A person whom I admire

There are so many heroes in this world, from cartoon heroes to, maybe, your life saver. But I am going to talk about my friend. She died when we were 6; she was my best friend and only person I knew at that age. Her death made me miserable and sometimes thought of following her to be with her. But I had my family support and became to realize that there was nothing for me to do. No one told me how and why she died and I still don't know. She was always bright and that's why it is more upsetting. Before I met her I didn't know anyone and anything. I just went to the nursery school and sat there doing nothing and came back home. I didn't have any friends and I always looked angry. I was shy and not talkative; everyone thought I was a loser and some kind of freak. I had to move to another nursery because we were moving house. When I first went to the new nursery everyone was nice to me. I guess that was because they didn't know me. On the way home I found out that she was leaving near to my house. We gradually became to know each other and eventually we were best friends. She was very forward and that's why we connected. We were completely the opposite. Being with her always made me happy, she made me laugh and we had fun together. It was not long after that when she died. I remember the day when the accident happened. It was in the afternoon, I was just having my lunch when the phone rang. It was Saturday so I didn't have to go to the kindergarten. As I was finishing my lunch my mum came in and sat next to me. Because I was young I didn't know. She told me that my best friend just died. I refused to believe her, because it didn't seem real. I saw her yesterday the day before and I was going to see her that evening. It was so hard to get over it; I was so shocked I couldn't even cry. I didn't go to anywhere and sat on the sofa watching TV all day. Now I look back I don't even remember what I was doing and what I was watching. I was lost and couldn't find the way back. We were asked to go to her funeral but I didn't go. I became ill and unhealthy. It was a year after that I came to my senses. I was actually going to a proper school and I didn't want to become my old self, no friends, known as a loser and especially I didn't want to be by myself. So I pretended, I pretended to be her. Everyone liked her and I wanted to be liked and have friends. I started a new life. She wasn't in my new life but she was in me. It would have been better if she didn't die but if she didn't I wouldn't have changed. It is so unfair and unfortunate that she died because she was loved by so many people and she will be remembered by all those who knew her. Her death woke me up to reality and made me into a human being and a person who I am now. I decided to write about my best friend because she was the person who was able to change me into a completely different person. I am thankful that I met her and she was in my life. I am over her death and I miss her occasionally. I prefer not to talk about her often because it takes me back to my old memories which I would rather forget.

Employee Rights Review Essay

â€Å"Acts of Equal Employment Opportunity and Employee Rights† laws make it illegal for employers to discriminate against an employee or potential employee in certain workplaces. The Family Medical Leave Act of 1993 was created to grant family temporary medical leave. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 was created to prevent employees from being discriminated against because of age. The Drug- Free Workplace Act of 1988 requires some federal contractors and federal grantees to agree that they provide drug-free workplaces as a precondition of receiving a contract or grant from a federal agency. The requirements for organizations are more extensive because organizations have to take comprehensive, programmatic steps to achieve a workplace free of drugs. In the case, Coleman v. State of Maryland Court of Appeals, Coleman, an employee for the Maryland Court of Appeals, requested time-off for the purpose of tending to serious personal health issues. The request was denied and Coleman was informed he must resign from his position or risk termination. Coleman sued his employer, claiming that by denying him self-care leave the state court was in violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. His employer, the state, argued that the case should be dismissed based on the state’s ‘sovereign immunity’. Sovereign immunity is a legal provision that says a government agency cannot be sued unless they agree to be sued. After dismissal by the Federal District Court and the Fourth Circuit Court, the case was heard by the United States Supreme Court. On March 20, 2012 the Supreme Court ruled that a provision of the Family and Medical Leave Act giving workers time off to care for health related issues such as serious illness, pregnancy, or childbirth, is not enforceable in cases involving state employees (Migdal, 2012). The Court justified the ruling by stating that the lawsuits by state employees permitted under the FMLA would violate the constitutional rule that the â€Å"states, as sovereigns, are immune from suits for damages.† Basically, the Supreme Court ruled that state workers cannot sue the states under the Family and Medical Leave Act, essentially stripping public employees of the job protection otherwise provided by the act. The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 protects employees of organizations with more than 50 employees in the case of childbirth, adoption, their own medical care or the care of a family member. The law has several stipulations such requiring 1250 working hours in the prior 12 months, therefore, accurate recordkeeping and a process in place to determine FMLA eligibility and compliance is crucial. An example of a company HR policy regarding the Family and Medical leave Act of 1993 may read: â€Å"Employees employed for 12 months or more and who have worked at least 1250 hours in the previous 12 months, may take an unpaid Family and Illness Leave for up to 12-weeks per year. Employees are required to use all available paid time accrued for the leave period prior to unpaid leave.† â€Å"The amount of Family and Illness leave will be based on the amount taken in the 12 months preceding the request for leave, and in cases of serious health condition, require adequate medical certification.† â€Å"Family and Illness Leave may be taken intermittently, or for less than a full day. If the employee remains out on leave for more than 2 weeks, additional medical documentation may be required as allowed by law.† â€Å"An employee returning to work from Family and Illness Leave shall return to the position held at the beginning of the leave, or to an equivalent position with equivalent pay and benefits.† â€Å"Employees on a Family and Illness Leave will continue to have the Employer’s portion of the cost for health insurance paid by the Employer during the leave period. It is the responsibility of the employee to make on-time payments for their portion of those benefits while on leave.† Individuals 40 years of age and older are protected with employment by The Age Discrimination Employment Act. Applicants and employees alike have protection under the ADEA. â€Å"The law protects discriminating against an individual with respect to any term of employment, as it relates to age, compensation, benefits, job assignments, hiring, firing, layoff, job assignments, and training† (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2012). Employers who employ 20 or more employees must comply with the Act. A 70-year-old pharmacist employed by Kmart in Honolulu recently challenged The Age Discrimination Employment Act. The lawsuit charged by the EEOC recognized that Kmart unlawfully discriminated against the pharmacist, and a settlement was reached for $120,000. A Kmart store manager openly â€Å"stated that the pharmacist was too old, should retire and was greedy, for continuing to work at the age of 70† (Inside Counsel, 2012). The age discrimination act protects folks for age harassment. In this case the pharmacist was continually distraught with regard to remarks about her age and the hostile work environment that could have resulted. Employers tend to stereotype older workers as employees’ stuck in their ways, and who cannot adapt to new changes. Additionally, employers believe that training older workers is a cost and not a benefit. The Age Discrimination Act prohibits these scenarios from occurring with people over the age of 40. Regarding the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, certain occupations have an exception to the law if the organization can prove the necessity to enforce an earlier retirement or decrease of job responsibilities. An example of a company HR policy showing compliance with the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 may read something like this: â€Å"The Company complies with the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, and prohibits age discrimination in employment practices of individuals 18 years or older. This policy applies to but is not limited to issues involving hiring, discharge, compensation, terms, conditions, advancement, recruitment, promotion, demotion, transfer, layoff, training, or privileges of employment.† The Drug-Free Workplace Act â€Å"requires institutions that receive grants and certain contracts from any federal agency to certify that it will provide a drug-free work place† (Office Of General Counsel, 2012). The law was enacted in 1988 and it began with federal contracts of $25,000 or more but was later changed to $100,000 or more where it stands today. The court case that has caused the most controversy is Gary Ross v Ragingwire Telecommunications Inc. After California legalized medical marijuana Ross obtained a prescription for the drug and used it as directed. He was later fired by Ragingwire Telecommunications for failing a drug test as a result of the use of medical marijuana. â€Å"The court ruled that drug testing in the state was legal, that firing an employee for use of medical marijuana was not tantamount to discrimination and that employers are not obligated to accommodate the use of medical marijuana—even outside the workplace† (Schwartz, 2010). This ruling is important because while some states have legalized medical marijuana and protect individuals from criminal prosecution, it remains clear that a drug-free workplace is critical to the safety of the entire workforce. To avoid conflict an organization must establish the guidelines for drug testing and communicate the expectation clearly to employees. The human resources team may establish the process for drug testing and implement a plan to assist employees that test positive on drug screens, such as offering the employee rehabilitation (DeCenzo & Robbins, 2007). An example of a company HR policy showing compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act may read something like this: â€Å"The possession, use, or sale of illegal drugs while on Company property is strictly prohibited. The misuse of any illegal drugs and/or alcohol while on Company time or during breaks or meals, is strictly prohibited. Any employee under the influence of alcohol or drugs that may impair judgment, performance, or the safety of the employee or others while on Company property, Company business, or during work hours, is subject to discipline up to and including termination. The Company conducts post-accident drug and alcohol testing of employees when an accident occurs during company time as allowed by law. The Company reserves the right to conduct random drug and/or alcohol testing at their discretion for performance or behavior issues. A positive result from any testing conducted may result in immediate termination, or unpaid leave to enter an approved rehabilitation program at the Company’s discretion. These conditions are by no means established as a right of the employee, and may be rescinded at any time without prior notice by the Company.† References Migdal, A. (2012). Blog of Rights. Retrieved from http://www.aclu.org/blog/womens-rights- reproductive-freedom/not-so-secret-war-moms-how-supreme-court-took-protections Swanton, Mary, Inside Counsel, EEOC Wins Settlements in Age Discrimination Cases Involving Senior Citizens, retrieved on December 1, 2012 from website, http://www.insidecounsel.com/2010/03/25/eeoc-wins-settlements-in-two-age-discrimination-cases-involving-senior-citizens U.S. Equal Employment Commission, retrieved on December 1, 2012, from website, http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/publications/age.cfm Schwartz, S. K. (2010). The Drug-Free Workplace v Medical Marijuana. Retrieved from http://www.cnbc.com/id/36179669/The_Drug_Free_Workplace_vs_Medical_Marijuana Office of General Counsel. (2012). Retrieved from http://counsel.cua.edu/copyright/index.cfm Sue Shellerbarger, â€Å"Work and Family,† The Wall Street Journal, August 22, 2001. Retrieved 11/29/2012. http://www.benefitslink/buying-time-off/policy/hr/whitman/press.org http://www2.cortland.edu/offices/hr/affirmative-action/policy-on-the-age-discriminatio n.htm http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/index.cfm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employment_(Equal_Opportunities)_Law,_1988

Research a current wireless networking trend Paper

A current wireless networking trend - Research Paper Example IFIED as the latest in wireless networking technology suitable for small size enterprise presenting its advantages and weaknesses as well as its contribution to the wireless security. Wi-Fi CERTIFIED addresses the significant requirements of an enterprise that the previous wireless technologies did not cater for. Voice over-Wi-Fi, for instance, is a valuable and fundamental enterprise application. (Bertrand, 2012) Wi-Fi CERTIFIED as a wireless networking technology supports data and voice simultaneously as well as a more comprehensive coverage throughout the enterprise. The adoption of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED by an enterprise will ensure a high and unpredictable user density as compared to the previous low scale Wi-Fi technologies which are basically data oriented and support low user densities. As companies expand their wireless networks and embrace voice applications, the need for a more advanced Wi-Fi technology such as Wi-Fi CERTIFIED becomes a fundamental priority in order to keep up with the competition given its advantages over the previous wireless networking technologies. (Bertrand, 2012) Wi-Fi CERTIFIED eliminates the limited coverage presented by the previous wireless networking technology. The wide coverage presented by Wi-Fi CERTIFIED is sufficient for continuous connectivity required by the voice applications hence seamless mobility which allows users staying connected without the need of disconnection even when they are on the move. (Gast, 2005) In addition to improved coverage and capacity as discussed, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED also enables voice support that improves the quality of service, an enterprise requirement neglected by the previous Wi-Fi technologies. Wi-Fi CERTIFIED has the ability to distinguish between data traffic and voice traffic. It does this by not prioritizing voice packets over data packets, but equally transmitting the two packets at the same time ensuring that voice clients receive their medium when required. (Gast, 2005) Furthermore,

The Effects of Tattoos in Human Sexuality Research Paper

The Effects of Tattoos in Human Sexuality - Research Paper Example It has become a way of expression of one’s thoughts, beliefs, and feelings. â€Å"A tattoo is a puncture wound, made deep in your skin, thats filled with ink. Its made by penetrating your skin with a needle and injecting ink into the area, usually creating some sort of design.† (The Nemours Foundation, 2012, para.1). This makes one think how ink can last so long. The uppermost layer of skin is called the epidermis. The cells of the epidermis continue to degenerate and then regenerate, as the skin sheds and forms again. The ink of tattoo is not injected in this layer. It is injected in the second layer, which is called the dermis, whose cells are very stable and do not shed. This makes the ink stay potentially longer, or permanently, in the dermis. Mukerji and Schudson (1991, p. 3) define pop culture as â€Å"beliefs and practices, and the objects through which they are organized, that are widely shared among a population†. They state that these beliefs, practices and material stuff may be local customs upholding folk material, or these may be customs and traditions on a commercial scale. So, it may be folk culture or mass culture, where the former is generated by people and is authentic, and the latter is generated commercially and is relatively unauthentic. Tattoos have become a part of the folk popular culture, because everybody seems to be tattooing- mothers, fathers, children, students, businessmen, bad boys, and good boys. The popular culture has made tattoos a widely accepted concept in workplaces and educational institutes. The concept of tattoos is no longer restricted with sailors, gangsters, prisoners, and the rapper Lil Wayne. People from all backgrounds are having tattoos, and some of them are having extens ive tattoo coverage, which is quite expensive too. People, today, do not frown upon people who have a tattoo here and there, on neck, arm, or ankle, as

Discuss the contributions of iron technology to the process of state Essay

Discuss the contributions of iron technology to the process of state formation in Bantu Africa - Essay Example Generally, the highlight of the state formation process in Bantu Africa was in the rate of growth, where within a very short time frame, the people had occupied a very wide area of land. Starting from Cross River region around Nigeria and Cameroon border, the people had by 1000 B.C expanded into Lake Victoria and later to southwest and south (Dubrulle, 2002). Wagner (2006) has explained that one important factor that could be accounted for the rapid process of state formation is the social and economic changes that involved other tribes tying up with the Bantu people as they moved along through interracial marriages. Regardless of the argument made for the social and economic changes that made the process of state formation possible and rapid, one aspect of growth factor that cannot be overlooked is the role of iron technology. Iron technology can be explained as the smelting of iron through the use of advantaged mechanisms in ensuring that the irons are refined into usable tools and equipment (Dubrulle, 2002). Generally, iron technology did not develop among Bantu Africa as an isolated trade. Rather, it came as a necessity to help in the boost of agricultural growth, which was identified as a major economic viability for the people. Agricultural growth in itself was also dependent on the fact that population was growing at a rate that was very high. Due to this high rate of population growth, it was necessary for the people to find a means of feeding themselves. But the old forms of tools made from stones, bones and woods were found not to be durable and strong enough to help them achieve this purpose. To this end, the people fell on iron technology for the production of various farm tools that were deemed to be more durable. Examples of such tools are axes, arrows, knifes, spears and hoes. Though the original intent was not iron technology as a trade, iron technology would eventually become the catalyst behind which Bantu Africa would

Library Assignment - Case Scenario Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Library Assignment - Scenario - Case Study Example Usually the management of a majority of health care institutions does not allow the nursing staff to take part in the important decision or in almost all the decisions. These decisions usually have significant impact on the future of nursing staff as well as the health care institutions. Under such circumstances when the nursing staff does not have power for contributing to the decisions that are related to them and their future, they usually end up feeling powerless. There are various sources from which nurses may obtain their power. First one is the requisite structure of the workplace that helps in supporting empowerment. The second source through which power can be found is by believing in ourselves and in our ability to get empowered. The third one is when the management makes nurses realize about the power that this occupation holds and relationship through which they provide care and affection to their patients. The research present on nursing demonstrates the relationship between two of the discussed sources of power. Yet there is still the need for conducting more research which discusses the ways of empowering the nurses. Granting the nursing staff the responsibilities of a decision maker may also make them empowered and as a result they may effectively identify the course of action and then take measures accordingly (Heathfield, 2013). There are several ways through which Nancy can make the staff to become empowered. Nancy must make the nursing staff feel that they are valued. Her intentions for the staff must be demonstrated through her word as well as her actions. Nancy should appreciate the hard work of the staff and share her leadership vision with them. Another action that Nancy must take to empower the employees is that they she should encourage them to contribute new ideas for the development of the hospital. For example, she may discuss with the staff the area of weakness that she has been noticing lately and then ask them to contribute

Crossing Borders of the United States Term Paper

Crossing Borders of the United States - Term Paper Example Not only has the population increase, but the immigration also influenced the nation culturally, socially, and politically. The Latinos’ population growth is higher than the population growth in the blacks. That is why the Spanish language has spread all over the country. There are The Spanish language has spread nationwide, and it is the accepted language in the workplace. There are also various Asian languages spoken all over the country. There are also many bilingual and multilingual schools have been established nationwide (Wilkinson 1). 2.A. Interests and Incentives for Immigration Men move from one country to another for various complex reasons. Some of them are forced to move out of their home country due to some serious disagreement or prejudices, while the others willingly move abroad. Whatever be the reasons, the immigrants face various social, cultural and other difficulties in the new nation. Most of the migrants courageously face these difficulties mainly to recov er their present economic status, as about all of them likely to move to the more developed nations for better earnings. After globalization, the movement of the labor force has been increased. 2.B. Social status and working condition of the immigrants in the receiver countries Henry in her paper explores that immigrants in the United Nations is socially accepted depending on the international position of their home country. She cited examples that the immigrants from the Northwest European countries are always socially accepted with high status. After globalization, people from Japan are also getting high social status in the country. The social status of China is day by day growing after 1990s due to its economic and armed forces’ strength. Immigrants from the African countries are always been treated with lowest status (Henry, 1). Orrenius and Zavodny in their paper indicates that the immigrants work in more risky jobs in their workplaces that their native counterparts. Th ey found that the immigrants take on more risky ventures in more dangerous industries.  

Ethical Behavior of Companies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ethical Behavior of Companies - Essay Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that honoring the interest of the shareholders is the priority of any business investment. Investors expect to yield maximum profit from the venture by maximizing revenue and minimizing cost. However, balancing these parameters leads to adverse consequences that result in social or environmental conflict with other stakeholders. Therefore, the integration of a CSR framework comes in handy to solve the conflict created by the business operations. The Corporate Social Responsibility model requires the firm to be responsible for its business practices that affect the community or the environment where it operates. However, this does not come at the expense of the enterprise success. For this reason, the value optimization is the ideal practice because it embraces social, economic, and environmental accountability to its stakeholders. The responsible shareholder-value optimization principle supports ethical actions and responsibility of the busin ess to its stakeholders. Under this principle, the organization is responsible for any social, economic or environmental inconvenience caused by its maneuver. As a result, this role gives the business a mandate to ensure ethical practices that are within the expectation of the shareholders, the community, and other stakeholders.

Judaism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Judaism - Essay Example Jerusalem is their holy city. Oneness of God is the most important principles of Judaism. They believe that God loves his people but also, gives heavy punishment to those who deviate from his path. Another very essential belief is of repentance. Unlike Christians, Jews believe that "Messiah" was yet to be born and most awaited by them. They believe that only the advent of "Messiah" would save the people from sins. Judaism has three main sects Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Judaism. Voni (2007) says that, "The Orthodox believes that there are 613 laws that were given to Moses from God the Father and follow those laws." As the name indicates, they follow the strictest rules and are the most conservative form of Judaism. They believe and thrive to observe their religion in its original form and get inspired by each word written in their sacred texts. This is the oldest, most conservative, and most diverse form of Judaism. Modern Orthodox, Chasidim and Ultra Orthodox share a basic belief in the derivation of Jewish law, even as they hold very different outlooks on life. They attempt to follow the original form of Judaism as they view it to be. They look upon every word in their sacred texts as being divinely inspired. Reform Judaism mo

Importance of Literature Essay Example for Free

Importance of Literature Essay Literature is the foundation of life. It places an emphasis on many topics from human tragedies to tales of the ever-popular search for love. While it is physically written in words, these words come alive in the imagination of the mind, and its ability to comprehend the complexity or simplicity of the text. Literature enables people to see through the lenses of others, and sometimes even inanimate objects; therefore, it becomes a looking glass into the world as others view it. It is a journey that is inscribed in pages, and powered by the imagination of the reader. Ultimately, literature has provided a gateway to teach the reader about life experiences from even the saddest stories to the most joyful ones that will touch their hearts. From a very young age, many are exposed to literature in the most stripped down form: picture books and simple texts that are mainly for the sole purpose of teaching the alphabet etc. Although these are not nearly as complex as an 800-page sci-fi novel, it is the first step that many take towards the literary world. Progressively, as people grow older, they explore other genres of books, ones that propel them towards curiosity of the subject, and the overall book. Reading and being given the keys to the literature world prepares individuals from an early age to discover the true importance of literature: being able to comprehend and understand situations from many perspectives. Physically speaking, it is impossible to be someone else. It is impossible to switch bodies with another human being, and it is impossible to completely understand the complexity of their world. Literature, as an alternative, is the closest thing the world has to being able to understand another person whole-heartedly. For stance, a novel about a treacherous war, written in the perspective of a soldier, allows the reader to envision their memories, their pain, and their emotions without actually being that person. Consequently, literature can act as a time machine, enabling individuals to go into a specific time period of the story, into the mind and soul of the protagonist. With the ability to see the world with a pair of fresh eyes, it triggers the reader to reflect upon their own lives. Reading a material that is relatable to the reader may teach them morals and encourage them to practice good judgement. This can be proven through public school systems, where the books that are emphasized the most tend to have a moral-teaching purpose behind the story. An example would be William Shakespeare’s stories, where each one is meant to be reflective of human nature – both the good and bad. Consequently, this can promote better judgement of situations, so the reader does not find themselves in the same circumstances as perhaps those in the fiction world. Henceforth, literature is proven to not only be reflective of life, but it can also be used as a guide for the reader to follow and practice good judgement from. The world today is ever-changing. Never before has life been so chaotic and challenging for all. Life before literature was practical and predictable, but in present day, literature has expanded into countless libraries and into the minds of many as the gateway for comprehension and curiosity of the human mind and the world around them. Literature is of great importance and is studied upon as it provides the ability to connect human relationships, and define what is right and what is wrong. Therefore, words are alive more than ever before.

Human Rights In Saudi Arabia

Human Rights In Saudi Arabia Human rights refer to the legal, social or ethical principles of entitlement or liberties to which all humans are entitled (James, 2009). Proponents of this concept assert that each person is endowed with certain entitlements by reason of being human. These entitlements can be justified as moral norms, natural rights or even as legal rights, either at a national level or within international law. However, this concept has been the subject of intense debate and criticism as there is no consensus as to what should or should not be regarded as a human right. The modern conception of human rights, universalism, developed in the aftermath of World War II and its globalization was awakened by the crimes committed by Hitlers government (the Holocaust), which increased pressure on the need for a global system of accountability and stability. This resulted in the adoption of this concept by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a declaration adopted on 10 December 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly. This forum aimed at paving the way for universalism by resolving the cultural differences between member nations, an approach which some argue, has led to the needs of certain cultures being compromised. The concept of universalism was further boosted by the adoption of the International Criminal Court in June 1998, with its core aim being the enforcement and promotion of the values agreed upon by the member states of the United Nations. Over the course of the 20th century, many movements and groups have achieved intense social changes in the name of human rights. In North America and Western Europe, labor unions brought about laws which granted workers to strike and established minimum work conditions. The womens rights movement succeeded in gaining voting rights for women while the National liberation movements succeeded in driving out colonial powers in many countries. The United Nations, together with its member states, have developed much of the discussion and bodies of law that currently make up international human rights law and international humanitarian law. In reality, the concept of Universalism is basically based on Western philosophies and the values they place on the individual. This approach can be seen as a product of Christianity as well as the Greek philosophy and contends that one can use reason or nature to identify basic rights inherent to every human. This concept was challenged by a delegation led by China, Iran and Syria at the 1993 United Nations Conference on Human Rights which was held in Vienna. They argued that the current definition of human rights was not universal, but was based on Western morality and should therefore not be imposed as norms in non-western societies. They further argued that this concept disregarded the non-western societies historical and economic development and their cultural perceptions of what is wrong and right. Cultural relativism, by contrast, is based on the thought that there are no objective standards by which others can be judged. It was introduced by the sophist Protagoras, among others who empirically established that there exist many different cultures in the world and each are equally worthy. For example, female genital mutilation is not mandated by any religion, but has become a tradition in many different cultures in Africa, South America and Asia. On the other hand, it is considered by the international community as a violation of girls and womens rights, which has resulted in the outlaw of the culture in some countries. However, International Law has only recently begun to tackle the issue of cultural relativism by paying more attention to certain themes (Bozeman, 1971). In Saudi Arabia, human rights are intended to be based on Sharia, a set of Islamic religious laws under the rule of the House of Saud, the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (US Department of State, 2004). The government of Saudi Arabia has often been criticized for its treatment of political and religious minorities, homosexuality and women. The Human rights of this country are specified in article 26 of the Basic System of Governance of Saudi Arabia, a constitution- like charter which is in accordance with Sharia. The National Society for Human Rights was the first independent human rights organization in Saudi Arabia, and was established in 2004. In 2008, the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia, also known as the Shura Council, ratified the Arab Charter on Human Rights, a charter which affirms the principles contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Charter and the Cairo Declaration of Human Rights in Islam. It provides for a number of traditional h uman rights, such as the right to liberty, protection of persons from torture, freedom to practice religious observance, among others. Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries in the world with judicial corporal punishment, the formal application of caning, whipping, birching and strapping as an official sentence by order of a court. In Saudi Arabia, judicial corporate punishment is carried out under Sharia, and includes whipping for lesser crimes such as drunkenness and sexual deviance and the amputations of hands and feet for more serious crimes such as robbery. This country also engages in capital punishment, which includes public executions by beheading. This is in accordance to strict interpretation of Islamic law as a punishment for rapists, murderers, and armed robbers. There were 191 executions in 2005, 38 in 2006, while in 2007; there were 153 executions (International, 2009). The government of Saudi Arabia has been criticized for lack of protection and violation of several human rights such as the freedom of religion. In this country, the practice of non-Muslim religions is aggressively prohibited. With the government declaration of the Holy Quran and the Sunna (tradition) of the Prophet Muhammad as the countrys constitution, Saudi Arabian law does not recognize religious freedom. Saudi Arabia, being an Islamic State, offers preferential treatment for Muslims and prohibits the burial of Non-Muslims on Saudi soil. During Ramadan, the month of fasting, eating, drinking or smoking during daylight hours in public is not allowed, even for Non-Muslims (Abdul, 2008). Foreign schools operating in Saudi Arabia are required to teach a yearly introductory segment on Islam and missionary work by any religions other than Salafi/Wahabi Islam is forbidden. Anti-Semitism, prejudice towards Jews as a result of hatred of their culture, religion and/or ethnic background, is very widespread in Saudi Arabia. In 2007, it was reported that a state website prohibited Jewish people and Israeli passport holders from entering the kingdom. The Saudi administration removed the offensive language, claiming that it was a mistake (CNN, 2004). A study of Saudi Arabias revised schoolbook curriculum in May 2006 discovered that the eighth grade book included text that discriminated against Christian infidels of the communion of Jesus. In Saudi Arabia, LGBT rights, initials referring to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, are not recognized. In accordance with Islamic morality, cross-dressing and homosexuality are seen as decadent acts and are treated as solemn crimes. These acts, as well as the involvement with any activity that hints at the existence of an organized gay community, are punishable by imprisonment, lashing, deportation for foreigners and sometimes execution. According to the law, all Saudi citizens infected with HIV or AIDS are entitled to protection of their privacy, free medical care and equal employment and educational opportunities. However, most Saudi hospitals will not treat infected patients and many hospitals and educational institutions are reluctant to share out government information about the disease. This is because of the stigma and strong taboos associated with how the virus can be spread (Yamani, 2005). However, the situation has started to change, with the government recognizing World AIDS Day, and permitting information about the disease to be published in local newspapers and journals. Any foreigner found to be HIV positive (or with any other serious medical condition), is deported back to their country. Political freedoms in Saudi Arabia are also curtailed, with the Saudi government restricting the freedom of speech and the press to forbid criticism of the government. Political organizations and trade unions are banned, public demonstrations are outlawed and Internet reception within Saudi Arabias borders is actively censored by the government. The arrest of Fouad al-Farhan, a prominent Saudi blogger and reformist in December 2007, was seen as a crackdown by the Saudi government on online dissent. He was jailed in solitary confinement, without charges, after criticizing several prominent Saudi business, media and religious figures (Murphy, 2008). Fouad was released on 26 April, 2008. In Saudi society, gender roles come from Sharia, Islamic law, as well as the tribal culture. All women, regardless of social status or age, are required to have a male guardian. Saudi women do not have voting rights, and cannot be elected to high political positions (Sasson, 2001). However, there is substantial evidence that Saudi women do not want radical change. Advocates of reform in this country reject the Western critics of Saudi Arabia for failing to understand the Islamic uniqueness of the Saudi society (Zoeph, 2010). Advocates argue that Saudi women do have rights, though these rights are dependent on their obligations in life. Majority of the Saudis do not view Islam as the main obstruction to womens rights and dismiss perceptions of Islam as being patriarchal as a Western typecast. To prove that Islam allows strong women, Saudis often invoke the life of Prophet Muhammad. Khadijah, the Prophets first wife, was a powerful businesswoman who employed him and is the one who initiated the marriage proposal. Aisha, another one of his wives, commanded an entire army at the Battle of Camel, a battle that took place in Iraq, at Basra in 656, and for this, she is the source of many hadiths (Betsy, 2010). Saudi women face discrimination in many aspects of their lives, such as the civil, common and religious systems. Despite the fact that they make up over 70% of those enrolled in public universities, due to social reasons, Saudi women only make up 5% of the national workforce. The efforts by the government to support expanded employment opportunities for women in this country met fierce resistance from the religious police, the labor ministry as well as the male citizenry (Canlas, 2006). In most parts of this country, it is believed that the role of the woman is to care for her husband and family. There is widespread segregation in Saudi homes, with some rooms having separate entrances for the men and women. Driving had been banned for women, until 1990, when it was introduced as official legislation after 47 women drove cars through Riyadh, the Saudi capital. Though illegal, women in areas outside the cities and in the rural areas of Saudi Arabia do drive cars (Y, 2009). Saudi women are permitted to fly aircraft, though they are required to be chauffeured to the airport (Bascio, 2007). Many Saudis believe that allowing Saudi women the right to drive could lead to an erosion of traditional values and Western-style openness. Before a Royal Decree in 2008, women were not permitted to enter furnished apartments or hotels without a mahram or chaperon. With the decree, the only requirements they needed were their national ID cards, and the hotel must inform the nearest police station of their length of stay as well as the room reservation (Canlas J. , 2008). The current government, under King Abdullah, is considered reformist. This government has appointed the first female cabinet member, opened the nations first co-educational university and is also credited for passing legislations against domestic violence. However, critics say that the reform is very slow and is more symbolic than substantive. Conservatives see the Saudi society as the center of Islam and hence the deed for unique conservative values. They seek to preserve the cultures traditional gender roles, while on the other hand; radical activists compare the condition of the Saudi Arabian Women to slavery (S, 2010). A government poll conducted in 2006 found out that over 80% of Saudi Arabian women do not think that women should work or drive with men. A subsequent poll found that most Saudi women are not of the opinion that women should be allowed to hold political office. Saudi women are in high support of their traditional gender roles and are of the opinion that reforms wou ld be opposed to Islamic values. They argue that they already have a high level of independence and that reforms would bring about unwanted Western cultural influences (Saleh Ambah, 2010). In Saudi Arabia, all women are required to have a male guardian, who can be a father or husband. This guardian has rights and duties to his woman in various aspects of civic life. Saudi women must first seek their guardians permission for various matters such as marriage and divorce, education, travel (if below 45 years), employment as well as opening a bank account. Guardians requirements are not written law, but are applied according to the societys customs, as well as the understanding of particular institutions such as hospitals and banks. Official transactions initiated by women are often abandoned and officers often demand the presence of a guardian in order to prove authorization. In a recent interview, Saudi women defended male guardians as providing love and protection (Zoeph, 2010). In 2008, some Saudi women launched a petition defending guardians, which gathered over 500 signatures. The petition also requested the punishment for those activists equality and mingling between Saudi men and women. Liberal activists on the other hand reject guardianship and see it as demeaning to women. They object to the treatment of women as subordinates or children (Wagner, 2010). They cite cases of women whose careers were ended by their guardians, or who lost custody rights over their children. In a case in 2009, a father prohibited several of his daughters attempts to marry outside their clan, and sent her to a mental institution as a form of punishment (Jahwar, 2009). Activists agree that most Saudi men are caring, but see this kindness as a result of pity, from lack of respect for their women, and they compare male guardianship to slavery, with ownership of a woman being passed on from one man to another. The ludicrousness of the guardianship system is shown by what would happen to a woman if she tried to remarry: she would have to seek the permission of her son (Betsy, 2010). The Saudi government has defended itself by saying that there is no law of male guardianship and maintains that agreements are applied in the courts and other legal channels. The male guardianship system is very closely related to sharaf, a system which involves the protection of females in the family by a male individual. The male provides for them, and in sequence, the womens honor is reflected on him. Since the honor of the male guardian is affected by that of the women in his family, he is expected to control their behavior. If a man loses his honor because of a woman under his care, he is permitted to cleanse his honor by punishing her, which can be death in extreme cases. In 2007, a young Saudi lady was killed by her father for chatting with a man on Facebook. Conservatives called for the government ban on Facebook, because it causes social causes social strife by encouraging inter-gender mingling and inciting lust (Frthjof, 2007). In many Islamic states, women are required cover parts of that are arwah i.e. not meant to be exposed, which is mainly the face. However, in Saudi Arabia, the whole of the womans body is considered arwah, with exception of the hands and eyes. Women are therefore required to wear the niqab, or veil, a hijab; whish is s head covering, as well as an abaya, which is a full black cloak. In this country, womens clothing must not reveal anything about her body and is therefore required to be loose, thick and opaque. It is generally required to be unadorned and of a dull color and should not raise interest to the male (Saleh, 2009). Saudi women are however not bothered by the dress code and place it low on the list of priorities for reform. Majority of the women wear the veil with pride, and say it reduces destructions from their male counterparts. Sex aggregation is anticipated in public, especially between non-mahram women and men. Most official and educational institutions have separate entrances and exits for both men and women. According to law, there should be clear visual and physical separate sections for both sexes at all meetings and gatherings, including weddings and funerals. Public places such as amusement parks and beaches are also segregated, sometimes by time, so that men and women visit at different hours. Many Saudi homes have different entrances for men and women, with private space being associated with women and public space such as living rooms being reserved for men. Since eating requires the removal of the veil for women, most Saudi restaurants are segregated to different sections and they also bar entrance to women who come without their mahrams or husbands (Murphy, Saudi Arabia: Dining by Gender, 2010). Even Western companies for instance Starbucks and McDonalds enforce Saudi religious regulations and maintain sex-segregated zones in their restaurants. This has often led to these companies being criticized by Western activists as the facilities in the womens zones are usually lower in quality. The segregation rules sometimes apply to banks and even hospitals. However, the number of mixed-gender workplaces has been on the rise since the crowning of King Abdullah, though they are still strange. Some clerics issued fatwa, a religious opinion issued by an Islamic scholar concerning an Islamic law, which encouraged women to provide breast milk to any man with whom she comes into frequent contact with. The milk should not come directly from the womans breast, and reduces the difficulties of strict sex segregation by allowing him to become a relative of the family. In Islam, this breast milk kinship is considered to be as good as blood relationship and therefore allow the males to come onto contact with the without having to break Islams rules about mixing. Another scholar disagreed, saying that the milk should come straight from the wombs breast, an issue which was ridiculed by reformists who argue that this could end up being more erotic, and definitely not maternal. Womens economic rights in Saudi Arabia are also severely infringed. In order for a woman to buy or sell a piece of property, she is obligated to bring two men as witnesses to identify her identity. In addition, she is required to bring four other male witnesses to testify that the first two are valid witnesses and that they actually know her. This makes it hard for women to attain their legal rights, and therefore, they often end up finding other solutions such as paying bribes. Since childhood, Saudi girls are taught that their key role is to take good care of the household and raise the children, though Sharia allows women to work, as long as she does not neglect her essential homemaking duties. Government offices strictly advocate for the minimization of interaction between women and non-mahram men. They are allowed too work as long as their male guardians or husbands approve. A womans work must be deemed suitable for her physique and mentality and for this reason, they cannot be appointed as judges or to positions of high public office. The Saudi labor ministry has been inconsistent in its support for reforms promoting womens right to work. In 2006, the then minister of labor, Dr.Ghazi Al-Qusaibi was quoted as saying that the labor Ministry was not acting to promote womens employment because the best place for a woman to serve is in her own home (Al-Awsat, 2006). In recent years, mixed gender workplaces have become more common, especially in industries that must serve women such as medicine and banking. In this country, 71% to 78% of females are literate, compared with males who have 85% literacy rates. The number of women who receive secondary and tertiary education is higher than that of men with over 50% of working women having a college education (Forum, 2009). The freedom of movement for Saudi women is strongly limited as they are not supposed to leave their houses or neighborhoods without the consent of their male guardian or in the company of a mahram. Women are not allowed to drive and are forbidden from using public transport. When allowed, they are required to use a separate entrance and sit in sections reserved for women. However, the bus companies with the widest coverage of Saudis capital, Riyadh, do not allow women at all. In Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to run for public offices, but they are permitted to hold positions on boards of chambers of trade. There is one woman in a cabinet position, as assistant minister for womens education. In court cases, the testimony of one man is considered to be equivalent to that of two women. In April 2010, women were issued with new ID cards with fingerprints and GPS tracking features. Women are registered in their father or husbands identification card and conservatives argue that cards which show the unveiled face of a woman violate Saudis customs. Though the government banned the practice of forced marriages, females are not allowed to make their own decisions on this issue. Just like in any other domain, states should not be pushed into creating local or universal structures that bypass their levels of control. As in the case of Saudi Arabia, most of the groups in society whose rights are violated do not have equal access to the law. This demonstrates how both theories create a double standard, with men readily accepting western norms and women bearing the brunt of cultural authenticity. However, with realistic strategies, cultural sensitivities in countries like Saudi Arabia can be reconciled with universal goals.

Death Of A Saleman. Is Willy L Essay -- essays research papers

According to Arthur Miller, “The tragic feeling is invoked whenever we are in the presence of a character, any character, who is ready to sacrifice his life, if need be, to secure one thing, his sense of personal dignity.'; Willy Loman was willing to do that, no matter what the cost. That makes Willy Loman an excellent example of Aristotle’s tragic hero. Willy is far from a perfect man. He is a flawed human being, and his flaws are very much like our own. He wants what we want--dignity, success, respect, and a decent standard of living. He was not born in a high social class and he never lived in high society but he believed that his was in an upper class of society. He told himself so many times that his family and him were not average, that they were better that th...

Deception and Punishment in The Scarlet Letter and A Tale of Two Cities :: comparison compare contrast essays

Deception and Punishment in The Scarlet Letter and A Tale of Two Cities      Ã‚   Nathaniel Hawthorn and Charles Dickens in their novels The Scarlet Letter and A Tale of Two Cities, respectively, both use punishment for deception as a recurring theme.   Although they do so to different degrees and in dissimilar manners, both authors agree that deception is a sin that requires punishment.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In The Scarlet Letter, the heroine, Hester Prynne conceived a child out of wedlock.   Despite the pleas and demands of the clerical community, she did not reveal the identity of the father.   The Puritanical community in which she lived in demanded her to give up her conspirator or bear the consequences of the deed alone.   Due to her doggedness, the townsmen sentenced her to wear a scarlet letter *A* embroidered on her chest.   The A served as a symbol of her crime, was a punishment of humiliation, gave her constant shame, and reminded her of her sin.   Hester*s penalization was a prime example where deception led to negative consequences in that she would have been spared the entire encumbrance of the crime if she did not deceive the townspeople.   Although seemingly, her paramour did not escape punishment.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In fact, the father of her bastard child took a more severe sentence. Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale seemed to be an upstanding, young priest.   The whole town liked him and respected him as a holy man.   Thus, his deception was much more direct and extreme when he did not confess that he impregnated Hester Prynne.   Unlike Hester, he was not publicly punished.   So although Hester overcame her ordeal and went on with her life, Dimmesdale exacted a constant, physical and mental reprobation on himself.   This inner pain was so intense that his physical health began to reflect his inner sufferings.   In the end, he redeemed himself by his confession in front of the whole town, but his long endurance of the secret took its toll and he died.   Roger Chillingworth had a similar fate.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Like Dimmesdale, Chillingworth, Hester*s husband, keeps his relation to her a secret.   Chillingworth*s deception allows him to become consumed with hatred and the desire to inflict his revenge on the one who stole his wife*s

Aeneid and Odyssey - A Comparison between Aeneas, Achilles and Odysseus

Aeneid and Odyssey - A Comparison between Aeneas, Achilles and Odysseus      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A comparison between Virgil's hero, Aeneas, and the Homeric heroes, Achilles and Odysseus, brings up the question concerning the relevance of the difference between the Homeric heroes and Aeneas. The differences in the poets' concerns are explained by the fact that Virgil lived many years after Homer, giving Virgil the advantage of a more developed literary and philosophical society than Homer had at his disposal. But the question remains: how are the differences between the Homeric heroes and Aeneas relevant to the epic at large? This question will be answered by first pointing out the differences between Greek and Roman society, then explaining how those differences relate to the heroes of the three epics at hand, and finally explaining how these differences allow Virgil to portray the Roman values and way of life as more structured and oriented towards a greater-good.    The differences in Greek and Roman societies arise primarily because of the different time periods in which they existed. But the geologic characteristics of Greece also played a role in the particularities of Greek society. The Greek peninsula is a mountainous region with neighboring islands that are known for their individualistic nature; in Homer's Odyssey islands are often occupied either by very few people or by people that are socially inept such as cannibals or the Cyclops. The Greek society, which was composed of various individual and independent city-states, followed from its geological surroundings since communication was such a difficult task. The few cultural aspects of life, such as language and religion, were the only things that gave... ... between Aeneas and the Homeric heroes, given an account of the historical and mythological background of Rome and demonstrated that the Roman way of life is necessarily more structured and community oriented than the Homeric Greek way of life.   Virgil wrote The Aeneid as an ode to the greatness of Rome, we could imagine that as he wrote it he was in constant competition with Homer because The Aeneid was a proclamation of greatness for the Romans as the Homeric epics were for the Greeks. But Virgil took advantage of the flaws that the Homeric Heroes had and gave the corresponding virtues to Aeneas thus ensuring Aeneas' superiority and consequently Rome's superiority.    Works Cited and Consulted: Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: 1996 Virgil.   The Aeneid.   Translated by Robert Fitzgerald.   New York: Vintage Books, 1990.   

Pros and cons of the Death Penalty Essay

Capital Punishment, legal infliction of death as a penalty for violating criminal law. Methods of execution have included such practices as crucifixion, stoning, drowning, burning at the stake, impaling, and beheading. Today capital punishment is typically accomplished by lethal gas or injection, electrocution, hanging, or shooting. The death penalty is the most controversial penal practice in the modern world. The United States stands apart from the general trends on capital punishment. It is the only Western industrialized nation where executions still take place. Furthermore, it is the only nation that combines frequent executions with a highly developed legal system characterized by respect for individual rights. Some of the pros and cons are as follows: Pros- Just Punishment- A punishment is just if it recognizes the seriousness of the crime. â€Å"Let the punishment fit the crime† is a generally accepted and sound precept. In structuring criminal sentences, society must determine what punishment fits the premeditated taking of innocent human life. To be proportionate to the offense of cold-blooded murder, the penalty for such an offense must acknowledge the inviolability of human life. Without a death penalty, the criminal law’s penalties will essentially â€Å"top out† and will not differentiate murder from other offenses. Only if the sentencing structure allows for a substantially greater penalty for murder will the range of penalties fully reflect the seriousness of ending the life of an innocent human being. Deterrence- The death penalty is also justified because of its deterrent effect, which saves the lives of innocent persons by discouraging potential murderers. Logic supports the conclusion that capital punishment is the most effective deterrent for premeditated murders. A capital sentence is  certainly a more feared penalty than a prison term. The lengths to which convicted murderers go to avoid imposition of this sentence clearly demonstrates this fact, as do interviews with prison inmates. To be sure, the death penalty does not deter all murders. But because a capital sentence is more severe than other penalties, it is reasonable to assume that its existence will lead at least some potential murderers to decide against risking execution. As the Supreme Court has observed, â€Å"There are carefully contemplated murders, such as the murder for hire, where the possible penalty of death may well enter into the cold calculus that precedes the decision to act.† Incapacitation- Capital punishment also serves to effectively prevent murderers from killing again. This incapacitation effect is particularly important because of the continuing risk posed by those who have already taken a human life. For example, according to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, of 52,000 state prison inmates serving time for murder in 1984, an estimated 810 had previously been convicted of murder. Had some of these murderers been given the death penalty for their first murders, innocent people would have been spared. . Only a capital sentence can permanently end the threat to others posed by the most serious murderers. The death penalty gives closure to the victim’s families who have suffered so much. It provides a punishment and deterrent for someone who’s already sentenced to life in prison. Prisoner parole or escapes can give criminals another chance to kill. Cons- Risk to the Innocent- The risk that an innocent person might be executed, Unlike all other criminal punishments, the death penalty is irrevocable,(IRREVERSIBLE) CAPITAL PUNISHMENT COSTS MORE THAN INCARCERATION A murder trial normally takes much longer when the death penalty is at issue than when it is not. Litigation costs – including the time of judges, prosecutors, public defenders, and court reporters, and the high costs of briefs – are mostly borne by the taxpayer. A 1982 study showed that were the death penalty to be reintroduced in New York, the cost of the capital trial alone would be more than double the cost of a life term in prison. It is barbaric and violates the â€Å"cruel and unusual† clause in the Bill of Rights,some people believe. We as a society have to move away from the â€Å"eye for an eye† revenge mentality if civilization is to advance. It sends the wrong message: why kill people who kill people to show killing is wrong. Some jury members are reluctant to convict if it means putting someone to death. The prisoner’s family must suffer from seeing their loved one put to death by the state. It is useless in that it doesn’t bring the victim back to life. The death penalty is racially biased against African Americans Statistical evidence conducted on cases of similar crimes found that African American defendants are over four times as likely to be executed as their White counterparts. A similar study noted that White defendants face almost no chance of execution when their victim is African-American. While African Americans make up only 13% of the U.S. population, over 40% of death-row inmates are African-American. In light of these gross inequalities, the continuation of capital punishment constitutes egregious discrimination. it is also true that those on death row come disproportionately from low-income and high-crime geographic areas. That such areas are disproportionately  populated by African Americans is a tragic correlation, painting a troubling portrait of a nation that lacks equality. Mistakes can be made, Advances in forensic medicine and DNA testing are leading to more and more exoneration’s of convicted criminals.

Family Size

Would you rather be a member of a small family or a big one? Small families become spoilt over excessive resources. The advantages of having a small family weigh up to having a pretty good life. By being part of a small family you will receive more attention from your parents; go on holiday often and have money for yourself. Parents will not have to stress over money and budget issues. Although the advantages of a small family are everything most children would want in their lives, the disadvantages have a negative impact on your own and others lives.Disadvantages of children in a small family are that they don’t learn responsibility and become selfish due to having their own stuff and not having to share with siblings. They become spoilt because they are use to having everything their way and getting whatever they want at any time. Children also tend to become bored alone at home, holidays or outings. Being part of a big family introduces children to a balanced lifestyle.The advantages of being part of a family are children learn responsibility, do chores etc. It is also good for younger siblings to have someone they can talk to. On family outings there will be a joyful atmosphere because of the amount of people. They will learn to socialize easily and be able to share with others. Even though there are many advantages of being part of a big family, there are also disadvantages to consider. Children get less attention from their parents and have no privacy or space of their own.A major issue is sibling rivalry, which is when siblings don’t get along and compete with each other in academics, sports etc. Disadvantages for parents would be not having a lot of money to spend on each child and having a huge amount of stress to pay bills, fees etc. In my opinion, having and being part of a small family results in children being spoilt and unsocial. Having a big family is better for a child’s upbringing because of the jovial household atmosphere and responsibilities learnt. Total number of words: 337

Bharti Enterprises Essay

Ensuring that the look and feel of the store is as per guidelines/standards Ensuring/ reporting Inventory and Stock availability as per the norms to prevent stock-outs Provide suggestions /feedback to improve store productivity People Development / Team Management: Acting as a mentor and trainer for store staff To ensure daily roistering & briefing to inbound & outbound store staff Customer Experience: Manage staff allocation based on demand at point in time Personally step in to handle demanding customers Provide suggestions for improvements in CE 4. A. On Diversity and Cultural spread in Africa, As Africa consists of 53 countries, to operate successfully it is important to understand the dynamics of each country, including differences in culture, language and especially regulations. Bharti would do well to put in place as few expatriates as possible and have most of its top management from Africa. b. On Infrastructure sharing and cost / capital issues, The biggest driver of network sharing will be the shift in approach of the biggest operators, who had been unwilling to share network to sustain competitive advantage. There is visible network sharing in the markets of Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa, and that this is likely to pick up in other markets. c. On Bharti Airtel’s Minute Factor Model, Network sharing and IT outsourcing would help operators bring down costs. While costs could trend down, however they will be higher than in India because of some of the structural costs caused by power shortage and poor infrastructure. 5. Bharti Airtel has a history of making first moves and emerging as the winner just because of that. This is what built the company’s success in India, where it remains the top MNO and second-largest fixed-line operator. In fact, thanks to the massive market it serves at home, at the time it acquired the Zain portfolio in March 2010 Airtel was reckoned to be the fifth largest mobile operator in the world on a proportional subscriber basis, putting it behind the likes of China Mobile, Vodafone Group, American Movil and Telefonica, but ahead of China Unicom. As has been widely covered for over a year now, Airtel has been looking at Africa as a new growth market. While it has a deal with Vodafone for the Channel Islands, Africa is the only other territory outside the Indian subcontinent (including Bangladesh and Sri Lanka) that the company has entered. The commonalities are compelling: similar markets, needs and infrastructure. The realities on the ground are somewhat more challenging: logistics, legislative compliance and serious local competition being foremost. The logistics of infrastructure in Africa are an equal challenge for all MNOs. That is a given. Where Airtel might have been overly optimistic is in hoping its Africa model would run similarly to its success in India, based on a first-to-market approach and having some leverage to overcome legislative obstacles. Unfortunately, while Airtel has a 30-year history of being first in India (with pushbutton phones, cordless phones and then mobile), they were not first in Africa. There were major EU, Middle East and South African players there ahead of them. In fact, Airtel’s African expansion is largely thanks to its takeover of Kuwait’s Zain mobile operations in 15 countries. This was a beachhead, not a conquest. Zain only held dominant market share in a few countries. Going up against market leaders such as MTN of South Africa, Airtel applied a strategy of extensive cost cutting. This followed on what it achieved in India, cutting a deal with Ericsson for per-minute fees (rather than upfront payment) that enabled very low-cost call rates from the outset. Airtel has an all-Africa, five-year deal in place with Ericsson for network management that offers similar advantages. Elsewhere, Airtel is engaged with Nokia Siemens Networks and Huawei, not keeping all its eggs in one basket, of course. As a Plan B, possibly following on the indecisive outcome of Airtel’s low-cost invasion, the company has previously been negotiating a takeover of or (maybe) a joint venture with MTN itself. How this putative deal is described depends on which company is talking. This has been going on for some four years without a definitive ending. Even if it never happens, it is a signpost of just what Airtel would consider to get its Africa operations truly established.

Malware review

While technology in computing continues to rise, computer hackers and crackers are also evolving. Cracking even started at the early age of computer technology. It started from simple codes exploiting bugs in Operating Systems. And now, it becomes a hobby of some. Stealing passwords and exploiting computers are common way of cracking. Some people termed it as hacking. Everyday, anti-virus companies are also upgrading their systems since viruses and other harmful softwares are upgrading. Piracy is another story. It is an act of duplicating someone’s work and sells it. Before, it is not common and hardly be seen. But as devices and softwares are upgrading, duplications can be made in a split of seconds. For some consumers, it is good but for the industry, it is a disadvantage. Piracy is one of the major problems that media industry is facing. But, technology cannot be fathom; it is continuously evolving in exponential manner. Music publishers (the entertainment industry is the ones affected) released their cure or prevention for such exploitation. The program is called â€Å"rootkit†. Basically, its task is to hide copy protection on computers.   With its ability, people can no longer copy music. In this way, piracy can be prevented. But, Sony admitted that someday somehow people will try to crack its code and continue on pirating. But for sure, media industry’s cyber security personnel well not let crackers succeed. On the other hand, due its capability to control computers, rootkit was distinguished by most anti-virus software as a malware. On an article on Technology Review published by MIT and written by Wade Roush, Technology Review interviewed Bruce Scheiener a computer security guru. There, Scheiener discussed about the tool and its capabilities. In â€Å"When Copy Protection Becomes Malware†, the computer security guru specifically identified the work of the rootkit and why it is called a malware. Basically, malware is a form of software that can control the system. Some malwares are harmful. But in the case of Sony, it has no other functions except to hide copy protections on users’ computer. The reason why it is distinguished as malware is because of its capability to manipulate the system wherein the user’s freedom of the product is given limitations. Added by Scheiener, computer users or consumers often times do not know what they are buying. Advertisements are so broad that buyers only see the outside appearance of the capability of the product. Consumers do not know what else their product can do. With this weakness, rootkit see an opportunity. It can’t be distinguished by consumers as harmful except when their anti-virus reacts on it (after distinguishing it as a malware). But these days, rootkit is accepted by anti-virus companies as useful software and now freely preventing music from being copied. In my opinion, it is illegal and unethical to copy a product. The ethical nature of copy protection and its implementation on the other hand is discussed in relation to a new set of copyright laws called The Digital Millennium Copyright Act. This act protects the media industry. It punishes those people involved in illegal duplication of digital products. In some point, consumers do not freely get what they needed for a product. Consumers buy digital products to satisfy their needs. But with this technology, some consumer’s rights are somewhat by passed. If we try to look at some point, there is a contradiction. Consumers wanted to buy a product that will make their lives easy. But this objective is not met since producers have the capability to control the product they want to sell. But, we can also say that it is a part of technology advancement. It is like before. There are no copying devices before so digital products are secured. It only came when the technology advances and devices able to duplicate are manufactured. Digital products vendors are only upgrading their system. They only restore what was lost. With the rootkit, digital products today have similar limitations before, except that it’s more advance and more easy to use. There’s another important thing the article discussed. The rootkit was not detected by anti-virus softwares before. There are people who know that Sony rootkit is freely exploring their computers. One of the reasons for this is that, Sony’s technology or program is more powerful than the anti-virus available that time. There were customers who noticed it. Some make noise that their anti-virus software did not detect the rootkit. It’s really shame on the part of anti-virus provider. Their software should be able to protect the computer from harmful viruses yet rootkit passed the test. We can picture out that programmers are getting their codes better in order to cross the gate which are set by protection softwares. However that did not last a long time. Anti-virus software providers developed further their products and able to detect the rootkit. Scheiener was asked if Sony will not make another program similar to rootkit. The guru said boldly that Sony will again do it when the controversy is over. Well, we cannot blame the company for it. They are only protecting their products from pirates. If more piracy will happen the digital industry will not also last for long. There will be no marketer on the said or similar products. It is also their way of saving their jobs and professions. Malware is really a big issue. Rootkit is not free from that controversy. The process will just create a cycle. There are people who will continue to find ways how to pirate a digital product. Crackers will continue to write codes in order to exploit bugs of every technology. While that is happening, cyber security personnel will find ways to prevent their products from being stolen. This is indeed an indication that we passed the days of low-technology and now experiencing a high-end digital technology. Nonetheless, copy protection will still be recognized as malware unless anti-virus provider withdraws its security on the program. Reference: Roush, W. (2006). When Copy Protection Becomes Malware. Technology Review. Retrieved

Evaluation of Montenero Governance and Economic Reforms on the Way to Essay

Evaluation of Montenero Governance and Economic Reforms on the Way to EU Membership - Essay Example This essay presents a comprehensive analysis of modern political and economic developments in Montenegro, which is pursuing its further ties with the EU. Montenegro’s conclusion of its Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) negotiation with the European Commission will pave the way for eventual integration with he European Common market . The tiny nation of just 620,000 has done so ahead of Serbia whose European ambitions have been stalled with its refusal to cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Montenegro looks poised to follow Croatia and Macedonia in actively negotiating accession negotiations. Greater political stability was achieved with the democratic elections held in September in the year 2006 after the narrow win in the referendum in May, with just 55.5% of voters giving a go signal for independence. Djukanovic, with his party in power has even greater leverage to pursue governance reforms in line with democratic principles as one of the main prerequisites into entering the European Union. Held in a fee and fair manner and in line with international standards, the parliamentary elections placed Montenegro was seen favorably by the international community in its capacity to address political reforms and implement them. In terms of legislation, Montenegro has strengthened its anti-corruption drive. Key legislations for improved public procurement and conflict of interest legislation are set to be passed and the Law on Free Access to Information was signed (par 10). Also for the first time as a signal towards greater Montenegro accountability, 1,692 public officials submitted reports on their income and property (par10). Djukanovic in an interview published in the New York Times said that his government managed to pass 140 laws and many more regulations in his past term as Prime Minister, with focus on reforms on the economy, education and administration. As to criticisms that implementation has been slow, he said that the "effects of this reform job will be witnessed only after 5 years" To further cement its legal democratic framework, Montenegro has to craft a

Chip and Pin Card Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Chip and Pin Card Systems - Essay Example The magnetic strips required the customer to present their cards for swiping in a terminal, sign a slip of receipt and the payment would then be processed (King, 2012). However, with the introduction of chip-and-pin, the customer’s card is swiped and the details would be authenticated by entering a unique pin and the payment would be processed. Based on the introduced chip and pin cards in the United Kingdom, research is to be conducted to determine whether their introduction has really served to reduce incidences of card fraud in the United Kingdom. The main issue in this paper is whether there has been a reduction in card fraud since chip and pin cards were introduced and whether any reduction can be attributed solely to the introduction of chip and pin cards. Literature Review The shift towards the chip and pin technology in the United Kingdom was driven by increasing card fraud, which totaled to a lot of money in 2000. After the introduction of chip and pin technology, the re has been a drastic reduction in card fraud in the UK. The technology is a technology backed by the government to implement the benchmark created by EMV to curb card fraud (King, 2012). This was meant to reduce the fraud committed when transactions are completed face to face with the customer. All major card providers in Europe and Canada have gone the way of the chip and pin technology, but the United States still uses magnetic strips on their debit and credit cards. From research, the working of the chip and pin technology is stated as replacing the common form of card performance; magnetic strips and requiring the customer to sign the accompanying receipt (Diebold, 2011). In chip and pin technology, the customer’s information is stored on an IC chip embedded in the card as opposed to the magnetic strip used before the technology was introduced. The data is then encrypted on the card using different algorithms that generate random numbers when transactions are recorded. I n the previous magnetic strip technology, the card was swiped on a terminal, but with the new technology, the customer inserts the card in a terminal, the information in the integrated circuit is decrypted and authorization for the transaction provided. When the authorization for the transaction is provided, the customer then enters a unique pin, a receipt is generated and the money deducted from the cardholder's account. One of the main security features of chip and pin technology is the ability to use wireless terminals that are more secure since the card is used in the presence of the customer. This also means that the terminals use secure modes of transmission of customer data to a central database. Before the introduction of chip and pin technology, magnetic strips were used for authentication reasons (Financial Fraud Action UK, 2011). The magnetic strip on the card had personal details for the holder which could be related to the bank account in case they want to perform any t ransaction like withdrawing money on the ATM or purchasing items in shops using the card.  

Evolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Evolution - Essay Example There is an overwhelming body of evidence which supports the theory that life on this planet started from a single living microorganism which evolved and adapted into the multitude of living creatures that inhabit the earth. Furthermore, other than the fact that there is strong evidence to conclude that the theory of evolution is sound and valid, the author does not feel that there is similar empirical support for other existential theories. This paper will begin by presenting an introduction into the topic of evolution, including pertinent definitions and a brief history on the issue. Then, the paper will move on to presenting necessary and sufficient evidence that backs up the author’s position on evolution. This paper will also include the presentation of an objection to the author’s position and a corresponding refutal of this objection. Evolution: Definition and History Evolution is the change in the form and behavior of organisms between generations. According to Ridley’s book entitled Evolution, evolutionary changes in living things do not proceed in a predictable manner; instead, the details of evolution depend on the environment that a population happens to live in and the genetic variants that happen to arise by almost random processes in that population (2004). A great majority attributes the evolution theory to Charles Darwin, who, in the 1800s, was the first to present a convincing explanation of how evolution works in his classic work, On the Origin of Species. However, it was the ancient Greeks who had the first known discussions about some concepts that later became part of evolutionary theory. In particular a Greek scientist named Anaximander who lived during the sixth century BC said all life began in the sea. Later on, sea creatures crawled onto dry land and over time, their bodies slowly changed, evolving into reptiles, mammals, and even people (Nardo, 2009). Evolution may be biological or organic, but the key point is t hat there is a modification in the descendants of organisms over generations. It has to be noted that the unit of evolutionary change is the population, not the individual, which is why changes are manifested in a widespread manner. Evolution: Supporting Evidence Science requires the testing of explanations of the natural world against nature itself, and discarding those explanations that do not work. What distinguishes science from other ways of knowing is its reliance upon the natural world itself as the arbiter of truth. It is for this reason that the theory of evolution presents such a strong argument --- because it is deeply rooted in scientific foundations. Thus, its reliability has been proven time and again by a number of empirical studies, done by a number of respected personalities in the field of science. There are main pieces of evidence that support the theory of evolution. The first is concerned with similarities between organisms that one would not expect if they had independent origins. These similarities are found on all levels, from the molecular to the anatomical. Second, organisms can be classified in a hierarchical fashion in a nested pattern of groups within groups, as predicted by evolutionary theory. Third, biogeography plays a great role in defense of the theory of evolution. Biogeography is the study of the distribution of organisms across the world. The observation that the most closely related species are found close together geographically, regardless of their habitat or their

Entrepreneurship and Law Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Entrepreneurship and Law - Research Paper Example It can be attested that this is a huge step towards the promotion of entrepreneurial activities since it gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to contact more investors. In this relation, more laws and rules that are still oppressive and restrictive to the profitable activities of entrepreneurs should be revised to open more opportunities and help to enhance economies (Medved, 2013). However, since it is an activity that involves new technological advancements in relation to the use of social networking sites, it will be imperative to come up with new legislation and laws. This will create platforms through which the entrepreneurs and investors can conduct their operations in ways that are legally acceptable. In addition, they will serve as means through which internet crimes can be prevented hence the maintenance of social media security. The main item being brought up in this article is the activities of different entrepreneurs. These are the individuals who are occupied in the legal manufacture and sale of new psychoactive substances. However, they market them as â€Å"not for human consumption†. A great contradiction is highlighted in this article in the sense that drugs, which are usually considered as illegal substances can be legal, sold in areas such as Belgium hence the title ‘legal high†. According to the article, most people are putting an end to other business activities to get involved in the business of making drugs. This involves the production of powders and pills that are psychoactive in nature (Whalen & Zhang, 2010). In relation to this article, I think that the governing body at Antwerp and Belgium, in general, should conduct more research about these drugs that are considered to lie in between the legal and illegal zones. This is because it is a great indication that as much as they are legal they are not safe for consumption.  It is sustained by the fact that the producing entrepreneur admits that the Nopaine drug they manufacture â€Å"is every bit as good as cocaine†.

Anything Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 6

Anything - Essay Example On the other hand, the benefits derived from age-appropriate content amongst children range from staying connected to friends, developing and expressing your individual identity, sharing content of self-expression such as artwork and music and developing new social contacts amongst peers with similar interest. Firstly, I argue against by asserting that socials sites exposure is toxic to young minds. Children are gullible hence any material presented to them indeed provokes a feeling of interest. In this case, internet exposure takes a dramatic twists as most of these young minds are concentrated on experiences that are beyond their understanding (Warburton & Hatzipanagos, 2013). Time spent in social media must have been cut out from other useful activities such as school projects, help around with small household chores and cases of sleep deprivation. A child under the influence of such will showcase discomfort and reduced concentration capability. Children will likely attracted to the internet because of quick access to Information that may seem vulgar and inappropriate, keeping in mind that in such a situation no objection is involved. Accordingly, an anticipated outcome is the deterioration in class performance. On the other hand, I argue for by asserting that through proper restrictio n to ensure age-appropriate content amongst children presents an opportunity for children to benefit from social sites. Parents must monitor and ensure safety based on free discussion with the children and guiding them appropriately on the use of social sites. Parents must keep control of their information by access restriction to some sites, keep their full names, address, telephone number, social security number to themselves. Ensure the children only post information they are comfortable with everyone viewing and talk to their parents before considering

Synthesis and analysis paper Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Synthesis and analysis paper - Assignment Example The major similarity amongst all these three rumor theories is that everything about a rumor is psychological and hence the reason why many tend to believe it to be true. They are a creation of the mind and hence can only be stopped by the mind once an individual or group loses their psychological perspective. The other similarity is that all the three authors agree that it is easier to spread than stop a rumor, once it is created it only grows and spreads even wider. Despite their similarities, the three rumor theories have their own differences. Knapp’s theory for example explains that rumor are caused and driven by an emotion humans may be having. These emotions are wish, fear as well as hostility (Behrens & Rosen 360). When an individual encounters any of the above emotions, he is bound to react through coming up with a rumor and spreading it to further protect and mask his true emotions. Unless the emotion behind the rumor is addressed, the rumors will keep on coming. DiFonzo however seems to differ about the source and cause of rumors. He explains that rumors are a creation of society to serve either personal or social purpose. Once this purpose is served, then the rumor ceases until the next personal or social need occurs. The extent of the rumor and its magnitude depends on the personal or social level. This is the same across groups as well not only individuals. Sunstein believes that rumors work in a cascading manner where the more it is spreading, the more people it is pulling in and the faster it continues to spread. They originate small but continue to spread and increase to the level of people starting to believe them to be true despite the half-truths it holds most of the time. He further indicates that this rumor can be used to effect positivity into humans in fields such as politics (Behrens & Rosen 390). There was a wide spread rumor a few years back through some of it

Self-Advertising Monologue Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Self-Advertising Monologue - Assignment Example I count myself fortunate that I already have a range of skills suitable to the workplace. On the computer I have experience with AutoCAD, MATLAB as well as all four functions of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations and Access databases). My UNIX technical skills include the use of the drill press and soldering iron and I am fluent in Arabic and the English language. I already have some experience in the workforce. In Kuwait I worked as a trainer for three months at a Kuwait oil company and I have also worked as a trainer in the Kuwait power plant. That experience taught me some valuable work ethics – such as being reliable, turning up on time, meeting deadlines, following instructions and working as part of a team. I was really proud that I could take some of the skills I already had and apply them to a â€Å"real life† situation. It is my intention to obtain an internship position in the field of Mechanical Engineering. I believe that my skills and experience would be a valuable asset to any organization and I am keen to learn new skills to compliment those I already have. I have a career plan and am focused on acquiring as much experience and new knowledge as possible so that on my graduation, my skills will be useful to the engineering industry in Kuwait. So why should you hire me? I can offer a lot of useful skills and solid work ethics that would be of use to your organization. I understand the need to work hard and I see my working as a means of learning new skills. I have excellent computer skills. Through my studies and past work experience I understand the need to meet deadlines and to remain focused on my tasks. I will never be late for work and if you give me a chance I will ensure that you are pleased that you did. My main aim in life is to graduate with a good degree and work for a company that not only appreciates my skills but is one that is also going to provide me with the

Maggi Brand Consumer Behaviour Research Essay Example for Free

Maggi Brand Consumer Behaviour Research Essay Well the history of this brand traces back to the 19th century when industrial revolution in Switzerland created factory jobs for women, who were therefore left with very little time to prepare meals. Due to this growing problem Swiss Public Welfare Society asked a miller named Julius Maggi to create a vegetable food product that would be quick to prepare and easy to digest. Julius, the son of an Italian immigrant came up with a formula to bring added taste to meals in 1863. Soon after he was commissioned by the Swiss Public Welfare Society, he came up with two instant pea soups a bean soup- the first launch of Maggi brand of instant foods in 1882-83. Towards the end of the century, Maggi company was producing not just powdered soups, but bouillon cubes, sauces and other flavorings. However in India(the largest consumer of Maggi noodles in the world! ) it was launched in 1980’s by Nestle group of companies. Maggie had merged with Nestle(This company too has a very interesting history which I will discuss in some other review! ) family in 1947. When launched it had to face a stiff competition from the ready to eat snack segments like biscuits, wafers etc. Also it had other competitor the so called ’home made’ snacks which are till today considered healthy and hygienic. Hence to capture the market it was positioned as a hygienic home made snack, a smart move. But still this didn’t work, as it was targeted towards the wrong target group, the working women. Although the product was developed for this particular purpose. After conducting an extensive research, the firm found that the children were the biggest consumers of Maggi noodles. Quickly a strategy was developed to capture the kids segment with various tools of sales promotion like pencils, fun books, maggi clubs which worked wonders for it. No doubt the ads of maggi have shown a hungry kid saying ’’Mummy bhookh lagi hai’’ to which his mom replies ’’Bas do minute! ’’ and soon he is happily eating Maggie noodles. The company could have easily positioned the product as a meal, but did not, as a study had shown that Indian mentality did not accept anything other than rice or roti as meal. They made it a easy to cook snack that could be prepared in just two minutes. The formula clicked well maggi became a brand name. That’s precisely what is required in making a product a brand The brand has grown to an estimated 200 crore contributes to around 10% of Nestle India’s top line. So next time when you are eating this noodles just remember these facts that have gone on to make Maggi a brand. In the early 1980s India was opening up to the world after three and a half decades of self-existence. Till then, the concept of â€Å"fast food† was practically non-existent. Nestle had already been pipped to the post by Cadbury in the milk chocolate segment and it desperately wanted to create a niche for itself in the high potential Indian market. It was then that it realized that it could be a first-mover in the untapped â€Å"instant food† segment. Several years went by and a lot of money was spent and Maggi Noodles was born. The problems had only just begun. The biggest of them was the Indian psyche of the 80s. The conservatism which India showed in their culture boiled down to their palate also. They would rather stick to their Tandoori Chicken or Idli Sambhar than be a little more adventurous in trying a new taste. Maggi Noodles was a new taste from a new culture. It was then that Maggi Noodles became Maggi Instant Two-Minute Noodles. The whole point was to position Maggi as platform of convenience and soul food for the a fast growing section of the Indian population – the working women. Heavy promotion was done on the same lines. But even this did not work. Sales were good but not as good as they wanted it to be. A research was carried out which revealed that the largest consumers of the brand were not the working women but young children in the Indian households. Realizing this, Nestle repositioned their brand using new promotional strategies and smart advertising. Marketing teams were sent out to schools to distribute free Maggi samples to take home. The kids would inevitably take their Maggi packets home and ask their mothers to prepare it for lunch or as a snack. The mothers would find that it took them only two minutes to make a proper hot meal for their children who would love it. They would refer it to their neighbors who would pass it on to distant bachelor cousins who lived alone and had to cook for themselves. Thus, the hugely successful viral campaign ensured that Maggi created a distinct affection in the hearts of its consumers unlike any other proprietary food of its time. But the story was far from over. In 1997, Nissin – the inventor of instant noodles – launched its flagship brand Top Ramen in the Indian market with Shah Rukh Khan – fresh from the success of super hits like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge – endorsing the brand. It was then that Maggi took its first false step – it changed its taste to align itself with that of Top Ramen’s. The results were disastrous. A generation which had grown up on Maggi could not accept the new taste and would rather give Top Ramen a try. Nestle was fast losing ground to Nissin. It took them two years to work out a new strategy – accept the consumer’s verdict and get back to the basics. In 1999, Maggi relaunched itself with its original taste. It paid off handsomely and the faithfuls returned to their master. Top Ramen could no longer sustain the growth it built up in the two years. The next big hurdle came in 2004. The SARS epidemic of 2003 in South East Asia had led to widespread concerns regarding personal hygiene and health. Mothers were now more concerned regarding what their children were eating and maida in general was always considered to be low on the health aspect. In 2005 Maggi launched Atta Noodles with the tagline â€Å"Taste bhi, health bhi. † Although the advertisements showed Atta Noodles replacing the rotis and chapatis, this was never Maggi’s intention. It knew that thinking about that objective was a far cry and the main purpose was to convince mothers that their children was eating the right thing. In this sense, it scored over the Licia and Bambino semolina-based Macaroni products, which, though being an healthier alternative to Maggi, always tried to position themselves as a substitute for wheat based items of daily consumption. Within 10 months, Maggi Atta Noodles was declared a success and now they are foraying further with the â€Å"Taste bhi, Health bhi† campaign with products such as Multi-Grain Noodles. The above examples show that Maggi as a brand knows the customer and is willing to learn from its mistakes. It knows that its USP is convenience to ake and good to eat and it sticks to that without pushing the envelope further in its campaigns. It has also leveraged its success to other food products – the most notable of which is the Maggi ketchup which has garnered a market leader position of about 45% largely thanks to the Maggi brand and its positioning as a â€Å"Different† product ( Remember the tagline – Its different! ). The savior of many students (and especially the ones staying in hostels), there is little doubt as to why many regard Maggi as the greatest invention since the wheel.