Capital Punishment A Critical Evaluation - 1288 Words

Abhimanyu Patel Professor Capps English 1A 06 October 2014 Capital punishment: A critical evaluation by Edward I. Koch How can one man single-handedly change the outlook of the people regarding the death punishment? Edward I. Koch has in his article â€Å"Death and Justice† clearly and efficiently expressed his support towards the death penalty and he has thoroughly looked at both the sides of the argument and shown his support accordingly. Edward I. Koch earned a law degree from New York University in 1948 and practiced law in New York City from 1949 to 1968 (handout). This made him a very credible to be able to critique about the term â€Å"death penalty†. â€Å"Death and Justice† was published in the New Republic in April 1985 which suggested that his original audience were democrats and the citizens of USA and the article might have certainly created an astonishing impact on the readers. Koch was concerned about the lives of the innocent victims and to stop the murders he efficiently stated that the â€Å"death pena lty† is the only alternative for the bringing the innocent killings to an end. Koch wants the readers to be aware about those kinds of people and he wants his readers to be conscious about these situations so that they may be able to raise their voices for the justice of a guiltless victim and this way whole nation can become known to the least spoken fact of the capital punishment. Koch wants the readers to fulfil their duty of being the law abiding citizens and take theShow MoreRelated Capital Punishment Essay: Its Fair and Effective964 Words   |  4 PagesCapital Punishment - Its Fair and Effective   Ã‚  Ã‚   Confronting head-on two of the most prominent objections to the death penalty is the object of this paper: Is the death penalty a miscarriage of justice? And Does it Deter Crime?    Its a miscarraige of justice. In a survey Professors Hugo Adam Bedau and Michael Radelet found that 7000 persons were executed in the United States between 1900 and 1985 and that 35 were innocent of capital crimes (1). Among the innocents they list Sacco andRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is The Punishment Of Execution Essay956 Words   |  4 PagesThe death penalty is the punishment of execution. Another term used is capital punishment, which is legally authorized killing of someone as a punishment of a capital crime. The race of executed prisoners and the current prisoners on death row has been inconsistent over the years since 1976 when the death penalty was reinstated in The United States of America (Facts, 2016). There are thirty-one states that allow capital punishment and the other nineteen states do not allow it. Since 1976 there hasRead MoreCapital Punishment And Juvenile Punishment1631 Words   |  7 Pages Capital punishment is the term used when an individual is put to death by the state or government for the commission of a crime. Until recently, juveniles were not exempt from this punishment, however they would generally need to commit a more serious offense compared to their adult counterpart. Then there was the decision ruling the execution of mentally handicapped individuals was unconstitutional, using the 8th amendment as their authority, while taking into account the diminished capacity ofRead MoreReview QuestionsName two examples of capital890 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Review Questions Name two examples of capital crimes. Two examples of a capital crime is remeditated murder, the murder of a police officer, sexual abuse of a minor and etc.. Name two examples of federal crimes. Two examples of a federal crime is bank fraud, white collar crimes, cyber crimes and etc.. Explain the difference between jails and prisons. According to the passaage, the difference between a jail and a prision; is that a jail is smaller and only holds who are awaiting a trial, do midemeanorsRead MoreCases And Labeling Theory : Case Analysis971 Words   |  4 PagesTheory However, in further details we decided to write about two cases that have been solved one with a negative result and another with a positive outcome with racial bias in capital cases. â€Å"However, The Baldus Study has given a big lead to the disagreement in the allegations in the Georgia courtroom against capital punishment which has pertained to an African American in the equal justice†(Baldus Study,2015). Another important case in our court system is the McCleskey v. Kemp. McCleskey was presumablyRead MorePhilosophy and Religion in Education Essay1166 Words   |  5 Pagesdepartment. With department approval, one course from outside the department and outside the student’s first major may be used to count toward the minor. Critical thinking minor requirement 18 semester hours 18 semester hours chosen from the following list: One advanced course from the student’s major field whichRead MoreThe Criminal Justice System1308 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Criminal Justice System The criminal justice system refers to the way in which a society chooses to handle all aspects of crime and punishment. In the Western world, particularly the United States, the criminal justice system is an official governmental system that focuses on crime and punishment, though some societies still incorporate a significant amount of informal social controls into their criminal justice systems. The criminal justice system covers everything from crime-prevention andRead MoreEvaluation of the Work of the Group1489 Words   |  6 PagesEvaluation of the Work of the Group Before the workshop began, I knew little about the death penalty, what qualifies a criminal to receive this sentence, and countries in which the death penalty was accepted. The workshop included different methods of bringing the texts to life and to develop the classes understanding of each task. Each stimulus that was studied also gave a different viewpoint to the death penalty, by displaying opinions throughRead MorePlea Bargaining : An Effective Tool1684 Words   |  7 PagesJustice estimates that approximately 97% of all criminal cases are resolved by plea-bargaining as opposed to trial by jury. While plea-bargaining offers multiple benefits to the legal process and the general public, it is a system that is in need of critical reform. Plea bargains frequently result in court decisions that are both unjust and unconstitutional. However, implementing federal requirements that limit prosecutorial power and protect the defendant’s Sixth Amendment rights can significantly reduceRead MoreThe Legal System Worldwide and The Insanity Defense Essay2519 Words   |  11 Pagesof misperceptions the public holds by analyzing Borum and Fulero (1999) and Eric Silver et al. (1994). Then I will explain the factors that have been found to influence the attitudes towards insanity defense and the evaluation of such factors. Moreover I will analyze the evaluations of insanity defendants by experts and I will also include the Dutch legal processes as a European example. In order to compose this paper, firstly I ran a search in the world catalogue. There I tried to capture a general

Financing Needs And Opportunities, And Government Of Uganda

Uganda is in a transitional period in terms of both financing needs and opportunities, and Government of Uganda (GoU) has already begun to expand the range of options it utilises: some semi-concessional external debt has been contracted since FY08/09, and Treasury Bills and Bonds have been issued explicitly for fiscal policy purposes since FY12/13. In addition to these new modalities, opportunities for borrowing externally on fully commercial terms – such as in the form of dollar-denominated ‘Eurobonds’ – have also begun to emerge. In this paper we look at Domestic borrowing: Treasury Bill and Bond issuance. With GoU having begun to issue Treasury securities for fiscal purposes, the authorities face a challenge in determining both what†¦show more content†¦This paper seeks to incorporate this recent evidence into a consideration of the specific issues faced by Uganda. It aims to address the key costs, risks, and broader macroeconomic implications – including the potential impact on private investment and overall economic activity – and what steps Uganda can take to maximise the benefits and minimise costs and risks as GoU decides how much to turn to DD financing. Domestic debt is an area of considerable and ongoing reform in Uganda. Until FY11/12, Treasury Bills and Bonds were issued ostensibly only for monetary policy purposes; but as of FY12/13, GoU began to conduct net securities issuance primarily for fiscal policy purposes – raising around Shs.650 billion (1.2 per cent of GDP) towards the financing of the fiscal deficit that year. As reported above, by the end of FY12/13 the total stock of outstanding Treasury securities stood at 11.1 per cent of GDP; this is below the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) average of around 15 per cent of GDP. In FY13/14 GoU planned to raise Shs1,040 billion, or 1.6 per cent of GDP, through net Treasuries issuance; this was in line with net Treasury issuance over the past ten years, which has averaged 1.5 per cent of GDP per year. Costs, risks and broader considerations Interest costs Figure 1 : selected cost and risk

The Gravity Model Free Essays

Literature review Many researches and theories have been written according to the trade flows between two different zones (EU and BRICS countries). A researcher Cheney in 2008 reported that â€Å"The gravity model† is a very tangible method for empirical trade analysis that explains bilateral trade is described in trade flows in terms of the size of the trading partners (by GDPs), the distance among these countries (long distance creates additional cost on trade) and several other geographical specifications or policy aspects of any bilateral trade relationship. As these factors affect the value of trade between countries, they also affect the duration of these trade flows Prusa in 2006. We will write a custom essay sample on The Gravity Model or any similar topic only for you Order Now Thus, we include the GDP of the destination country, the distance (in km) between Brussel, Berlin and the importer country’s capital city, and various variables indicating contiguity (i.e. controlling for potential border effects), the existence of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, EU membership of the destination market and a common language between Belgium, Germany and its trading partner (Brazil, Russian Federation, India, China and South Africa). We also control for the initial value of the export relationship in a destination to account for the initial level of confidence the trading partners originally had in the sustainability of this relationship Brenton in 2010 and to check the presented findings by Besede in 2008 that trade relations starting large last longer. The measurement of trade policy is not often changed even when the definition of trade policy is restricted to traditional tariff and non-tariff barriers to international trade.The TRAINS database of the United Nations’ or the WITS database of the World Bank’s are systematically exist from 1989. In totally, we can observe that measures of tariffs aremore available than measures of non-tariff barriers. (Anderson and Wincoop 2004). In some situations, there are different types of trade policy measurements: As price – we can show ad-valorem tariffs which are easy to calculate and most comparable across industries and time because they create barrier in international trade and it influences directly to the product’s price. Furthermore, trade instruments such of that specific tariffs which are applied as a per-unit on imported goods. By analyzing the trade policy measurement across countries, industries and time that can effect inference about the effect of trade policies in cross-country and multi-industry researches (Harrigan and Barrow in 2009). A recent study by scholars from the  University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, UK (2017) started to analyze the price of different type of chocolates in terms of consumers wants to purchase them. The research showed that online traders do not put higher cost for mixed chocolate than plain chocolate. Moreover, consumers agree to pay a premium for ordinary chocolate bars which are full of proteins and they will prefer to pay a premium for chocolate in comparison to milk chocolate according to dark chocolate’s important benefits. Another interesting fact is that to produce a chocolate labeled in developing countries is less cost under the fair trade as opposed to other types of chocolate. Another author, Tracey Massey, president of Mars Chocolate (2016) stressed that for increasing our profit we have to apply newer innovation in chocolate products because of consumers’ preferences. Thus, consumers love to taste new mixed products. In another tangible point, we refer to another scholar, Mr. Nielson (2016) corresponding to pricing and sales Nielson presented that chocolate as main product still covers most industry sales (88%) in the market. Hence, people buy chocolate much more during special ceremonies and holidays. In a light of another study of Mayer, which was presented in 2014, he noted that we have evaluate the level of international competition Belgian and German chocolate exporters face on each market. Firstly, we appreciate this observed level by taking into account the amount of chocolate imports from other countries (with the exception of Belgium and Germany). International competition can influence to the prolongation of the chocolate export in two levels. On the first level, countries importing a vast amount of chocolate may also import more chocolate from Belgium and Germany because of a strong preference for chocolate. On the second level, if international competition is tougher, Belgian and German exporters may see it more difficult to compete with other exporters in the market. Another important study came in 2011 by Lulia Monica from the Romanian Academy, Institute of World Economy. According to this paper, it can be seen that the relations between BRICS countries and these two developed countries is the key for the modernization on trade partnership. Thus, in recent decade the chocolate trade between both two areas have increased significantly, emphasizing the great evolution of Chinese and Russian shares on the market of Europe. In 2009, China became the third main exporter for the European market, and the main import country for Europe. After China, Russia came on the fourth place as exporting country, India the 8th and Brazil the twelfth. When it comes to the imports: China is the first import destination for Europe, Russia is the 3rd , Brazil the 9th and India the10th. As a result, this paper indicates that Belgium and Germany as EU countries is the most important trade partner for BRICS countries, both in the sector of exports and imports. Therefore, the points of this enquiry directed to analyze chocolate market share of the given countries above, the situation trade among these countries, to touch some parameters that directly affect the development of the chocolate market and to take into account trade factors in the different countries, how tariffs applied influence the level of export to BRICS countries. How to cite The Gravity Model, Papers

Developing Leading and Managing People Leadership

Question: Discuss about the Developing Leading and Managing People Leadership. Answer: Introduction: The characteristics of Gandhis leadership included self-confidence, influence, inspiration, developing others and achievement. He was the first to introduce non-violence, satyaghraha and consider achieving independence from the British rule. He never supported hatred and took all the blame for the mistakes on himself. Merkel, on the other hand depicted strong moral and ethical values and beliefs. She went against her own party to help the population of Germany, thereby encouraging moral and humanity. Furthermore, Thatcher was a moral, ethical leader and manager who had the qualities such as concern, openness, and integrity. She respected the views and opinion of people and gave them importance. It can be thus opined that Gandhi and Thatcher had some similarities in their ethical leadership. Evolution of leadership Being a transformational leader, Gandhi led the people by example. He united the people to work towards a particular goal. His characteristic regarding uniting people and leading them shows the practice of transformational leadership. The leadership of Merkel was influenced from the political environment under which she grew up. The failure in the academic life gave her opportunity to enter into the career of politics (Matthijs 2016, p.142). Thatcher also adopted transformational leadership and gained power from dedicated study and passionate delivery. She utilized power using logic and guilt into service. Multicultural leadership Gandhi practiced non-violence and fasting and was imprisoned a number of times. He never connected with the government or international organisation. As a multicultural leader, Merkel strengthened the relationship between USA and German after Iraq war. Psychology of leadership Gandhi started satyagraha and ahimsa with the avocation of self-reliance to achieve independence. He believed in equality of people and discouraged racial discrimination. Merkel dominated the German politics as an uncharismatic leader. She supported her rival parties for the welfare of the economy. Thatcher in contradictory was dominant and took up critical questions as acquisition. Thatcher never differentiated between men and women. She prioritized her own culture and other cultures. She became a conservative leader and went against the elaborate a Euro sceptical package that prioritized sovereignty-based populism over both technocratic liberalism and co-operative pragmatism (Fontana and Parsons 2015, p.93). Leadership theories All the characteristics of transformational leadership were there in Gandhi. He welcomed new ideas and opinions and suggested his supporters in the campaigns. Merkel however is participating, directive and achievement oriented and thus follows directive and participative leadership. Thatcher was the sole decision maker and pursued autocratic leadership. Her leadership style gave way to many reforms in Britain. Discussion on effective leader Mahatma Gandhi can be considered as an effective leader as he influenced and inspired others. He helped India to gain independence by implementing ahimsa and satyagraha. With the transformational leadership, and great ideals he contributed to the development of India as a nation. References Fontana, C. and Parsons, C., 2015. One Woman's Prejudice: Did Margaret Thatcher Cause Britain's Anti?Europeanism?.JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies,53(1), pp.89-105. [Accessed from https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/43029152/Fontana___Parsons_2015.Thatcher__Britain_and_Europe.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJ56TQJRTWSMTNPEAExpires=1483605289Signature=JBYBqSWhA9SyLTmhy11GCISRkdk%3Dresponse-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3DOne_Womans_Prejudice_Did_Margaret_Thatc.pdf] Matthijs, M., 2016. The Three Faces of German Leadership.Survival,58(2), pp.135-154. [Accessed from https://euroscope.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/The-Three-Faces-of-German-Leadership.pdf]

UFO Fact Or Fiction Essays - Ufologists, Extraterrestrial Life

UFO Fact Or Fiction annon Unidentified flying objects, or UFOs, as they're fondly called, are one of the century's most intriguing and controversial mysteries. Since ancient times, UFOs of all types have been accounted for. More today than ever, hundreds of thinkers, theologians, and scientists have tried to answer why there are or whether there aren't UFOs. According to some, the speculation that UFOs are alien spacecrafts from another world is an absurd and foolish proposal. Others vehemently disagree and assert that extraterrestrial life is not only possible, but such life forms may be superior, technologically advanced beings who visit our Earth regularly. Are these flying saucers a figment of our imagination? Or, are they a genuine reality we prefer to dismiss because we fear the scary truth that we are not the only master race? Are we hesitant because society dubs such immature psycho tantamount to subscribing to belief in ghosts? These are a few of the many pertinent UFO questions the mature individual must address. One of the most popular theories that support and explains the existence of alien beings is the ancient astronaut theory. This theory contains three main schools of thought. The first states that aliens bred with our primitive forebears thereby creating modern man. The second is quite similar. Aliens performed genetic engineering on apes thereby creating the Homo Sapiens and man's intelligence. The third, and least accepted, is that colonists from another galaxy came to Earth, mated with the primitives and established a high level of culture, before being destroyed by some natural catastrophe. And upon this catastrophe and destruction, we build and grow (Fitzgerald 1). Berossus, a Babylonian scholar, may have been the first astronaut historian. He said that animals endowed with reason bestowed the Sumerian culture before 3000 BCE. The Sumerians, along with their cultural inheritors, the Babylonians, never referred to such beings as gods. Rather they were depicted as disgusting abominations, a description only deserved by uninvited alien visitors (2). One step further takes the astronaut theory and surmises that with it, we can understand the later religious cultures, such as the Hebrews who are thought to have borrowed much of Sumerian practice. Such religions and secret societies, with their elaborate and complicated rituals may actually be preserving from a previous epoch fragments of an esoteric and little understood knowledge, just as the Egyptian, Hebrew, and Mayan priests guarded in their temples the inspired word of their self-possessed creators (3). Alien originators may have set down certain rites which became confused over the years, resulting in the various ancient religions; aliens being the source of our notion of God. This also may explain how miles long designs, only viewable from the air, were created in ancient times. The only rationalization for the possibility of such designs is that the ancients had assistance from the sky, namely extraterrestrial assistance. Many UFO theorists, astronomer Morris Jessup being the forerunner, go even further: not only were pre-Biblical and Biblical times full of Alien intervention, but he contends that the UFO phenomenon is the missing link between Biblical supernatural accounts of miracles and established, contradicting science. Jessup explains that nothing is supernatural and nothing is outside nature (12). He continues that the Bible is full of UFO accounts, depicted by various descriptions: angels, the revelation on Mt. Sinai, the burning bush, and Elijah's levitation to heaven. Jessup says the Bible is a physical record, not a collection of divine revelation although the miracles of this and all religions invite rational and physical explanation, if we grant the 'existence of spatial intelligence (13).' Another thinker, Brinsley Trent, follows the theme of extraterrestrial interpretations of the Bible and claims that the Garden of Eden was, as many ancient texts point out, not the underground, but in the Underworld - i.e. outside the orbit of earth, meaning Mars. When the Great Flood occurred, Noah built a great boat, a spaceship, and landed on Earth (Life 16). However, Cornell astronomer Carl Sagan warns that this ancient astronaut theory and the saucer myths represent a compromise between the need to believe in a traditional God and the contemporary pressures to accept the pronouncement of science (Fitzgerald 5); therefore, according to Sagan, the proposition that aliens exist and the astronaut theory should be tossed. Many theorists assume the Bible is a totally separate entity and don't associate or contradict the UFO phenomenon with the well established theological belief system in the supernatural. Wilhelm Reich, for one, a noted Austrian psychoanalyst, claimed to have witnessed various UFO crafts and believed that these aliens are hostile. Such aliens wish to rob Earth of orgone, a cosmic life

Essay about Exercise 6

Essay about Exercise 6 Essay about Exercise 6 1. List and discuss four problems in Labor & Workplace conditions The four main problems in Labor & Workplace conditions in eight countries such as Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, and Sri Lanka seem to be underpayment of minimum wages, underpay for overtime work, unsafe and unhealthy work conditions, and wage discrimination. In Brazil, the primary problems in the manufacturing workplace are forced labor, inadequate occupational safety (work accidents are common in several industries), and wage discrimination. Wages paid to females are 54% to 64% of those paid to males. In China, factories are more prone to ignore minimum wage requirements(working children under age), underpay for overtime work, subject workers to unsafe and unhealthy working conditions, and suppress worker attempts to join independent unions. South Africa is proven to pay their women less. Most of these countries portray 1 if not more of these problems in Labor & Workplace conditions. 2. List and discuss four strategies used to deliberately deceive plant inspectors. The four strategies used to deliberately deceive plant inspectors are maintain two sets of books. Factories generate a set of bogus payroll records and time sheets to show audit teams that their workers were correctly paid and received the proper overtime pay. The second strategy used to deceive plant inspectors is hiding the use of underage workers and unsafe work practices. Factories in China, parts of Africa, and other countries disguise this by falsifying the personnel records of underage employees or getting the underage employees off the premises when the audit teams arrive. They also put these young employees in concealed back rooms. The third strategy used to deceive plant inspectors is meeting requirements by secretly shifting production to subcontractors. These subcontractors fail to observe pay standards, skirted worker safety procedures, and engaged in abuses of various kinds. The fourth strategy used to deceive plant inspectors is coaching managers and employees on answe ring questions posed by audit team members. Both managers and workers were tutored on what to tell inspectors in they were to be interviewed. Scripting responses about wages training, pay, and procedures was a common tactic for preventing what inspectors could leave from interviews. 3. Describe Wal-Mart’s factory auditing methodology. Wal-Mart’s factory audit methodology consists of opening meeting, factory tour, worker interviews, factory documentation review, closing meeting, factory ratings, and use of outside auditors. Opening meeting consists of 1 confirmation

Annotated Bibliography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Annotated Bibliography - Essay Example Research conducted by Rashad shows that changes in the rate of fertility has occurred in all Arab nations and this change was accepted by Arab nations at a delay as compared to other nations, but the decline has been experienced at a much faster rate as compared to other nations. Rashad asserts that there have been several causes that have contributed heavily towards the slow acceptance of decline in fertility rate among Arab nations and this conforms to the belief that Arab nation and their populations are resistant towards accepting change. In certain nations and people of these fortunate nations experienced fertility decline due to backing of high aspirations and increased opportunities. On the other end, there have been Arab nations that have experienced decline in economic conditions along with issues in creating families have even led to decline in fertility. Socio-economic status of individuals in certain areas has played a motivational role in the acceptance of decline in fer tility at much earlier times as compared to other nations. Acceptance was even driven due to interpretation of Islam which was liberal in nature. People living in certain nations, especially those in the Gulf region experienced slow acceptance of decline because of rational decision making supported with child support programs. Arab nations overall have not been resistant to change, they have experienced differences in accepting change. The researcher asserts that differences in the way change is accepted and adopted in Arab nations and the conditions that drive the changes in the level of fertility in Arab nation is similar and consistent with the changes experienced throughout the world and these findings are dissimilar to the earlier findings of other researchers. This even shows that researchers previously have exaggerated the issue of conformity to culture. The differences in these trends even show that the theories of change that are already in existence have failed to explain the Arab nations case of fertility. On one hand theories are consistent with changes that are developmental and societal in nature, but on the other hand the experience of Arab nations of decline in fertility has taken place under different circumstances. Theories of change of fertility pay emphasis to fertility which is marital in nature, but the case of Arab nation has shown that reduction in the rate of fertility has occurred due to alterations in changes in the frequency of marriages taking place. The researcher further asserts that changes that have already taken place and are continuing to take place as result of changes in the frequency of marriages in Arab nations clearly show that females in the Arab nations are preferring to stay unmarried for a longer period of time and a major percentage of the women population in these regions even accept to stay unmarried throughout their lives. Nations that have experienced highest changes in the timeline of the event of marriage inc lude Libya, Algeria, Syria, Morocco and others. Women in these regions accept to remain unmarried till they reach the age of 30+ and these women account for 10 to 20% of the population of these regions. This has occurred at the same time when the fertility rates of Arab nations are declining, which shows that as marriage rates are delayed and decreased, women are decreasing their involvement in the act of childrearing. This has resulted in

Critical Thinking Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Critical Thinking - Assignment Example God created the seven heavens and the Earth solely for humanity. The question of identity: The Quran accounts that Allah created human beings in a unique way, giving them special gifts and knowledge. The creation of man started with that of two people, Adam and Eve, male and female respectively, who then multiplied to bring forth generations of the Earth. For Weirder and Gutierrez (2011), they state that Allah created man as a responsible and dignified agent to meet the purpose of his creator. The question of morality: Through the adherence to study of Quran, the Muslims acclimatize with the ways of living of a moral life in their society. The world view has it that every aspect of life has three common goals: practicality, balance and moderation. Apart from the Islamic teachings, every Muslim has to choose what is tolerable for oneself and the society as a whole (Winter, 2008). The Islamic teachings account that the meaning of the existence of humanity is revealed through worshipping and obeying the teachings of Allah. Further, every Muslim has a purpose of involving in good deeds towards offsetting the bad deeds and correcting the mistakes made. Besides, the world view also offers its follower five pillars which acts as a platform for discerning their obedience. The world view presents Paradise and Hell as the destiny of man, depending on dominance of bad or good deeds. Essentially, A Muslim achieves Paradise by having good deeds outweighing his bad deeds. Only after death does a Muslim determines the level of his good or bad deeds. Hell is a destiny for the individual who do not follow Allah’s teachings besides not recognizing him as the one god. The question of origin: Both of the world views agree that God is the creator of everything in the World. Islam accounts for theistic evolution as part of God’s creation plan while Christianity refutes this theory, evolution,

What is a Hero Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

What is a Hero - Essay Example But a question arises that whether this definition can be used in modern times where heroes are ordinary people that in time of crisis and need perform exceptionally and for the greater good. The meaning of the word hero has changed over the years and this word has been used in different contexts. One act of heroism represents a new definition of a hero. Whenever a hero is pictured, a strong, powerful individual is imagined who is not only experienced but also mature. But when Carlos, a seven year old boy’s home was invaded by burglars, not only did he show nerves of steel but also called the police and urged them to send help. Hiding in the bathroom with his sister, Carlos told the police everything that was happening in their house and explained the situation with poise and calmness that many adults fail to show in these circumstances. Even though the suspects have not been caught yet, but Carlos will be awarded the Kids Medal of Honor and he has been labeled as a hero. Though Carlos was a young boy and did not fulfill the image of a hero but his act of bravery serves to imply the use of the word hero for him (Fremd & Seigel 2010). One of the most deadly terrorist attacks that took place in today’s world was no doubt the World Trade Center attack. These attacks not only left thousands of citizens dead but also witnessed many acts of courage and bravery by the New York Fire Department and the policemen who even though were put on alert since the building could collapse anytime but still continued with the rescue efforts. These men and women showed strength and bravery while knowing completely well that they would not survive if the building that was already on the verge of collapse, fell down. This is again an example of heroism and these people who worked selflessly were marked as heroes. Thus a hero may be defined as an individual who works for helping people without

The Issue Of The Tattooed Soldier Novel Film Studies Essay

The Issue Of The Tattooed Soldier Novel Film Studies Essay He also brings out the theme of manipulation of humankind, which is observed in the course of the narrative. Tobar also puts forth the argument that manipulation of masses carried out by the guerrillas result in individuals leading a destructive life in future (Tobar 14). This argument is supported through the development of the protagonist Longoria, as will be observed in the analysis. ANALYSIS Brief Analysis of the Novel The story of the Tattooed Soldier begins as a love story and incorporates painful and passionate narrative of the lives of two protagonists, Guillermo Longoria and Antonio Bernal (Tobar 15). In this novel, the author, Hector Tobar tries to bring out different themes as concerns the story of these two but the main theme that he uses and brings to light is that of manipulation. Manipulation can be defined as that behavior used by an individuals to get what they want without paying attention to other individuals feelings while getting it (Tobar 25). It can also be defined as utilizing and understanding any means necessary in acquiring what one wants or desires to have (Ibid 26). The Tattooed Soldier is a novel having the theme of emotional manipulation, whereby one of the protagonists, Longoria, experiences it as part of his recruitment in the guerrilla army. Tobar also investigates the consequences as well as influences of this type of manipulation through the protagonists, revealing the nature of how each character develops in the course of the narrative (Tobar 35). The Tattooed Soldier explores emotional manipulation by concentrating on the happenings of the Guatemalan Civil War together with the Los Angeles riots which took place in 1993 (Ibid 36). It is not always easy to recognize manipulation or when one is being manipulated as is seen with Longorias character. Once a peasant, he was recruited into the guerrilla army as a teenager, with the promise of paradise full of easy credit, free seed and free land (Tobar 41). This was the ideology given during training sessions meant for Guatemalan officers based at the U. S. Army base. Emotional manipulation is also witnessed with Antonio, who being a Guatemalan citizen, lives in fear of his life from the guerrilla army personnel. The guerrillas had mastered the art of manipulation by making the people live in pure terror; they exhibited this through bombings, kidnapping the rich and killing suspected informers (Tobar 47). Because of this fear and manipulation by the government, Antonio was forced to flee from his native land upon discovering that him and his family had been suspected of being informers and were being hunted down. Manipulation comes in many forms for instance, through aggressive demands or expectations, neglect, punishment, insults or causing terror to the intended victim (Tobar 58). There are also consequences as a result of being manipulated as indicated by the author through his protagonists. It attacks the very being of an individual leaving them untrusting, unworthy as well as emotionally needy (Ibid 61). This can be seen in Antonio more than in Longoria as he tries to survive in the streets of Los Angeles where he has become a refuge. Antonio feels untrusting and develops an overwhelming emotional need to take vengeance for the murder of his family (Tobar 66). He also feels manipulated by his government in that instead of protecting its citizens during the Civil War as it said it would, the government turns its back on them and instead hunts anyone suspected of being an informer (Tobar 73). According to Tobar as he indicates in this novel, manipulation also causes individuals to change inwardly and not for the best. As is with Antonios case who was once a naà ¯ve and peace-loving individual, his characteristic changed to that of being a vengeful, ruthless man who wanted nothing but justice, however possible, for what had been done to him (Tobar 86). An Overview of the Theme The Tattooed Soldier is a novel about love, war and poverty, all brought out in the course of the narrative. However, the main theme portrayed by Tobar is that of manipulation of mankind. During the training of the Guatemalan army members at the United States Army base, ideologies were offered to these peasants who were soon-to-be soldiers of the Guatemalan army (Tobar 112). These individuals were promised a paradise of easy credit, free land and free seed and by this; the peasants were connected to the guerrillas, keeping the Communist movement intact. Guatemalan army took advantage of innocent citizen by creating fear and terror within them. For instance, they would kidnap rich individuals, murder anyone suspected of being an informer and bombed cafes (Ibid 117). As a result, the lives of the Guatemalan citizens are left destroyed with their emotions, thoughts and feelings inclining towards the negative attitude as concerns the US government and the Guatemalan Army. In addition, Hector Tobar investigates the consequences because of the Guatemalan citizens being manipulated by the guerrillas through his protagonists. Antonio is set on finding justice and revenge due to the murder of his wife and son and his quest for this is set against the Los Angeles chaotic riots, which were also taking place (Tobar 124). Los Angeles is portrayed as a city full of gang members and participation in disorderly conducts where poverty reigns. The conflicts and riots, which arise during this time, are as a result of Guatemalan refugees and citizens feeling manipulated and taken advantage of by the United States government (Ibid 126). It this novel was merely about a screed against the American imperialism, it would easily have been forgotten. But instead, it brings to light the evil that mankind has to undergo in the name of finding justice and survival (Tobar 131). The theme of manipulation of mankind has been observed in a number of instances within the narrative. For instance, being a poetic naà ¯ve individual, Antonio falls in love Elena, who is a fellow university student but is forced to flee their Guatemalan homeland as a result of becoming targets of the government (Ibid 137). As stated earlier on, the government guerillas engaged in kidnapping and murdering suspected informers and Antonio together with his family became one of these suspects. Manipulation is brought out in this instance in that the reader is made to observe the fact that Guatemalan citizens lived in total terror and fear and were aware that they did not possess any freedom of movement or speech (Tobar 140). They lived in fear of being killed at any particular time. Antonio and his family become suspected of being student agitators. Another side to the theme that is portrayed in the novel is that of unemployment. During this particular setting, Los Angeles was apparently divided into two classes, that is, the high class and the low class (Tobar 141). Those of the high class status would find employment with ease and lead comfortable lives while those of the lower class status would bounce from one menial job to the next, as was in the case of Antonio (Ibid 143). After fleeing to Los Angeles, Antonio became schizophrenic, homeless and lived amongst junkies who used to steal food for him. On the other hand, when Longoria came to Los Angeles, life for him was apparently easier as compared to Antonios. This can be attributed to the fact that he was one of the members of the elite units within the Guatemalan army, therefore enabling him to have special privileges (Tobar 157). This fact angers Antonio who makes the observation that Longoria is able to move freely within the United States without much obstruction. Additional theme to the narrative by the author The author of The Tattooed Soldier is also arguing about racial discrimination though this is a minor theme as compared to that of manipulation of mankind. The chaotic riots taking place in Los Angeles during the time that Antonio was stalking and plotting against Longoria were because of the Rodney King trial. Rodney King was an African-American individual who was a victim of police brutality by LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) in 1991 (Tobar 163). The problem began when Rodneys car was spotted speeding beyond the Californian speed limit on their way from a friends house in Los Angeles, where they had spent the night drinking and watching a baseball game (Ibid 164 ). His car was flagged down by traffic police and once they ordered him out of the car, the four police officers pounced on him with batons, beating him repeatedly while he was on the ground. While LAPD suggested that these officers were acting in self-defense as a way of restraining Rodney, the rest of the African-Ame rican society perceived it to be a racial discrimination act of violence (Tobar 167). As a result, Rodney suffered internal injuries and a fractured skull. In the course of the investigation, another trial took place involving a Korean American who was to be sentenced because of shooting dead a young African-American woman (Tobar 174). The individual was handed a lenient sentence and this further increased racial tensions in the city of Los Angeles. In 1992, the year when the narrative involving Antonio and Longoria is set, the four officers involved in the Rodney case were cleared of any accusation of assault (Ibid 185). This was the cause of the riots during that particular time. Antonio, being a naà ¯ve, average class citizen of Guatemala was taken advantage of by the government and forced to flee his native land. Once in Los Angeles, he became a victim of racial discrimination in that he could not easily find employment or a decent place to stay due to his ethnic background (Tobar 231). This factor was further fueled by the happenings in Los Angeles as a result of the Rodney King trial. Elements of the Text supporting the Authors argument The Tattooed Soldier is a captivating novel which provokes its readers to re-think about their ideas and understanding as concerns homeless immigrants in the city of Los Angeles as well as the victimized individuals in Guatemala (Tobar 239). Antonio and Longoria are faced with the issues of class structure and ethnicity in the settings portrayed in the narrative. Military strategies, human rights violations, emotional and personal conflicts and refugee undertones are all incorporated in this powerful novel making the narrative easy to relate with (Ibid 242). Certain elements of the text support Tobars argument concerning the themes of the narrative. For instance, the setting of the narrative is during the time when a major trial involving an African-American individual and the Los Angeles Police Department was taking place (Tobar 248). At the same time, majority of Guatemalan citizens were fleeing their country due to the guerrillas kidnapping, bombing and killing them on suspicion o f being informers and instigators. Circumstances surrounding the events prompt and manipulate Antonio into desiring to take revenge and readers observe the change in his characteristic from that of being a naà ¯ve, peace loving individual to that of being a rage driven individual full of vengeance (Tobar 253). Revenge becomes the sole reason and purpose for his quest to continue living and surviving. As part of the few elements introduced to support the authors arguments as concerns the themes, the readers are introduced to another character, Frank, who happens to be a homeless African-American (Ibid 259). Frank befriends Antonio who also finds himself in the state of being homeless in the streets of Los Angeles. Together, they move from one camp to the next, and after spotting Longoria in one of the camps, Antonio requests Frank to help him get his revenge (Tobar 260). At the beginning, Frank is hesitant as to assisting him in his quest but on mentioning that Longoria can be compared to Nazi, only a modern day vers ion of one, he does not think twice. Frank is also in a position to relate with current happenings during that period since he also happens to be of a minority group, living in a city where there exists racial tension and manipulation (Ibid 263). Moreover, the setting of the narrative is of two distinct yet similar scenarios, which are intertwined by the protagonists, Antonio and Longoria. Guatemala and Los Angeles are both depicted as being peaceful to begin with but ending up in chaos as a result of civil war and racial tension caused by the Rodney King trail, respectively (Tobar 256). Being citizens of Guatemala but hailing from different backgrounds, Antonio and Longoria find themselves in the city of Los Angeles in an attempt to escape from their painful memories. Here, they are brought together under different circumstances into the same plot of the narrative and the reader observes how each of the protagonists reacts to their present situation (Tobar 254). This new environment does not change the characteristic of either of them and they do their best to adapt to their surroundings. Both Antonio and Longoria are seen to migrate from one camp to the next but the difference is that Longoria is able to enjoy certain privi leges bestowed upon him due to the nature of his rank (Ibid 265). On the other hand, Antonio is left to fend for himself and try surviving whichever way he can since he does not enjoy the same privileges. The Los Angeles riots provoke the protagonists to become more emotional and are reminded of their past memories. For instance, once the riots begin, Antonio finds an inner resolve as a result of being swept up in the emotion, pushing him to seek justice by proceeding to kill Longoria (Tobar 270). Longoria also finds himself in an emotional turmoil after being confronted by Guatemalan refugees who recognized him for who he is and demanded answers to his actions while living in Guatemala. The general setting of the story is in the years 1991 and 1992 when Guatemalan civil war and the Los Angeles riots took place (Ibid 272). The story is also set in two distinct cities, Los Angeles, being a large urban area and Guatemala, being a middle class, small area. These two cities however, share a similar scenario in that they are both set during harsh economic times (Tobar 275). This has an overall impact on the protagonists who find themselves caught up in the occurrences of that particular pe riod. Even though they do not change their identity despite the environments they find themselves in, their attitudes and emotional status are greatly influenced by the surrounding circumstances (Tobar 276). The design or plot of the narrative in The Tattooed Soldier follows a pattern that enables the reader to understand the humanity of war. The narrative begins with a love story of Antonio and Elena, proceeds with her and her sons brutal execution by the guerrillas, one of whom is Longoria and ends with a street murder at the height of Rodney King riots in Los Angeles (Tobar 279). The author of The Tattooed Soldier leaves the readers greatly uncentered in that he depicts Antonio and Longoria as victims facing the same challenging situation in Los Angeles. This in turn leads the readers to setting aside their perceived hatred towards Longoria and instead makes them empathize with both protagonists (Ibid 283). CONCLUSION Hector Tobar writes the novel The Tattooed Soldier with the aim of looking at issues facing the society as a whole for instance issues related to class structure and ethnicity. Victimized individuals in Guatemala as well as homeless immigrants living in Los Angeles are brought to light and this enables the readers to put aside their differences and hatred for a moment and instead focus on experiencing mutual humanity. WORK CITED Tobar, Hector. The Tattooed Soldier. Delphinium Books. University of Texas. 1998. p. 25 307.

Coral Reefs And Bleaching Phenomenon Essay -- essays research papers

Imagine yourself observing one of the most diverse ecosystems on earth. Thousands of species of plants and animals provide a dizzying array of color and motion. Massive structures provide a canopy that shelters hundreds of exotic species in a myriad of microclimates. As land-based observers, we almost automatically assume that this is a description of the rich ecosystem of a tropical rainforest. However, if we take ourselves off the safety of dry land and immerse ourselves in the ocean, we will find an equally dynamic environment in the depths of our world’s coral reefs. As a Zoology major, I quickly decided to explore this biological component of the ocean environment. In the following paper, I will provide a general overview of coral reefs and examine the alarming depletion of coral and their ecological symbionts in a process known as coral bleaching.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As mentioned earlier, coral reefs are among the most diverse and productive of all communities on Earth. They are also the largest biological structures on the planet. The Great Barrier Reef, along the eastern coast of Australia, covers over 2000 kilometers and is said to be visible from the moon (Goreau, 1987). While the size of coral reefs can be enormous, their real impact is on a much smaller scale. Reefs function as food and shelter for fish and marine invertebrates. While the coral itself is an animal, through a symbiotic relationship with the unicellular algae, coral becomes the primary producer in its ocean ecosystem (Richmond 1993). The reefs are formed by calcium carbonate deposits produced by the coral polyps. According to the legendary Cousteau, in his book The Ocean World, tube worms and mollusks also donate their hard skeletons to the architecture of the growing reef (174). Biologically active compounds are also produced by reef dwelling organisms an d posses antimicrobial and antiviral properties (Van Alstyne 1988). In fact, coral produces a natural sunscreen that is currently marketed and also holds promise in generating chemicals for AIDS and cancer research. In 1995, researchers mimicked the structural components of coral and now use the patented super hard compound to repair shattered human bones (Alderage 1995). Further more, coral reefs are naturally extremely productive fishing grounds. In fact, healthy reefs produce up to 10-100 times more yield per unit a... ...pear, the fate of one of the world’s most diverse ecosystem remains to be seen. Bibliography Alderage, Susan. April 1995. â€Å"Coral :Replacement for Human Bones.† Focus Magazine. P45(46) Brown, B.E., Odgen, J.C. 1993. â€Å"Coral Bleaching.† Scientific American, 269:64-70 Cohen, Anne L.; Lobel, Phillip S. Oct. 1997. â€Å"Coral Bleaching on the Johnston Atoll.† The Biological Bulletin. V193: n2. P276(4). â€Å"Coral Color.† November 1997. Discover Magazine-Current Clips. P10 Cousteau, J. Y. 1985. The Ocean World. Harry N. Abrams, Inc., New York, NY, pp. 174-175. Goreau, Thomas. August 1987. â€Å"Coral and Coral Parks.† Scientific American. V113:34-36 Luoma, Jon R. Nov. 1996. â€Å"Reef Madness† Audubon. V98: n6. P24(3). Richmond, R. H. 1993. â€Å"Coral Reefs: Present problems and Future Concerns Resulting form Athropogenic Disturbence.† American Zoologist. V33: P524-536. Van Alstyne, K. L. and V. J. Paul. 1988. â€Å"The Role of Secondary Metabolites in Marine Ecological Interactions.† Proceedings of the 6th International Coral Reef Symposium, Australia, Vol. 1. Wilkinson, C. R. 1987. â€Å"Interocean Differences in Size and Nutrition of Coral Reef Sponge Populations.† Science, Vol. 236: P1654-1657.

Past, Present, and Future Trends Essay

Policing as defined by Merriam Webster is to control, regulate, or keep in order by the use of police. Since the early years of its existence, policing has taken on several changes some historically. Policing has made momentous changes since its implementation. Policing has changed form a one sheriff community to a multi-agency department of law enforcement officials sworn to protect and serve. The changes made in policing have varied from race and gender. The development of policing within each level of government has proven to be an every growing entity with major obstacles. The changes in criminal activity, the age of those breaking the law, and the changing laws has made policing and ever changing agency. Past trends like gangs always have been an issue, but pose serious challenges for law enforcement today. â€Å"More and more juveniles are transferred to adult court systems, greater demands will be placed on correctional institutions and their staff (Muraskin & Roberts, 2009, pg. 3, Para 5)†. With the threat of urban terrorism, these aggressive gangs control the social lives of many neighborhoods, becoming more of a threat than foreign terrorists (Muraskin & Roberts, 2009) Past trends like the large use of illegal drugs that are still causing high incarceration rates is proving that incarceration is not working. These offenders, which were incarcerated for these crimes once released relapse into the same criminal behavior, leaving many victims behind. There have been several changes in policing from the mid 1800s. With the continued changes and growth within many communities, the law enforcement community needed to change and grow with the communities. There were many changes that needed to take place to serve the community and society. Many changes have occurred from the 1960s on into the 1990s. One major change in policing has been the representation of African American officers in many police departments (Walker, Katz, Ch.2). The process to the present policing was a slow and effective process, which has changed over the years to create a more effective policing system. To this day, in many communities there are problems within policing. The present problems still include corruption and many political influences from within the community. Policing today has become more effective with little discrimination. The future produces many different avenues for change in police organizations. Technology has grown, times have changed and people are different today when it comes down to policing in the United States. Almost everything will be digital, accurate and there will no longer be a need for as many officers. The use of our satellites in space will be more common and crime will be detected easier and response times will be faster. The communication with fellow officers will be better. With the future so bright, technology evolving by the day, policing organization can only progress. This will also have a positive impact on the community and maybe it will place trust in our judicial system again. . The changes policing has endured over the course of years has evolved policing into a multifunctional agency of dedicated men and women who have promised to protect and serve. For policing to be effective, agencies of the criminal justice system must continue to work hand-in-hand to provide the best protection for its citizens. Policing will be ever changing because of the differences of criminal activity presented and by the type of criminals involved. Reference: Chapter 2 The History of the American Police by, Samuel Walker, Charles M. Katz https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2/content/TOC.aspx?assetdataid=a8b78864-484e-4b62-b701-f4fe1ceab16e&assetmetaid=861d2838-2f16-4997-b003-4b80c855c78b

Free Essays on Bush Administration Travel Budget

The article that I chose for my current events paper came from the New York Times, on September 25, 2002. The title of the article is  ¡Ã‚ °Cheney ¡Ã‚ ¯s Travel Budget Raises Eyebrows ¡Ã‚ ±. It was written by Katherine Q. Seelye. Vice President Dick Cheney ¡Ã‚ ¯s staff is asking Congress for an additional $100, 000 for his travel budget this year. Administration officials say it is for  ¡Ã‚ °additional unplanned official trips ¡Ã‚ ± related to the aftermath of the September 11th attacks. Democrats suggest the money is being used for political trips in this campaign season. Mr. Cheney is given $386,000 appropriated by Congress, for the fiscal year. He has already spent that sum, as well as an additional $50,000 Congress gives him for unanticipated travel. In 1994, the comparable year for President Bill Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore was allocated $164,000 and spent only $51,000 of that amount. When asked his opinion about the funds, David Sirota, spokesman for the Democrats on the House of Appropriations Committee, said,  ¡Ã‚ °This kind of disregard for other people ¡Ã‚ ¯s money may have worked at Halliburton, but it doesn ¡Ã‚ ¯t work with the American taxpayer. ¡Ã‚ ± According to the figures in the article, Vice President Cheney has spent $1194.52 per day for a full fiscal year. That is an outrageous amount of money for travel. I have an idea for a budget plan. If we cut all the politicians ¡Ã‚ ¯ travel money for the fiscal year in half, I think we would have quite a substantial amount for some worthwhile government spending (like maybe bailing out Amtrak). I do understand that politicians and government officials cannot travel by commercial flight, but there has to be a better system in place. I am appalled to think that I pay $0.30 out of every dollar I earn to pay for this kind of nonsense.... Free Essays on Bush Administration Travel Budget Free Essays on Bush Administration Travel Budget The article that I chose for my current events paper came from the New York Times, on September 25, 2002. The title of the article is  ¡Ã‚ °Cheney ¡Ã‚ ¯s Travel Budget Raises Eyebrows ¡Ã‚ ±. It was written by Katherine Q. Seelye. Vice President Dick Cheney ¡Ã‚ ¯s staff is asking Congress for an additional $100, 000 for his travel budget this year. Administration officials say it is for  ¡Ã‚ °additional unplanned official trips ¡Ã‚ ± related to the aftermath of the September 11th attacks. Democrats suggest the money is being used for political trips in this campaign season. Mr. Cheney is given $386,000 appropriated by Congress, for the fiscal year. He has already spent that sum, as well as an additional $50,000 Congress gives him for unanticipated travel. In 1994, the comparable year for President Bill Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore was allocated $164,000 and spent only $51,000 of that amount. When asked his opinion about the funds, David Sirota, spokesman for the Democrats on the House of Appropriations Committee, said,  ¡Ã‚ °This kind of disregard for other people ¡Ã‚ ¯s money may have worked at Halliburton, but it doesn ¡Ã‚ ¯t work with the American taxpayer. ¡Ã‚ ± According to the figures in the article, Vice President Cheney has spent $1194.52 per day for a full fiscal year. That is an outrageous amount of money for travel. I have an idea for a budget plan. If we cut all the politicians ¡Ã‚ ¯ travel money for the fiscal year in half, I think we would have quite a substantial amount for some worthwhile government spending (like maybe bailing out Amtrak). I do understand that politicians and government officials cannot travel by commercial flight, but there has to be a better system in place. I am appalled to think that I pay $0.30 out of every dollar I earn to pay for this kind of nonsense....

buy custom Patents in Australia essay

buy custom Patents in Australia essay Patent laws in Australia play a significant role in determining the rights and obligations of a business and to its technological output. Duncan (2005) says that Patent Law in Australia is governed by the Patents Act 1990 (Cth). The patent protection under this Act has a wide application in the country. Patent protection can also be obtained in most other industrialized countries. Duncan (2005) also indicated that the grant of a patent confers on the patentee the exclusive right to exploit the invention and to authorize another person to exploit the invention (p. 416). In order to be patentable an invention must be a manner of manufacture within the meaning of s 6 of the statute of monopolies. This implies that the essence that it has not been published used or sold anywhere in the world before the patent application was filed. Duncan (2005) noted that the Patents Act specifies that an invention must be useful in order to be patentable but this requires only that the results promised in the patent specification can all be achieved if the instructions in the specification are followed (p. 416). The Australian patent law is aligned with international standards and on the other hand Australia adheres to the Paris convention for the protection of industrial property Caenegem (2010). The countrys Patents act 1990 provides two main categories of patents which include standard patents and innovation patents. Caenegem (2010) says that the Australian Law does not have a separate statute covering so called utility models and therefore to some extent the innovation patent fulfils that function. This confers protection for a shorter term on the basis of a simplified application procedure which does not require substantive examination prior to sealing for inventions consisting of a limited number of claims (Caenegem, 2010). In Australia the Advisory Council on Intellectual Property entails no change to the law which does not bar patents for business methods staying in line with Japan and New Zealand (Colston Middleton, 2005). It states that there is little evidence to suggest that business method patents either stimulate or inhibit innovation in Australia. Colston Middleton (2005) indicated that this calls for IP Australia to maintain records of the number of business system patents and their significance and to report annually. The Australian Patent Law is therefore intended to encourage inventive ingenuity and the industrial progress of society under the public policy and it is through the reward of invention that this will be achieved ( Clark, et.al, 2010). Clark, et.al (2010) noted that it is appropriate that patents be used wherever possible to protect the interests and rights of those utilizing electronic commerce as a means of doing business (p. 129). It is required that a business system shows novelty and inventiveness for a standard patent which is measured against prior disclosures officially recorded anywhere in the world. They continue to say that most patents do not involve major breakthroughs but involve improvements on existing technology. Clark, et.al (2010) noted that in Australia a patent should not be given for something that is obvious. The Australian Patent Act provides that an invention is patentable if it is a manner of manufacture which compared to the prior art base existing before the claim. Clark, et.al (2010) says that what is not patentable includes business schemes such as methods of office management and product promotion (p. 130). It is important to note that the standard patent provides a legal monopoly for twenty years duration from the date of complete specification. Clark, et.al (2010) commented that the first step involved in acquiring a patent involves the lodging of an application with the Patent Office in Canberra by the inventor, an assignee, or legal representative of the inventor. The patent application must be for one invention only and include either a complete or a provisional specification describing the invention. According to Clark, et.al (2010) an advantage of electing to proceed with a provisional specification is that it allows the owner of an invention to gain protection at the earliest possible date while giving the inventor further time to work on the invention (p. 131). Another advantage of patenting is that it is designed to provide an incentive to small business to invest in innovation and is already considered to provide a relatively cheap patent right that is quick and easy to obtain. Business system or method patents Clark, et.al (2010) says that though patent law is much in flux there has been a recent trend by patent authorities in Australia as in the US, toward awarding patents for methods of doing business. In addition, these methods of doing business patents have been described as soft patents because in contrast to conventional and long standing patent law requirements, no physical invention is involved (Clark, et.al, 2010). However, studies show that these are among the most controversial forms of legal protection for some businesses both in the bricks and mortar world and in cyberspace. They are known to be the most important assets that why they are known as Patents for Business schemes in Australia. The subject matters that may be patented under this category are extremely broad for example those covering hardware devices, software programs, internet applications, electronic commerce products, data processing system such as ATMs and card readers and even new financial products. Clark, et.al (2010) says that a business method patent is in most respects just like any other patent expected that the subject matter relates in some way to a method of doing business (p. 135). Registering a patent for a business scheme is straightforward, with the usual tests applied by IP Australia, with the added requirement that the scheme gives rise to as physical, artificially created end result. One of the major examples in Australia is a patent filed by EDS that effectively patents a software application that asks the online customer if they would like fries with their burger. Clark, et.al (2010) determined that a problem which the decision to admit business methods patents has created is that it also has raised a long-debated question of whether patents actually prmote or hinder innovation. It is fundamental to realize that unlike the giving of copyright in every eligible publication regardless of its literary merit, it was never the object of patent laws to grant a monopoly for every trifling device that would naturally occur to any skilled mechanic, operator, or computer programmer (Clark, et.al, 2010). There is a view in Australia that such an indiscriminate creation of exclusive privileges tends to obstruct, not stimulate invention, creating a class of speculative schemers who make it their business to watch the advancing wave of improvement and to use patent monopolies to impose what amounts to a heavy tax upon industry without actually contributing anything to its real advancement. This may not therefore be in the best inter crests of the public to grant them on the scale that is occurring in the US (Clark, et.al, 2010). Patentable subject matter is to be determined by the application of flexible principles and is not to be fettered by contrived constraints or a strict test. Clark, et.al (2010) says that this is a direct contrast to the difficulties experienced in Europe with explicitly defined exclusions. They further says that the Full Court found that in both the US and Australia, the courts had adopted a broad approach to determining patentable subject matter in order to adapt to new technology and inventions but this did not mean that there were no restrictions on what is patentable (Clark, et.al, 2010). The court said that it did not matter whether an invention was referred to as a business method or business system since all that mattered was that the principle for determining patentable subject matter needed to be applied. According to Dodgson, Gann Salter (2008) patents can provide temporary monopolies for inventors and therefore they should be an incentive to innovate. It has however been noted that patents often work better in theory than in practice. Dodgson, Gann Salter (2008) further say that they are expensive to acquire and difficult to enforce and trade. In Australia patents of business systems or methods are used by large firms to create thickets slowing down the diffusion of innovations and limiting opportunities or new entrants. Only few patents in Australia have potential financial value and small firms often lack the capabilities and resources necessary for turning their patented technology into a successful business (Dodgson, Gann Salter, 2008). It is also notable that considerable amounts of social resources are spent on acquiring, defending, and disputing patents, often too little purpose. In addition Dodgson, Gann Salter (2008) noted that it is also possible to imagine prize based systems running alongside the existing patent system (p. 291). Currently the patent system does not seek to differentiate between the novelties of different patents. In this context, studies indicate that once an inventor has been able to demonstrate that his or her invention achieves a uniform standard of novelty this can be recognized in a patent. Dodgson, Gann Salter (2008) says that expert technical assessments performed by patent officers are also used to judge the degree of novelty of an invention. In Australia business system inventions can be excluded from patentability if they are not considered as being within a field of technology. Dodgson, Gann Salter (2008) indicated that a major fear is that business system patents will become pervasive, creating inefficiencies and dampening initiative without a corresponding increase in innovation. The Australian data allow some insight into the wider distribution of corporate patents (Haunss Shadlen, 2009). Businesses in Australia are clearly selective in what they patent in Australia compared with the USA. It is notable that where a business system patents in both USA and Australia, the number of patents taken out in Australia is usually much less. Haunss Shadlen (2009) noted that on average the number of Australian patents acquired is less than 6% of those acquired in the US in electronics, information technology, and telecoms (p. 195). Possible explanations are that only genuinely significant business systems are patented on a global basis or that where Australia lacks industrial depth it is seen as unnecessary to take out patents. The Patents Act of 1990 governs applications for and the maintenance of patents in Australia. Goldscheider (2002) says that the business system or method that qualifies for patent is product or process within the field of the useful as opposed to fine arts, one that is economically valuable, is new and involves an inventive or in the case of an innovation patent an innovative step (p. 430). He further says that patent protection has applicable to all segments of technological development, involving products, processes, or composition. Goldscheider (2002) indicated that the applicability of patent has now extend beyond traditional areas of technology to such things as computer programs, business methods, bacteria, gene sequences, and microorganisms. Advantages and disadvantages of patenting business methods One of the advantages of patent systems in Australia is that they are one of the oldest policies to promote innovation (Arup Caenegem, 2009). Arup Caenegem (2009) commented that patent policy is based on a conundrum is designed to increase innovation and that it operates by initially suppressing the dissemination of new patented technologies (p. 29). Patenting business systems involves significant positive and negative externalities and these externalities need to be added to private costs and benefits in order to estimate the net return to the society. It is also important to note that the anticipated positive externalities are the underlying rationale for the patent protection intervention in the economy. Arup Caenegem (2009) say that business method patents are expected to induce more innovation, generating increased consumer surplus, spillovers of knowledge, enhanced productivity and higher economic growth (p. 30). One the major disadvantages of patenting business methods is i ts effects on losses as a result of exercising of monopoly power that is lower output, less competition and reduced consumer surplus.. Patents in business systems results to rise in direct transaction and rent seeking costs and indirect costs due to misallocation of resources. Arup Caenegem (2009) says that the impacts on innovation, competition, and resource allocation become priority categories, within which benefits and costs should be identified. They also said that if a patent system induces more innovation, which in turn affects resource allocation and through the grant of the patent monopoly, competition. According to Arup Caenegem (2009) many of the patents owned by such firms may not be used in the sense of being worked but they used for strategic impacts such as misleading competitors about the key directions of research, making significant patents harder to find, challenging other firms in cross licensing negotiations and preventing entry to a market. Due to patenting practice in Australia there has been dramatic increase in the number of software patents obtained (Terashima Altman, 1996). This therefore reflects the size and the importance of the Australian market. As a result of patenting on the noticeable changes especially from the practitioners point of view is that business systems are now simply examined in terms of merit that is whether the invention claimed is sufficiently novel and inventive, and time and money is not wasted on arguments as to whether the subject matter claimed is capable of being protected by patent (Terashima Altman, 1996). Moreover, Arup Caenegem (2009) noted that effective patent protection helps trade in technology, both domestically and internationally. This implies that an effective patent system, accessible to foreign technology supplier allows Australian firms to import technology that would otherwise be unavailable or would only be available at higher cost (Arup Caenegem, 2009). This in turn increases productivity and enhances competition in the Australian economy. Arup Caenegem (2009) says that the importance of technological imports is demonstrated by over 90% of patents registered in Australia, and which are owned by foreigners (p. 106). It was discovered that the patent privileges were the best system yet devised to balance the tradeoff between maintain incentives to invest and fostering the diffusion of new technology. It is worth noting that uncertainty as to which of several contending parties will receive patent protection and how much protection patents will afford as an imperfection in the existing patent privilege scheme (Arup Caenegem, 2009). Patent privileges can lead to losses in allocate and productive efficiency although for a patent holder, this can rarely act as a pure monopoly because of the availability of alternative and substitute products and processes and also because some scope for imitation almost always exists. Suthersanen, Dutfield Chow (2007) says that the innovation patent system that was introduced in July 2001 plays a fundamental role of filling the gap that exists with regard to minor and incremental innovations. Suthersanen, Dutfield Chow (2007) also says that this type of business method patent in Australia offers a quick, less expensive, and simple form of protection to encourage individuals and small to medium sized businesses to realize their good ideas (p. 125). It was intended that the innovation patent was to particularly assist SMEs to get patent protection, and protection for a sufficiently long period to encourage investment in innovation within Australia. In their research, Davison, Monotti Wiseman (2008) saod that the policy approach to review and change the patent system in Australia should seek to optimize the benefits arising from the operation of the patent system in the national interest to the extent possible and on the other hand having to the particular circumstances of the Australian economy. The Australian patent system should seek to adjust the length, strength and breadth of patent rights so as to maximize the social benefits and to minimize the social costs of Australians (Davison, Monotti Wiseman, 2008). Patents helps business methods to gain increased benefits for Australians by fostering indigenous innovation and utilizing the international patent system in developing export markets to improve Australias international competitive position. Davison, Monotti Wiseman (2008) also noted that patents in business methods reduces unnecessary social costs including those resulting from undesirable anti-competitive conductin g involving patents and also improves the efficiency of the administration of the patent system with consequent reduction of direct costs. Patents encourage research and development and simulate innovation to appear to be highly variable across technologies and industries (Merrill, Levin Myers, 2004). It has also been noted that in many cases patenting activity has departed from its traditional role and has become strategic. Merrill, Levin Myers (2004) also indicated that firms can build large patents portfolios to gain access to others technologies and reduce their vulnerability to infringement litigation. In the non manufacturing part of the economy, it is less clear that patents induce additional investment for example in software advances and business method improvements (Merrill, Levin Myers, 2004). Researchers however say that the quid pro quo for giving the patent holder the right to exclude others is to compel disclosure of the invention in terms that enable others to replicate, modify, and circumvent it. In conclusion, Park (2010) noted that the costs of patent systems are closely related to the benefits and thus the attempt to reduce the costs may also minimize the benefits thus increasing the benefits of patent systems. It is also rare that a patent right creates market power thus providing monopoly profits to its owner. Park (2010) also says that most patents fail to create market power in related markets and as a result many competitors are capable of inventing around the patented technology and thus introducing competing products into the market. Therefore, business method patent systems encourage economic entities to participate in inventive activities by providing the incentive to invent based on the fact that inventions are necessary for industrial progress in Australia. Buy custom Patents in Australia essay

LBSMK 2004 SERVICES MARKETING personal evaluation project (PEP) Literature review

LBSMK 2004 SERVICES MARKETING personal evaluation project (PEP) - Literature review Example Yet, the causes of such dissatisfaction are varied and extensive. The concept of â€Å"satisfaction gaps† emerged from marketing research, which is the difference between customer expectations and their corresponding experience. This paper will attempt to propose a solution to such gap in a marketing-related problem of a service establishment. 2.0. Critical Analysis of the Issue and Literature Review 2.1. The Problem For the purpose of anonymity and confidentiality dictated by research ethics, the business establishment which will be discussed in this paper will be called simply as Company X (Bryman and Bell 2007). Company X is a technology service company whose specialisation is laptop, desktop and cellular phone repair. It was established in 2000 and is located in Eastern-Central Britain. The establishment showed good performance in its first three years of operation. This was mainly the reason why Company X was sub-contracted by a Northern European mobile phone company in 2 004 to serve its clientele in the geographic area covered by Company X, for repair and replacement of parts, if necessary. Subcontracting with the mobile phone company lifted the spirits of both management and technicians. The technicians performed well and helped generate both revenue and more patrons for Company X. Mobile phones which were already off-guarantee period were still being brought by former customers mainly because of their prompt service and technical know-how. Things went well for Company X that its sub-contracting functions with the mobile company was renewed for three-consecutive years. In 2008, a laptop and desktop manufacturer based in the North America commissioned Company X as one of its official service centres. Management was ecstatic. Its 10 best technicians were offered training packages to further hone their skills while the remaining 22 technicians were left to attend to the service needs of their growing clientele. Management promised that the rest of th e technicians will also attend training in two batches after the 10 have returned to resume their tasks. While the company operated for only 12 hours each day, technicians worked in three eight-hour shifts, or seven technicians per shift. When job orders increased to levels where the technicians can no longer put-up with the deadlines they set for completion of the service requests, management opted for overtime with pay instead of hiring new technicians. The rationale volunteered by management is that hiring new technicians will not ensure that deadlines will be met since they would not be sure if the applicants can deliver up to management expectations by simply looking at their resumes. With an additional sub-contracting project and fewer technicians to work on repair orders, problems started to surface. To date, absenteeism became rampant. Patrons are starting to be dissatisfied with the service jobs they requested. Technicians who used to be accommodating and interacted with cu stomers with a smile have turned grumpy. Customers have aired their complaints with customer service. The mobile company had threatened not to renew their contract if the customer service issues will not be addressed. In the operation manager’s latest quarterly report, revenue for the last month dropped by 40% of the previous six

The role of International Human Resource Management Essay

The role of International Human Resource Management - Essay Example But for most enterprises including hotel nd hospitlity industry interntionliztion equtes with n incresingly importnt role for IHRM nd necessity to dpt HR prctices to locl needs. Current pper is n nlysis of Seychelles' HRM in comprison with UK. The study is bsed on the cse of Molten Hotel tht is opening on n islnd Seychelles nd requires recommendtion on HR prctices in order to effectively mnge the locl stff nd rech the profitbility on new mrket. Molten Hotels is leding UK bsed hospitlity compny, which owns nd mnges hotels round the world, with one of the UK's best know brnd nmes. The compny hs hotels in thirty eight countries nd dependent territories round the world, with its hed office bsed on the Strnd in London, UK. It employs round 50,000 people worldwide, nd is regulrly recognised s n employer of choice. The compny hd totl revenues of just over three billion dollrs worldwide during the 2007 finncil yer, with operting profit of round five hundred million. This put the hotel just below such globl brnd nmes s Hilton nd Mrriott in terms of globl rech, brnd recognition nd finncil performnce. The first Molten Hotel ws founded in 1758 by John Molten in Mnchester, where it ws known s Molten's Guest nd Coch House. The hotel ws fmily owned nd run for the first hundred nd twenty yers until in the end of the 19th century, when brhm Molten took dvntge of the rilwys tht hd sprung up cross the country to build two new hotels in Liverpool nd Blckpool. These new hotels proved to be mssive success, s incresing numbers of people begn holidying in costl resorts to escpe the industrilised cities. By 1960, the compny hd set up further 21 hotels round the country, with 18 of these in costl towns including Brighton, Skegness nd Torquy. The compny then decided to expnd to other countries in Europe, gin focusing on the costl regions where tourism ws beginning to grow rpidly. Following perceived sturting of the Europen mrket, the compny expnded its opertions brod, building hotels in Brbdos nd Jmic in the Crribben, Rio de Jneiro nd Slvdor in Brzil, Tunisi, Morocco nd Egypt in fric, nd severl costl cities in ustrli. The compny hs proven trck record of building hotels by the se with excellent use of rchitecture to provide lmost ll rooms with se views nd ensure tht guests hve ll their needs ttended to, in order to gin the mximum plesure from their stys. The compny's prices re mong the highest in the industry for hotel rooms, lthough they sit below the prices of most dedicted resorts, vills nd sps. The compny's most recent project, in Dubi, ws nother four str hotel, pitched to ppel to the upper hlf of the hotel mrket. Prt 1: 1. PEST nlysis Politicl UK hs business friendly environment where the competition mong tourism compnies is encourged in order to sustin competitive dvntge. The compnies therefore recruiter the best employees on the mrket since the competition for good employees is very intense. The HR policies re influenced by with the government pressures to recruit ntionls in comprison to foreigners. However, if foreign employee is hired, the security is provided in return for

Strategic Staffing Handbook Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Strategic Staffing Handbook - Essay Example Rather, expanding the traditional approach, it principally turns the existing staff members from being reactive to a proactive nature. It actually complies with the just-in-time supply chain management with regard to the operational process that mainly involves the management of the talent supply in order to ensure right people in appropriate position at right time (Bechet, 2008). Strategic Staffing handbook is theoretically regarded as a medium that provides the employees with detail information of the organization as well as the employment terms. Strategic Staffing handbook usually entails polices, rules and the procedures being operated within the organization. It also entails the details of the employment contract. It frames an important Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) tool within any organization providing the entire internal scenario of the organizations’ operations and its prevailing policies and procedures. Hence, it is vital for the staff to go through the staffing handbook with great care as the staffing handbook not only gives details about the assigned roles along with the responsibilities of the employees, but also intends to discuss about the company’s human resource quality. It provides an insight on the job analysis segment and the approaches to the process of the job analysis consequently. Apart from this, the handboo k also provided an overview about the employment details. Strategic staffing for our company reflects about the process, which has been into application in order to identify the implications of the selected staff members. The application of the strategic staffing principally addresses the impacts of staffing on our company’s business strategies along with the advanced plan. Apart from this, our company also implements the notions of strategic staffing in order to gain ideas about the prevailing issues that reflect about the gap or surplus with regard to

Gender, Culture, and Globalization Essay Example for Free

Gender, Culture, and Globalization Essay In the Western world, the cause of feminism enabled women to obtain higher education and participate in the economic sector as the equals of men. However, one question that continues to be of interest to modern scholars is: how far have women truly come globally? Not only in Western democracies, but in developing nations located in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. For example, in the Philippines, many women support their families by working abroad as domestics and health care providers, which allegedly fracture family dynamics of many Filipino homes. While migrant fathers supporting families is seen as par for the course, migrant mothers are blamed for the destruction of Filipino society in the media. â€Å"These reports tend to vilify migrant mothers, suggesting that their children face more profound problems than do those of migrant fathers† (Ehrenreich Hochschild, 40). In the Middle East and North Africa, the economic opportunities of women are even more restricted. Many of the popular interpretations of Islam prohibit women from working altogether, but in Egypt, women are allowed to seek employment. However, it is usually restricted to the largely unskilled service sector considered to be below the dignity of men. â€Å"This is reflected in the very low rates of wage employment in the private sector, continued high unemployment rates for educated females, and a large gender wage gap in the private sector† (Doumato Posusney, 121). In the United States, racism is still a potent force preventing the economic advancement of minority women, especially with the dismantling of affirmative action in many states. Still, those making the hiring decisions tend to be overwhelmingly white, and even though many claim to not carry racist/sexist sentiments, research has shown that they have made decisions deleterious to minority women because of stereotypes (Mutari Figart, 183). Works Cited Doumato, Eleanor Abdella and Marsha Pripstein Posusney. Women and Globalization in the Arab Middle East: Gender, Economy and Society. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2003 Ehrenreich, Barbara and Arlie Russell Hochschild. Global Woman: Nannies, Maids, and Sex Workers in the New Economy. New York: Metropolitan Books, 2003 Mutari, Ellen and Deborah M. Figart. Woman and the Economy: A Reader. Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe, Inc. , 2003

Netflix And Blockbuster Battle For Market Leadership Marketing Essay

Netflix And Blockbuster Battle For Market Leadership Marketing Essay Movie retail industry includes such companies that rent DVDs, Blu-ray discs and even video games which are usable on home-based electronic equipment (Espedido Julian, 2010). Many companies are participants in this lucrative business and they include such companies as Wal-Mart, Netflix, Blockbuster, Intelliflix, Redbox and GameZnFlix among others. Both Netflix and Blockbuster companies are presently the leaders in the rental movie industry and therefore the major rivals in the rental movie industry. As to Blockbuster, it has a quite lengthy convention in the business. The Blockbuster has existed since the year 1985, even as Netflix entered its 12th anniversary this year. This gives Blockbuster an edge of existence over its close competitor Netflix. This paper intends to critically provide an in depth analysis for Arthur Thompsons case study entitled Competition in the Movie Rental Industry in 2008: Netflix and Blockbuster Battle for Market Leadership. It will comb thoroughly issues li ke the trends which affect either negatively or positively the movie rental industry with utmost reference to Netflix and Blockbuster in respect to their fight for the market headship, scrutinize in detail the competitive movie rental industry environment, and by extension give detailed discussion on the use of both the SWOT as well as reasonable scorecard to evaluate Netflixs battle strategy for market leadership on the whole. Dominant Business and Economic Characteristics of Movie Rental Industry: The video rental industry (formally known as home entertainment or leisure) is actually an economic segment duly involved with the development, marketing and sale of movie as well as other computer games. It includes such video games as consoles, game software, mobile games, handheld devices as well as online games. In recent years, the movie industry of has been experiencing exponential growth. The growth has been such that it is expected even to further leap-frog in the near and far future (Espedido Julian, 2010). According to Espedido Julian (2010), the industrys dominant economic features include 1) Market bulk and growth pace More than $35 billion was spent on video games consoles, game software etc. Industry is expected to have more than $51 billion sale by 2010. 2) Numbers of rivals The two main contenders are Netflix and Blockbuster. 3) The extent of competitive challenge Global presence with regional focus is required for companys competitive long term success. 4) Numbers of buyers around 250 to 300 million people globally did watch movies and nearly the same number did play video games in the year 2007. There is for instance, an estimated average age of those actively involved in the video games. The estimated age has actually jumped to 33 years in 2005, and about 25 percent of video gamers were in excess of age 50. 5) The extent of product discrimination The bigger the extent of differentiation, the further the competitive advantage. 6) Product innovation merchandise innovation plays noteworthy role in capturing the market share and to take competitive advantage in the market. And finally, pace of technological advancement Newly sophisticated technology advancement does plays a crucial role in entertainment industry particularly with due regard to movie rental industry. The emergence for instance of internet services have made it quite easier for Netflixs founder, Reed Hastings who did become aware of the demand for online renting of movies way back in the year 1997. Without hesitation, he began the vibrant online movie rental business indeed to a large scale. Netflix became successful, and it did not take long before he began to bring in the reimbursements of someone elses idea. Competition: In the movie rental industry, there has been an intense competition between two major business rivals; Netflix and Blockbuster. The competition in the movie rental industry has been so frighteningly fierce for the precedent few years that it has been termed by many opinion leaders as unhealthy business wise. Netflix and Blockbuster are actually the current leaders in the booming rental movie industry and by extension and to that effect the major rivals. The Blockbuster has been in the business for long, in fact, since 1985 on the other hand, Netflix only entered its 12th existence year this year. Actually the founder, Reed Hastings did establish Netflix in the year 1997. Nevertheless, at the moment, Netflix appears to lead the market in terms of market acquisition. Netflix which is largely viewed as a newcomer does have around 9.6 million online customers who have subscribed to their services. In comparison, Blockbuster has just slightly more than 3 million online subscribers despite its longer years of existence. In the United States of America, there are other online movie rental companies which include companies such as Intelliflix, Redbox and GameZnFlix. However, GameZnFlix and Redbox do not serve the locals most of the time. Instead they more often than not target Asian markets. Additionally, Wal-Mart also did attempt to spawn profits in the movie rental industry but sooner was outrun in the business by Netflix. These days Wal-Mart merely possesses an advertising contract with Netflix in the industry. Online Service General Idea: Both the Netflix and Blockbuster entire right of entry are online movie rental services. This implies that one can look through their records and place movies or even a favorite program in ones queue. A customer or a member is permitted to maintain a DVD so long as she/he so wants and there also exist no outstanding dates or even late charges. The operation is such that once a movie had been seen it is wrapped in an envelope and immediately sent back to either Netflix or Blockbuster. So responsive are the movie rental companies such that as soon as a movie sent back is received, the next movie to be sent in the stand in line will duly be sent to the customer or member. Indeed, Both Netflix and Blockbuster do have many different strategies from which to choose. The possible options are two-fold and they include limited rentals and unlimited rentals. In its infinite DVD rental option, Netflix does offer eight (8) strategies. The costs normally vary from about $10 for a movie at a parti cular time to around $50 for 8 movies. On the other hand, Blockbuster has four (4) different schemes which fall between $10 and $24. As regards limited rentals, Netflix normally offer two (2) DVDs per month for about $6 or four (4) DVDs for a period of one month for about $12.however, with reference to limited rentals, a Blockbuster member is able to get two (2) DVDs for the equivalent value as their market challengers or four (4) DVDs for about $8 only. Netflix has more continuous entertainment flow merits. Netflix utilizes technological advancement than no other company. For example if an individual is a member of Netflix, it is highly possible movies are watched from the individuals website at the same time as the person is waiting to obtain the subsequent movies from the list. This benefit is only to be had to Netflix customers. Nonetheless, Blockbuster also has certain incentives to their customers. It normally let a rental customer to turn back a watched movie physically. On f urther advancement to outdo each other, Netflix more often than not sends a new show within a day, whereas it takes Blockbuster around two to three days to deliver a new movie. Netflix is really sophisticated in this business. It does offer a wider assortment of movies as compared to its biggest competitors and even a rare expediency of watching shows online. Further still, they are also faster on matters shipping. With regard to technological use, Blockbuster only lets a member arrange and order movies online. Their movies are also largely obtainable in their stores. As a result, they lack online movie watching services. However, Blockbuster does give a rare chance to its customers to acquire as much as double shows given that their in store rental services is free with a Total Access Pass. The Forces Driving Movie Rental Industry: Several forces do propel the movie rental industry especially with regard to the performance of one of the market leaders, the Netflix, and they include such forces as i) Market Features-The industry was in actual market maturity stage previous to the application and utilization of the Internet technology as a medium of distribution. Netflix did capitalize and subsequently utilized the Internet sophistication to gain huge market share by offering customers and members with direct movie download accessibility and undeviating shipments to their home. Â   As earlier stated, Netflix was and for that matter still remain a market leader that realized the first potential of the market which did exist for Internet movie rentals. Â  According to Espedido Julian (2010) they did make the product less complex for the consumer to acquire by eliminating unnecessary hassle that existed before and in lieu provided accelerated delivery. ii) Profit Margins of the Industry- the gross profit of Netfli x did shoot up from $8 million in the year 2000 to around $419.6 million in the year 2007. Â  it was an indication that Netflix was proficient and capable of capitalizing on the existing market trends which affect the entire movie rental industry. Netflix market entrance was quite successful and this contributed to their fast growth and expansive market share acquisition. iii) Competition Intensity- when Netflix was entering movie retail industry, the industry then was operating as an oligopoly as Blockbuster did control a major market share. Â   Netflix was amazingly able to compete against the then well established Blockbuster by effectively and efficiently using the Internet technology and the policy of one day delivery distribution channels were its central competitive advantage over Blockbuster and other allied companies in the market that was largely oligopoly. iv) Variations in Demand-Movie demand appears to be somewhat consistent. Â   Nevertheless, more and more customers seem to be too conventional. They are reminiscent of the idea of requesting for the DVDs off the Internet. v) Capital and Technological Requirements- A huge amount of initial capital is duly required to start the business of movie rentals and in turn obtain any momentous share of the market since fees that must be paid is quite exorbitant. Compare Netflix and Blockbusters competitive strategies: Both Netflix and Blockbuster have employed diverse strategies, plans and schemes to gain more market share as well as revenues as they can. They have before engaged in business tussles. Both the companies have actually been involved in price battle, each lowering its operation cost compared to the cost charged by their rival (Thompson, et al. 2010). This strategy however, popular with many competing companies does work advantageously to consumers since the consumers get the same kind of services for a smaller amount of money they pay. The CEO of Netflix, Reed Hastings strategies is to reach about 20 million customers by the year 2012. Netflix therefore puts a great deal of anxiety on Blockbuster compelling them to change something in their strategy and future plans. In fact, up till about two years ago, Blockbuster was charging for their services late fees for failure to return on time DVDs back (Thompson, et al. 2010). The company henceforth changed their strategy and no longer char ge late fees any more. Netflix has very aggressive strategies. They have been purchasing privileges to autonomous films. This plan will permit Netflix to rent or even sell DVDs or movies in the theatres. In so doing, Netflix gambles and attempts to make more cash on movies which Hollywood never considers. It duly works in their favor since only 30 percent of Netflixs rentals are new releases (Thompson, et al. 2010). Advantages/Disadvantages of Two Rivals Advantages of Netflix: Netflix provides more advantages to its customers. According to Roth, Daniel (2009) their customers do watch more than 7000 movies online as a member. Their website also makes recommendations based on your previous ratings. Further, their website keeps track of movies rented. Moreover, they have a large selection of special interest DVDs. Finally, they avail to their customers a 2 week free trial. Disadvantages of Netflix: Netflix have numerous merits. However, they also have few demerits. For instance, they show poor customer service. Their services subject customers into a long wait for new releases. Advantages of Blockbuster Total Access: Blockbuster as a market rival to Netflix has merits too. They offer 2 free video/game in store monthly rentals to their members. Their members also enjoy privilege to return online order to any local Blockbuster store and this is very convenient to customers (Roth, Daniel, 2009). In addition, their customers pay a paltry $9.99 for the first month of subscription. Disadvantages of Blockbuster Total Access: Nevertheless, Blockbuster also has disadvantages. For that case, their customers are barred from returning rented Movies by mail. Finally, their consumers are conditioned to have 2 separate accounts in order to rent in store and online (Blockbuster, 2008). A Complete SWOT for Netflix: The founders of Netflix were Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph. This was way back in the year 1997. They both viewed the business as a blend of customary video store as well as a subscription or payment cable TV services. Since April 1998, Netflix has been offering DVD owners an expedient as well as a cost effectual alternative to rent movies. Netflix has been operating as an internet based rental movie subscription services provider particularly for formatted movies of digital video disc (DVD). Its website provided its members to not only surf its catalogue of shows without difficulties, but also offered clips of movies which customers could afford to rent. Its prime mission is to offer versatile services which can help its members pick and obtain rental movies with an absolute gratification. Netflixs founders were very intelligent. They were able to foresee the positive potential of technological trend of the digital video disc player market jointly with the fast growth of internet access. Netflix as a result placed itself immediately in the internet DVD rental business. Their main focus was on those Americans who love movies, can access the internet, owns a DVD player or possess PCs or have DVD-ROM. Unsatisfied customers with the rule of the game of the other local movie rental companies preferred the online stores which was offered principally by Netflix. The online stores did cover scores of demographics. Summary From the point of view of the user, there is bound to occur varied preferences towards one service. It mostly relies on individual needs of a service member. For instance, versed with technological advancement will more likely favor Netflix, whilst a family living at home and is close to a Blockbuster store would prefer its services. Relying on the observation above, it is adequate to say that Netflix is more than able to be steps ahead of Blockbuster because they do not incur overbearing overhead cost of possessing its stores as well as storing all DVDs.