutical research. 80 Percent of the research and development in pharmaceuticals is conducted in the laboratories of USA (Select USA, 2013). However, USA is largely dependent on the import of generic drugs and 40 percent of the pharmaceutical is consumed in USA (Select USA, 2013). It is believed that the present market situation of Biologic, over the counter (OTC), and generic drugs reflect the potential of the pharmaceutical market (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011). As per the reports of House of Commons, UK around 650 million prescriptions are prescribed by the general practitioners of United Kingdom (UK) itself (House of Commons, 200 5). The National Health Service which is one of the leading medical organizations of UK sells medicines worth ?7 billion every year and 80 percent of these medicines are manufactured by branded companies (House of Commons, 2005). In the UK the pharmaceuticals industry is regarded to be the most profitable sector after Finance and Tourism. Majority of the pharmaceutical company’s revenue is generated from the USA because it is the world’s largest free pricing market for pharmaceuticals. Marketing Environment Analysis The marketing environment analysis will help us in indentifying the factors that affect the company directly and indirectly. The macro environmental factors affect the activities of the company directly and the micro environmental factors affect the activities of the company indirectly. The micro environmental factors constitute of environmental factors like suppliers, distributors, competitors etc. The macro environmental factors constitute of demographic, economic, socio cultural, political, physical and legal factors. The PEST analysis will be instrumental in determining the external threats and opportunities faced by the pharmaceutical industry in the USA. Political Factors Department of Health The US department of health is a government body which regularly monitors the activities of the pharmaceutical companies. The main task of this government body is to scrutinize the license, clinical trials etc of the pharmaceutical companies. Economic The medicines manufactured and sold by the pharmaceutical companies are expensive because these companies incur huge amount of research and development costs. Post recession majority of the established pharmaceutical companies have closed down their research sites because the cost of research and development is too high and the profit earned by these companies is minuscule (The Guardian, 2013). It is observed that the most of the pharmaceutical companies are incurring losses due to the current economic slowdown (Gallagher, 2012). Socio Cultural Factors The sales of the medicines in the USA are largely influenced by the ageing population and the increasing obesity among the youth. Although, post recession the purchasing power of the common people has reduced the demand of the medicines and

Bio-mechanical Differences Between Male and Female Runners

Bio-mechanical Differences Between Male and Female Runners BUILT TO RUN:  BIOMECHANICAL DIFFERENCES  BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE MARATHON RUNNERS Acknowledgements Special thanks are accorded to the following people whose work contributed significantly in developing this essay: Dennis Bramble and Daniel Lieberman whose recent findings established running as an essential factor in the evolution of humans, findings that added an extra measure of interest to, and a context for, the essay; Jolie Holschen for doing such an excellent job of pulling together so much valuable information on the anatomical differences between male and female athletes; and Stephen Seiler for his exploration of gender differences in endurance performance and training. In addition, there were numerous other sources used and for which appreciation is due. Attributions are made to all sources in the References section at the end of the essay. Table of Contents INTRODUCTION 1 Anatomical Differences between Men and Women with Specific Reference to Running 2 Definition of the Term Marathon with Comparison to Other Types of Running 7 Definitions of the Term Biomechanics 8 Application of Biomechanics to Running with Reference to Marathon Runners 10 OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE 12 REVIEW OF EXISTING RESEARCH ON METHODS AND FINDINGS 12 DISCUSSION 19 CONCLUSIONS 22 FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESEARCH 22 REFERENCES 24 BUILT TO RUN:  BIOMECHANICAL DIFFERENCES  BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE MARATHON RUNNERS â€Å"More than by brain size or tool-making ability, the human species was set apart from its ancestors by the ability to jog mile after lung-stabbing mile with greater endurance than any other primate.† INTRODUCTION The introductory quotation (Hotz, 2004) simply, yet vividly, expresses the results of a recent study completed by two American scientists, Dennis Bramble and Daniel Lieberman, and released in the journal Nature (2004). Bramble and Lieberman contend that â€Å"the ability to run long distances was the driving force shaping the modern human anatomy.† Hotz’s characterization of early humans as â€Å"marathon men and women from the tips of their distinctively short toes and long Achilles tendons to the tops of their biomechanically balanced heads† (emphasis added) sets the backdrop for this essay—an exploration of the biomechanical differences between male and female marathon runners. After a few additional historical comments, this essay opens with a presentation of anatomical differences between men and women with specific reference to running then continues with definitions and descriptions of the term marathon, as a form of organized running sport, and definitions for the term biomechanics in preparation for a discussion of how the field of biomechanics is applied to running. With this information as a foundation, the objective and scope will be articulated followed by presentation of previous methods and findings revealed from a search of the literature on the topic of biomechanical differences between male and female marathon runners and closely-related topics. These findings will be discussed and conclusions drawn. Finally, recommendations for further research will be presented. To return briefly to the research findings of Bramble, a paleontologist and biomechanics expert, and Lieberman, a physical anthropologist, to continue setting the backdrop for the essay, Bramble states: â€Å"Running made us human, at least in an anatomical sense. We think running is one of the most transforming events in human history† (Chui, 2004). Endurance running is an activity that is reserved for humans in the primate world and not common in other mammals with the exception of dogs, horses and a few others. Bramble and Lieberman contend that running permitted humans to scavenge and hunt for food over significant distances and that the high protein food they secured was instrumental in developing larger brains (Wilford, 2004). To facilitate running, humans developed several traits including large buttocks with strong muscles which connect the femur to the trunk of the body preventing the body from â€Å"over-balancing with each step.† In addition, â€Å"humans have a lengthy arm-swinging stride† and â€Å"[l]ong ligaments and tendons—including the Achilles tendon—[which] serve as springs that store and release mechanical energy during running.† (Hotz, 2004). Bramble’s reference to today’s running in the evolutionary context he and Lieberman established provides an appropriate introduction to the exploration of the biomechanical differences between male and female marathon runners (Wilford, 2004): â€Å"Today, endurance running is primarily a form of exercise and recreation, but its roots may be as ancient as the origin of the human genus.† Anatomical Differences between Men and Women with Specific Reference to Running The description of anatomical differences between men and women, which is focused on anatomical features that are involved in running, begins with a gender-neutral discussion to establish a foundation for the more gender-specific information. Rossi (2003) emphasizes the complexity of walking, a precursor to running. He writes that half of the 650 muscles and tendons in the human body are involved in what most people consider to be the simple act of walking. He suggests that, in the evolution of the human body, there were â€Å"hundreds of adaptations† that had to take place, adaptations that required â€Å"repositioning of everything in the body† over several million years. Rossi writes: â€Å"The arms, no longer needed for branch swinging, became shorter, the legs longer, the pelvis wider, the shoulders narrower, the neck longer and more slender, the spine changed from C-shape to S-shape. Major changes were required in the hip, knee and ankle joints. Hundreds of muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints gradually shifted in position, size and function. And of course, the new posture and gait required important changes in the size and position of all the organs of the chest and abdomen. Rossi suggests that some of these changes were extremely significant from a biomechanical perspective. For instance, he calls attention to the blood pumping requirement of the upright human form: Daily in each individual, approximately 74,000 quarts of blood must travel through 100,000 miles of blood vessels from the brain to the feet and legs in a circular pattern. Rossi emphasizes the human â€Å"engineering† challenge that was required to design a system that would counteract the effects of gravity in moving blood vertically in this manner. Rossi’s comments are particularly important in the context of the current discourse because they provide some insight into the current state of relevant anatomical features of today’s runners and how those features were derived. The anatomy of humans, unlike that of other living creatures, provides for speed and endurance. The unique characteristics related to running include (Science in Africa, 2005, citing University of Utah Public Relations, 2004): Skull features. These features, which include sweating from the scalp and face, cool the blood. A balanced head. This shape of head with a relatively flat face, small teeth, and short snout moves the center of the mass backward which helps to counter the effects of moving upward and downward during running. A ligament running from the rear of the skill and neck downward to the thoracic vertebrae. This feature serves as a shock absorber that aids the arms and shoulders in counterbalancing the head during running activity. Shoulders â€Å"decoupled† from the head and neck. This feature allows rotation of the body while the head faces forward during running. A tall body. This feature, which includes a narrow trunk, waist and pelvis, provides for increased skin surface allowing for enhanced body cooling and permits the upper and lower body segments to move independently. Short forearms. This feature permits the upper body to act as a counterbalance to the lower body during running activity while reducing the muscle power required for maintaining flexed arms. Large vertebrae and disks. This feature permits the human back to accepted heavier loads when runners impact the ground. Large, strong connection between the pelvis and the spine. This feature supports more stability and shock absorbing capacity during running activity. Large buttocks. This feature, and the muscles that form it, stabilize the body during running activity. The connection of these muscles to the femur prevents the body from pitching forward. Long legs. This feature allows humans to take large strides during running activity. The tendons and ligaments permit the legs to be lighter and less muscular thereby requiring a smaller amount of energy to propel them while running. Large hip, knee, and ankle joint surface areas. These features provide enhanced shock absorption by reducing the impact in any one specific area. Arrangement of bones in the foot. This feature provides for a more rigid foot by creating a stable arch, allowing runners to push off in a more efficient manner and to use ligaments located on the bottom of the feet as springs. Large heel bone, short toes, and a big toe. These features provide for enhanced shock absorption and increased capacity to push off during running activity. With the running-related anatomical features applicable to all humans as a foundation, the focus now turns to the differences in anatomical features between men and women, specifically those features that are involved in running activity. Holschen (2004) writes that, until puberty, males and females are equal in terms of strength, aerobic power, heart size, and weight; they also have similar amounts of body fat. Starting at puberty, according to Holschen (2004), male and female sex hormones begin affecting bone and lean body mass, circulation, and metabolism in different ways. A female typically has a wider pelvis, femoral anteversion (inward twisting of the femur), genu valgum (knees touch but ankles are separated), and external tibial torsion (feet do not line up in a straight manner because of out-toeing from outward rotation of the large calf bone). Center of gravity differences between men and women are minimal, correlating more by body type and height than with gender. (Atwater, 1985, cited in Holschen, 2004). When compared with males, females typically have smaller bones accompanied by smaller articular surfaces. They also have proportionately shorter legs with resulting decreased potential force in certain maneuvers. (Holschen, 2004). At puberty, girls gain both fat and lean muscle mass due to the influence of female hormones; boys lose body fat and add muscle mass due to the influence of male hormones (Holschen, 2004). Women in adulthood have about ten percent more body fat than do their male counterparts (Greydanus, D. and Patel, D., 2002, cited in Holschen, 2004). The basal metabolic rate is approximately ten percent lower in women than in men. The presence of female hormones mandates that women rely more on fat metabolism at any given exercise level when compared to men. In addition, glycogen uptake, storage, and use are increased. (Holschen, 2004, citing Bonekat, H. W. et al., 1987; Dombovy, M. L. et al., 1987; Frankovich, R. J. and Lebrun, C. M., 2000; Nicklas, B. J. et al., 1989; Tarnopolsky, L. J., 1990) Cureton and associates (1988, cited in Holschen, 2004) attribute the differences in muscle strength between men and woman to skeletal and cardiac muscular hypertrophy and muscle mass percentage; they conte nd that muscle mass in men is forty percent compared to twenty-three percent in women. Changes in body composition and circulatory capacity beginning at puberty result in approximately twenty percent higher cardio-respiratory capacity in men. Men also have comparatively higher oxygen-carrying capacity, larger heart and lung mass, a higher stroke volume, and higher maximal cardiac output which result in greater effectiveness in aerobic and anaerobic activities, although training can overcome the inherent differences (Williford, H. N. et al., 1993, cited in Holschen, 2004). The results of the current research point to fundamental anatomical differences between men and woman, differences that largely begin to appear during puberty and which have some bearing on running capability. Definition of the Term Marathon with Comparison to Other Types of Running The term running can be defined as â€Å"[moving] swiftly on foot so that both feet leave the ground during each stride† (American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 2000). The research by Bramble and Lieberman (2004, cited in Nature, 2004), which was presented earlier, seems to indicate that running has been part of human existence since its beginnings and, in fact, contributed significantly to development of human life today. Humans no longer require running for survival, at least in their normal affairs; that is, typically, humans do not have to run from danger or run in pursuit of animals to kill for food. In modern times, running has taken on a new form—competition foot racing. This competition racing can be against oneself to achieve one’s own â€Å"personal best† or with others. Racing against others can take many forms ranging from informal competitions between two young friends racing against one another on a playground to very formal co mpetitions such as those in the quadrennial Olympics. The more formal running competitions are typically classified by the length of the run: 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, 5000, and 10000 meters as well as marathons (Dollman, 2003). There are many terms that refer to specific forms of foot racing: run, dash, sprint, relay, meet, competitive trial of speed, footrace, and marathon (Webster’s New World Thesaurus, 1997). Of these, the terms dash and sprint are typically used interchangeably to describe â€Å"a short, fast run or race† (Webster’s New World Dictionary, 1988) or â€Å"a short, swift movement† (Webster’s New World Thesaurus, 1997). Organized dashes and sprints are commonly of 50 meters, 100 meters, 200 meters, 50 yards, 100 yards, and 200 yards in length (Webster’s New World Thesaurus, 1997). Marathons are a form of long-distance running, which are on- and off-the-track competitions of more than 3000 meters (Hlus, 1997). Specifically, a marathon is â€Å"a footrace of 42 kilometers, 195 meters (26 miles, 385 yards) run over an open course,† or â€Å"any long-distance or endurance contest† People who compete in marathons are called marathoners (Webs ter’s New World Dictionary, 1998). Physiologically, there is a fundamental difference between a sprint or dash and a marathon. According to Pritchard (1994), â€Å"A sprinter can exert maximum force throughout the run, but this is not possible for longer runs, where propulsive force must be reduced to match energy availability.† Historically, marathons are not new events. According to legend, the name marathon is derived from the Greek city, Marathon, to commemorate Pheidippides’s run from that city to Athens to announce Greek victory over the Persians. The marathon was introduced to the Olympics in 1896 and today’s official distance was established in 1908. (Hlus, 1997; The Columbia Encyclopedia, 2005) Today, in addition to marathon races in the Olympics, many cities throughout the world serve as sites for annual or other periodic marathons (The Columbia Encyclopedia, 2005). A new form of marathon race has recently taken form—the ultramarathon, which is â€Å"any organized footrace extending beyond the standard marathon running distance of 42 kilometers, 195 meters†¦[they] typically begin at 50 kilometers and extend to enormous distances† (Blaikie, n. d.). Standard distances for ultramarathons are 50 and 100 kilometers and 50 and 100 miles (Meyers, 2002) with the longest certified race being the Sri Chinmoy, a 2092 kilometer race held annually in New York (Blaikie, n. d.). Definition of the Term Biomechanics The research produced numerous and varied definitions for the term biomechanics. The following are representative of the findings: â€Å"The study of the mechanics of a living body, especially of the forces exerted by muscles and gravity on the skeletal structure.† (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 2000). [The] application of mechanical engineering principles and techniques in the field of medicine and surgery, studying natural structures to improve those produced by humans† (The Hutchinson Encyclopedia, 2003). â€Å"[A] science examining the forces acting upon and within a biological structure, and the effects produced by those forces† (The University of Calgary, n. d.). â€Å"[T]he science that deals with forces and their effects, applied to biological systems† (Freivalds, 2004). â€Å"[T]he application of the principles and techniques of mechanics to the human body in motion† (Snowden, 2001). â€Å"Biomechanics is a specific field which evaluates the motion of a living organism†¦and the actions of forces on that organism†¦a combination of several different areas of study [including] anatomy and physiology, kinematics (the study of motion without regard to its causes), kinesiology (the study of human movement) and kinetics (the study of forces acting on a system)† (National Endurance Sports Trainers Association, 2005). In furnishing a definition for biomechanics, the Quintic Consultancy Ltd. (2005) provides some additional insight into the origin and details of the term, stating that the name â€Å"is derived from the Greek bios meaning life and mekhaniki meaning mechanics,† adding that these individual terms are combined to mean â€Å"the mechanics of life forms.† The biomechanics discipline includes research into various life forms including plants, insects, reptiles, birds, fish, humans, and others. Within the human specialty, topics include mechanics â€Å"of bone, tooth, muscle, tendon, ligament, cartilage, skin, prostheses, blood flow, air flow, eye movement, joint movement [and] whole body movement† (The Quintic Consultancy Ltd., 2005). Historically, according to Knudson (2003), the study of human biomechanics has alternated between emphasizing each of its two components—the biological and the mechanical. Atwater (1980, cited in Knudson, 2003) claims that, during the first half of the twentieth century, scholars emphasized medicine and anatomy under the term kinesiology. The distinct field of biomechanics was born from the work of biomechanists in the 1960s and 1970s. From that point the field began to emphasize mechanics over biology. Today, the competing forces to move the discipline either toward a biological emphasis or toward a mechanical emphasis continue (Knudson, 2003). Application of Biomechanics to Running with Reference to Marathon Runners The field of biomechanics, already narrowed in a previous section from consideration of all life forms to only humans for the purpose of this essay, can be focused even further to a sub-field called sports biomechanics (The Quintic Consultancy Ltd., 2005): â€Å"Sports biomechanics uses the scientific methods of mechanics to study the effects of various forces on the sports performer. It is concerned, in particular, with the forces that act on the human neuromusculoskeletal system, velocities, accelerations, torque, momentum, and inertia. It also considers aspects of the behavior of sports implements, footwear and surfaces where these affect athletic performance or injury prevention. Sports biomechanics can be divided up into two sections: performance improvement [and] injury prevention.† The Australian Sports Commission (n. d.) furnishes additional descriptive information on the application of biomechanics to sports, using a term the Commission calls applied sports biomechanics which â€Å"incorporates techniques from physics, human anatomy, mathematics, computing and engineering to analyse technique to prevent injury and improve performance.† The Commission’s division of sports biomechanics into two categories—performance improvement and injury prevention—echoes the classifications offered by The Quintic Consultancy Ltd. Williams (2003) describes how biomechanics can help runner performance, specifically that of the marathoner. Leading into his recommendations, he describes how marathon runners use a simple biomechanical strategy known as â€Å"drafting off another runner† when running into the wind to reduce the adverse effects of air resistance and reduce oxygen consumption for the latter part of the race. He writes: â€Å"The goal of the sport biomechanist is to improve movement efficiency, mainly by maximizing propulsive forces and minimizing resistive forces, and thus provide the athlete with a mechanical edge. Using high-speed cinematography, the biomechanist can analyze a runner’s form and detect problems in running form that may be inefficient, such as overstriding, and that may waste energy. Although most elite and experienced marathoners have developed efficient running styles, even a small improvement in running efficiency may make a significant difference over the duration of a marathon.† In addition to the strategy of â€Å"drafting off another runner,† Williams offers several other â€Å"biomechanical strategies† including selecting the proper sportswear (i.e. uniform and shoes) and optimizing body weight and composition. Thus far the topics of anatomical differences between men and women with specific reference to running; definitions and descriptions of the terms marathon (as an organized, competitive form of running) and biomechanics; and the application of biomechanics to running have been presented and discussed. With this as a foundation, the focus of the discourse now turns to the topic of biomechanical differences between male and female marathon runners and closely-related topics. OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE The objective of this portion of the essay will be to explore the biomechanical differences between male and female marathon runners through a review and analysis of selected literature on the topic and related issues. The scope of the literature review will include marathon running with specific reference to available information on the differences between males and females. Although running of shorter distances (e.g. sprints and dashes) and longer distances (e.g. ultramarathons) as well as other sports activities are excluded from the specific scope of this essay, references will be made to these activities when they related to marathon running. Performance improvement and injury prevention were mentioned as the two primary areas addressed by applied sports biomechanics. Gender-specific issues in each of these areas will be explored briefly as well. REVIEW OF EXISTING RESEARCH ON METHODS AND FINDINGS One researcher who has studied gender differences in endurance performance, including marathon running, is Stephen Seiler (1996) of The Institute for Sport, Agder College in Kristianstad, Norway. He writes: â€Å"Some years ago it was proposed by some that women would actually perform better [than men] at ultra-endurance type activities. This theory has been disproved in the laboratory and in practice.† â€Å"As long as women are women, I don’t think they will surpass men,† states Norways perennial marathon winner Grete Waitz (quoted in Holden, 2004). The anatomical differences between females and their male counterparts, specifically those that affect running, were presented in the introduction. Now an attempt will be made to show that the general anatomical differences between men and women extend to biomechanical differences that affect marathon running performance and injury. Holschen (2004) writes that â€Å"[T]he female athlete remains less well understood and less well studied compared with male athletes, especially in the areas of performance factors, repetitive stress, and acute injuries.† She continues: â€Å"Logical reasons for this include: (a) a limited two-generation span of the high-profile elite female; (b) fewer females involved in coaching, research, and sports medicine; and (c) limited areas of female youth sports historically (gymnastics, swimming, dance).† The reality of Holschen’s findings proved to be true in the current research activity. There were remarkably few available sources on the biomechanics involved in women’s marathon running. Most of the research either applied to males or did not identify the gender. Results from a review of selected research literature will be presented in this section beginning with gender-differentiated research results on running performance. Following this, results of rese arch into the two applied sports biomechanics specialties will be presented with a focus on studies concerning footwear and injuries. Holden (2004) writes about performance in running with special attention to female runners. She quotes physiologist Henrik Larsen of the Copenhagen Muscle Research Centre in explaining women’s marathon performance vis-à  -vis men: â€Å"Women had not developed long distance; that’s why the improvement is much greater on the marathon.† Larsen, who seems to attribute the performance improvements of female marathoners to focused training instead of anatomic factors, claims that â€Å"[w]e don’t see any higher oxidative capacity in women.† Holden also offers comments by exercise physiologist Timothy Noakes of the University of Cape Town, South Africa who agrees with Larsen’s assessment: â€Å"A smaller body frame gives women an edge on endurance†¦but men can run 10% faster even when the difference in body size is controlled for.† Stephen Seiler (1996), who was quoted at the start of this section stating that the proposal that women could perform better in ultra-endurance activities has been disproved, confirms that â€Å"there are some physiological differences between the sexes that impact performance in females independent of age.† He notes that there is a ten percent difference in marathon times between men and women, adding that this difference is the same â€Å"across the distance running performance spectrum.† He attributes this difference, not to a difference in training, but to physiological differences. He studied maximal oxygen consumption, the lactate threshold, and efficiency to analyze the differences between men and women as these factors might affect long-distance running performance: Maximal Oxygen Consumption. There is a 43 percent difference between men and women with men possessing a VO2 max (oxygen-delivering capacity measure) of 3.5 liters per minute and women with a capacity of 2.0 liters per minute. Seiler attributes this in part to male size; men are larger. But, even when size is factored in, male oxygen consumption capacity is still fifteen to twenty percent higher. Males have a greater capacity to deliver oxygen to their muscles and organs. The Lactate Threshold. This is the point at which lactic acid begins to accumulate at higher than normal levels in the blood stream indicating an exercise intensity boundary at which the level of intensity can be maintained over a long period and that which will result in quick fatigue. Seiler does not believe that lactate thresholds are different for men and women as a percentage of their VO2 max. Efficiency. After finding conflicting information comparing the efficiency of males and females—revealing that females are less efficient, more efficient, or the same as males in terms of efficiency—Seiler believes that differences in efficiency do not account for the differences in endurance performance. Seiler concludes with his determination that the ten percent performance difference between men and women in endurance running can be attributed to the first of the three physiological factors he studied—maximal oxygen consumption. Another researcher who explored gender differences in athletics, and especially in endurance events, is Dollman (2003). Citing Shepard (2000), Dollman writes that there is consistent evidence, based on observations, that males possess â€Å"larger measures† of the following (quoted): Heart volume, even when corrected for stature. Haematocrit, which gives males a 13 percent greater oxygen-carrying capacity than females. Plasma volume. Total muscle mass, which means that females perform the same absolute task at a higher percentage of maximum voluntary contraction, with concomitant vascular impedance limiting cardiac ejection and peak cardiac output. In addition, male skeletal muscles may have a higher succinate dehydrogenase (an integral membrane protein) concentration (Dollman, 2003, citing Costill, et al., 1987). Males may produce better mechanical efficiency during running (Dollman, 2003, citing Miura, 1997) although this is arguable as it may be rooted in cultural origins (Dollman, 2003, citing Shepard, 2000). Now attention will turn briefly to a review of selected research into the two primary application areas addressed by applied sports biomechanics: running performance and injuries. Regarding performance, footwear will be discussed followed by a presentation of selected findings on research into injuries. Gender issues will be introduced. Lipsky (2001, citing Hennig, 2001) presented research findings on gender-specific requirements for athletic footwear designed for running. The research experiment involved fifteen women and seventeen men of the same body weights, heights, and ages. Each subject wore the same shoe size and each tested five types of shoes which included three styles of men’s shoes and two styles for women. Using â€Å"Kistler† force platforms at a set velocity, ground force reactions, tibial acceleration, angular foot motion, and plantar pressures at eight strategic locations on the foot were measured. Accordin

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Essay -- CAM

It is impossible to deny the fact that living creatures in general and human beings in particular have an extraordinary ability to heal their wounds in the shortest amount of time. In other words, the overall system of a person naturally promotes self-cleansing, self-repair, and accordingly, self-healing. Scientists have been proving that paying attention to the nine fundamental systems in the body including circulation, digestion, respiration, intestine, urine, gland, neuron, structure, and immune, plays a key role in enhancing this healing process (Balcu 209). Once these constitutional systems are put under control, patients will have fewer difficulties in curing disease as well as healing illness. In general, obtaining and remaining biological balance is the answer to anyone who desires to have a healthy internal system. And complementary and alternative medicine, which is regarded as the most productive approach in the humanistic history of medicine, can help humans to attain th at balance. Understanding the non-medical philosophy of self-healing and well being mentioned above, complementary and alternative medicine has developed its holistic approach to human body, a method in which a cure for a specific disease condition is applied on the whole body rather than on just a certain separated symptom. For instance, naturopathy, a specific branch of CAM, takes into accounts a patient’s biomechanics and even emotional predispositions in order to help him or her rebuild the original balance. Instead of prohibiting therapies and other medical implementation like conventional medicine usually does, this alternative holistic medicine does assist a healthy lifestyle by setting up certain rules which allow bodies to utilize their he... ...hysicians. 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 5 Apr. 2012. Siegenthaler, Danny. "Herbal Medicines Are Effective." Alternative Medicine. Ed. David M. Haugen. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "What Pharmaceutical Companies Don't Want You to Know about Herbal Medicine!" OfSpirit.com Magazine. 2007. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 5 Apr. 2012. Ullman, Dana. "Homeopathic Medicine Is Effective." Alternative Medicine. Ed. David M. Haugen. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Why Homeopathy Makes Sense and Works." www.homeopathic.com. 2005. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 5 Apr. 2012. Watson, T, and V Mock. "Exercise As An Intervention For Cancer-Related Fatigue." Physical Therapy 84.8 (2004): 736-743. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Web. 5 Apr. 2012.

Affects of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Hypertension risk factors include obesity, drinking too much alcohol, smoking, and family history. What is high blood pressure? High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is the most common cardiovascular disease. Blood pressure refers to the force of blood pushing against artery walls as it courses through the body. Like air in a tire or water in a hose, blood fills arteries to a certain capacity. Just as too much air pressure can damage a tire, high blood pressure can threaten healthy arteries and lead to life-threatening conditions such as heart disease and stroke. High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke and a major cause of heart attack. In the U.S. alone, more than 30% of American adults have high blood pressure.Symptoms of high blood pressure? One of the most dangerous aspects of High blood pressure is that you may not know that you have it. In fact, nearly one-third of people who have high blo od pressure don't know it. The only way to know if your blood pressure is high is through regular checkups. This is especially important if you have a close relative who has high blood pressure. If your blood pressure is extremely high, there may be certain symptoms to look out for, including headaches, fatigue or confusion, vision problems, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and irregular breathing.Hypertensive crisis is a term for hypertensive urgency and hypertensive emergency. These two conditions occur when blood pressure becomes very high, possibly causing organ damage. Hypertensive urgency occurs when blood pressure spikes blood pressure readings are 180/110 or higher, but there is no damage to the body's organs. Hypertensive emergency means blood pressure is so high that organ damage can occur. Blood pressure must be reduced immediately to prevent organ damage. This is done in an intensive care unit  of a hospital.High blood pressure is often called a â€Å"silent diseaseà ¢â‚¬  because you usually don't know you have it; there may be no outward symptoms or signs, so monitoring your blood pressure is really important. The only way to tell whether you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure measured with a blood pressure cuff. High blood pressure can cause a variety of medical problems from heart disease to stroke. It can also affect all systems of the body, including the digestive system.Some ways to control high blood pressure are to lose extra pounds and watch your waistline, exercise regularly, eat a healty diet, reduce sodium in your diet, limit the amount of alcohol you drink, avoid tobacco products, cut back on caffeine, reduce your stress, and to monitor your blood pressure at home and make regular doctor’s appointments.

Johnson s Sleeper Curve Essays

Johnson s Sleeper Curve Essays Johnson s Sleeper Curve Paper Johnson s Sleeper Curve Paper Sleeper Curve until reading this excerpt, hadnt ever really considered the idea that modern media was more than just idle entertainment. I too unintentionally looked down on video gamers and those that watch reality TV, only seeing laziness in interests of that nature. However now I would say I agree with what Johnson was trying to promote with the sleeper curve idea. While baseball statistics and video games arent my cup of tea, there are plenty of there things in my life that could be seen as similar activities in relation to the sleeper curve. An example Of this is the show pretty Little Liars, which I watch religiously. To the average Joe, this show is just teenage girl-drama nonsense. However, if looked into theres so much more at play. The person watching the show has to keep up with all of the constantly changing situations and relationships (not necessarily romantic), as well as consider character backgrounds, such as crimes committed, from previous episodes/seasons. If something major happens, its not just because; the watcher must consider motive and intention. Like Johnson referenced, this show illustrates the complexity of social networks and situational relationships. Its both relatable and usefully educational, not only to teens in high school, but also to young adults about to embark on the journey of life in the real world. Another major example is social media as a whole. Instating, for instance, is an app in which you post pictures. Sounds simple, right? However there is a much deeper thought process involved than just upload a picture. In general, the understood objective is to have a good ratio of followers to following. This means that you want to have a lot more people following you, than you follow,/. To do this, you post interesting pictures; you like other peoples photos so that theyll be more likely to return the favor. You add a filter to the photo to make it more interesting you edit it like crazy. You add lots of tags hostage) to the pictures description so that more people are likely to see it when they search that subject through the app. This app is training todays middle-cholers to be savvy in the business world. If you think about it, these children are going into high school pre-educated in marketing strategies. Theyve learned firsthand how to present themselves, hopefully appropriately, and this knowledge can be used later in the real world, such as applying for jobs. Cellophane applications also have real-life applications it seems.

7 tips for dealing with a psycho boss

7 tips for dealing with a psycho boss Even the best boss can seem like a tyrant sometimes. But did you know that some bosses are actually psychopaths? According to an Australian study, 1 out of 5 corporate executives exhibited clinically psychopathic traits. (For reference, the rate of psychopaths, in general, is 1 out of every 100 people.) Whether your difficult boss is psychotically inclined or not, here are 7 strategies you can use to deflate potential bad boss situations. 1. Determine what you’re dealing with.Is your boss just having a bad day, or is he like this all the time? Is she dealing with other factors (pressure from above, employees flaking out, etc.) that are making her be extra hard on you? Or are you being too hard on her? Think about what may be causing the behavior. It might not justify it, or make the behavior any more pleasant to deal with, but everyone has a bad day. It’s important to consider whether this is truly your boss’s default way of working, or if it’s just a one- off problem.2. Get everything in writing.If your boss is a chaos-producer by asking for something, then claiming later that you were asked for something entirely different, it’s your word against theirs. Write down what you can- for example, if you were given verbal instructions, confirm in a quick email just so everyone has a written record of what was discussed/asked.3. Stop and take a breath.If you’re having a conflict with your boss, jumping right in with a heated reaction could be something you’ll regret later. Take a minute, breathe, and think about your reaction. Again, thinking about the â€Å"why† behind your boss’s behavior can also help prevent you from reacting from a place of pure stress.4. Know and avoid the triggers.Does your boss always fly off the handle when someone is late? Be extra mindful of your arrival time. Rant about typos in an email? Proofread twice before you hit â€Å"send.† If there’s a pattern to Angry B oss’s behavior, it’s definitely in your best interest to know what that pattern is and learn how to counteract those triggers before they happen.5. Use communication strategies.This is a common therapeutic method for improving communication. Use active listening by repeating back what was said, and asking for clarification if necessary. Many conflicts are due to people not feeling listened to or understood, so if your boss thinks you’re not listening, it can escalate a conflict.6. Don’t let it derail you.You have a job to do, and if you let a toxic relationship with your boss affect your work and your behavior, that’s not going to help you. Try not to take it personally or let it affect the quality of your work. If you find yourself blowing things off out of frustration with your boss, that can make your professional rep suffer.7. Escalate if necessary.If your company has ways to confidentially air your concerns to HR (or a similar employee resourc e) and you feel like things are reaching a breaking point, consider taking your issues to them. If you dread going to work every day because of the misery that awaits you for the next eight hours, that’s not a situation that’s good for you or your company- consider finding an internal (and neutral) way to bring up the situation.We’ve all had a toxic boss at some point in our careers. Sometimes it gets better, and sometimes you just have to move on. Either way, don’t let it ruin your professional life in the meantime.

Marketing WRAP & Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Marketing WRAP & Report - Essay Example The legal authorities estimated that the flooding affected over 20,000 people in this region. As a result of this disaster, the government declared three quarters of the State of Queensland as a disaster zone. This adverse situation was further worsened by severe thunderstorms that stalled damage to rebuilding activities. The storms also damaged power lines, roofs, trees, and numbers of vehicles. Naturally, the Queensland tourism industry experienced a considerable decline in tourist visiting rates, which gradually affected its operating income. Hence, it is essential to develop a brand marketing strategy to reform the struggling Queensland tourism sector. Unlike the past, numerous socio-economic and environmental factors have to be considered for an effective tourism policy formulation these days. The marketing strategy must be capable of convincing individuals that they would enjoy cent percent safety in Queensland even in times of severe natural disasters. Recently developed socia l media namely, the web based social networks would best assist the new marketing strategies to reach the ultimate beneficiaries. While designing this brand strategy, developers must give more focus on tourist safety factor rather than usual attractive features of Queensland. Recommendation As Bramwell and Lane (2000) point out, tourism planning is neither top-down nor bottom-up process; instead, it is an interactive or collaborative approach that involves the various processes like a governess between organizations and stakeholders, and interaction between various levels of organization (p. 146). However, what kind of development plan is required depends on the geographical feature of an area. Since Queensland is highly vulnerable to natural disasters, the policy makers have to greatly consider the infrastructural needs that would ensure tourist safety. The brand marketing strategy has to deal with modern flood prevention techniques like landscaping in order to mitigate the effects of disaster. Various studies point to the fact that thoughtless human interactions become the major cause of flooding. Strict governmental regulations are essential to prevent the exploitation of nature and thereby to keep environmental balance; it is the only potential method to avoid natural disasters. It is also advisable to offer attractive tourist packages by targeting different customer segments. However, effective disaster prevention methods only may not contribute to tourism promotion; on the other hand, the implemented changes must be effectively communicated to its ultimate stakeholders. For this, it is recommendable to make use of modern media advertisements. Television advertisements were the most effective way of product/service promotion during the 20th century. In the present condition, it seems that social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter would be some of the most effective channels for Queensland tourism promotion because millions of people access thes e networks regularly. This type of a marketing strategy may bear potential commercial implications as it is the least expensive but quick result giving service promotion method. Target market segments and stakeholders The state of Queensland comprises of many landscapes that range from sunny tropical coastal areas to dry inland areas. Queensland’s main tourist destinations include Daintree Rainforest, Gold Coast, Great Barrier Reef, Sunshine Coast, and the

My Special Woman Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

My Special Woman - Essay Example I was very happy in the relationship. I wanted to spend more and more time with her . It was all about us. She made me forget about anything else in the word. It was fantastic. I was clearly falling in love. From the malls, cinemas, fancy restaurants, and amusement parks to vacations together - nothing seemed to be able to ever separate us. After a while I suggested her to live with me. Actually, the relationship with my roommate wasn’t really smooth, and, therefore, it was the best time for her to replace him. At first, she had doubts and did not want to move in with me. However, after some hesitations, she decided to take a step. Immediately, we started to organize our life together, and of course we purchased furniture at Value City - our favorite store at the time. We would spend hours at Walmart shopping around and looking for small staff to make up our house. In a short time, our home was fully equipped. Then came my birthday. She surprised me with a cake with a picture of me and my family on top of it. That really touched me since my mom and brother were back home. It was like a family reunion for me. Moreover, she prepared a celebration party for me. I am always having a good time on my birthdays. She is never tired of surprising me again and again. Every year she does something extraordinary and something especially for me to make sure I am happy. Living togheter has definetly improved our relationship. We had become a real family, particularly when her son joined to live with us.