jr fall

jr fall quick dispatch from my new room on the first floor of senior haus, just to share how my semester is going. somehow, 1.5 weeks into classes, im already inundated with workbut im not complaining. after two years of taking a lot of required/introductory/foundational classes that i wasnt too thrilled about, ive finally reached the promised land, a semester where i am genuinely excited about all of my classes! im in: 14.33 Research and Communication in Economics a sort of pre-thesis class, where we will undertake independent research projects in economics. will have to stay focused and not let work from this class pile up, because the work is heavily concentrated in two assignments (a small project and a final project). 18.112 Complex Analysis so far i like this class a lot, mostly because it hasnt ramped up in abstraction yet and because holomorphic functions are beautiful. 14.121/122 Microeconomic Theory I/II each of these classes is 6 units (compared to 12 units for a typical one-semester class) and runs for half a semester. im especially looking forward to 14.122, which is game theory and takes up the second half of the semester. in 14.121 today, the professor said, im sorry, i know consumer theory is the most boring thing ever, but hopefully were through the worst part now. i suppose this is my one Foundational Class With Unspectacular Ratings for this semester, but i thought the most boring thing ever was kind of cool, so i think ill be alright. lots of calculus in both this class and 18.112. 6.867 Machine Learning this is my Class I Havent Attended Yet Even Though Its Week 3 Of The Semester. but i have been reading the notes and can confirm i am interested. CMS.307 Critical Worldbuilding a blogger favorite! taught by junot díaz. lots of workbut has already (in a very short period of time) significantly informed and enhanced the way i think about storytelling. i feel comfortable in this class in a way ive felt in few other classes. + PE (kickboxing) + weekly club meeting(s?) + UROP, soon. other thoughts last night i went to all-you-can-eat sushi (@yamato, if you havent been) with some friends from freshman year, and then i saw my brother, who is applying to grad schools, and then i called my parents, who are looking at houses. lots of moving partsit feels like not long ago i was reading my brothers college application essays, but somehow, its been four years. i have cousins whom i picture as small children, only to remember that they are starting high school. im a junior now, and the people who were juniors when i started MIT have graduated. i have no idea where, geographically, ill be in two years (though hopefully in grad school). in the past year, ive gained significant perspective on who i am and what it takes for me to be happy. this is a post for another day, maybe, though i think it might be a little self-indulgent to write such a post. im not planning to put as much energy into internship recruiting as i did last year; im not sure if i even want an internship next summer. the impostors sydrome has been extra strong recentlyive been thinking thoughts like, if i go to the gym before i remove my makeup, i cant make any mistakes or else i will look extra Incompetent And Female, like im the only person wearing a dress in this room, if i answer a question wrong or make a mistake itll just confirm that i am Dumb And Girly, like i am horrible at math and especially calculus; i dont remember anything and im sure everyone else does. at least im now able to identify these thoughts and call them nonsensical rather than allowing myself to engage in self-sabotage. i now live in a super quiet place (relative to anywhere i lived in EC, at least), and my walls are white. in spite of the ~*~stuff~*~ happening with senior haus this semester, i really like itim content to be left alone most of the time, and i get to daydream about painting my room, though im not sure if ill actually go through with it. (i recently stumbled upon these tropical landscapes and felt inspired.) will make a blog post if i do end up painting it!

The Arab Spring in Egypt - 1200 Words

The Arab Spring is an extremely prominent issue today. This refers to the series of protests and civil wars that have been occurring in the Arab World due to discontent with government, human rights violations, poverty, and other factors. Countries where this is an issue include Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, Syria, Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, and Sudan. One of the countries hit hardest by the revolution was Egypt. What is often called â€Å"the spark that started it all,† occurred on December 17, 2011 in Tunisia. A street vendor named Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire to protest the corruption of the government. (Arab Spring, 2013) The 26 year old Bouazizi sold vegetables on the streets of Tunisia to make a living.†¦show more content†¦At the time, Mubarak was the vice-president to Anwar Sadat. When Sadat was assassinated in Cairo, Mubarak was placed in charge of the country. (Profile, 2013) Mubarak has since escaped six assassination attempts, and remained President of Egypt for 30 years. For his entire 30 years of ruling, Mubarak has kept a strict hold over Egypt by implementing a policy known as emergency law. (Profile, 2013) This allowed the government to arrest and imprison whomever they wanted for no reason at all. Under emergency law, there was heavy censorship, and basic constitutional rights were not upheld. Of the four elections Mubarak has taken part in, only one of them, in 2005, allowed rivals to run against him. This was done due to urging from the United States that Egypt should shift to a more democratic form of government. (Profile, 2013) It was because of Mubarak’s strict, corrupt government, and the lack of rights afforded to the Egyptian people that they began to revolt. The Arab Spring in Egypt is an extremely prominent issue that is ongoing today. One of the main causes of the Arab Spring in Egypt was the poverty and unemployment prevalent throughout the nation. A recurring theme apparent in r evolutions throughout history is the oppression of the common people, and Egypt is no exception. Part of the reason the Egyptians revolted was due to the high unemployment, high food prices, and the low wages in their country. (Egypt, 2011) According to the United Nations,Show MoreRelatedThe Arab Spring in Egypt1012 Words   |  5 Pages　　Another prominent cause of the Arab Spring in Egypt was the corruption in the government run by Mubarak. One of the best examples of Mubarak’s corruption was the use of emergency law. For his entire almost 30-year reign, Mubarak ruled through emergency law. Under emergency law, Mubarak could censor all publications, search and tap phone, mail, and Internet use, and arrest people without a trial, or through secret trials. (Tristam, 2013) All political meetings also had to be preapproved by him beforeRead MoreBritish Control Over The Suez Canal1351 Words   |  6 PagesIn 1882, Great Britain took over Egypt through military inv asions, making it a protectorate in order to have control over the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal connected the British Empire in the west to India in the east, making it significant trade route for Britain to control. During the Cold War, Egypt became an area of great tension, challenging British control over the canal. There was an increase of nationalism, along with the rise of Gamal Abdel Nasser to power. His rise to power lead to theRead MoreThe Arab Spring : The Failing Strive For Democracy1180 Words   |  5 PagesAbdulaziz Alsheikh English Essay # 2 The Arab Spring: The Failing Strive For Democracy The Arab Spring was a series of pro-democracy protests and manifestations across the Middle East and North Africa, which started the winter of 2010 (BBC, 2014). Many people rose up, standing against the dictatorial and autocratic regimes that had ruled their home countries for many years. The goals of the Arab uprisings were clear (Walker Tucker, 2011). The revolutions aimed to shift their countriesRead MoreSocial Media And The Arab Spring1455 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to the data from Arab Social Media Report 2011 by Mourtada and Salem, the number of social media usage increased immensely during the Arab Spring period from January 1 to March 30. The number of Facebook users in the Arab nations has almost doubled since the same time, up from 14,791,972 (as of April 2010) to 27,711,503 (as of April 2011) (Mourtada and Salem 9). Similarly, at the first three months of 2011, the number of tweets increased from 55 million to 155 million a day (Mourtada andRead MoreSocial Media A nd The Arab Spring1447 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to the data from the Arab Social Media Report 2011 by Mourtada and Salem, the amount social media usage increased immensely during the Arab Spring period from January 1 to March 30. The number of Facebook users in the Arab nations had almost doubled, up from 14,791,972 (as of April 2010) to 27,711,503 (as of April 2011) (Mourtada and Salem 9). Similarly, in the first three months of 2011, the number of tweets increased from 55 million to 155 million a day (Mourtada and Salem 15). This increaseRead MoreToo Soon to Tell: An Examination of the ‘Arab Spring’ and its Impact on Israel1437 Words   |  6 Pagesof Tunisia to the entire Arab world. Israel, as the only democracy in the area, has very delicate relationships with many of the countries involved. With the Muslim Brotherhood coming into power in Egypt, the possibility of the decades long treaty with Israel coming to a violent end is more threatening than ever. This leads us to consider the danger of other ideologically like-minded groups continuing to surround Israel. On the surface, it may seem as if the Arab Spring is very bad news for IsraelRead MoreThe Main Causes And Effects On The Arab Spring1086 Words   |  5 Pagescauses and effects 2011 Arabic spring In late 2010, a tidal wave of uprisings and protests in various parts of the Arab world emerged. It began with the Tunisian revolution when the martyr Mahmoud Bouazizi set fire to himself as a result of the deteriorating economic and social. This led to protests and demonstrations that ended with the fall of the ruling regime. In Tunisia which sparked the beginning of revolutions in many Arab countries, this is known as an Arab Spring. The question remains whatRead MoreThe Arab Spring : A New Movement1587 Words   |  7 PagesThe Arab Spring is the name given to the wave of movement of anti-government protests within the Middle East and Northern Africa. The message of the Arab Spring is by no means an old one: there has been a significant amount of protest and movements prior to the modern 2010 one. The modern Arab Spring sparked in December 2010 when a local Tunisian vendor lit himself on fire in protest of the bribes demanded by the corrupt police. This action sparked similar mo vements in surrounding countries. ProtestorsRead MoreThe Causes and Effects of the Arab Springs823 Words   |  3 Pagesthing for sure, you are missing out on those Arab Springs. Yes, I said it, Arab Springs, which are getting into a big issue. Arab Springs is a series of anti-government protests, uprisings and armed rebellions that spread across the Middle East in early 2011. The people in the Middle East are uprising their rulers’ choices of their decisions and hoping to have a democracy. There were many countries, which overthrew their government, like Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, and Libya. There are still many countriesRead MoreThe Arab Spring : Anti Government Protests851 Words   |  4 PagesThe â€Å"Arab Spring,† was a chain of violent and nonviolent anti-government protests that spread in the Arab world in 2011. This movement was widely popular and appealing to the people participating in these protests. The Arab Spring symbolized patriotism and giving citizens a chance to remove unjust, corrupt leaders, social and economic unrest, and demand more rights. It was a universal message that was put forth through a series of major international events. Many had positive outcomes which made

Serial Killers, Are They Born or Made - 3551 Words

Research paper Serial Killers: Are They Born or Made? There are many theories as to why people become serial killers. Almost all of these concepts are associated with the Nature vs. Nurture theory. Are serial killers born with the need to kill, or is it something that they learn to long for as they grew up? Many believe that the nurture theory is the likely concept to believe; that serial killers are created from bad childhood experiences including being abused by their parents, or molested at an early age. Psychologist and sociologist have interviewed serial killers and picked apart their minds, to find out what it is that makes them feel the need to perform these heinous crimes. It is the nature theory that they are looking for when†¦show more content†¦When he realized that he was a homosexual, the thoughts of naked men, with dead things would arouse him even more. It would not be until the age of eighteen, when Dahmer would lure his first victim, and then take his life. He picked up a hitchhiker, they drank alcohol, had se x, and then when Dahmer did not want the man to leave, he would hit him over the head with a dumbbell. In an interview he once had with a FBI profiler, he stated â€Å"the guy wanted to leave, and I did not want him to.† He now had a dead human being lying on his floor, for him to have his way with. He would masturbate on to the body; he cut him up, put him into trash bags, and dumped the bags into a ravine. His parents would soon be settling for a divorce, which did not go over well with Dahmer, especially with his abandonment issues. He started drinking, which would cause him to steal to get money to buy more alcohol, which led him to drop out of college, and down a path of self-destruction. With no other choices, he joined the army where he became a cook, which is where he picked up his butchery skills. The alcohol once again got the best of him, and he was discharged from the army. A few years later his urge to kill had grown stronger and could not resist it any longer. H e started luring men to him apartment, where he would drug and disremember them. He would start to experiment with trying toShow MoreRelatedAre Serial Killers Born Or Made?1885 Words   |  8 PagesAre Serial Killers Born or Made? Are serial killers determined by nature or nurture – are they born? Or are they made? It is hypothesized that serial killers are made by the environment that they grow up in but that they all have a predisposition to sociopathic tendencies. This research paper aims to provide support for previous studies about the extent to which nature and nurture influence and determine the likelihood of a person becoming a serial killer. The term serial killer, as defined by RobertRead MoreSerial Killers: Are They Born Or Made?. There Are Multiple1230 Words   |  5 PagesSerial Killers: Are They Born or Made? There are multiple theories as to why or how a person can become a serial killer. A serial killer can be a person who murders at least three or more people over a long period of time (Ramsland). Are serial killers born with the need to kill or is it a result of a horrific childhood? These two concepts are associated with the nature vs. nurture theory. â€Å"People on the side of nurture are of the opinion that our environment determines who a person is and becomes†Read MoreEssay Are Serial Killers Born or Made?1560 Words   |  7 PagesEvidence that was gathered from books such as â€Å"Inside the Minds of Mass Murderers† and â€Å"Inside the Minds of Serial Killers,† both written by Kathertine Ramsland, provide information and evidence that killers are in fact made, not born. Some of the reasons that people believe that killers are made and not born are due to research by many psychiatrists on serial killers and mass murderers who are on death roe that have com mitted some of the most heinous crimes. One argument is that there is a set ofRead MoreSerial Killers1314 Words   |  6 Pages like serial killers, and what drives them to do what they do. Many scientists are still researching whether or not if serial killers are driven by the way they were raised or if it is a part of their genes. This literature review will analyze what people think about the nature versus nurture debate. It will talk about the nature side and the nurture side of the debate. What is a serial killer? Eric Hickey (2012) in â€Å"Serial Killers: Defining Serial Murder† defines what a serial killer is exactlyRead MoreA Serial Killers Characteristics Begin at Childhood800 Words   |  3 PagesChildhood Characteristic of Serial killers The basic definition of Serial Killers are that it is a group of people who’s work is just to kill, kill and kill innocent people over a longer period of time without being wedged or bunged. They are not like mass murderers, who may kill many people at one time - majority of the time because of circumstantial behavior. Serial Killers are completely a different from traditional or mass murderers they always make a proper plan and they are very specificRead MoreSerial Killer And Serial Killers Essay1171 Words   |  5 PagesAmerica has some of the most infamous serial killers who marked history, serial killers who once didn’t even think to harm any human being. Many people grow up differently from others, some people grow up in a safe environment surrounded with caring people and others grow up in a completely different environment being missed treated by others, therefore are serial killers made or born? A serial killer is defined as â€Å"a person who commits more than three murders over a period that spans more thanRead MoreWhat Makes A Person A Serial Killer? Essay1591 Words   |  7 PagesWhat makes a person a Serial Killer?How are serial killers caused? Serial Killers are people who kill at least 3 people in separate events with a very little cooling off period between each kill. The kills are performed in a unique fashion and the the serial killer has something that they are known for called a signature.Serial Killers are frightening psychopaths because they don t show human emotions-empathy, conscience, or remorse.What makes a serial killer different then regular peopleRead More Serial Killers: Monsters or Mentally Ill Essay1571 Words   |  7 Pages Studies show that traits of a serial killer can be seen in a person at a very young age. Most warning signs go unnoticed which is why the growth of the killer continues. A thing such as animal cruelty is one of man y clues inside the growth of a serial killers mind â€Å"They often start out their careers by maiming, harming, and torturing small animals.† â€Å"In extreme cases, they have been known to spend hours inflicting a slow death on animals...this is a form of control that allows them the power toRead MoreSilence of the Lambs and Mr. Brooks Essay718 Words   |  3 Pages1 Juan Luna Park University Serial Killers as Heroes in Popular Culture LE 300J Ms. Silvia Kofler November 2, 2012 Unit 2: Week 2 - Reader Response - Assignment 1 A serial killer could be dining, sitting, or even living next to you at this very moment. Most killers offer little to no obvious clues that will lead anyone to detect their often secretive, undercover actions. I ask myself, â€Å"How can we be so naive to these types of people?† Serial killers amongst us are often well educatedRead MoreThe Minds Of Serial Killers1147 Words   |  5 Pagesdark mind of Jeffrey Dahmer, he murdered not in hatred, vengeance, or financial enrichment but on pure impulse and lust. Forensic psychoanalysts have picked apart the minds of serial killers to find answers as to what causes them to carry out such perverse acts. Many believe it is impervious for an innocent adolescent to be born with the capability to commit a heinous act suchlike murder. But how could we depraved humanity so much as to turn an innocent child into a homicidal lunatic? This theory has

Health Care System of United States Free Essays

Today†s health care system is in a constant state of fluctuation and commotion. It is sometimes difficult for the health care consumer to identify a valuable resource when they need one. The purpose of this paper is to explore one of the many health care resources that are available in the greater Philadelphia area and then visit this site to learn more about it. We will write a custom essay sample on Health Care System of United States or any similar topic only for you Order Now Philadelphia, in itself is an outstanding resource to the people of the area. In terms of healthcare resource implications this is true. There are numerous teaching hospitals, museums, clinics, and educational centers in this region. I choose to learn more about Planned Parenthood, a well-known organization in this area as well as nationally. Upon entering the clinic I knew very little about Planned Parenthood. It turned out that what I knew was only a fraction of what Planned Parenthood is really all about. According to the chairperson and president of PP, young people rely on Planned Parenthood to be truthful, confidential and non-judgmental. Women and men are grateful that it is an affordable resource, accessible to all, and respectful of all persons† decisions. Patients fell safe there because they provide safe medical care by trained professionals. Parents can feel a sense of ease because they know that their children are learning correct and valuable information concerning sex. Both donors and investors can feel confident that their gifts are an investment in the health and well being of the men, women, and children in their community. This paper will relay the information received from the site visit to Planned Parenthood in Media, Pennsylvania. It will discuss the mission, services, and financial aspects of Planned Parenthood. Mission Statement. The mission of Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania (PPSP) is to protect and enhance reproductive freedom, to increase access to reproductive health care services and information, and to promote sexual health. This mission provides the foundation of PPSP†s services and programs that they offer to the approximately 43,000 men, women, and children of the Delaware Valley. Planned Parenthood was found by a registered nurse named Margaret Sanger in the early 1900†³s. Her belief and reason for founding PP was this, â€Å"†¦ he first right of a child (is) to be wanted, to be desired, to be planned for with an intensity of love†¦ † (Planned Parenthood, 1999). Sanger was tired of watching women young and old die from complications of pregnancies due to lack of education and health care and was tired of seeing unwanted pregnancies carried to term because women did not know their options. Her goal was to both educate and provide for these women the reproductive services that were necessary for what she called reproductive freedom. Benefits of Planned Parenthood Planned Parenthood provides numerous programs and services to the people of Southeastern Pennsylvania. I spoke with a woman named Megan (no last name was provided). She informed me of these services and programs, and helped me to gain a better understanding of what PP really is and does. Health Services. Planned Parenthood provides their services to women as well as men- it is a resource to be utilized by all. It is a common misconception that PP is for women only. They offer reproductive health care for men, women, and teens. They supply every FDA approved method of reversible birth control. These include natural family planning methods, Norplant, Depo-Provera, Birth control Pill, IUD (intrauterine device), condoms, Diaphragm, and cervical caps. Something that they offer is emergency contraception or the â€Å"morning after pill. † It decreases the likelihood of becoming pregnant even after the conception, because it decreases the healthy nature of the uterine wall. It is only effective within seventy-two hours following conception. They also offer walk-in pregnancy testing, options counseling and referrals to abortion clinics and adoption agencies. In the Media office, there are three nurse practitioners on staff who provide complete gynecological examinations including Pap tests. There is a physician who is affiliated with their office; he comes in at least twice a month or upon appointment to review all cases. The NP†s provide breast health checks and teach breast self-examinations. Mid-life services are provided for menopausal women as well hormone replacement therapy. Testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections for men and women and confidential and anonymous HIV/AIDS testing are available as well. Planned Parenthood does perform first trimester abortions. They also offer a number of other health services such as cholesterol and blood pressure screening. Educational services. PPSP offers educational programs to pre-teens, teens, parents, and caregivers on topics of human sexuality, including health care, family planning, relationships, and HIV/Aids. There are teen peer education groups as well as Latino community workshops provided by bilingual/ bicultural educators. PPSP provides a complete resource center (bookstore and library) which provides a collection of literature on reproduction health care, sexuality, etc. Advocacy. PPSP urges political action for families/ planning and other reproductive health issues by participating in Lobby Days in Harrisburg and Washington. They are also involved in letter writing campaigns and news alerts to inform and motivate the public to become more involved in reproductive health care issues. Costs. All of the above listed services are available to all who enter the clinic at a small fee. The exception is made in the case of children who are thirteen to seventeen; their services and birth control pills are offered at no charge. In all other cases the fees for these products and services are quite low; for example, a routine gynecological examination examinations cost about thirty dollars. PP accepts most insurance plans and Medicaid, including Keystone HMO, PA Blue Cross- Blue Shield, and Personal Choice. They accept US Healthcare for surgical procedures only. Funding Revenue. From July 1, 1996 to June 30, 1007, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania brought in nearly six million dollars ($5,915,000) in revenue. This included nearly $2. 5 million from patient health and surgical services, 1. million from government grants and medical assistance. Funding Expenditures. In this same fiscal year, Planned Parenthood†s total expenses (5,936,000) were in excess of their revenue by twenty-one thousand dollars. They spent about tree million dollars for patient health services and one million on surgical procedures. Over one quarter of a million was spent towards public information and advocacy. And over half a million was spent on education and training. Other funds were spent for special events, fund raising, and administration. At the end of the fiscal report there are ten pages which list the names of those who have made contributions to Planned Parenthood. These donations range from $25,000 or more to $100. PP relies on the contributions of individuals, foundations, and corporations to support their operations and activities in Southeastern PA. All contributions made to PP are tax deductible (Annual Report). I learned a tremendous amount from visiting Planned Parenthood. All of the ideas that I entered the clinic with were quickly proven wrong and limited by the woman that I interviewed. PP is a valuable resource to all women, men, and teens that are interested in maintaining or improving their reproductive health, reproductive education, or their general health. This is a resource that does not receive the publicity or recognition that it deserves. Hopefully the public is aware of what an asset Planned Parenthood is and how much they offer- more than I did before this project. We in Southeastern Pennsylvania are lucky to have PP to turn to for educational and health care needs. How to cite Health Care System of United States, Papers

Those Non-Ethnocentric Americans free essay sample

To be a nerd, or not to be a nerd, that is the question. It is the 21st century (the year 2012 to be exact) and humanity continues to advance. Unfortunately human advances along with humanity. This includes myself, as my ignorance continues to grow. The only difference is that now I am aware of it. Since I am an American, I will be talking about America, the greatest country in the world. In our bleakest hour many of us watch football on television, hum along to Ms. Gaga and Ms. Perry, and celebrate American culture a little too much. We can see those beer-bellied Americans always eating burgers, drinking alcohol, and holding shotguns during the sacred day of the 4th of July. The problem is that Americans are uninterested in different cultures as they look towards popular culture for entertainment. What I am calling for is that everyone should decide to be a culture nerd for a day, and try to expand his or her horizons on different cultures. Some people may argue that there is no problem with celebrating and taking pride in one’s own culture. While that may be true, Americans in general are ethnocentric and take the celebrations too far. The celebration of the Constitution that follows us into every room, the freedom flag with the 50 stars stands by in all the classrooms, and the celebration of Democracy, all of which instill nationalism into us. This results in us ignoring some countries that seem inferior to us, which is bad. It also leads to us interfering in other countries’ affairs, which is bad. It’s really a lose-lose situation. Most high schools in the United States promote three languages: English, French, and Spanish. Schools in Europe promote French, Spanish, Italian, German, and English. The rest of the world (except for some parts of Africa and the Kangaroos Down Under) realizes that they need to be more connected in global relationships. Examples of this include Chinese and Japanese st udents learning English, and yet Americans don’t learn Chinese and Japanese. Since our economy is one of the best, other countries learn English to delve into our private sector, while Americans do not have an obvious monetary incentive to learn other language. Since the 1940’s America has become a Super Power and a city upon a hill for the world to see. Even in 1630 we though highly of ourselves (however, we were not actual Americans at that time) as John Winthrop made his â€Å"City upon a Hill† speech, inspiring the Puritans to build a perfect city that will be the light of the world for all to see. Although in modern times, the world is willing to fight an uphill battle to raze our city that shines so brightly. After all, even monkeys like to throw rocks at shiny objects. Americanization has occurred in most parts around the world, meeting resistance with some groups. Americanization is the influence of American culture on other cultures or be the diseases that everything we touch becomes American. The Middle East has been a victim of Americanization, with religious extremists opposing Americanization. The result was a tragedy that shook America’s world. Our response: Now don’t be messing with America, or else we’ll bring Democracy to your country. To bring democracy into other countries may upset the indigenous population. Americans need to become more aware of other cultures that they affect because they are in a state of cultural loss, which may lead to cultural death. Now that the problem is known, let’s move on to defining the solution. The operational definition of â€Å" cultural nerd† needs to be established. The first things that may come to mind with the word â€Å"nerd† are glasses, geek, loser, pocket-protectors, and social outcast. The fact that Americans give negative connotations to the word â€Å"nerd† demonstrates that being a â€Å"nerd† is not desired. I want to change the connotation so that being a nerd is good. Therefore to be a â€Å"culture nerd† is to celebrate the under-acknowledged culture of the foreign culture, (demographics not isolate the cultural nerd; Americans in general are called to be cultural nerds). How does one become a cultural nerd? Simple. Select a country that is â€Å"interesting† (people’s tastes differ, I for one love the Japanese culture) and use the Internet to gain information. It does require a bit of reading that may strain some people’s minds, but the Internet is the quickest way to access information. Other than reading about the culture, experiencing the culture would provide the best results. Two of the easiest ways to be a cultural nerd include music and food. Poorer countries eat to live, while Americans live to eat. Food is one of the most central aspects of culture. Tasting different foods is not only good for the soul but good for the stomach as well. Perhaps eating crickets will lead to understanding of African dietary practices and appreciation of American food. Another option is music. An excellent example is the rise of the Korean guy named â€Å"Psy† with his hypnotizing song, â€Å"Oppa Gangnam Style.† When it was introduced on radios (which facilitated its popularity) Americans went crazy over this song, even though it was in Korean. This raised awareness for Korean music and may have led some Americans to appreciate Korea and explore its culture. The solution of becoming a cultural nerd for a day would provide the best results. For one, I am not asking people to change their lifestyles for the rest of their lives. Rather I humbly ask that people just be interested in another culture for a day and then return back to routine activities, but more aware about other countries. Other solutions that could be offered include advertising and travelling. Advertising is aimed primarily at businesses to spend money in the advertising country. Most Americans are not willing to donate money to some foreign country. Advertising of specific countries may attract a specific audience, such as die-hard fanatics of the country, descendents, or the native people who are homesick. Including everyone in the process would bring better results. Along with advertising comes travel, which is really effective, except it’s for a small audience. International trips are expensive and Americans have few days off compared to Europe (perhaps they go on vacations and experience the world more than we do), thus Americans cannot afford to spend the time or money travelling. Study the culture, he said. It would provide benefits, he said. Now, why would people complain about studying other people’s cultures? The counter-argument for being a cultural nerd arises when one is not making money. â€Å"There’s not a enough time†, one may say. â€Å"We should improve ourselves†, another might say. Fortunately, there are 24 hours in a day. When one is not working, he or she is just procrastinating. However the old notion is time is money, but there is plenty of time to explore culture, and all I ask for is to keep in mind of another culture for a day. In order to improve ourselves, we must understand others. We can see their flaws and differences, and assess our own flaws. Maybe then we will improve ourselves. If we do not understand other cultures, it will lead to humanity’s demise. No, I am not kidding. Remember that thing called Americanization? If not check the dictionary and spell check, the word is there. Americanization upsets other countries, and most people are not aware of it. If we show an effort to preserve their culture and back away, they might appreciate us. This presents a slight problem. To save ourselves, we must back away from the foreign country (prevent Americanization). To destroy ourselves, we back away from the foreign country (leading to ethnocentricity). The middle ground would include a state of awareness for other cultures, but does not involve ourselves extensively in others cultures. We can never be rid of popular culture (unless we were to return to the dark ages). However humanity can change popular culture to consider other cultures. International phenomenon, such as the artist Psy and the food Ramen, have infected our popular culture and nestled in it. The solution lies within relatively cheap methods to learn about other cultures through the Internet. By being a culture nerd, people can investigate other countries and see their lifestyles. Listening to the culture’s music and eating the culture’s food is relatively cheap compared to travelling. For now being aware of how America impacts others and seeing how others live is enough. Being a cultural nerd that does research allows for information. Until they visit the country and practice the foreign customs, the nerds will never understand foreign countries. In fact sometimes we do not understand each other, but we must set out to understand one another as well as ourselves. If we do not underst and ourselves, we cannot understand others. I have given insight about most Americans, so with that insight they can try to understand others. If we fail to do this, disastrous results include war, violence, and alienation. But do not worry; it is not as bad the Universe collapsing in on itself as time continues further. Whether one is alive to culture after the war breaks out is question that only you can answer.

Eli Lilly and Company the Global Pharmaceutical Company Essay Example

Eli Lilly and Company: the Global Pharmaceutical Company Paper Analysis Methods Porters Five Force in relation to Eli Lilly Threat of New Entrants Threat of new entrants is relatively high. Companies forming alliances are potential rivals. Even if earlier such company was not considered to be a threat, after merging with some research and development company or forming alliance with another pharmaceutical company it would become a rival to Eli Lilly. The threat is however weakened by significant research and development costs necessary to successfully enter the business. Eli Lilly’s focus on a relatively narrow market of sedatives and antidepressants weakens the threat of new entrants, but other products that form lesser part of company’s sales such as insulin and others are exposed to high threat of new entrants. The need of obtaining certificates and licenses also weakens the threat of new entrants. Discussed above leads to the conclusion that threat of new entrants is medium. Bargaining Power of Buyers It tends to be high in pharmaceutical business as main sales are done using whole sales. Institutions that purchase drugs in large quantities are considering the discounts that drug producers are willing to give and therefore are able to influence price. As long as Eli Lilly have competitors with similar products it is obvious that bargaining power of buyers is high for the industry. Buyers with smaller volumes of purchases do not influence price policy, but such buyers are outnumbered by wholesale buyers. It is also important that people purchasing drugs for themselves are usually covered by healthcare insurance and therefore are not interested in pulling price down. We will write a custom essay sample on Eli Lilly and Company: the Global Pharmaceutical Company specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Eli Lilly and Company: the Global Pharmaceutical Company specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Eli Lilly and Company: the Global Pharmaceutical Company specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Yet the volumes of sales to such buyers are not significant. Bargaining Power of Suppliers It is relatively not high. There exists possibility to switch supplier at low cost and supplier brands are not powerful. There exists a little possibility of forward integration. All of the above makes the bargaining power of supplier low. In Eli Lilly’s case it is true that the power of suppliers is reversal of the buyer’s power. Threat of Substitute Product The threat of substitutes is not very high. Traditional medicine using drugs as a curing remedy is a main mean for treatment used by almost all healthcare institutions. Substitutes such as sport, yoga, alternative medicine are not very popular and unlikely to become such. However for the main product Prozac, which is an antidepressant drug, alternatives are possible because treating depression using alternative medicine, psychologist’s help and other means is more probable than treating of physical disease by similar means. The threat of substitutes is low, which is a significant advantage Rivalry Among Competitors The rivalry is tense in this business. However the competitiveness is rather unique in pharmaceutics. High costs of research and development hold the appearance of new rivals. It is also true that rivals are usually focused on a rather small market of specific medication. The main rivals Novo Nordisk A/S, Pfizer and Smithkline are narrowly oriented companies which however give Eli Lillys hard time producing such products as Zoloft – Prozac alternative. The competitive rivalry in the business is medium. SWOT MATRIX STRENGTHS-OPPORTUNITIES 1Eli Lilly Company should join strategic alliance to develop and market a blood substitute product on its ethical products. 2Use cooperation joint ventures alliance3s to lower down costs of R expenditures, increase research capabilities and seize economies of scale, thereby protecting future profits. 3Offer wide spectrums of products 4Make research in other therapeutic benefits from a previously marketed drug. 5Identify and develop treatments for future wide spread maladies. STRENGTHS-THREATS Find innovative ways to extend patent on Prozac through marketing it in other forms. WEAKNESS-OPPORTUNITIES 1Consider joint ventures and alliances with generic-producing pharmaceutical to protect earnings from patent losses. 2Make research on the pricing policy in other markets around the globe to make wise market entry decisions. WEAKNESS-THREATS 1Find creative ways to extend patent protection and differentiate it from those of competitors by creating a bra nd name and customer loyalty. SWOT ANALYSIS Strengths 1. Success of their anti-depressant Prozac 2. Many Strategic Alliances 3. Patent protection of company’s products 4. Heavily involved in Alliances to perform research 5. Top 10 contender in the Pharmaceutical Industry 6. 1st pharmaceutical firm to market a genetically engineered drug the Humulin 7. Pharmaceutical products are widely distributed in 200 dependent wholesale outlets in U. S. 8. It had R D facilities in 9 countries including North America, Europe, and Japan 9. It had manufacturing facilities in 20 countries including locations in Australia, South America, China, Middle East, Europe in U. S. Weaknesses 1. Unfavorable exchange rates in overseas sales 2. Decline of sales of anti-infective due to strong competition from generics in the U. S. and overseas Opportunities 1. U. S. market offering great growth potential 2. Trends of globalization 3. Aging of worldwide population 4. Longer life expectancy 5. Opening of new markets 6. Increased demand from Third World nation experiencing rising standards of living 7. Merge agreement with Sepracor Threats 1. Expiration of Prozac patent 2. Emergence of Generic Drugs 3. Under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for alleged antitrust activity due to its agreement with Sepracor 4. Unresolved case with Barr Laboratories, Inc. from manufacturing generic versions of Prozac 5. Lawsuit with Zeneca Inc. regarding its product Evista claiming that it is a breast cancer treatment 6. Market outside U. S. are less attractive with socialist governments and price controls INDUSTRY ANALYSIS The industry consists of the product organizations such as drug companies and product and supplies organizations. The size of the global industry was $250 billion in 1999 and 6 to 7 percent annual worldwide sales growth for 1999 to 2003. The pharmaceutical industry ranks as the number one industry in the world in terms of return on assets, return on revenue and number three in terms of return on equity for year 1997 among Fortune 500 companies. Among the 14 pharmaceutical companies in the Fortune 500 for 1997, Merck was ranked 1st, Pfizer 5th, Abbot 6th, and Eli Lilly 7th in terms of revenues. Rivalry among competitors is intense as brand recognition has become increasingly important as an approach to capturing market share. Companies are increasing advertising budgets to promote the therapeutic benefits of their drugs in an effort to differentiate their products from competitors. Many existing pharmaceutical compounds are standardized formulations that vary little in efficacy among manufacturers. The search for a differentiated product that will lead to blockbuster sales is one reason R D, advertising and sales force budgets have increased in recent years. Risk is high in the pharmaceutical industry as expenditures for research and development for each drug typically last through a period of 10 to 15 years before a compound makes it to the market. FDA approvals generally take 16 months which is down from 32 months in 1987. It is very unlikely that a compound developed by a pharmaceutical company will ever be used in the retail market. Only 1 in 5000 compounds will eventually be sold and less than one third of all marketed drugs will provide a return to recoup R D expenditures. The average costs associated with bringing a drug to market is $500 million while the product life of a prescription drug averages 10 years. There are several underlying trends in the world that are contributing to the demand for pharmaceutical drugs. The aging of the baby boom generation and increasing life expectancy rates are expected to increase the demand for prescription drugs over the next 25 years. The number of people between 45 and 64 years old will increase 41% by 2015. Given the rise in age population and life expectancy rates around the world and the level of pharmaceutical use by aging individuals, growth in the industry should remain in an upward trend. The pharmaceutical industry is relatively immune from the effects of economic cycles. Demand for the industrys product remains constant in up and down economic cycles as market demand is a function of the overall health of the population. However the globalization of the pharmaceutical industry increases the risk associated with foreign investments and exchange rates. The firms in this industry seek to minimize risks by using hedging practices such as foreign currency forward-exchange contracts, borrowing in foreign markets, and using currency swaps.

Wind essays

Wind essays The global energy balance and atmospheric motion determine the circulation of the earth's atmosphere. There is a pecking order of motion in atmospheric circulation. Each process can be divided into ever smaller controlling factors. The global energy budget is an equal balance of short wave radiation coming into the atmosphere and long wave radiation going out. This is known as thermal equilibrium. The earth is in a state of thermal equilibrium; but we can have too much or too little energy in parts of the heat balance. If you have excess radiation warm air will rise, and a radiation deficit will make the air cool and fall. Air gets heated at the equator due to the inter tropical convergence zone and rises to the poles. At the poles the air is cooled and floats back down to the equator where the process is repeated. Another major contributing factor to the circulation of air is due to the subtropical highs. These highs similar to the inter tropical convergence zone migrate during the changing seasons. The belt model, shown in the text is a great representation of the general circulation of the atmosphere. The equatorial belt of variable winds ranges from 5 degrees south to 5 degrees north. This wind belt is characterized by weak winds and low pressure from the inter tropical convergence zone. As you go further north or south you encounter the Hadley Cells. Hadley cell circulation is caused by the movement of high pressure from the latitudes at 5 to 30 degrees north and 5 to 30 degrees south to low pressure areas around the equator. The movement of air from high pressure to low pressure causes convergence. This convergence generates the production of wind. The winds that are produced from this are the trade winds. The winds blow from a northern direction in the northern hemisphere, and in the so uthern hemisphere the winds blow from a southern direction. The trade winds comprise the largest wind belt. The westerlies lie in the Ferrell...