Strategic management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Strategic management - Case Study Example The Business System Model is responsible for the current level of strategic performance of the company. In order to sustain in the highly competitive retail market, Starbucks has undertaken a comprehensive strategy of integrating its business ethics, values and principles in the area of customer service in order to tap the potentially high market demand. The emotional engagement talks about a third factor introduced by the company called the Starbucks Experience. The customer gets engaged emotionally with the offerings of Starbucks and treats it as the third place to visit after their home and office (Fitzroy and Herbert, 2007, p.48). Starbucks have been able to set up their retails shops in identified locations in the urban areas which can reach the largest number of customers. Apart from this, the current strategies also involve diversification of business to the area of financial services. Findings: external and internal analysis The internal and external analysis of Starbucks has been conducted with the help of analysis of data (given in Appendix) on the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the company which are internal and external characteristics respectively of the organization. The analysis of the strengths of the company reveals that Starbucks is the largest coffee chain spread all over the world. The company has strong financials and the valuation of the coffee segment is $4billion. Starbucks experience is an influential factor in the business that has driven internal performance of the company to new heights (Hutt and  Speh, 2012, p.29). The Starbucks products are slightly high priced and are aimed at tapping the customers who are willing to pay slightly more for the Starbucks experience. This leads to loss of customer base for Starbucks. The negative publicity of Starbucks is also an area of weakness for the company. Key strategic issues/findings The strategic issues in the business of Starbucks could be found with the help of i nformation of the business and the industry trends (given in the Appendix). The dip in the performance of stock from 2008 to 2009 reveals that inevitable gaps between the business of the company and the industry trends have developed. This has also been reflected in the slowdown of revenues earned from 2008 to 2009 and in the profits earned from 2008 to 2009 and 2009 to 2010. The strategic issues that have been identified in the business of Starbucks are inability to control the rapid expansion of its retail coffee outlets (Jenster, Hayes and  Smith, 2005, p.68). The image of Starbucks have got diluted which was built among the up market consumers over the years. The retail coffee outlets that are competing with each other intensely are also eating up their market shares. This has resulted in the of the Starbucks experience which has led to the decline of Starbucks performance. Evaluation of options The options to reduce the gap between the business performance and the changes dev eloping in the industry could be evaluated with an objective to reduce the gaps in the business per

Geology Report Essay Example for Free

Geology Report Essay In article 64, Beach Placers Containing Radioactive Minerals, Bay of Bengal, East Pakistan the geologists have thoroughly researched the rocks and minerals of beach placers that extend 100 miles southeastward along the Bay of Bengal near East Pakistan. During the 1961 study the geologists discovered that the placers contain heavy radioactive minerals including monazite, ilmenite, and zircon. In the sands along the beaches, the geologists, found 10 to 30 percent of heavy minerals that exceed 2. 8 specific gravity. Of the ten randomly dispersed placers studied along the oast, geologist found they all contained small concentrations of these heavy radioactive minerals. The minerals studied in the placers were in layers between 1 and 2. 5 feet thick and located near the beach surface along with others buried in sand dunes. They believe the placers were formed with or by a combination of waves, wind, and the natural down flow of creeks/rivers. Due to the difference of each separately located placer, geologists noticed grain sizes and the sorting of the minerals differ from placer to placer. They discovered the lenses with the majority of eavy minerals is finer grained, better sorted, and better rounded and contains magnetite. In the pacer at the northernmost tip, they found it differs from the others. It had black sand as opposed to white and it laid on top of a mud platform. Also, according to the survey, geologists found this placer to be less radioactive than the rest of placers researched. All of the placers are oblong in shape and are very large. Each placer is tens of hundreds of feet wide and can stretch out to be several miles long. The geologists surveyed the placers using an airborne radiometric survey. After ll of the research the geologists and scientists found that all of the placers contain radioactive minerals as well as non-radioactive minerals. Reasoning and Application I specifically chose this article because I find radioactive minerals, and anything geological related to the ocean, interesting. I grew up surfing in a small beach town near Santa Barbara so any type of geology related to the oceans and beaches interest me. Also, one of the more interesting topics learned in my geology class were the different types of minerals and how their individual physical structure can be altered due to earths natural forces. After studying geology this semester I was able to fully understand how these placers were formed along with why these heavy minerals formed in layers and were denser than the sand and other rocks. It helped me understand why and how geologists surveyed these radioactive minerals. Also, I completely understood how these minerals were sorted and the different physical structure of these well and poorly sorted minerals. I can honestly say that before taking this class I would have no idea what this article was about. Now I was fully able to grasp all of the information provided in the article. USGS Geology Report By gomer5

The Concept of Information :: Exploratory Research

The Concept of Information There is such a point of view that information is an abstract unit as an invariant of informational processes. Information consists of object, procedural and morphological components.We have an opportunity to consider that information consists of object and procedural components. So we have the relation-functional concept of information.Information has such attributes as syntactics, semantics and pragmatics. These attributes are relational definitions. Semantics and pragmatics are considered to be external features (characteristics) of the definite syntactics. Information may be considered as an universal property of matter (attributive concept) or as a property of self-managing (cybernetic) system (functional concept). Then we can not get a full understanding of information, universal and flexible enough. So it is necessary to widen and develop the definition of information. There are two basic ways of unification of any concept: a) abstracting, b) integration. The classical theory of information and cybernetics used the first - abstracting. It means the volume ("demanded place") expressed by the quantity of bites. It is a quantity of information. The semiotics used the second way. It means the sign system (sign), the unity of three attributes - syntactic, semantics and pragmatics. In this work integration (abstracting) concept of information is offered. For the final description, we said that information is consist of 1) object (attributive), 2) procedural (functional) and 3) morphological (structural) components. We must offer two definitions for further developing the concept of information. These are a message and a language. Language is a sign system with alphabet, vocabulary and grammar. Message is a definite construction in a definite language. Any language is an interface (means of interaction) between users (communication function) or between users and environment. Exchange of information is possible by plunge into definite surroundings - own language of this message. Any message is a set of signs without such a plunge. So information can not exist in "a pure state", without physical bearer. We also point out that information can exist as messages. Information may be extracted from messages. Thus we say object component is realized by messages, procedural component is realized by grammar, morphological is realized by material bearers. We may examine information as a unit with two components: object and procedural. Then we have a relation concept of information. It means a ratio between properties of the object, which consist of tables and charts. The second concept is a set of specific procedures. We may use a philosophical concept of information.

Not Too Old to Alter Essay

One hundred fifty one years hitherto, a substantial Filipino in the illustrious epithet of Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Realonda, extricated our predecessors from being slaves by deploying a taciturn yet strapping apparatus. It was for his exertion that we are anon lodging on the snug threshold of freedom. By dint of his literary works −essays, novels and articles. He brawled for our territory’s liberty hostile to the Spanish settlers who subjugated us for three hundred thirty three years. I staunchly cannot portray where we will be today if it was not for Jose Rizal’s intrepid escapade. But why is it that until today, we are still bruised by the storms of hitch and inundated with wrangles? Is this the underlying pretext why Rizal squandered his duration aiming to fulfill his desire? Is this worth three centuries of anguishing? Well, no! He divulged, â€Å"our liberty will not be secured at the sword’s point†¦ we must secure it by making ourselves worth of it. And when the people reaches that height, God will provide a weapon, the idols will be shattered, tyranny will crumble like a house of cards. And liberty will shine out like the first dawn.† Unambiguously, he craves us to rectify our oblivion towards his forfeits, to esteem what he capitulated in abidance for us to stow our existence like it should be. And in the interval we exploited our latitude fruitfully, everything will plummet into array. Ostensibly our interstate hero, Dr. Jose Rizal still subsists in ontological epoch, he would aptly be applying his erudite dexterity reversely to the pompous President Pnoy. Rizal covets genuine metamorphosis, and Aquino’s administration has not outdo it yet, alternatively, he burlesqued number games on our psyche to somehow persuade us that he and the Filipino at large are on the right-track (tuwid na daan). Reminiscent of what he executed throughout his State of the Nation Address, he swindled us via manifesting statistic testimony vis-à  -vis his feats that were explicated by some research agency or sector. Indubitably he would be an underground propagandist for the second time around. Rizal is a true-blue nationalist. He is a silhouette of expansive brainpower, he manipulated his wit to craft a fictional character playing role in a true-to-life story that had commenced the Filipino’s quandary during the Spanish conquest. Although the characters were illusory, Filipinos were adroit to grasp the gist beyond it, he used that conspiracy to elevate his tacit propaganda, to somehow truant from prosecution. He has utilized his writing prowess to hoist his fellow Filipino’s cognizance. Using this slant, he affirms that we can elicit liberty without denuding of blood, that it is a diplomatic and robust tool to draw a collective force among his country men. Disdain of what he did to galvanize our perception, after obtaining our unequivocal sovereignty, we again stagger in hauling up our country from drowning. We struggle in the somber because of our own liabilities. It is our transgression that scorted us to our congested enlargement. We have continuosly been predominated by our culture principally by our unbecoming customs –crab mentality, pride. Instead of maneuvering for a progressive state, we Filipinos hubs solely for our personal garnishment. We quantize everybody as our adversary no matter what their socio-economic status is. How can we debark affluence when there are these people who are only aspirng for our stoppage? This kind of stance, crab mentality, will only make our country unsteady. If everyone has this perspective, then at the end, everyone will torment the consequences. â€Å"There are more faults which make a man more unpopular and no faults which are more unconscious of in us. And the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others.† A quotation made by an outlandish writer, C S Lewis. Interiorizing this notion, pride is a bigger stumbling block as we ever envisage it to be and the appalling side of it is more vicious as we opine it to be. When we are gobbled by pride, we incline to look down on people, and are not able to empathize with them. It is hard to put yourself in the shoes of others. Same as in national growth, if we prefer to use Filipino vernacular rather than English as a medium of interaction in edifying, I believe it would be more tranquil to digest the information. Like for example Japan, look where they are now. But then, it is not the peccadillo of the followers alone. The leader of our nation also endows to the loss of our state by their bogus governance. They are the very incentive why Philippines is internationally renowned for corruption. The funds that are preordained for the people were embezzled barbarously. This money is intended for everybody not for somebody. Therefore, we arbitrate the Filipino themselves are the midmost walls hindering national expansion. The great Jose Rizal once articulated, â€Å"no good water comes from the muddy springs. No sweet fruit comes from a bitter seed†. No matter how callous our Government Officials try to avert smelly fish from amplificating its smell, it would always find its way out to the sense of our country men. And that kind of Government Officers reflects to the kind of country they belong to. Even in Rizal’s interlude, these barriers were vividly observable. This is the wall shadowing our triumph which generated the darkness we are in now. These things will continue to shake our solidarity until we learn how to lend a hand. How will we telltale this to our national hero? He would be so thwarted when he unearth that his atonement was sealed in a trash bag. He filled our thirst for freedom by furnishing to us a cup full of fearlessness, hope and determination to uphold a better future. Let us not recollect the dim history of the past when we are muted by illiteracy. Only elites had a privilege to have an education. Thus the higher classes repress the Indio’s. We have now arrived in this murky place to cue us how subterranean we fell. This is not the time to blame one another. It is now time to make valid the promises of liberty. Start breaking the seal! This is the moment where we ascend from the dark, where we rise from drowning and were we face tomorrow’s sunlight wiping off the shadow of yesterday. Just like what Elias said in Rizal’s notorious novel, Noli me Tangere, â€Å"Mamamatay akong hindi nakikita ang ningning ng bukang-liwayway sa aking Bayan! Kayong makakakita, salubungin ninyo siya, at huwag kalilimutan ang mga nabulid sa dilim ng gabi.† Today we are still balking for that versatile transformation that only us, FILIPINOS can do. Who else will have a â€Å"Rizalic† heart that will have the audacity to protract his bequest? Who else? Will it be the Americans? Or the Chinese? Will it be Koreans? No! We should impede contemplating on those foreigners, pioneer laboring for the betterment of our country. Now, let the light cover Luzon. Let the light cover the island of Visayas. Let it reign across Mindanao. And when our motherland is categorically blanketed with rays of light, only then our boon will emerge to bloom, conceiving a better society. Only then will Jose Rizal’s death would be worth it.

Beauty pageants Essay

How many of you have heard or seen of the reality TV show Toddler and Tiaras ? It’s a show where toddlers and young children mainly girls, take the stage wearing make up, spray tans, nails done, fake hair and fake teeth. They are to be judged on their beauty, personality and costumes. Parental ambitions can make there children socially unconnected with other children and sometimes mentally and physically drained. Parents have gone to extremes to make their child the best. The young toddlers are competing world wide to be judged based on looks, poise, perfection, and confidents, From as young as 6 months old. Beauty pageants within children are very exploitive because they promote a materialistic belief to young girls, damaging self-esteem, and encouragement to be â€Å"divas.† The object of child beauty pageants is to win money, a big crown, and occasionally other prizes like a bouncy house or a teddy bear. During the events, young girls are criticised by judges as they get on stage wearing skimpy clothes, shaking the butt while making kiddy faces. The parents coach their toddlers to win, no matter what the cost. Mothers hire make-up artist and hair stylist to make sure their child looks better then the others. The girls have â€Å"rivalries† with other girls who do pageants and they aren’t even 8 years old yet! They will literally seek out their competition to tell them that they’re ugly and say that they’re going to lose. Encouraging such competitive nature in little children could carry over to when they’re older. Life isn’t about always winning, and people shouldn’t be telling their kids that! Beauty pageants wrongly teach little toddlers and children that the only way to be happy is to win and be perfect. A young child getting spray tanned, false nails, false eyelashes and they are like 2 and hate it, is definitely wrong! I mean, caking your kid in make up and then telling them they’re beautiful isn’t right. Its sometimes not the children’s wish to do these pageants, it is the parents (the mothers) desire to give their daughter something that maybe the mother could never accomplish herself. â€Å"A San Francisco mum is injecting her 8 year old daughter with botox to get rid of wrinkles and she insists that she’s not the only mum who’s doing it. The pain 8-year-old Britney Campbell describes doesn’t come from falling off her bike, or losing a tooth-but from this: Botox injections-administered by her Mother. Campbell†s mother says she started giving the injections to keep up with the beauty-take-all world of the pageant circuit an idea planted by other pageant mums. Photos taken during one of Britney’s Botox treatments – capture just how uncomfortable an adult cosmetic procedure can be.† Child beauty pageants have children dressed up in inappropriate clothing. A few examples from Toddlers and Tiaras are; a girl dressed up as a prostitute from Pretty Women and a girl’s mother putting in fake breasts and fake butt padding for her Dolly Parton talent routine. The mum said â€Å"she was just playing the part. She had no idea what she was doing.† Exactly! The child has no Idea what’s she’s doing. Most costumes have cuts in the sides or in the back that reveal a lot of skin. This is teaching little children that dressing this way is ok. When they’re older, they might wear clothing that is similar, although it’s not appropriate at that age either. Also, these parents are exposing their girls to possible pedophilia. Competitions showing little girls prancing around in skimpy dresses. Some little, innocent pageant girl could be the main focus of a pedophile. Parents should not be dressing their girls so proactively. There have been reports of children that have been sexually abused. These researches have shown that the sexualisation of child beauty pageants is a contributing factor to the abuse. Child beauty pageants send inappropriate messages to young girls about how they should act in society. Child beauty pageant contestants are taught that if you look pretty, you win prizes. These girls are put in huge frilly dresses, given fake hair pieces, caked in makeup, and are already getting spray tans. Their developing minds will determine that being pretty is the best thing to be in life. A girl named Daisey Mae was on Toddlers and Tiaras. She was 8 years old and she said â€Å"Facial beauty is the most  important thing in life.† That is exactly what I’m talking about. These girls grow up learning one skill: how to be pretty. Women spent over 72 years fighting to be seen and heard as more than just a pretty face. Over the past 10 years, there has been a 270% increase in the number of girls being hospitalized for eating disorders. Some of these girls are as young as 7 years old. Many of the girls with eating disorders have them because of body image. Beauty pagea nt girls are becoming anorexic just so they can be pretty and win trophies. Child beauty pageants is absolutely unacceptable. Children should be on playgrounds and playing games. Not wearing make up and having fake tans. And to not be judged for how they look. I believe that child beauty pageants should not put young girls in such situations. Child beauty pageants should not be allowed.

buy custom Globalization essay

buy custom Globalization essay Globalization made our world, like eggs in a single basket. We can connect with far living peoples in a nanosecond time and only with a single click. Say thanks! To the charisma of technology. If we take the Newtons third law of motion i.e. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, so as to the technology have both effects in a position i.e. positive and adverse. Simultaneously, the adverse effects of these technological innovations are bear by our mother nature, as an outcome the green effect of the nature is diluting because of the increase in buildings, offices and other typecasts of innovation. Technological and environmental issues were discussed by many authors and schools of thought in both manners. But we in this study are going to address and single book for its a review, which is Green Urbanism: Learning from European Cities written by Timothy Beatley. The book is written on effects of the increase in construction and innovation in technology in the major cities of E urope USA. The end user will learn from this study that what is an initiative of the author in writing this book. Approaches of the Book: The main ingredient of the book is its philosophical approach towards the green urbanism. The author described its milieu with the help of various other writers, if we see the bibliography page of the book, we can find various articles and journals of philosophy. Various theories of philosophy about the green urbanism are being accounted in this book for setting up the stance of the author. The scope of the study is not to analyze the accounted cities, but provides fruitful information about the developments in these cities. The theoretical approach settled by the author is in both qualitative and quantitative manner. As the author reviewed more than 20 countries of Europe and interviewed about 200 individuals for taking out the personal assumptions of the people living in these states. From this fact, we can say the research concluded by the author is an experimental research, because the research stimulated y the author is non-contrived in its manner rather than contrived writing style. Because the author physically surveyed and collected the data to be demonstrated in the study. This approach makes the conclusion and results section of the book quite heavy in negation to other books and approaches made in this regime. The author provides a copious amount of data into a single book and accounted for exclusive amount of philosophical and theoretical perceptions of his own and retained from others. Various environmental and cultural issues were also addressed by the author so the reader can clearly understand the motive and results concluded in the book. This book provides various aspects of environmental and cultural dimensions in its realm such as scientific, religious and humanist. This will lead the reader to segregate the significance of different factors, which are playing various roles in the urbanization of selected cities. The issue raised in the book is quite different with others, because its address the wishful thinking of some developers about eliminating the natural factors from this world. Summary of the Authors Perspective: If we take a look over the past and contemporary researches about the technological and innovational effects, we can derive many results and conclusions from various studies and accounts. However, this book Green Urbanism is an innovational approach to sustain the support to the issue of Green world. This issue is accounted in the various studies, but the approach established by the author of this book is pioneering and exclusive to the grave issue. The author studies various countries and their development procedures as the author mentioned about the London, that it is the busiest and developed state in the Europe. People in London use 55,000 gallons of oil, 66,000 tones of food per day and the waste accumulated in the study is 166,000 hydro oxides daily. This lead us to see that how much waste is being accumulated in a single city and the how does this waste influence the environment. The global warming is another issue, which is being boosted up with the increase development and waste ratio. Upon the survey conducted by the author with 200 individuals, it is supposed that the major cause of global warming is usage of different chemicals and production waste into the industries. Another factor which is most influential in global warming is then accounted as an increase in population and waste usage of construction. Most of building premises in the developed countries is for no reason. Architectures design building with extra storage and the extra space gather more than its real and usable space. Overall the study provides a burning issue in a way that could be easily understanding by anyone who will read this book. Exemplary Perspective of Author: The author of the book used various examples to support its stance. Many cities were accounted to support the scope of the book. Not only the European cities were discussed in this book, but various developed and underdeveloped cities are also incorporated to support the results and conclusions. The examples used in this book are quite sufficient and accepted to sustain the issue. However, further research and examples can also be added to provide more research and information about the green urbanism. Conclusion: We have reviewed the book Green Urbanism: Learning from European Cities written by Timothy Beatley. Because of its pioneering approach towards development and innovations in various European cities. Additionally, the author confined various aspects, which are influencing the global warming. The most influential factor of global warming is certified to the usage and different chemical and production waste driven from the industries, also the hefty use of space to construct the buildings. All in one the book presents qualitative and quantities research method and a non-contrived writing format to support the stance and provide plenty information about the Green Urbanism issue held in the world. Buy custom Globalization essay

Free Essays on Piercing

The Healing time for the Nipple Piercing varies greatly from person to person but is usually around 3-6 months. Make sure your piercer gives you detailed "Aftercare" instructions on how exactly to care for your new piercings. Jewellery that is appropriate for the Nipple piercing includes Bead rings, Continuous rings, Barbells or Circular Barbells. Bead rings are a popular choice of jewellery for the initial piercing as they are cheaper and make it much easier to clean the piercing. Labrets are used for labret and lip piercings as well as some ear piercings Vassel Rings are a creative and versatile piece of jewelry often warn in place of a barbell or a captive bead ring. For example, put the barbell through your tongue, or put the ring through your nipple letting the barbell dangle. Earlets & Plugs are more often used in the ears but can be warn in a variety of large gauge holes. General Piercing Care Information 1. NEVER handle a new piercing with dirty hands! Wash hands and fingertips well. 2. Avoid any introduction of foreign bodily fluid to the area (sweat, blood, saliva, etc.). 3. Do not harass the piercing's healing process by wearing constrictive clothing or allowing repeated bumping and knocking around the jewelry. 4. Use caution when swimming during healing; poor water quality and high bacteria presence will infect your new piercing. Some people will run Vaseline or Neosporin liberally through the hole prior to a swim in order to seal off the exposed tissue temporarily. In this case, soak well with salt water and clean immediately afterwards. 5. Listen to your body's reactions to various products. Some ingredients commonly found in skincare products can irritate the vulnerable tissue in new piercings. Eliminating variables in product exposure will often solve occasional irritation. 6. ALL new piercings will secrete a gooey, sticky fluid called lymph. This will dry up and form a ring of crust... Free Essays on Piercing Free Essays on Piercing The Healing time for the Nipple Piercing varies greatly from person to person but is usually around 3-6 months. Make sure your piercer gives you detailed "Aftercare" instructions on how exactly to care for your new piercings. Jewellery that is appropriate for the Nipple piercing includes Bead rings, Continuous rings, Barbells or Circular Barbells. Bead rings are a popular choice of jewellery for the initial piercing as they are cheaper and make it much easier to clean the piercing. Labrets are used for labret and lip piercings as well as some ear piercings Vassel Rings are a creative and versatile piece of jewelry often warn in place of a barbell or a captive bead ring. For example, put the barbell through your tongue, or put the ring through your nipple letting the barbell dangle. Earlets & Plugs are more often used in the ears but can be warn in a variety of large gauge holes. General Piercing Care Information 1. NEVER handle a new piercing with dirty hands! Wash hands and fingertips well. 2. Avoid any introduction of foreign bodily fluid to the area (sweat, blood, saliva, etc.). 3. Do not harass the piercing's healing process by wearing constrictive clothing or allowing repeated bumping and knocking around the jewelry. 4. Use caution when swimming during healing; poor water quality and high bacteria presence will infect your new piercing. Some people will run Vaseline or Neosporin liberally through the hole prior to a swim in order to seal off the exposed tissue temporarily. In this case, soak well with salt water and clean immediately afterwards. 5. Listen to your body's reactions to various products. Some ingredients commonly found in skincare products can irritate the vulnerable tissue in new piercings. Eliminating variables in product exposure will often solve occasional irritation. 6. ALL new piercings will secrete a gooey, sticky fluid called lymph. This will dry up and form a ring of crust...

August Wilsons Pittsburgh Cycle

August Wilson's Pittsburgh Cycle After writing his third play, August Wilson realized he was developing something quite monumental. He had created three different plays set in three different decades, detailing the hopes and struggles of African-Americans. In the early 1980s, he decided that he wanted to create a cycle of ten plays, one play for each decade. Collectively, they would become known as the Pittsburgh Cycle - all but one take place in the citys Hills District. August Wilsons 10 play series is arguably one of the finest literary achievements in contemporary drama. Although they were not created in chronological order, here is a brief synopsis of each play, organized by the decade each one represents. Note: Each of the links connects to an informative New York Times review. Gem Of the Ocean Set in 1904, a young African-American named Citizen Barlow, like many others traveling north in the years after the Civil War arrives in Pittsburgh in search of purpose, prosperity, and redemption. A woman named Aunt Ester, who is rumored to be 285 years old and possess healing powers, decides to help the young man on his life’s journey. Joe Turner’s Come and Gone The title warrants a bit of historical context - Joe Turner was the name of a plantation owner who, in spite of the emancipation proclamation, forced African-Americans to work in his fields. In contrast, Seth and Bertha Holly’s boarding house offers room and nourishment to wayward souls who have been mistreated, abused, and sometimes even kidnapped by members of white society. The play takes place in the year 1911. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom As four African-American blues musicians wait for Ma Rainey, the famous lead singer of their band, they exchange off-the-cuff jokes and cutting-edge barbs. When the blues diva does arrive, the tensions continue to mount, pushing the group towards its breaking point. The tone is a combination of bitterness, laughter, and the blues, an ideal representation of the black experience during the late 1920s. The Piano Lesson A piano that has been handed down for generations becomes the source of conflict for members of the Charles family. Set in 1936, the storyline reflects the significance of objects in relationship to the past. This play garnered August Wilson his second Pulitzer Prize. Seven Guitars Touching upon the theme of music once again, this drama begins with the death of guitarist Floyd Barton in 1948. Then, the narrative shifts to the past, and the audience witnesses the protagonist in his younger days, ultimately leading up to his demise. Fences Perhaps Wilson’s most renowned work, Fences explores the life and relationships of Troy Maxson, an activist-minded trash collector, and former baseball hero. The protagonist represents the struggle for justice and fair treatment during the 1950s. This moving drama earned Wilson his first Pulitzer Prize. Two Trains Running This multiple award-winning drama is set in Pittsburgh 1969, in the height of the battle for civil rights. In spite of the political and social change that sweeps through the nation, many of the characters of this play are too cynical, too down-trodden to experience hope for the future or rage for the ongoing tragedies. Jitney Set in a cab driver’s station during the boisterous late 1970s, this character-driven play features sharp-witted, hustling co-workers who gossip, argue, and dream in between jobs. King Hedley II Often thought of as the bitterest and most tragic of Wilson’s cycle, the play focuses on the downfall of the prideful ex-con protagonist, King Hedley II (the son of one of the characters from Seven Guitars). The mid-1980s setting finds Wilson’s beloved Hills District in a dismal, poverty-stricken neighborhood. Radio Golf With this 1990s setting, the final play in the cycle tells the story of affluent Harmond Wilks, a successful politician and real estate developer - who considers tearing down a historic old house that once belonged to none other than Aunt Ester. It all comes full circle!

Alternatives to Simple Incarceration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Alternatives to Simple Incarceration - Essay Example Keeping such a large number of people in confinement is proving to be a financial strain on governments. Many first time offenders and people like Joe Jones who are not a threat to public safety can be safely integrated into the society under supervision. This will definitely save a lot of tax payer's money and will contribute positively to the rehabilitation of the offender. Having seen many people like Joe Jones during my tenure, I feel that it is high time for an alternative to be introduced into the system. A system can be devised which will take into consideration the public's point of view, the concerns of the government and the situation of the offender. Paramount focus should be given to public safety. For this an Electronic Monitoring Program1 can be introduced so that the offender will be under surveillance 24 hrs a day. This can be affected by fitting the offender with a tamper sensitive ankle or wrist device, which along with the telephone line will keep the authorities informed about the whereabouts of the offender. Public safety can be ensured by this step. ... Moreover this system can reduce recidivism (Joan Petersilia, Minimizing Harm as a Goal for Crime Policy in California, http://www.ucop.edu/cprc/rubin.html). One California study has shown a two third decrease in crime rates after implementing such a program. Not only should the offenders be put under surveillance, but they should be subjected to rehabilitative treatments (in the case of substance abusers), employment programs, easy access to specific types of counselling etc. They should even be encouraged to further their studies in course of the probationary period. This will definitely help in their reintroduction into society. Another advantage is that these programs will keep the offenders busy, leaving them with no or very little time to get lured back to crime. Joe Jones Joe Jones wants to make amendments for his actions and put all of this behind him. I will present him with the alternate program where he will not have to spend time in prison, but attend employment programs, offer community services etc, while having the option to further his studies. Since he wants to repay his victims, he may draft a letter to each of them, apologizing for his actions and conveying his sincere wish to repay them. I myself will have to explain to the victims the reason for Joe not spending time in prison. I will have to explain how the issue of public safety has been addressed in this program. Also how this program will benefit Joe Jones and in due course the victims themselves, when Joe will finally be able to repay them. Public awareness of the Alternative Program is very important for the success of the program. So enlightening the victims about the course of action taken against the offender is an integral part of successfully

Week 8 DQ 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Week 8 DQ 2 - Essay Example Federal Court judges are appointed for life. This poses a problem for majority rule, for American democracy. However, perhaps, they actually protect the rights of minorities and thus have the kind of open system that causes democracy to flourish (Edwards, et al, 2008). The federal courts are also quite powerful and have a large scope of judicial power in American society. Many argue that they should not be involved in policy making but in settling disputes. The United States judicial system is basically adversarial in that opposing civil law cases are presented to an arbiter. It consists of statutes and common law, the latter an accumulation of judicial decisions (ibid.) In the Judiciary Act of 1789, Congress established constitutional courts and subsequently legislative courts for specialized purposes. Courts with original jurisdiction are those where a case is first heard whereas appellate courts can review the legal issues in cases brought to

SLP 4 Electronic and Mobile Commerce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

SLP 4 Electronic and Mobile Commerce - Essay Example The use of traditional chains of distribution has declined with rise of online retail industry. Manufacturers sell their spare parts, and off shelf industrial products through the online channels. However the major goods sold by industries through online channels as their primary sales channels. Companies have to show different prices, build to order option, enable live charts with engineers in case of configuration problems and accept purchase orders and bill to the corporate account. Interconnection of global digital platform has led to astonishing change in the entertainment, media and publishing industry. From books and printed papers, music on CDs, movies rented on DVD and TVs network that forced people to be in front of screen at particular times have changed into always on, easy to time –shift and always with you entertainment, movies, e-books, and music. Revenue is generated through outright purchase e.g. music or purchase of movie theater ticket (Mennecke & Strader, 2002). Second is often subscription e.g. cable TV fees. Next is through advertising fees. Companies pay a lot of money for global advertisement of their business. For example in 2013 global advertising media revenue were estimated to be $489.6 billion. Consumers go to a variety of online and offline services to help them make decision in car buying since most of industries fail to satisfy their needs. The buying process can be simpler and quicker if content on the auto industry in the website is customized to be more relevant to their specific car preferences. This can be achieved through innovation on web chats and mobile enabled websites (Xu & Quaddus, 2010). To reach to more customers the manufacturers and dealer sites should integrate and put in place easier and clearer pricing. Also the company should offer after sale services e.g. maintenance. Growth of internet has led to development of online and mobile banking. This has grown across deep and wide demographic

The Cost of Computers Over 10 Years Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Cost of Computers Over 10 Years - Essay Example (Moore, 1965). Simply put, computers have been getting exponentially more powerful since their invention. How is this important to an economic analysis of computer costs? For many years this has been a simple formula for predicting the future cost and efficiency of computers. If we compare the specifications of a computer to what consumers require in order to complete tasks, run software, surf the Internet, and much more, we can see that the advancement of integrated circuits is much faster than the requirement of users. For example, if a student required a computer 10 years ago research, write papers, surf the internet, and communicate, a standard pc of that era would be perfectly suitable. The same student today would require a computer able to perform very similar tasks to the computer of 10 years ago, ignoring the need for graphical gaming and media. Therefore, a computer with the same specifications today and one 10 years ago, or even 1 year ago, can be created with less transis tors, meaning the cost of production is less too. The second law that applies to our analysis is Metcalfe's Law. Robert Metcalfe, the inventor of Ethernet, stated that the value of a network is proportional to the square of the number of connected users of that particular system. (Metcalfe, 1993). Originally talking about telecommunications networks, this law can be applied in general to the Internet – a huge, if not the biggest, driving force of the computer. Simply put, it means that every one new user added to a particular network adds more value to that network. A common example of this is the fax machine comparison. â€Å"The first person to buy a fax machine was a fool.† (Metcalfe, 1993) A user would find it quite pointless to send themselves a fax and having no recipient,... This paper approves that the last factor regarding supply and demand is the substitution effect and alternative effect. Although each good is unique, it has substitutes – there are always other goods that can be used in place of it. Twenty years ago, it was very common to write one's letters manually and type script on a typewriter. Ten years ago, the computer was certainly very popular, although many alternatives were considered over owning a personal computer. Typewriters were still in use, Internet cafes were popular, and sharing computers was considered quite acceptable. Today, we can observe that the demand for typewriters has decreased, as it is an inferior substitute. Furthermore, the supply of typewriters is also reduced, as it is comparatively more expensive to produce than computers. In the same way, personal computers are affordable, resulting in a reduction in Internet cafes and computer sharing. Cost plays a vital role in determining which products a buyer will su bstitute in order to maintain viability. This report makes a conclusion that we can observe the many forces that have attributed to the success of the personal computer and laptop. We can perhaps look to our formula, laws, and economic models to predict the cost of the computer, or technological equivalent, in the future. Although, if in this short span of time computers have become such a ubiquitous part of our daily lives, we can only wonder as to the extent of influence it will have on us in the next 10 years.

Unit 5 group project Tolap Corporation Research Paper

Unit 5 group project Tolap Corporation - Research Paper Example Unit 5 group project Tolap Corporation This section shall be a summary of all that is contained in the plan such that top executive members, who may not have time to read the entire report, should get a fair idea of what is contained in the report and base on the executive summary to take preliminary decisions (Chen and So, 2002). Description of Business The name of the business as well as the form of ownership shall be identified under this section. The section shall also contain owners and any possible history of business. Description of Product/Service Name of products offered should be listed in clear terms as well as services that customers are to receive. Marketing Plan This is where the suggested market segment must be made known and how to development competitive advantage over this segment. Industry Each business is under a broad industry and this must be clearly stated. Toplapp is, for instance, in manufacturing industry. Customers The customers are the end users of the products and services earlier spoken about. This section should include characteristics of customers as well as why they have been targeted. Competition The company will not be the first in the named industry and so existing competitors must be mentioned with reasons that make them threatening. Advertising and Promotion The means through which the company is going to make its self-visible to the identified customers and all forms of potential customers must be spelt. The initial strategies for making the company known will fall under advertisement whiles ways of maintaining the gained image of the company will come under promotion (Breiman et al., 2009). Location Location will refer to places where the presence of the company will be seen and felt. In times past, the talk of location was all about where offices and branches will be seen through the construction of structures, but today the advent of the internet have made it quite easier to have a larger location through electronic commerce and so ways by which the company seeks to take advantage of electronic commerce will come under this section. Suppliers The company may have the option of using either internal or external suppliers. Whatever the case is however, it is necessary that these suppliers and why they are the best must be made known through the business plan. This section of the plan will therefore cater for this task whereby names of suppliers are going to be known as well as materials that they are going to supply. Management Management as used in context does not just refer to a list of the names of managers of the company but also skills and abilities possessed by the managers in carrying out their roles and the specific roles that they are going to be expected to undertake in order to bring about the achievement of goals. Financial Plan Quantum of capital injection as well as a budget of how the capital is going to be raised and used must be made clear under this section. Mission Statement The company has a mission of becoming a global leader in the manufacturing of high quality home and garden appliances that meet the requirements and specifications of customers. The company also seeks to put its self ahead of time when it comes to innovative manufacturing, which involves the manufacturing of machineries for today’s use that actually solves tomorrow’s problems. By this, the manufacturing services and products of manufacturing shall become highly relevant to the customer because apart from the fact that

Are states the driving force behind globalisation, or its victims Essay

Are states the driving force behind globalisation, or its victims - Essay Example It is for this reason that arguments and counterarguments have been advanced, concerning states as the driving forces in international relations, or victims of the same. A clear analysis of international relations and politics reveals that states are the main actors or the driving force in international relations, as shall be seen in the discussion that ensues forthwith. That states are the main actors behind globalisation, is a matter that is well underscored by the events that surrounded and succeeded Cold War. Although globalisation can be said to have started towards the end of the 16th century AD as feudalism was being replaced by capitalism in Western Europe, yet states played a pivotal role in triggering the advent of globalisation. The role of the state in globalisation is underscored by the fact that the pace in which globalisation takes place has mainly been commensurate with interests and input of the major powers in international relations. This is in complete consistence with all the theoretical frameworks that make attempt at explaining international relations. This is to say that if states have the might to hinder globalisation, then they also have the wherewithal to catalyse globalisation (Peet, 2009, 105). Scholte (2005, 125) is poignant that the role that states play in international relations is even more pronounced when international relations is viewed through the prism of realism. Realism has it that the world of politics is driven by self-interests which are highly competitive in nature. Realism continues that the very international system wherein states compete is anarchic. By this, it is not meant that international system is inherently chaotic, but that there is no higher power that can hinder aggression or make arbitrations on disputes. Because of this, this anarchical system forces states to arm themselves in

Unit 5 group project Tolap Corporation Research Paper

Unit 5 group project Tolap Corporation - Research Paper Example Unit 5 group project Tolap Corporation This section shall be a summary of all that is contained in the plan such that top executive members, who may not have time to read the entire report, should get a fair idea of what is contained in the report and base on the executive summary to take preliminary decisions (Chen and So, 2002). Description of Business The name of the business as well as the form of ownership shall be identified under this section. The section shall also contain owners and any possible history of business. Description of Product/Service Name of products offered should be listed in clear terms as well as services that customers are to receive. Marketing Plan This is where the suggested market segment must be made known and how to development competitive advantage over this segment. Industry Each business is under a broad industry and this must be clearly stated. Toplapp is, for instance, in manufacturing industry. Customers The customers are the end users of the products and services earlier spoken about. This section should include characteristics of customers as well as why they have been targeted. Competition The company will not be the first in the named industry and so existing competitors must be mentioned with reasons that make them threatening. Advertising and Promotion The means through which the company is going to make its self-visible to the identified customers and all forms of potential customers must be spelt. The initial strategies for making the company known will fall under advertisement whiles ways of maintaining the gained image of the company will come under promotion (Breiman et al., 2009). Location Location will refer to places where the presence of the company will be seen and felt. In times past, the talk of location was all about where offices and branches will be seen through the construction of structures, but today the advent of the internet have made it quite easier to have a larger location through electronic commerce and so ways by which the company seeks to take advantage of electronic commerce will come under this section. Suppliers The company may have the option of using either internal or external suppliers. Whatever the case is however, it is necessary that these suppliers and why they are the best must be made known through the business plan. This section of the plan will therefore cater for this task whereby names of suppliers are going to be known as well as materials that they are going to supply. Management Management as used in context does not just refer to a list of the names of managers of the company but also skills and abilities possessed by the managers in carrying out their roles and the specific roles that they are going to be expected to undertake in order to bring about the achievement of goals. Financial Plan Quantum of capital injection as well as a budget of how the capital is going to be raised and used must be made clear under this section. Mission Statement The company has a mission of becoming a global leader in the manufacturing of high quality home and garden appliances that meet the requirements and specifications of customers. The company also seeks to put its self ahead of time when it comes to innovative manufacturing, which involves the manufacturing of machineries for today’s use that actually solves tomorrow’s problems. By this, the manufacturing services and products of manufacturing shall become highly relevant to the customer because apart from the fact that

What has gone wrong with Williams teams efforts and what should be Case Study

What has gone wrong with Williams teams efforts and what should be done to ensure a successful outcome for the team - Case Study Example The group dynamic theory highlights on the social and psychological problems that come up in workplaces. Members of the team have differences in their opinions on the way forward. Tom is one of the longest serving employees in the organization and has earned more respect from William. Other members of the team include Bryce, Casey, and Jenny. â€Å"They do not feel loyalty for the organizations they work for† (Barr and Gassenheimer 2005, p.82) The major setback among the team leaders is that they lack a common understanding. â€Å"Designing team assignments and creating environments that support and enhance these skills are critical for learning," (Barr and Gassenheimer, 2005, p. 82) Tom makes most of the decisions hence denying other members of the chance to express their views. According to the group dynamic theory, all team members should be offered an equal opportunity to present their ideas. On the contrary, Tom is seen to make most of the contributions whereas he is not the group leader. Another problem is the lack of interest. Bryce’s objective is to see the work done. He does not care where the ideas on the new renovations will be put in place. Jenny, on the other hand, has also been issued with another project that has led to her change in focus. The group dynamic theory has stipulated various solutions to group problems. Firstly, the levels of personal and teamwork communications should be advanced. â€Å"All communication within groups is between individuals and is, therefore, interpersonal communication† (David and Frank 2000, p.145). Relay of information among the group members will help them improve their skills. All employees should contribute opinions while the group leaders should make rational decisions. â€Å"The group predominates over the individuals and members are expected to accommodate to the demands of the group† (Hill, James, Danny, & Mark, 2007, p.71). Tom’s hard work has made the other team members to look

Racism and ethnicity Essay Example for Free

Racism and ethnicity Essay Joseph Addison once said that, â€Å"If men would consider not so much where they differ, as wherein they agree, there would be far less of uncharitableness and angry feeling in the world. † This holds true to the sentiments I have when it comes to the numerous injustices people incur due to their skin color, ethnicity, and the like. I have seen and witnessed first hand the harm people can cause to one another due to petty differences between them; and I have also often pondered why such acts occur in our world. I used to think that this may be an isolated case; a freak phenomenon that has occurred solely in the confines of my home land. A social phenomenon that has existed in my home land due to the history our people have gone through. Yet, I have seen that such injustices and anger occur in other lands such as the United States of America and knowing of this makes me wonder if racism can be found in all societies regardless of geographic location and history. To get a better understanding of this social phenomenon I have decided to look into the cases of racism I have seen in my home country of Serbia and compare that to those acts I have seen here in America. Before I do proceed, I think it is necessary to take into consideration what racism really is. Many scholars have given various definitions to this phenomenon and the differences in the definitions can be attributed to the fact that the term covers a broad spectrum of implications of race-based bigotry, prejudice, violence, oppression, stereotyping or discrimination. Since it covers such a wide array of topics and takes into account various social issues we can take into account 2 general definitions of racism; the sociological and the legal. Racism is broadly defined as a form of discrimination based on characteristics of race and existing either as individual racism, which originates in the racist beliefs of a single person, or institutional racism, which occurs when racist ideas and practices are embodied in the folkways, mores and norms (Leeder. 2003). On the other hand, sociologists Noel Cazenave and Darlene Alvarez Maddern define racism as â€Å" a highly organized system of race-based group privilege that operates at every level of society and is held together by a sophisticated ideology of color/race supremacy. Racist systems include, but cannot be reduced to, racial bigotry,† (Cazenave and Maddern 1999: 42). Based on these definitions we can see two dominant themes when we speak about racism. The first among the two is the fact that racism takes into account the psyche of an individual. To be more precise, we deal with the construct of beliefs a person or group may hold against others as embodied by the mores and norms they have. The second aspect that we find is the fact that racism is a highly organized group structure as pointed out by Noel Cazenave and Darlene Alvarez Maddern. With regard to the second aspect, we find that racism is a social construct, a privilege of certain groups within a society. Hence, we are led to conclude that the social phenomenon can very well exist in any society. After all, there is no true homogenous society and the fact remain that differences abound between groups. Take the United States of America, though it is a single country the social structure can still clearly delineated between the different races that occupy its geography. As for my home country of Serbia, we also see that racism cuts across groups as I have seen people display acts of racial discrimination on gypsies; a group who since their unexplained appearance in Europe over nine centuries ago, the gypsies have refused to fall in with conventional settled life. They remain a people whose culture and customs are beset with misunderstanding, and who cling to their distinct identity in the teeth of persistent rejection and pressure to conform. This social group has been long been ridiculed and persecuted in Serbia. I have also personally seen people who look like neo-Nazis with their shaved heads launching verbal assaults and beating up gypsies. It is a saddening truth that things like this happen. What’s worse is the fact that gypsies are actually persecuted all around Europe. Other shocking instances of racial acts can also be seen in soccer games in Serbia. An example of this is even cited on a blog/news commentary on the Fox Sports website.

To what extent is Frankenstein typical of gothic literature? Essay

To what extent is Frankenstein typical of gothic literature? In you answer make close references to its context and Mary Shelly's use of language. This essay will assess how typical of the gothic genre writings is Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein". The novel was written at a time when electricity was first discovered and Galvanism was being explored, mainly for medical reasons. People at this time were ignorant and sceptical of medicine and so most people would have been disgusted by these studies. At this time the Romantic period was well under way, this movement (which Mary shelly and her husband Percy Shelly who was a poet belonged to) was about freedom of thought, the beauty of nature and the imagination. It was also a time of social change, with the French revolution just over the waters; this could be why the novel is mainly set in central Europe. The structure of Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein" is in many ways typical of the gothic genre. Within the novel there are many letters written to family members explaining what's going on at that point, this builds up suspense, which is a technique many authors who wrote in that era used. The novel also has an a cyclical structure, which means it starts and finishes in the same place, this gives the book a sense of mystery, another characteristic of the gothic genres writings. The structural ending at the end of the novel has no closure, the monster clam's he is about to commit suicide, however we don't have any substantial proof of this fact, this is yet another trait of gothic literature, the ending leaves you wondering "He was soon borne away by the waves and lost in darkness and distance". The ending kind of mirrors what is happening during the rest of the ... ...d" This leaves the reader feeling that you want to know what is the much more that he talks about. I think Mary Shelly's novel of "Frankenstein" is to a great extent typical of the gothic genre, it has a lot of the techniques used by gothic writers and uses a lot of the affects. However the novel is not totally typical of the gothic era because there is no proper good verses evil, the monster is meant to be evil but we as the reader feel far more sympathy for the monster and less to Frankenstein. Frankenstein is the protagonist and main character so we are typically meant sympathise with him, but the novel looses the gothic edge when we start hearing things from the monsters view and so start to feel sorry for him, and roles switch like they did when the monster and Frankenstein met the reader does not really know who to sympathise with towards the end.

Community and the Rocky Horror Picture Show :: Rocky Horror Descriptive Essays

Community and the Rocky Horror Picture Show Sex, adultery, rock and roll, and belonging. These are just some of the things that draw teens into The Rocky Horror Picture Show every Friday and Saturday night. Most teens are drawn in by a family connection and there are still others who are simply drawn in by the curiosity brought up by the name of the show alone. I was drawn in because of family and friend ties to the show. Many teens who go find themselves in a place where they feel that they belong. Teens who normally get called â€Å"freaks† go to Rocky because it is a place where they are no longer considered that. Every person that attends Rocky has a certain uniqueness about them that is celebrated at every show. When you go to Rocky, you meet others who are just like you. This helps to build friendships and bonds between the attendees. It also creates an air of family in the theater that goes everywhere with you. Every week there is a random number of virgins, or first timers, chosen to be sacrificed. These sacrifices are all in fun and are seen as a way of passage into the Rocky community. The first time I went, myself and three other virgins were chosen to be sacrificed. Our sacrifice was long, painless, and completely hilarious. In fact I don’t think that it would have been half as fun if I hadn’t had my three closest friends sitting in the audience laughing at me. Out of the four of us chosen only one was a boy and they made him be an ataman. The two remaining virgins and I were placed under a table and left there to our own devices while the cast made a toast to a newly married member. My being chosen to be sacrificed made me feel as if I really belonged there and would never be shunned. I was also very pleased by the fact that I was chosen to be sacrificed by my favorite character, Eddy who was being played by Dustin Martinez that night. After the toast was finished we did our oath and were allowed to go back to our seats and the show began. In the Rocky community everyone is celebrated for who they are. Individuality is something special among the â€Å"Trannies† and it will always be that way. No guy is ever ridiculed or mocked for dressing like a woman and no woman is ever looked down upon for dressing like a man.

Prevention of Healthcare Associated Infections in Developing

Introduction: Developing countries are normally defined as those lacking the level of nationwide industrialization, infrastructure and technological advances normally found in Western Europe and North America. The vast majority of countries in Africa, Asia, Central & South America, Oceania and the Middle East fall in this developing category and often face addition challenges in terms of lower levels of literacy and standards of living. Nevertheless, within this broad group, there are various sub-categories, each having different characteristics as well as economic strengths.Indeed some are relatively wealthy oil exporting nations or newly industrializing world economies; a considerable number are middle income countries. At the end of the development scale lie around fifty very poor nations with predominantly agricultural economies, which tend to be heavily dependent on external aid. From a medical perspective, many developing countries are often characterised by significant health and hygiene issues. Indeed it has been estimated that more than 1 billion inhabitants in these countries do not have access to safe water and even less to basic sanitation (1).Around 1. 5 million children in the developing world die per year; diarrhoea is responsible for more than 80% of these deaths (2). One of the reasons for this state of affairs is the low expenditure and budgetary allocation within the poorer countries of the world towards health. Indeed the proportion of annual expenditure for health related initiatives in many developing countries is often less than 5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), sometimes less than 0. 1% (3). Healthcare associated infections in developing countriesUnlike more affluent countries, infectious diseases continue to pose a heavy burden of morbidity as well as mortality in developing nations (4). Amongst the more important disease entities are a wide range of respiratory diseases including tuberculosis, various gastrointestinal infections, AID S and HIV plus a spate of parasitic infestations of which malaria is the most significant. However this situation is not limited to ambulatory settings and is equally relevant within healthcare institutions.Deficient infrastructures, rudimentary equipment and a poor quality of care contribute towards incidences of nosocomial infections which have been estimated to be between 2-6 times higher than those in developed nations (5). In many instances, such figures are often guesstimates because surveillance systems are often either non existent or else unreliable. However, the limited studies on prevalence of healthcare associated infections in some developing countries in the world suggest that up to 40% of these are probably preventable (5).This situation appears to particularly severe within intensive care settings where up to 60 to 90 infections per 1000 care-days have been reported; excess mortality rates in more severe infections such as blood stream and lower respiratory infection s approaches 25% in adults and more than 50% in neonates (6). The challenges of infection in healthcare facilities within developing nations is also of a wider spectrum than that normally found in equivalent hospitals in the western world.Numerous publications have highlighted the frequency by which normally community infections, such as cholera, measles and enteric pathogens, spread nosocomially within such institutions (7, 8). In many instances outbreaks are traceable to an index case who would have been inappropriately managed in a background of overcrowding and limited hospital hygiene. Similar cases of transmission have also been reported in the case of respiratory infections including measles (9).Tuberculosis transmission in healthcare facilities is a major occurrence in many African countries as well as parts of Asia and Latin America (10). In many instances this disease is strongly related to the rise of HIV within these same geographical regions and is not uncommonly compli cated by increasing prevalence of multi drug resistant mycobacteria. Blood borne infections are not restricted to HIV alone. Hepatitis B remains a major nosocomial pathogen in many hospitals within the developing world (11).More dramatic and life threatening have been outbreaks of viral haemorrhagic fevers in institutions within several countries in the African continent (12). Hospitals are also liable to healthcare associated infection caused by more conventional pathogens which, just like in their western counterparts, can carry the additional burden of antimicrobial resistance (4). Unfortunately data on the prevalence of resistance in nosocomial pathogens is poorly documented in the developing world. However recent publications suggest that this may be even more common than in developed countries.Recent publications from the Mediterranean region have highlighted proportions of meticillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus to exceed 50% in several countries in the Middle East with r esistance to third generation cephalosporins in E. coli exceeding 70% in some participating hospitals (13). There may be diverse and often complex backgrounds to this epidemiological situation. Factors facilitating transmission and management of nosocomial infections The infrastructure of healthcare facilities in some of the poorer nations often lacks basic requirements for the prevention of transmission of infectious diseases.Inadequate or unsafe water supply together with lack of resources or equipment for affective environmental cleaning is often compounded by significant overcrowding due to inadequate beds to cope with demand (14). There is often lack of strategic direction as well as effective planning for healthcare delivery at both national as well as local levels. A functional sterilisation department is by no means a standard occurrence in every hospital, even in the larger urban institutions.Other areas of concern include poor awareness or knowledge about communicable dise ase transmission amongst healthcare workers and lack of commitment within senior management (15). This is particularly relevant in developing countries where nurses, doctors and patients are often unaware of the importance of infection control and its relevance to safe healthcare (16). Medical practitioners may have a tendency to be heavily committed towards individual patients and disinclined to think of them in groups, a concept which is the antithesis of basic infection prevention and control (17).They are often unaware of risks of nosocomial infections, attributing such possible developments to be natural or inevitable (18). On the other hand, nurses have more intimate contact with patients and are trained to take care of patients in groups. Although this increases the potential to serve as sources of cross-transmission, nurses are likely to more positive towards infection control policies. However this is hindered by the comparatively lower status offered to nurses in the devel oping world and also complicated by a gender bias in environments where emancipation of women has been slow.Attitudes of senior medical staff may further compound the problem through personality clashes, resistance to change or improvement as well as reluctance to work in tandem with other health professionals. Non existent litigation further accentuates lack of accountability at various levels. Furthermore, many patients have limited expectations, already regarding themselves fortunate to have any sort of institutional care and as a result accept a significant degree of morbidity as part of their hospital stay. It must be emphasised that even in the poorer countries, this set of circumstances is by no means universal in all hospitals.It is not uncommon that, even where most of the hospitals in a country lack all these basic requirements, individual institutions (often either private or NGO managed) would be in a position to offer healthcare as well as infection control standards of the highest quality. However it would only be a small minority of patients, often coming from a more affluent background, that would be able to benefit from them. The risks of infection in hospitals within the developing world are not only restricted to the patients who receive care within them.Occupational health is an equally low priority in many of these facilities and, as a result, it is not uncommon for healthcare workers to also be exposed and become infected by pathogens causing healthcare associated infections, including viral hepatitis, HIV and tuberculosis. In such limited resource environments and in situations where medical practice is biased towards intervention rather than prevention, it is not surprising that basic infection control programmes are often lacking, particularly in smaller hospitals in rural areas (18).Even within larger urban facilities, infection control teams, composed of both an infection control nurse as well as doctor, who have been trained and hav e managerial backup are very much in the minority. They are often restricted to academic institutions, heavily funded government or private tertiary care units. Even where present, these teams tend to encounter numerous logistical obstacles including lack administrative, clerical and IT support. Infection control output therefore tends to be significantly variable; policies and procedures are either absent or lack consultation, evidence base or suitable addressing f local needs. Healthcare professionals also face significant challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious disease (4). Diagnostic facilities are often lacking. Laboratories may be absent or limited as a result of inadequate resources of both a material as well as human resource nature. Trained laboratory scientists are very much in the minority whereas the implementation of quality control programs to ensure validity in the laboratory’s output is not viewed as a crucial.This situation is worsened by poss ible lack of confidence in the laboratory from clinicians who would prefer to undertake treatment blindly, based only on clinical judgement or recommendations from other countries rather than local epidemiology. One reason for this is the lack of feedback of local resistance data (20). This risks inappropriate treatment which would not properly cover local resistance prevalence patterns. Another major factor hindering the treatment of infectious disease is the presence of poor quality antimicrobials, even counterfeit, with little or no active ingredient within the formulation (21).Addressing the challenge It is therefore clear that in order to improve the effectiveness of infection control in many developing countries, a multifactorial set of initiatives needs to be undertaken that are both feasible as well as achievable in this background of economical and social deficits (15). It is essential that infection control teams increase their presence within hospitals in these regions. T hese key personnel must be provided with the necessary training as well as administrative support and facilities in order to deliver the required services.Such teams would be able to identify the major challenges and assess relevant risks through tailored surveillance programmes. Surveillance constitutes a challenge in such environments since it is often time consuming and resource dependent (22). In addition it requires a reasonable level of laboratory support. Nevertheless it is possible using simplified definitions of healthcare associated infections, as suggested by the World Health Organisation, to achieve a surveillance programme even with very limited resources (23).Such initiatives need to concentrate on the more serious infections and document their impact in the respective facility. Trained infection control personnel would also be appropriate drivers to eliminate wasteful practices which siphon resources away from truly effective practices. Dogmas include routine use of d isinfectants for environmental cleaning, use of unnecessary personal protective equipment such as overshoes, excessive waste management procedures which treat all waste generated in the hospital as infectious.Infection Control teams will be able to spearhead cost-effective interventions based on training of healthcare workers to comply with relevant infection control measures related to standard precautions, isolation together with occupational health and safety. It is possible to achieve significant reduction in the prevalence of healthcare associated infections through low cost measures; interventions aimed at preventing cross transmission of infection are particularly effective. There is no doubt that one of the most cost effective interventions in limited resource environments is improved compliance with hand hygiene.The World Health Organisation has indeed designated improvement of health hygiene within healthcare facilities worldwide as a priority and chose this topic for its first Global Patient Safety Challenge under the banner ‘Clean Care is Safer Care’ (6). A comprehensive set of tools have been tested worldwide in pilot hospitals, the majority of which were in developing countries. The emphasis of this initiative focuses on the availability and utilisation of alcohol hand rub for patient contact situations where hands are physically clean.This is made possible through local manufacture of inexpensive, good quality products according to a validated formula. A multimodal strategy requires these alcohol hand rub containers to be available at point of care and for the staff of the hospital to receive adequate training and education in their use. Hand hygiene practices are monitored and feedback on performance regularly provided to the users. Reminders in the workplace sensitise awareness and belief amongst healthcare workers in general.Infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities within the developing world continues to offer n umerous challenges as a result of reduced resources related to socio-economics, infrastructure and human resources. However it is possible to achieve substantial progress even within such challenging circumstances through a programme led by trained and empowered infection control professionals. Such initiatives need to concentrate on low cost, high impact interventions and emphasis on training, backed by interaction and networking with colleagues and societies within the country itself and beyond.References: 1. Moe CL, Rheingans RD. Global challenges in water, sanitation and health. J Water Health. 2006; 4 Suppl 1:41-57. 2. Boschi-Pinto C, Velebit L, Shibuya K. Estimating child mortality due to diarrhoea in developing countries. Bull World Health Organ. 2008;86:710-7. 3. World Health Organization. Implementation of the global strategy for health for all by the year 2000. Eighth report on the world health situation. Volume 6 Eastern Mediterranean Region. Second Evaluation. World Heal th Organization. Regional Office Eastern Mediterranean Region, Alexandria, Egypt; 1996. 4. Shears P.Poverty and infection in the developing world: healthcare-related infections and infection control in the tropics. J Hosp Infect. 2007; 67:217-24. 5. Wenzel RP. Towards a global perspective of nosocomial infections. Eur J Clin Microbiol. 1987;6:341-3. 6. Pittet D, Allegranzi B, Storr J et al. Infection control as a major World Health Organization priority for developing countries. J Hosp Infect. 2008;68:285-92. 7. Mhalu FS, Mtango FD, Msengi AE. Hospital outbreaks of cholera transmitted through close person to person contact, Lancet 1984; ii: 82–84. 8. Vaagland H, Blomberg B, Kruger C, Naman M, Jureen R, Langeland N.Nosocomial outbreak of neonatal Salmonella enteritidis in a rural hospital in northern Tanzania. BMC Infect Dis 2004; 4: 35. 9. Marshall TM, Hlatswayo D, Schoub B. Nosocomial outbreaks – a potential threat to the elimination of measles? J Infect Dis 2003; 187 :S97–S101. 10. Mehtar S. Lowbury Lecture 2007: infection prevention and control strategies for tuberculosis in developing countries – lessons learnt from Africa. J Hosp Infect. 2008; 69:321-7. 11. Lynch P, Pittet D, Borg MA, Mehtar S. Infection control in countries with limited resources. J Hosp Infect. 2007; 65 Suppl 2:148-50 12.Fisher-Hoch SP. Lessons from nosocomial haemhorragic fever outbreaks. Br Med Bull 2005: 73: 123-137 13. Borg MA, Scicluna E, de Kraker M et al. Antibiotic resistance in the southeastern Mediterranean–preliminary results from the ARMed project. Euro Surveill. 2006;11:164-7. 14. Borg MA, Cookson BD, Gur D et al. Infection control and antibiotic stewardship practices reported by south-eastern Mediterranean hospitals collaborating in the ARMed project. J Hosp Infect. 2008 PMID:18783850. 15. Damani N. Simple measures save lives: an approach to infection control in countries with limited resources.J Hosp Infect. 2007;65 Suppl 2:151-4. 16. Sob ayo EI. Nursing aspects of infection control in developing countries. J Hosp Inf 1991; 18: 388-391. 17. Meers PD. Infection control in developing countries. J Hosp Inf 1988; 11: 406 – 410. 18. Ponce-de-Leon S. The needs of developing countries and the resources required. J Hosp Inf 1991; 18: 378-381. 19. Raza MW, Kazi BM, Mustafa M, Gould FK. Developing countries have their own characteristic problems with infection control. J Hosp Infect. 2004; 57:294-9. 20. Borg MA, Cookson BD, Scicluna E; ARMed Project Steering Group and Collaborators.Survey of infection control infrastructure in selected southern and eastern Mediterranean hospitals. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2007;13:344-6. 21. Lynch P, Rosenthal VD, Borg MA, Eremin SR. Infection Control: A Global View in Jarvis WR: Bennett & Brachman’s Hospital Infections; 2007. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia. 22. Damani N. Surveillance in Countries with Limited Resources. Int. J. Infect Contr 2008; 4:1 23. World Healt h Organisation. Prevention of hospital acquired infections: A Practical Guide. 2nd ed. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2002. WHO/CDR/EPH/2002. 12.

Brief historical background of the book of Romans Essay

The book Romans was written probably during the mid to late fifties. Pauline authorship has been the dominating view as to the authorship of the book especially that the book of Romans reflects an exceptional theological understanding that fits to Paul’s credential as writer. First, he was highly educated receiving education no less than Israel’s greatest teacher Gamaliel during his time. Second, His understanding of the divine plan of salvation as also depicted in other Pauline epistles notably Ephesians and Galatians where he discussed about salvation and the divine action towards accomplishing that plan, appropriately fit with the mature theological thought and thorough presentation of the gospel. While there was no specific intended recipient except that it was addressed to the Romans, the letter was addressed to several congregations in Rome with the purpose of promoting Jewish and Gentile unity in the church. The main theme of the epistle was that the gospel proclaims that God acquits both Jews and Gentiles who believe in Jesus on the basis of Jesus Sacrificial death. Brief summary of the context of Romans chapter 5 Romans chapter 5 according to Henry (1985) is the climax of the first major section of the epistle. Henry puts it, â€Å"Chapter 5 of the epistle describes the actual, objective manifestation of the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ† (p. 64). Henry noted that Romans 5:12 to 21 places God’s action of reconciliation in Christ in its ultimate context, the cosmic context. It is in this context that this exegesis of Romans 5: 12 to 17 is anchored. To exegete this passage fully, it is hereby deemed necessary to write in full Romans 5: 12-17. Paul states: 12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—13for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. 15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation. 17For if, by the trespass of the man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ (NIV). The passage was full of important and meaningful terminologies that comprise its entire interpretation. Terminologies such as sin, death, law, gift, grace, judgment, condemnation, abundant provisions, and gift of righteousness are words that have important implications not only in the book of Romans, but the entire doctrine of salvation. For instance, the theological notion of sin which the apostle Paul has raised encompassed the entire interpretation of the scripture. This is also the idea that Paul was giving emphasis especially in such terms such as gift, grace, and righteousness. Exegesis of chapter 5:12-17 Paul begins verse 12 with the conclusive word â€Å"therefore† which means that the passage was connected with earlier theological discussion beginning from chapter 1:18 in which Paul cited that God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against wicked people whose godlessness entails them to suppress the truth. Paul emphasized that despite they know all about God yet they neither recognized him nor glorify him (v. 19). Because of this utter neglect and deliberate violation of God’s will, Paul says, â€Å"they have no excuse† (2:1). Here, Paul refers to both Jews and Gentiles. In chapter 3, Paul declares that no one is righteous and categorically stated that everyone has sinned and have fallen short to the glory of God (3:23). But chapter 4 deviates from the gloom discussion of sin and its consequence. He now focused on the hope of being able to regain spiritual relations with God through faith, citing Abraham as example. Paul used the word â€Å"therefore† to connect the passage with the above context. But as mentioned earlier, this passage is full of important words and phrases that enable this connection. First of all, Paul mentioned about the entry of sin and death. Obviously referring to Adam, he said that sin and death entered the world through the trespass of the one man. It means that the whole human race was contaminated by the sin committed by Adam through which death becomes the consequence. In order to shed more light on this highly theological discussion, it is important to define sin and death from their original usage in this passage. The law of sin and death The original word used for sin in Romans chapter 5:12 was the noun Hamartia, which occurred 174 time in the New testament and Hamartias while Thanatos for death. According to James Montgomery Boice, the Greek Hamartia and Hamartias means short coming or missing the mark. But Hamartia and Hamartias are just two of several Greek words for sin. The Greek Pesha, for transgression, chata to miss the mark, shagah to go astray, and paraptoma offense, all depicts a deviation from a higher standard or from a state enjoyed originally. The context therefore which Paul has in mind about sin and death goes back to the Garden of Eden in which Adam and Eve were placed by God. Obviously, this place depicts God’s presence which suggests that Adam and Eve enjoyed a higher state of life. But they deviated from this state by deliberately ignoring God’s command and therefore breach their fellowship with God. While Genesis 1:8 describes this place as a place of sufficiency as all that Adam needs to live were there, yet they departed from the mark which God has set for them. Thus, while everything that God has created adds beauty to this place especially the four rivers and all the animals that were subject to the dominion of Adam depicts God’s concern, provision, and love for his creation, they were were supposedly strictly oblige to obey what God has commanded them. Along with these beautiful creations, was God’s solemn warning for Adam not to eat the fruit of the tree in the center of the Garden as the very time they would eat of it, they will surely die. Unfortunately, Adam and Eve have chosen to disobey God. Thus, right after Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God’s command, they were sentenced to live a difficult life as the ground by which they could get their food was cursed by God. God also pronounced the entry of death into the world when God said to Adam â€Å"by the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return† (Genesis 3:19). Along with God’s judgment, they were driven out of the garden. That means, they were cast out from the very presence of God. The issue here is that Adam and Eve lost a higher state of life they enjoyed at Eden. They enjoyed God’s abundant provisions, they enjoyed God’s presence, and they enjoyed their being a perfect creation of God. They were innocent and they must have also been a divine creation. With Adam’s fall, all these were lost. Although God still care for human being even after Adam’s fall, the state of life which they had enjoyed in the Garden was never restored. Besides, the impact of God’s pronouncement that Adam would go back to dust speaks of the physical corruption. That is, of decaying and dying to which the writer of Genesis clearly indicates the hopelessness of man’s condition. While the Bible was silent about how long did Adam and Eve were living in Eden when they committed that regretful decision, after they were driven out, the days of their lives started to be in counting. Humans offended God and justice must be served against them. It is this condition that Paul was talking. Sin corrupted the human being and because of this we are subjected to decay. Thus, sin is defined as â€Å"coming short of the glory of God† (3:23). The consequence of Adam and Eve’s sin therefore was that every human being became sinners subject to all the woes both physical and spiritual with reference to Adam as the fountain of all the woes that sin has introduced into the world. Referring to Adam, Barnes noted, â€Å"Sin entered into the world. He was the first sinner of the race. The word sin here evidently means the violation of the law of God. He was the first sinner among men, and in consequence all others became sinners. † We are subject to the consequence of sin both in the physical and the spiritual world. Earlier, genesis 3 speaks of the consequence of sin in the physical world as the difficulty of life. That is, all the miseries that the world suffers including hunger and poverty, chaos because of unrelenting wars in various part of the world, calamities such as earthquakes, typhoons’, and other manmade disasters, worries caused by economic uncertainties, and all other social problems affecting our society that are in turn affecting us individually. Sin has corrupted the hearts and mind of many people resulting to more crimes, and moral decay contributing more problems that makes life even more difficult. On top of this, death played the worst role in the lives of the human being. The Greek word for death in this passage is thanatos which means a physical death. The Greek thanato implies both the physical and spiritual death. However, the bible did not give any formal definition of the word death. Thus according to Kenneth Boa and Robert Bowman, we must infer our understanding of death from a whole range of Biblical statements pertaining to the subject. In doing so, we must be careful to distinguish idiomatic or euphemistic expressions for death, which may not be intended anything more than a person has died, from comments intending to some understanding of what that death involved . Boa and Bowman noted that the Bible often used the words â€Å"expire† â€Å"to breathe one’s last† to â€Å"depart† â€Å"to be no more† â€Å"to be gathered to one’s people or fathers† â€Å"to sleep† â€Å"to lie down with one’s fathers† â€Å"to be cut off from the land† and â€Å"to perish. † While the use of these terms for death may vary in the interpretation, yet death generally means the termination of the physical life. According to the Standard International Bible Encyclopedia, death is a consequence of sin. It stated that in contrast with a long life which has been viewed in the Old Testament as a blessing, death is seen as a disaster. This condition depicts the worse condition of the human being as aside from making life more miserable, life is now uncertain. This clearly illustrated in the following lines, Death, though come into the world through sin, is nevertheless at the same time a consequence of man’s physical and frail existence now; it could therefore be threatened as a punishment to man, because he was taken out of the ground and was made a living soul, of the earth earthy (Genesis 2:7; 1 Corinthians 15:45, 47). If he remained obedient, he would have returned to dust but have pressed forward on the spiritual development (The International Standard Biblical Encyclopedia. Against this hopeless condition, Paul states that despite the entrance of sin into the world through one man and death through sin which rendered man hopeless as he was incapable of restoring his previous relations with God, Paul now asserts in verse 15 that the God himself has taken the initiative to reach out with men. Pau states, â€Å"But the gift is not like the trespass. † The gift of grace (which shall also be discussed later) of God according to Paul was far greater than all the effects of sin. The Revised English Bible translation clearly made this striking difference between the effect of sin and the gift of grace of God. REB puts it, â€Å"God’s act of grace is out of all proportion to Adam’s wrong doing. For if the wrong doing of that one man brought death upon so many, its effect is vastly exceeded by the grace of God and the gift that came to so many by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ. † Here the effect of sin and death in the human being is clearly outweighed by the grace of God in Jesus Christ. The Law and Grace There were various kinds of law that the ancient Jews held sacred during the Old Testament times. Among them and the most important were the Torah or the ceremonial laws, and the Decalogue which given by God to Moses in Exodus 20: 1-17. While the Torah of the Old Testament presents a more complicated moral admonition that were difficult for state enforcement however, Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of theology asserts that the state is silent â€Å"about state enforcement or specifies God rather than the state as the enforcer. † Under this law enforcement, the book of Deuteronomy has various laws and regulations which require strict obedience. While the Decalogue (Greek word for the Ten Commandments) â€Å"represents minimum moral and religious requirements for those covenant relationship with God† it nevertheless demand absolute obedience. Because of this strict demand for obedience, the law has become the stumbling black for the Israelites because these laws were too much for them to obey literally and word for word. Paul say’s the law served as a mirror for sin by which the Israelite can reflect on the holiness of God. The Israelites particularly found it to heavy to obey the law, perhaps not only because the law was intended to be all encompassing, but because of their adjustment from practically secular Egyptian values or laws, they could hardly follow the divine laws. They were miserable with regards to obedience to the law. This lead Paul to conclude in Roman chapter 8, that the law was powerless because it weakened by the sinful nature of the human being. Thus, the law was unable to address the divine requirements instead; it served as the vehicle for sin to dominate mankind. It is in this context that God’s grace through Jesus Christ came into the scene to rescue every human being from the serious consequences of sin which death.

Battle of King’s Mountain

The Battle of King's Mountain Major Ferguson of the Loyalist Militia was tasked with raising and organizing Loyalist units from the backcountry of South Carolina to help prtotect the British General Cornwallis. Ferguson gathered a few Tory units and marched towards Gilbert Town, North Carolina, where he set up a base camp. He issued a command to the opposition forces to lay down their weapons. If they refused he stated he would, â€Å"lay waste to their country with fire and sword. † Patriot militia leaders John Sevier and Isaac Shelby sent word to William Campbell in Virginia to aid an attack on Major Ferguson.Many more more militiamen and local gunmen were rallied by the Patriot leaders. These some 1,400 men became what was known as the â€Å"Mountain Men†. Among these hundreds of men were two traitors who deserted the Patriots and ran off the Gilbert Town to alert Ferguson of the mass of militia converging on him. The Major called for a full retreat to Charlotte, and requested reinforcements for General Cornwallis. The message did not reach Cornwallis until a day after the battle. The Patriot militia recieved word of Ferguson's retreat and urged on to try to catch him.Instead of reaching Charlotte, Ferguson's force camped at King's Mountain where they set camp just west of the mountain's highest point. In a rush to reach the Loyalist regime the Patriots sent over 900 men on horseback throughout the night and the next morning until they reached King's Mountain. The Mountain Men surrounded the camp and attacked. The Patriots formed eight detachments to fully surround the Loyalist camp. British Major Ferguson's force only consisted of Loyalists, not British Red Coats, the majority of which were just rallied days before from South Carolina.The rebel force charged up the mountain screaming and firing their muskets from behind natural barricades. The Loyalists were unaware and were caught off gaurd; Ferguson rallied his troops and led charges down th e hill. Lesser armed, the Patriots retreated to the forest until charging up the hill once again. A pattern formed in the battle in which rebel forces charged up the hill causing a Loyalist charge down the hill. The steep slope of the mountain caused the Loyalists to overshoot and completely miss the charging Patriots, also it became hard to lock on to a target which was in no form and never was in one place.An hour of firing resulting in large losses to the Loyalist force. However, Ferguson felt confident and would not allow a surrender. He continued charging until he was shot off his horse dead before he hit the ground. Eventually the Patriots overwhelmed the leaderless Loyalists and gained a surrender. The Battle at King's Mountain was a decisive victoy for the Patriot army and quite a significant win. There was such an enormous amount of bloodshed mainly because of the Patriots' hunger for retaliation after Banastre Tarleton massacred many continental soldiers. The defeat of Maj or Ferguson helped win the future battle at Cowpens, SC.Ferguson's militia was supposed to help cover General Cornwallis's flank. King's Mountain helped flip thhe momentum in the American south in the favor of the Patriots. The â€Å"Mountain Men† were able to destroy the Loyalists using what is one of the early accounts of â€Å"guerilla warfare†. British led troops were so used to fighting direct battles against lined troops, but the evasive and morphing attack of the Patriots is what decided their fate. The Battle of King's Mountain will forever stand as one of the pivotal battles of America's fight for freedom and of American history.