Environmental analysis case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Environmental analysis case study - Essay Example It starts by outlining a brief historical background of the organisation in question for the sake of easier understanding then followed by an analysis of the above mentioned tools for scanning the environment in which the organisation operates. Environmental scanning plays a pivotal role in helping the marketing managers of an organisation to be better positioned to know the situation obtaining on the ground for them to be able to gain a competitive advantage especially in view of the competition that exists. Background According to Datamonnitor (2004) â€Å"Tesco PLCTesco is the largest food retailer in UK, operating around 2,318 stores worldwide. It operates around operates around 1,878 stores throughout the UK, and also operates stores in the rest of Europe and Asia. Tesco.com is a wholly-owned subsidiary offering a complete online service, including tescodirect.com and tesco.net. The company also offers a range of both online and offline personal finance services. Tesco is headq uartered in Hertfordshire, UK.† Against this background, this essay seeks to outline the organisation’s PESTEL analysis, Porter’s five forces model as well as the value chain. Kotler (1999) posits to the effect that PESTEL analysis is a powerful tool in determining as well as understanding the market forces that affect the growth of business. In other words, it determines the direction for operations in any given business. PESTEL analysis for Tesco PESTEL stands for factors which may affect the operations of business such as political, economic, social, technological, environmental as well as legal factors (Lancaster & Reynolds 1999). This is a very useful tool in analysing the environment in which an organisation operates. It can be noted that there are various factors that affect the operations of any given organisation and these have to be taken into consideration by the senior management so as to achieve a competitive advantage by the organisation. Any given organisation is guided by certain factors that so as to ensure that it does not violate the needs and interests of the consumers as well as the other stakeholders. Political In UK and Europe at large, there are policies that govern the operations of all retail stores. There are laws that govern monopolies as well as competition and these are some of the main political factors that affect the operations of Tesco. It can be noted that Tesco’s success is owed to the observation of these policies where protection of the consumer interests is take as a virtue. Consumer law in UK is effective and under the EU law, every big organisation like Tesco is expected to protect the needs and interests of the customers. Continuous scanning of the political environment greatly helps Tesco to gain a competitive advantage over other rival competitors. On the other hand, it can be noted that the current political environment prevailing in the EU is not exploitative which is seen as the reason w hy Tesco is able to keep pace with the demands of the market. The government in the UK determines the value of the currency as well as the exchange rates and it can be noted that the success of Tesco is greatly owed to compliance with these rules and regulations promulgated by the government. The Competition Commission for instance suggests that a supermarket should not account for more than 25% of the national market and these are som

Early Childhood Education Essay Example for Free

Early Childhood Education Essay The access to a high-quality education has become a major issue for many developing school districts in the United States; more importantly, access to a high-quality early childhood education is even further limited to many families not just because of a lack of access, but because of a lack of resources in the United States public school system. Currently, early childhood education is not available for every student in the country and is not universally supported, but developing research around these young students has proven that an early childhood education will contribute to higher graduation percentages, reduced crime rates, higher  annual salaries, and an 8:1 return on economic dollar investment throughout their lifetime—thus producing high-quality citizens. Because of this, optional early childhood education programs should be funded at both the state and federal level and universally supported. Most often, early childhood education is targeted at three to five-year old children before entering elementary school, but many research studies and programs will identify early childhood care and education just as important for this age group as it is for children up to eight years of age. Programs for these children can be either school-based or center-based in urban or  rural areas (Early Education for All 2011). Each year between birth and the age of eight marks a time of exponential brain growth and helps to lay the foundation for subsequent learning and development. Since these years are marked by remarkable brain growth, early childhood is the prime age period for children to receive a quality education (National Education Association ! ROIGER! 2! 2014). It seems as if it is almost clear-cut, a quality early childhood education should be available to all children of the United States in order to help build future societal contributors. Spodek and Saracho’s book, Handbook of Research on the Education of Young Children, reaches beyond its title and touches on the theory and practice of early childhood education. The authors define these three areas as independent pieces in society’s perspectives, but interrelated in reality. Throughout history, early childhood education has been practiced for much longer than it has been researched. Until the last 50 years, when early childhood education became a hot topic in many funding debates, not a lot of researchers had initiated any studies. As early  childhood education development became more popular as a result of developmental psychology interest, Spodek and Saracho started to identify the chain of steps in expanding early childhood education in the United States and investment resources to train educators (Spodek and Saracho 2006). A major concern of early childhood education experts in the United States is the lack of funding, support, and resources available to allow these childcare programs to inhibit growth. In the past few months, funding has been difficult to obtain because of sequester cuts in federal  government funding, but it has been even more difficult to obtain state funding because of the lack of ability to borrow money at the state level or find new revenue. The support for early childhood education is currently limited because of the scarce information known to the public about this issue. Early childhood education is in fact a very bipartisan issue, despite more initiatives from liberal individuals to make these programs a reality. The trouble with supporting early childhood education programs is that most constituents are unaware of the impact it really  has on our society. ! ROIGER! 3! W. Steven Barnett of Rutgers University Center for Early Education explains early childhood education from his expertise in chapter one of School Reform Proposals: The Research Evidence. Children involved in the studies within the first chapter had a disadvantage compared to average students and were more likely to repeat a grade or fail a class. Research from the Child Parent Centers in Chicago sampled 1,500 children ages three to nine with extended elementary programs; the results that came back were more than reassuring. Students  who participated in the program were less likely to be placed in special education, repeat a grade level, or be placed under juvenile arrest. Additionally, these students placed higher on reading and math placement tests, and they also had a higher graduation rate compared to the other test groups. The research documented that achievement gaps were even better for this group if students were from high-poverty neighborhoods. Barnett supports early childhood education expanding to optional everyday schooling before kindergarten, and documents positive effects on a child’s long-term social and economic development. (Molnar and Barnett 2002). Soni Sangha, classified as a middle-class family member of New York City, wrote for a column in the New York Times about her struggles finding affordable access and availability to a public preschool program for her firstborn child. Sangha isn’t alone; several families are being rejected to a public school early childhood education because of lack of resources to educate all children in the state of New York. These families are being forced in a co-op early childhood education, which involves the active participation of parents providing facilities and materials to  a group of children at the lowest maintainable cost possible (Sangha 2011). While this method of education is certainly beneficial and better than no education at all for young children, Barnett’s optimal early childhood recommendations include trained professionals with bachelor degrees in the field educating these youth (Molnar and Barnett 2011). However, because Sangha’s family ! ROIGER! 4! didn’t have access to a public early education program, they had to settle for less than what they were hoping for. Art Rolnick is the senior fellow and co-director of the Human Capital Research  Collaborative in the University of Minnesotas Humphrey School of Public Affairs, as well as the former director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis. Rolnick began his work in early childhood education almost on accident; he was recruited reluctantly to sit on the board for an early childhood organization known as Ready4K. Rolnick immediately saw the benefits of this early education, not just psychologically but also logistically (Schmickle 2012). As expert economists, fellow colleague Rob Grunewald and Rolnick discovered that high quality education  for disadvantaged young children created a 16% economic output with inflation-adjusted rates (Rolnick and Grunewald 2003). The facts played out over not just one longitudinal study but four longitudinal studies. Every study came back with consistent results: early childhood education is an unbeatable source of public investment. The capstone of these studies, known as the Perry Preschool study, found that every dollar invested in one particular underprivileged preschool program yielded over eight dollars in return. The same study again found lower arrests, higher  salary earnings, more graduations, and overall better learning achievements across the education system throughout elementary and secondary schooling (HighScope 2005). Early childhood education can make a significant impact almost right after birth if a particular individual demands it. For example, a CBS Denver newspaper highlighted Elle, who was a normal baby. However, once she turned 1 ? years old, she started to need more books, games, attention, and interaction. Her parents made a guilty decision of signing her up for two days of school each week even though she had the rest of her life to go to school. After several weeks in the program, the parents felt no remorse as Elle started to thrive in her classroom. Elle’s ! ROIGER! 5! parents later even described it as one of the best things they could have possibly done for Elle (CBS Denver 2013). This Denver toddler proved that early education could make an impact at the speed of which the brain develops, and the solution is to make sure every family has access to this training and development of children. Another concern that has recently been on the rise in early childhood education is retaining individuals to work in these childcare programs. Like any other teacher or care worker, low salaries don’t help to pay potential student loan payments among a host of other financial contributions. According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, pre-school teachers earn an average of $15. 74 per hour and childcare workers receive about $10. 50 per hour. Even bank tellers and janitors earn more money on average per hour than a childcare worker at $11. 91 and $11. 65, respectively. Because pay is low, demand is high. There are 28,422 childcare workers just in Minnesota and that number is expect to increase  by nearly 25% in the next decade (Regan 2013). Because of this demand, trained childcare workers and educators are needed in addition to financial support to make early childhood education a public reality for any family who wishes to enroll. Early childhood education is a growing trend in our society, and the access to it has become a growing issue. Funding is the best solution to this issue, but reform may also help play a major role in the future. Other states, for example, have started to allocate resources differently in their early learning programs. In 2005, Maryland appointed a director of early learning, whose  job was to clean up Marylands current early childhood education program and create sound efficiency. As a result of the appointed director, Maryland has helped 20,000 more children become ready for the first day of school (Maryland Department of Education 2014). The White House currently has many programs that focus on engagement of early learning, but the state of ! ROIGER! 6! Minnesota does not have many well-known programs that are specifically targeted for early learners. One of these programs through the White House is Race To The Top: Early Learning  Challenge, which allocates funds to states who are preparing their children for kindergarten more readily. Another very well known federal government early learning program is Head Start. Head Start programs give needy children the opportunity of receiving an early learning education. However, the program does not expand to every single need child in America, which creates many difficulties for all of the children who are in need of an early childhood education. Currently, the President is looking for ways to expand Head Start to more families in America. In  a time of economic crisis, the best way to deal with this problem from Head Start is through more funds. Both the Early Learning Challenge and Head Start have links at the state government level, but are largely projects of the national government. Minnesota needs to create a successful early childhood education environment in our state, and here is how we are going to do it. Experts recommend that the federal government quadruples funding for Early Head Start programs and maintain the level of funding on a yearly basis (Kagan and Reid 2009). There is no doubt that these programs cannot pay for themselves,  so the funds have to come from an alternative source besides the federal government. Minnesota’s cigarette tax recently increased from $1. 23 to $2. 83 per pack, and while this is one of the leading tobacco taxes in the country, it should be increased even further to total a tax of $3. 00 per pack. If the revenue from this increase were to be proportional to that of the most recent tax increase, the state would raise $223 million to invest into early childhood education programs (Hammersley 2013). ! ROIGER! 7! Even this simple solution would be an incredibly large increase in early childhood  education and childcare funding compared to the Ohio legislature, which passed measures of $30 million in additional funding for this fiscal year as a result of 2,100 child slots cut along with 307 staff jobs across the state due to sequestration. According to Gayle Kelly, executive director of the Minnesota Head Start Association, Minnesota will have 760 childcare positions in Head Start cut itself (Pew 2013). Imagine how $223 million in revenue from tobacco taxes could impact those 760 children, in addition to several thousand more. An additional opportunity to access funding for early childhood education programs is  putting the issue on a priority list compared to professional sports stadium construction and evaluating the best source of funding. This is one way that the public perception of early education programs might change and allow research to be initiated. Often times, the construction of huge entertainment attractions is viewed as an investment in economic development. However, early childhood education and childcare programs are also an economic investment. Because of one dollar invested into the program, eight dollars is turned back into the economy. This results from a higher standard of living due to a better job and a better  environment to grow up in compared to someone who might grow up in poverty. Not only are they an economic investment, but society also receives a social investment that entertainment complexes cannot reach. Early childhood educates builds better human beings by reducing crime rates, raising educational capacities, and preparing children to be future career workers. Early childhood education programs are very beneficial to our country. They are important because they contribute to the growth of well-rounded citizens who have active engagement in social, economical, and political engagements. The federal government has implemented programs, but they are also needed at the local and state level to have a larger ! ROIGER! 8! impact on these young children. Implementation of these programs, such as that of the Maryland coordinator, would help create an efficient early childhood education learning environment in Minnesota. Early childhood education is important because it fosters growth from birth until the age of eight years old, which is when 90% of the brain’s learning is developed. If children are to learn anything in their life, they must start to learn at the beginning of their lifetime. One child  from an early childhood education program could end up being soccer mom of the year in Manhattan or the first female president of the United State—but that will only happen if there is funding to help that child unlock her potential. ! ROIGER! 9! Works Cited Early Childhood Education. Salaries. N. p. , n. d. Web. 7 May 2014. http://www. earlychildhoodeducation. com/salaries/. Early Childhood Education. CBS Denver. N. p. , 4 Mar. 2013. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. http://denver. cbslocal. com/2013/03/04/early-childhood-education/. Early Childhood Initiatives. Improving School Readiness ~ Ensure Success ~ Instruction ~ School Improvement in Maryland. N. p. , n. d. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. http://mdk12. org/instruction/ensure/readiness/. Early Education for All. What is Early Childhood Education?. Education. com. N. p. , 20 Dec. 2011. Web. 14 Apr. 2014. http://www. education. com/reference/article/Ref_What_Early_Childhood/. Hammersley, Phillip. Minnesota: Higher Income and Cigarette Tax Making It the Land of 10,000 Taxes?. Tax Foundation. N. p. , 3 July 2013. Web. 6 May 2014. http://taxfoundation. org/blog/minnesota-higher-income-and-cigarette-tax-making-it- land-10000-taxes. Kagan, Sharon Lynn, and Jeanne L.Reid. Invest in Early Childhood Education. The Phi Delta Kappan 90. 8 (2009): 572-576. Print. Molnar, Alex, and W. Steven Barnett. Early Childhood Education. School Reform Proposals: The Research Evidence. Greenwich, Conn. : Information Age Publication, 2002. 1-26. Print. Perry Preschool Study. HighScope. N. p. , n. d. Web. 6 May 2014. http://www. highscope. org/content. asp? contentid=219. Pew, Adrienne Lu. Head Start Hit with Worst Cuts in its History. USA Today. N. p. , 20 Aug. ! ROIGER! 10! 2013. Web. 6 May 2014. http://www. usatoday. com/story/news/nation/2013/08/19/stateline-head-start/2671309/. Regan, Sheila. Paying Early Childhood Educators What They Are Worth. Twin Cities Daily Planet. N. p. , 1 Mar. 2013. Web. 7 May 2014. http://www. tcdailyplanet. net/news/2013/02/27/paying-child-care-workers-and-pre-k- teachers-what-they-are-worth. Rolnick, Arthur J. , and Rob Grunewald. Early Childhood Development: Economic Development with a High Public Return. The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. N. p. , 1 Mar. 2003. Web. 6 May 2014. http://www. minneapolisfed. org/publications_papers/pub_display. cfm? id=3832. Sangha, Soni. The Pre-K Underground. The New York Times. N. p. , 17 Dec. 2011. Web. 14 Apr. 2014. http://www. nytimes. com/2011/12/18/nyregion/underground-pre-k-groups- often-illegal-abound-in-new-york. html? pagewanted=all_r=1. Schmickle, Sharon. Making the Case for Early Ed, Art Rolnick Has Had Enormous Impact. MinnPost. N. p. , 16 Apr. 2012. Web. 14 Apr. 2014. http://www. minnpost. com/driving- change/2012/04/making-case-early-ed-art-rolnick-has-had-enormous-impact. Spodek, Bernard, and Olivia Saracho. Handbook of Research on the Education of Young Children. 1982. Reprint. Mahwah, N. J. : Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2006. Print.

Shakers :: essays research papers

Amish Documentary I.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Title:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Amish   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Date:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  12/23/04   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Time:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  12:30   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Library:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  West Linn Public Library II.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I have heard very little of the Amish people. I always seem to hear jokes made about them and conversations about how crazy they are for not using electricity. I decided that I actually wanted to learn about them to test the validity of the comments I hear. III.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Besides the fact that Amish where black, flat hats and don’t use electricity, I know nothing about the Amish. IV.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In this documentary the filmmakers got a hold of a very articulate old Amish man. I enjoyed hearing him speak about what his life was like as a child. He explained a lot of things about his family and how they lived. There were several accounts of certain activities that they would do. For instance, after church the boys would get together and play this ball game where one would try to hit another with a hard ball. I would not expect that many other Amish cultures would do this, yet they are implying in the video that this is what all the Amish are like. There were also many stories told that showed just how strict these people were and how closely they followed their religion. The documentary stated that in order for the Amish to still make a living, more modernized tools had to be used. One of the ones recently accepted was the machine that milked cows mechanically. Without this, the Amish man explained, the Amish could not get by. The man also explained that his family and other families in his community would ask neighbors to take them in a car somewhere on occasion. Also, as time progressed, the Amish were allowed to use pay phones located outside of the village. I think it was great the filmmakers could get a source like this, but I only really heard about the religion/ lifestyle via one persons’ stories. I am sure that many of the things his family or community did were not the same as every single other Amish family or community. Also, I constantly recognized footage that I had seen before, in that same film. They were obviously just looking at one specific community. If there are thousand of different Amish people out there, there must be hundreds of different interpretations of the religion. I would have liked to see a different community and see how they lived to see if the Amish really were alike everywhere or if each community was unique.

Children and Young People’s Development Essay

A child development is influenced in many ways such as their background, health and environment. These factors will have an impact on the child’s different areas of development. Background Children come from all different family environments, cultures and circumstances. Children go through significant family changes such as a family break-up or a new step-family. These can affect a child’s emotional and intellectual development. A child may also change their behaviour, which means there ability to learn is decreased. This can affect their emotional development because they may feel like it is their fault for the break up. Having a new step-family is a big change for some children, this may affect their emotional development, as they may feel as if there mother/father is replacing each other. The child may also have difficulty bonding with their new family. Some children may be deliberately hostile towards a step-parent as they may feel it is the only outlet for their feelings, and those who do not express their feelings openly may become withdrawn. This can have major effects on their intellectual development, as they may become withdrawn at school and unable to concentrate on learning. Read more: Explain how children and young peoples development is influenced by a range of personal factors essay Coming from a low income family may have a significant effect on a child’s development. Burnham and Baker state ‘Statistic show that children who come from deprived backgrounds are less likely to thrive and achieve well in school’. Coming from a low income family may affect a child’s intellectual development, as the family may not be able to afford to pay for extra activities such as swimming lessons or dance lessons. This could also have an impact on the child’s physical development. This may affect the way a child is able to respond in certain situations. There communicational development may be affected as they may not have interacted with children their own age before. Cultural differences may also impact a child development, as they may feel isolated at school. This would affect there communication and intellectual development, as they may be unable to communicate with other children. They my also feel excluded because they are brought up different, this can affect their emotional development. Not interacting with other peers can have a large impact on different types of development, such as emotional as they can feel isolated and excluded. Children’s with different cultural beliefs or practice may cause emotional conflict. Such as if they want to participate in an activity which goes against their families wishes or religious beliefs, they would feel excluded. Other issues would be if the child has moved countries their intellectual development may be affected due to the fact that they have to ‘catch up’ with new languages and cultures. Health If a child suffers from poor health or impairment, this may have an effect on their development. If a child suffers from a medical condition this may lessen their ability to participate in activities than other children. This will affect their physical development, as well as their emotional development. Depending how aware the child is about their needs, they may feel excluded and isolated from other children. Other health factors maybe that the child was born premature, as they are more likely to develop slower than a healthy born child. There may be an effect on their physical development, as they are a smaller and behind on developing. This may also have an in pact on their intellectual development, as it has been shown that premature babies struggle with maths. Burdo-Hartman says. â€Å"Memorizing math facts in particular has been shown to be difficult for some preemies,† Environment A child’s environment, for example, family or school, plays a huge part in their development. A family that abuses or neglects a child will damage the child’s natural development. The indifferent family style has a negative effect on the child. The child may not have much opportunity, they may just watch television or play video games all day, will not gain the experiences and interactions needed to further their development. Where a child lives is an important factor for their development. If they live in poor areas, there are less services and opportunities. This can have a negative effect on their intellectual development as they are not able to access services such as playgroups or afterschool clubs. On the other hand, wealthy areas are more likely to have better services and opportunities, this means that a child’s development may not be affected. Burnham, L. Baker, B. (2010). Support Teaching and Learning in schools. Essex: Heinemann Learning.

Ethics of Bribery and Kickbacks Essay

Ethics of Bribery and Kickbacks Introduction            Following a careful observation, the gulf state should be deprived of the right to host the FIFA 2022 world cup following controversial payments of a huge sum of money to a former official along with his family. This raises ethical concerns since it breaks virtues of ethics as discussed in this paper. There should be an investigation to probe the payment of an unaccounted sum of two million dollars by the Qatari firm to justify the payments and if possible exonerate the firm from the corruption allegations. It would be in appropriate to allow such a controversial state to host a worldwide event such as the world cup with participants from all over the world, thus calls have been made from around the globe to the world’s football governing body to re re-run the bid to host this event. According to Sugden et.al, (1998) corruption breaches the ethics of virtues since it harms many people.            It has been formally announced that Qatar will be hosting the hilarious FIFA world cup in 2022. This is after a secret ballot vote by the FIFA Executive committee that was held in Zurich December 2010. A maximum of five candidates had presented their bids in anticipation of hosting the world’s spectacular sporting event. Again, according to utilitarian principle of ethics this is not right; it yields fewer benefits to a large number of people. Although Qatar views this as a great achievement, the FIFA officials who gave Qatar the privileged to host the 2022 world cup are to be compelled to justify this decision beyond reasonable doubt to the FIFA investigator following some disclosures from the telegraph. Michael Garcia who happens to be the chief investigator of the ethics committee has travelled to Zurich to hold numerous interviews following consistent pressures on FIFA to re run the bid once more (Scharfenort, 2012).            These meetings have been precipitated by some telegraph inquiry that disclosed how FIFA’s previous vice president along with his family were paid 2 million dollars from a firm that was linked to Qatar’s victorious bid. Although the particulars of who the executive committee chooses to support are usually high profile and secretly kept, the board members however are expected to be accountable for any breach of the bidding rules inclusive of the complicity between bids (Amara, 2007).            A spokesperson from the Qatar’s world cup organizing committee said that the bid committee strictly followed all the FIFA binding rules and regulations in full compliance with their standard ethical codes. He further claims that the highest committee for delivery and all the individuals concerned with 2022 bid committee are not aware of any allegations regarding dealings of any nature between private individuals. This is obviously a sophisticated cover up of the corruption allegations since the committee seems to have overlooked some serious allegations following telegraph disclosures which incriminated Qatar’s vice president, thus it is irrational to give a bid to host a world event to country with corrupt leaders and officials (Grix, 2012).            The chairperson of the parliamentary culture, sport and media committee argues that the controversial payments made to the Qatar’s former vice president along with his family is an adequate proof that the credibility of the whole process of selecting Qatar as the country to host the 2022 FIFA world cup is compromised, hence such process is subject to probing.            The ethics involved in bribery and kickbacks with regard to the National society of professional Engineers (NSPE) includes; †¢Striving to serve the public interest †¢Avoiding all conduct and practices that deceives the members of public †¢Avoiding any attempt to obtain employment, advancement or any professional engagement by improper or questionable methods. †¢Acceptance of personal responsibility for all professional activities. †¢Giving credit for any professional work to whom credit is due and not to whom credit is not worth. †¢Avoiding influence in professional duties by conflicting interest. References Amara, M. (2007). When the Arab world was mobilised around the FIFA 2006 World Cup. Journal of North African Studies, 12(4), 417-438. Grix, J. (2012). ‘Image’leveraging and sports mega-events: Germany and the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Journal of Sport & Tourism, 17(4), 289-312. Scharfenort, N. (2012). Urban Development and Social Change in Qatar: The Qatar National Vision 2030 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Journal of Arabian Studies, 2(2), 209-230. Sugden, J Tomlinson, A., & Darby, P. (1998). FIFA Versus UEFA in the Struggle for the Control of World Football (pp. 11-31). A. Brown (Ed.). London: Routledge. Source document

muic1 essays

muic1 essays Introduction Beginning in late 1978 the Chinese leadership has been trying to move the economy from a sluggish Soviet-style centrally planned economy to a more market-oriented economy but still within a rigid political framework of Communist Party control. To this end the authorities switched to a system of household responsibility in agriculture in place of the old collectivization, increased the authority of local officials and plant managers in industry, permitted a wide variety of small-scale enterprise in services and light manufacturing, and opened the economy to increased foreign trade and investment. The result has been a quadrupling of GDP since 1978 (CIA, 1998). Agricultural output doubled in the 1980s, and industry also posted major gains, especially in coastal areas near Hong Kong and opposite Taiwan, where foreign investment helped spur output of both domestic and export goods. On the darker side, the leadership has often experienced in its hybrid system the worst result s of socialism (bureaucracy, lassitude, corruption) and of capitalism (windfall gains and stepped-up inflation). Beijing thus has periodically backtracked, retightening central controls at intervals. In 1992-97 annual growth of GDP accelerated, particularly in the coastal areas-averaging about 10% annually according to official figures (CIA, 1998). This purpose will analyze the efforts of China's government to restore its economy to a more performing one in spite of many challenges. China's Economy: An Overview Over the past 10 years, China's GDP has grown at an average annual rate of nearly 10%. Some economists have speculated that China could become the world's largest economy at some point in the near future. However, future economic growth will likely depend on the ability of the Chinese government to make significant new reforms. Chinese officials have recently announced major new initiatives to reform money-losing state-owned enterprises and China's ...

Segregation and Discrimination in My Left Foot

Segregation and Discrimination in My Left Foot This is a touching movie, and most people who have watched it will agree that the levels of commitment that are exhibited by the family members towards Christy Brown despite his disabilities are relatively high. In that era, the fact that most individuals who suffered from diseases such as cerebral palsy were institutionalized was quite depressing. It meant that the individuals encountered a lot of segregation and discrimination, and they were never given an opportunity to stay with their family members or to display their talents.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Segregation and Discrimination in My Left Foot specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The case of Christy Brown is one such example that shows that a person with disabilities can do many things. This is because Christy Brown is given the chance to stay with his family, and in due course, he shows how talented he is by making use of the only part of his body that h e can control, which is his left foot. This proved that individuals with the disease could do many things like the way Christy Brown painted with his foot. It is just that they never had the chance to stay with people who love them, thus encouraging them to show case their talents. The movie encourages people who have family members who are suffering from the condition to show them love, and offer them extra care since they are not altogether retarded. In the case of Christy Brown, his family members imagined that he was retarded, yet he was not. He managed to use his foot to communicate by writing on the ground, which stunned his family. The stigma that most people have about people with cerebral palsy ought to be done away with. There is a lot to be taught about the disease. The people who suffer from cerebral palsy can be taught how and encouraged to control their bodies including speech and muscle control. The most intriguing aspect about the movie is the love that the family me mbers exhibit towards Christy Brown. His mother shows exceptional love and so does the rest of the family. The movie also shows how individuals suffering from cerebral palsy have emotions such as love and hate. This is depicted when Christy falls in love with Dr. Eileen, who was his doctor. She had introduced him to a new program that had been launched for people with cerebral palsy. He shows severe levels of depression when she declares that she is going to marry someone else. Christy Brown is portrayed as a very emotional character who attempts to commit suicide, due to the heartbreak that he underwent when the woman he loved married someone else. However, the movie shows the great lengths that a family can go to in order to ensure that the family members’ interests are taken care of, and no harm comes their way. The way that Christy Brown grew up plays a significant role in molding his life. Christy Brown’s life was markedly influenced by the way that he grew up. He was considered as part of the gang. It made him confident, and he felt like a normal child although he had cerebral palsy. Christy was also able to work and earn money when his father died by writing an autobiography that managed to bring in income for the family. The movie shows that there is much more to individuals with cerebral palsy than meets the eyes.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More

Seneca Falls Womens Rights Convention - 1848

Seneca Falls Women's Rights Convention - 1848 The roots of the Seneca Falls Womens Rights Convention, the first womens rights convention in history, go back to 1840, when Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were attending the Worlds Anti-Slavery Convention in London as delegates, as were their husbands. The credentials committee ruled that women were constitutionally unfit for public and business meetings. After a vigorous debate on the role of women at the convention, the women were relegated to a segregated womens section which was separated from the main floor by a curtain; the men were permitted to speak, the women were not. Elizabeth Cady Stanton later credited conversations held with Lucretia Mott in that segregated womens section for the idea of holding a mass meeting to address the rights of women. William Lloyd Garrison arrived after the debate about women speaking; in protest of the decision, he spent the convention in the womens section. Lucretia Mott came from a Quaker tradition in which women were able to speak in church; Elizabeth Cady Stanton had already asserted her sense of womens equality by refusing to have the word obey included in her marriage ceremony. Both were committed to the cause of abolition of slavery; their experience in working for freedom in one arena seemed to solidify their sense that full human rights must be extended to women, too. Becoming a Reality But it was not until an 1848 visit of Lucretia Mott with her sister, Martha Coffin Wright, during an annual Quaker convention, that the idea of a womens rights convention turned into plans, and Seneca Falls became a reality. The sisters met during that visit with three other women, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Mary Ann MClintock, and Jane C. Hunt, at the home of Jane Hunt. All were also interested in the anti-slavery issue, and slavery had just been abolished in Martinique and the Dutch West Indies. The women obtained a place to meet in the town of Seneca Falls and on July 14 put a notice in the paper about the upcoming meeting, publicizing it mainly in the upstate New York area: Womans Rights Convention A Convention to discuss the social, civil and religious condition and rights of woman, will be held in the Wesleyan Chapel, at Seneca Falls, N.Y., on Wednesday and Thursday, the 19th and 20th of July, current; commencing at 10 oclock, A.M. During the first day the meeting will be exclusively for women, who are earnestly invited to attend. The public generally are invited to be present on the second day, when Lucretia Mott of Philadelphia, and others, ladies and gentlemen will address the convention. Preparing the Document The five women worked to prepare an agenda and a document to be considered for passage at the Seneca Falls convention. James Mott, Lucretia Motts husband, would chair the meeting, as many would consider such a role for women to be unacceptable. Elizabeth Cady Stanton led the writing of a declaration, modeled after the Declaration of Independence. The organizers also prepared specific resolutions. When Elizabeth Cady Stanton advocated for including the right to vote among the proposed actions, the men threatened to boycott the event, and Stantons husband left town. The resolution on voting rights stayed in, though the women other than Elizabeth Cady Stanton were skeptical of its passage. First Day, July 19 At the first day of the Seneca Falls convention, with over 300 people in attendance, the participants discussed womens rights. Forty of the participants at Seneca Falls were men, and the women quickly made the decision to allow them to participate fully, asking them only to be silent on the first day which had been meant to be exclusively for women. The morning didnt begin auspiciously: when those who had organized the Seneca Falls event arrived at the meeting place, Wesleyan Chapel, they found that the door was locked, and none of them had a key. A nephew of Elizabeth Cady Stanton climbed in a window and opened the door. James Mott, who was supposed to chair the meeting (it still being considered too outrageous for a woman to do so), was too ill to attend. The first day of the Seneca Falls convention continued with a discussion of the prepared Declaration of Sentiments. Amendments were proposed and some were adopted. In the afternoon, Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton spoke, then more changes were made to the Declaration. The eleven resolutions including the one that Stanton had added late, proposing that women get the vote were debated. Decisions were put off until Day 2 so that men, too, could vote. In the evening session, open to the public, Lucretia Mott spoke. Second Day, July 20 On the second day of the Seneca Falls convention, James Mott, Lucretia Motts husband, presided. Ten of the eleven resolutions passed quickly. The resolution on voting, however, saw more opposition and resistance. Elizabeth Cady Stanton continued to defend that resolution, but its passage was in doubt until an ardent speech by ex-slave and newspaper owner, Frederick Douglass, on its behalf. The closing of the second day included readings of Blackstones Commentaries on the status of women and speeches by several including Frederick Douglass. A resolution offered by Lucretia Mott passed unanimously: The speedy success of our cause depends upon the zealous and untiring efforts of both men and women, for the overthrow of the monopoly of the pulpit, and for securing to women of equal participation with men in the various trades, professions, and commerce. The debate about mens signatures on the document was resolved by permitting men to sign, but below the womens signatures. Of about 300 people present, 100 signed the document. Amelia Bloomer was among those who did not; she had arrived late and had spent the day in the gallery because there were no seats left on the floor. Of the signatures, 68 were of women and 32 were of men. Reactions to the Convention The story of Seneca Falls wasnt over, however. Newspapers reacted with articles mocking the Seneca Falls convention, some printing the Declaration of Sentiments in its entirety because they thought it was ridiculous on its face. Even more liberal papers like that of Horace Greeley judged the demand to vote to be going too far. Some signers asked to have their names removed. Two weeks after the Seneca Falls convention, a few of the participants met again, in Rochester, New York. They resolved to continue the effort, and organize more conventions (though in the future, with women chairing the meetings). Lucy Stone was key in organizing a convention in 1850 in Rochester: the first to be publicized and conceptualized as a national womens rights convention. Two early sources for the Seneca Falls Womens Rights Convention are the contemporary account in Frederick Douglass Rochester newspaper, The North Star, and Matilda Joslyn Gages account, first published in 1879 as National Citizen and Ballot Box, later becoming part of A History of Woman Suffrage, edited by Gage, Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony (who was not at Seneca Falls; she did not become involved in womens rights until 1851).

It depends on the question that the writer choose Essay - 1

It depends on the question that the writer choose - Essay Example While the previous era of globalization came up around falling transport costs, the current globalization is linked to the decrease in the costs of telecommunications, which make it easier to propel the world higher and make it a global village 1. These technologies have made developing nations to become big producers other than just relying on the trading of their raw materials to the west and get finished products in return. All these developments showcase a world full of selective understanding in which the main market players will be more coalitions of conjuncture and the traditional alliances built around a strategic interest point. In essence, globalization has led to the creation of more opportunities than harm. The benefits do outweigh the harms largely. The essay seeks to expound on how globalization has affected the word at positive level 2. The concept of globalization has remained a topic of interest, with great debaters focusing much on it. Its proponents have marked it as an exquisite phenomenon to happen in the world while its opponents criticize it strongly as a component linked to create harm rather than improving the existing conditions. One thing is well notable: that despite the challenges globalization faces, there is a great impact it has played on the lives of millions of people in the world3. Those against globalization may present diverse negative effects of its existence, such as environmental degradation, inequality in economic patterns, loss of jobs and other catastrophic events. However, a good number of developing countries are benefitting immensely from the vice more than before, in terms of economic growth, sustenance of culture and other angles. First, globalization has created many employment opportunities especially in developing nations. Many companies are reviving their operations especially with reference to ICT sector. There

Project Proposals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Project Proposals - Essay Example Therefore, the system must first ensure that each student registers himself and his project proposal. Then the project must be categorized and sent to the requisite faculty. The faculty must then make an assessment of the drawbacks or advantages of the project and must decide upon the feasibility with regards to time, cost etc. and notify the student accordingly. b) The aggregate project plan outlines the project's stages for the next 18 months. Since p3 is in the final year of completion, it has to be completed first. As p2 strongly contributes to 01 & 03, and as p3 will already have supported all the objectives, it must be finished first. This would then require us to implement only p1, which contributes to 02 (already implemented by p3), subsequent to which, p4 can be easily accomplished. This is because as p2 and p3 have already satisfied almost all of the objectives, it would not be a problem for the implementation of p1, whereby, p4 can be easily implemented. The time taken for each subsequent project will gradually reduce as the objectives that need to be accomplished at every stage gradually reduce. Such an approach will enable p3 to satisfy most of the university's need at the time of installation, and the subsequent projects can be added to the existing system to enhance the functionality of the system, and in some cases they need not be implemented or developed at all in case the earlier project satisfies the required functionalities of the current project in all respects. c) the title would be- A feasibility study on the automation of university project appraisals. We use this in the Strategic Decision Process. 2) a) we need to use an evolutionary prototyping model for this system, as this will enableus to make changes, which will enable an all-at-once installation as the product willbe tested from time to time during development.. b)simple application of the formula for every row. c) already discussed in 2004 paper. d) D-E-R-Q-W. e) this has already been shown in 2004 paper. After the Gantt chart. 3) a) module E: $(400*5*26) same is the case for the other 3 independent modules.For w: cost is $((400*5*52)+(500*5%52)) b) for module E: duration is 26 weeks. So no inflation whereas from modules w,q,r,the 5% rate is applicable. For example, for module w: the inflation must be applied for 52 weeks (assuming

Editing Strategies Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Editing Strategies - Assignment Example It might be helpful to highlight the transition words and phrases as well to see if the right structures are used to introduce new ideas. Another key point to consider in the essay is its style and form. At this point, the best technique is to read the paper aloud. Reading aloud can help the author to notice the words or phrases that do not fit the context of the paper. As a rule, such vocabulary units include bookish or formal words, colloquialisms, terms used without sufficient explanation. Having pinpointed those words, the writer should consult the dictionary or thesaurus to find a suitable synonym or explain the terms used in the paper. What is more, highlighting or underlining key words in every paragraph can help avoid redundancy and wordiness. Finally, the paper should be checked for spelling, punctuation and grammar errors. Then, it is useful to read a paper again aloud slowly, making logical stress on the topic words and sentences, and then quickly. Reading aloud quickly ca n emulate the readers’ perception. Sometimes the structure of the sentences used by the writer is very complicated and the readers would have to go back to particular areas of the text to get the idea. If the writer finds it hard to find the ideas that should be stressed in the sentences or paragraphs while reading aloud quickly, it means that such sentences would be confusing for the readers. In this case, it is better to opt for restructuring the complex sentences. At the end of this stage, the essay can be submitted.

Visiting a kindergarten Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Visiting a kindergarten - Essay Example Like a real Snow White but with yellow hair not black. Most of the people that I know are different shades of brown but Sarah was from the mainland where all the really white people come from. Sarah had the whitest skin I ever saw and polka dots on her nose and cheeks. She couldn’t play rough on the playground because her white skin was very soft. I know because one time, when she accidentally fell down, she got these really big purple spots on her legs that she said were bruises, but they weren’t like any bruises I ever saw before they were so dark, and she said it happened all the time. When I looked at her and how the sun glowed through her yellow hair, though, it didn’t make any sense to me that Snow White could have black hair because Sara made a much better Snow White. Yes, she definitely did. If I visited too much in class, Sister Mary Joseph would call me up to her desk and have me hold out my left hand. I knew what was about to happen so I would always l ook at Sarah. That way, I wouldn’t cry. All the other girls would look sad and down at their hands, thanking god the father that it wasn’t them, but not Sarah. Sarah always looked right at me, and then she would smile like Snow White – sweet, soft, and comforting. She always seemed to know just how I felt. When it was pau, I would go back to my seat and she would stroke the top of my hand until the pain in my palm went away. That’s how the magic started. One day, after I got smacked.

Auditing Exercise for Property Plant and Equipment Assignment

Auditing Exercise for Property Plant and Equipment - Assignment Example Management must implement the internal control activities to reduce the three inherent risk factors, management must implement the following internal controls procedures. The same audit objective includes reducing the risk factors by physically determining if management recorded all assets seen and affirmed by the auditor properly and completely in the proper accounting period. The inherent risk factors for item 1 and 3 are complex accounting issues (proper recording of property plant and equipment assets and allowance for depreciation), difficult to audit transactions (collusion between management and employees to fraudulently present Enron-style financial statements), and misstatements (unintentional errors) are detected (Whittington, 2005). ADJUSTING ENTRIES The auditor found the recommended adjusting entries for item 1 item 3 and after performing the audit procedure test of details of transactions or reconciliation. This is in compliance the auditor’s meeting the audit obj ectives. The auditor must obtain sufficient audit evidence to support all management assertions shown in the financial reports. Reconciliation entails the ensuring that detailed records have the same balances as the general ledger control accounts. The following adjusting entries are necessary in order to present the true balances of the land account, buildings account, machinery and equipment account, depression expense accounts, and allowance for depreciation account (buildings) and allowance for depreciation accounts (machinery and equipment), in compliance with no. 1 item instructions (D Kieso, J Weygandt, T Warfield, 2011). Item no. 1 Assertions: 1. Completeness assertion: Management ensures the recording of all existing property, plant, equipment, allowance for depreciation and other accounts in the same accounting period. The accountant did not record the donated assets were in the books of accounts received from Crux City. Thus, the effect on the audit procedure is to increa se the building account in item no. 1by $ 400,000. Management must make an adjustment. Otherwise, item no. 1 (building account) will be understated. Likewise, the allowance for depreciation account, item 1, will be understated. 2. Existence or Occurence assertion : All recorded property, plant, equipment, allowance for depreciation and other accounts exist or are owned by the company in the same accounting period. The effect on audit procedure is to inspect the official documents that include land titles, official receipts, and donation document will prove the existence or occurrence (ownership) of the reported assets. 3. Valuation or allocation assertion: all amounts recorded in the property, plant, machinery and equipment, allowance for depreciation accounts are accurate and proper classification of the business transactions are made. The audit procedure includes analytical procedures. The effect on audit procedure is to ensure accuracy, classification, cut-off, detail tie-in of t he property, plant, equipment, depreciation allowance, and depreciation expense balances during the year under audit. In terms of effect on audit procedure, the auditor must determine the existence or occurrence assertion audit assertion are valued accurately by personally inspecting if all recorded property, plant, and equipment accounts recorded in the books exist (Whittington, 2005). The building, machinery and

Cooperator Insurance company Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cooperator Insurance company - Case Study Example sence, CGL values people to a greater degree and makes business decisions that are long-term in nature to strike a balance between the profit objective of business and the corporate social responsibility (CSR) objective. The products and services of CGL are sold through a variety of channels. There are over 2,570 licensed insurance representatives across Canada whose responsible is to sell the products and services of CGL. Moreover, CGL uses its website and contact and call centers to sell its services to clients satisfied (The Cooperators Group Limited, 2013). The variety of sales channels of CGL enables the company to reach an ample population of prospective clients. CGL employs several methods of selling. Considering the insurance and financial services are provided to both individuals and corporations, both direct and Business-to-Business method of selling are used. Besides, the complex insurance services of the CGL are sold through insurance brokers (Cooperators Group Limited, 2015). CGL encounters stiff competition from other companies operating in the insurance industry. Despite the fact that CGL has diversified to offering financial services over and above insurance services, it is still recommended that CGL should diversify its operation to other lines of business to spread business risk. It is recommended that CGL should capitalize on acquiring and collaborating with other players in the industry in order to fortify its market share in the industry. In fact, through acquisition and collaborating with other insurance and financial services providers, CGL will worry less about competition and instead focus the resources and energy in its core operations. CGL is an insurance and financial services company. Given this, the suppliers of the company have to do with the members of the company and the major ones include Ontario Federation of Agriculture, UFA Co-operative Limited and Arctic Co-operatives Limited. CUMIS offers business, liability and

Auditing Exercise for Property Plant and Equipment Assignment

Auditing Exercise for Property Plant and Equipment - Assignment Example Management must implement the internal control activities to reduce the three inherent risk factors, management must implement the following internal controls procedures. The same audit objective includes reducing the risk factors by physically determining if management recorded all assets seen and affirmed by the auditor properly and completely in the proper accounting period. The inherent risk factors for item 1 and 3 are complex accounting issues (proper recording of property plant and equipment assets and allowance for depreciation), difficult to audit transactions (collusion between management and employees to fraudulently present Enron-style financial statements), and misstatements (unintentional errors) are detected (Whittington, 2005). ADJUSTING ENTRIES The auditor found the recommended adjusting entries for item 1 item 3 and after performing the audit procedure test of details of transactions or reconciliation. This is in compliance the auditor’s meeting the audit obj ectives. The auditor must obtain sufficient audit evidence to support all management assertions shown in the financial reports. Reconciliation entails the ensuring that detailed records have the same balances as the general ledger control accounts. The following adjusting entries are necessary in order to present the true balances of the land account, buildings account, machinery and equipment account, depression expense accounts, and allowance for depreciation account (buildings) and allowance for depreciation accounts (machinery and equipment), in compliance with no. 1 item instructions (D Kieso, J Weygandt, T Warfield, 2011). Item no. 1 Assertions: 1. Completeness assertion: Management ensures the recording of all existing property, plant, equipment, allowance for depreciation and other accounts in the same accounting period. The accountant did not record the donated assets were in the books of accounts received from Crux City. Thus, the effect on the audit procedure is to increa se the building account in item no. 1by $ 400,000. Management must make an adjustment. Otherwise, item no. 1 (building account) will be understated. Likewise, the allowance for depreciation account, item 1, will be understated. 2. Existence or Occurence assertion : All recorded property, plant, equipment, allowance for depreciation and other accounts exist or are owned by the company in the same accounting period. The effect on audit procedure is to inspect the official documents that include land titles, official receipts, and donation document will prove the existence or occurrence (ownership) of the reported assets. 3. Valuation or allocation assertion: all amounts recorded in the property, plant, machinery and equipment, allowance for depreciation accounts are accurate and proper classification of the business transactions are made. The audit procedure includes analytical procedures. The effect on audit procedure is to ensure accuracy, classification, cut-off, detail tie-in of t he property, plant, equipment, depreciation allowance, and depreciation expense balances during the year under audit. In terms of effect on audit procedure, the auditor must determine the existence or occurrence assertion audit assertion are valued accurately by personally inspecting if all recorded property, plant, and equipment accounts recorded in the books exist (Whittington, 2005). The building, machinery and

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 18

Economics - Essay Example competitor lowers its price it may attract some - but not all - buyers because product differentiation makes it possible for some to remain with the sellers product despite the price increase, and they will not switch. Rivalries among oligopolists can be circumvented by some form of open or tacit collusion among members, in the process converting the oligopoly, at least temporarily, into a sort of monopoly. One example is price leadership, where one company, usually the biggest among them, sets the price and the others follow. It is somewhat risky because unless the others expect to benefit or are not harmed by the move, they can undercut the price instead, and a price war among the participants can ensue. A company may also behave in such a way that it does not make things difficult for its competitors. Companies may set their prices so that they are only a few cents apart and thus somehow avoid accusations of having colluded in setting prices. Open collusion (a cartel) is possible but is illegal in the United States. A successful cartel can charge a monopoly price at the expense of the consumers and obtain monopoly profits. An exception in the United States applies to regulated industries such as telecommunications and gas pipeline transportation where members are allowed to behave as cartels provided they do not undercut the prices set by government regulatory agencies (Baumol and Blinder, 1997). A monopoly is either a pure monopoly or a natural monopoly. A pure monopoly is one where there is only one supplier of a product that has no close substitutes and where it is impossible or extremely difficult for another firm to coexist. A natural monopoly, on the other hand. is an industry in which advantages in large scale production make it possible for a single firm to produce the entire output of the market at a lower than average cost than a number of firms each producing a smaller quantity. It is the latter kind of monopoly that can evolve from a

Formal Presentation Tactics Essay Example for Free

Formal Presentation Tactics Essay Presentations, unlike reports, carry the personality of a speaker, simultaneously allowing for interaction between all participants involved. A good presentation is hinged on precise, well researched content as well as a clear well laid out structure. Simply put, content relates to information useful to the people. It differs significantly from presentations to reports. The latter are analyzed at the readers’ pace but the former must account for the amount of information that can be assimilated in a single sitting. The structure followed must be logical, sequenced as well as suitably paced so that the audience can effectively follow the proceedings. Other salient aspects are packaging and the human element. Presentations must be well prepared for the audience is literally at the presenter’s mercy; they do not have the option of rereading certain portions or skipping others altogether. The human element, when used effectively, contributes greatly to the success of any presentation (Clark, 2007). The importance of preparation cannot be overstated. It may be a threadbare cliche, but failure to prepare really is preparation to fail. Research is vital both in term of content and the audience. The material presented must be accurate, supported with credible illustrations. Simple concise statements of intent usually assist in defining the scope of a presentation. Presenters must also establish the nature of the audience it terms of level of education, employment cadre and familiarity with the language. The findings serve as an indicator of the jargon the presenter may use as well as the vocabulary used. This aspect also defines the audience’s aims and objectives as for attending the presentation (Blair, n. d. ). If this is not effectively done, there will be little communication, rendering the entire presentation an exercise in futility. The introduction of any presentation is vital. Based on this aspect alone, it is possible to determine success. It is not enough to attract the attention of the audience; presenters must sustain it. One of the most effective ways of doing this is to establish a theme that the presentation will revolve around. This works well with a quick breakdown of the presentation’s guiding structure and an establishment of a rapport with the audience. Apart from maintaining the audience’s attention, it allows both parties to feel comfortable and significantly reduces the presenter’s level of anxiety. A good beginning deserves an equally good ending. Some experts dispense with the idea of starting the conclusion by stating that it is a recapitulation of the presentation as people may switch off. They favor either a sudden end marked with a phrase that will linger in the memories of the audience, or with a flourish, pace as well as voice carrying listener through a powerful crescendo (Blair, n. d. ). Preparing the body of the presentation does not translate to writing down the speech word for word. Having the main points on cards provides an outline as well as an effective memory jogger. Important questions to keep in mind, as stated in the research phase are the purpose, the nature of people attending, their familiarity on the subject and audience’s attitude towards the speaker. Other options to explore in terms of the structure of the body are timeline, problem/solution, classification, climax and complex to simple (or vice versa) layout (Clark, 2007). In contemporary group communication, visual aids are vital as they reinforce the delivery of the verbal message. Technology has lent itself to this respect, allowing for larger audiences to participate. Behavioral studies suggest that novelty and creativity in the application of visual aids is a major contributor to the success of a presentation. An example is displaying four different styles of hats when describing four major functions of project managers. With traditional aids, the rule of thumb is to employ different slides for distinct purposes; they should not be there at all if they have no purpose. Slides should not be cluttered as it has the counteractive effect of confusing the audience, rather than elucidating verbal message. Presenters must speak to their audience, as opposed to the visual aids. Therefore they must be thoroughly conversant with every slide to avoid presenting their backs to the audience as they struggle to explain what is going on. Legibility, color, contrast and size are factors to consider in the design of each slide. Everyone in the room should easily follow the aids without movement or strain. Delivery is another pillar of presentations. Presenters on one hand have the ability to enhance a presentation manifold and on the other, butcher it. The discussions of this aspect start with focus on the eyes. The fact that they are usually described as windows to the soul indicates that they are the first, most effective instruments in convincing people of speakers’ openness, honesty and their confidence in the material they are presenting. Herein lies the importance of maintaining eye contact. Doing so with all sections of the audience, accompanied by the hint of a smile convinces an audience that the presenter acknowledges and values their presence. Voice is the next aspect to assess, particularly variation and projection. However, projection does not mean shouting. Carefully watching the audience is the best indicator of the level of audibility. Voice variation is so powerful that it can make a well prepared presentation appear dull or make transform a boring topic into an exciting one. This aspect rules out monotonic speeches and their soporific effect. Changes in tone and well timed poses emphasize delineation and express certain feelings, moods and emotions. Rhetorical questions have proved useful in this respect as they inherently have tone variations at the end (Blair, n. d. ). Body language, expressed through appearance and stance are other important elements under the topic of formal presentation tactics. Posture as well as body orientation communicate a multitude of messages. By standing erect while leaning forward, speakers express approachability, receptiveness and friendliness. Gestures also play their role by making the content of the presentation more interesting in addition to facilitating understanding (Clark, 2007). The topic of speaker anxiety has been tackled from a number of angles. Some people insist on the impact of a simple change in attitude (Sathoff, 2008) while others encourage speakers to embrace nerves. The thinking behind the proposal is premised on the â€Å"flight or fight† condition occasioned by the release of adrenaline. Welcoming and recognizing nerves allows speakers to gain the edge by taking the fight option. They tackle the challenge of the presentation better, achieving better results than they envisaged. Attitude change encompasses positive thinking, mental visualizations of the task at hand and the belief that mistakes are part and parcel of the learning process. In all cases, deep breaths and short water breaks are of great help. Alcohol is not an option, as misinformed parties claim (Clark, 2007). Formal presentations are powerful avenues for self expression. Practice really does make perfect. Listening and watching self recordings allows for self discovery. Presenters can assess their performance and improvement against a checklist. Watching seasoned presenters in their element provides tried and tested success tricks. It is quite heartening to learn that oral presentation skills can easily be learned. Works Cited: Blair, G. M. , â€Å"Presentation Skills for Emergent Managers†, n. d. Retrieved on 25th March, 2009, from http://www. see. ed. ac. uk/~gerard/Management/art1. html Clark, D. R. , â€Å"Presentation Skills†, 2007. Retrieved on 25th March, 2009, from http://www. nwlink. com/~donclark/leader/leadpres. html Sathoff, R. , â€Å"Speaker Tips†, 2008. Retrieved on 25th March, 2009, from http://www. ed-u. com/publicspeaking. htm

Hamlet: In His Right Minds Eye :: Shakespeare Hamlet Essays

Hamlet: In His Right Mind's Eye         Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Crazy, or not crazy- That is the question.   The matter of Hamlet's so called madness, has been an item of debate since the first performance, and will probably be a continuing argument well into the future.   I believe Hamlet was not crazy, because he proves to be in complete control of his psyche   in several parts of the play.   These three reasons are the main points of argument for Hamlet's sanity.   His behaviors is only erratic in front of certain people, he shows logic and reasoning in his plotting,   and finally, actually admits to several people to be only â€Å"acting† mad.   These are hardly the actions of a madman.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   First of all,   the fact that Hamlet's irrational behavior emerges only in front of certain individuals shows he was only acting.   He acts insane in front of Polonius, Claudius,   Gertrude and Ophelia, while remaining perfectly normal in front of Horatio, Marcellus, the players and the gravedigger.   Hamlet convinces Ophelia of his madness by going   into her room   â€Å"with a look so piteous in purport as if he had been loosed out of hell to speak of horrors,† (2.1.92)and grabbed her and examined her face.   Then he let out †a sigh so piteous and profound as it did seem to shatter all his bulk and end his being.† (2.1.106) After that incident, Polonius believes, that Hamlet's madness â€Å"is the very ecstasy of love.†(2.1.115)   Claudius is convinced, however, that that is not the case.  Ã‚   He believes that something else is troubling Hamlet. â€Å"Love?   His affections do not that way tend;   Nor what he spake, though it lacked form a little, was not like madness.   there's something in his soul o'er   which his melancholy sits on brood† (3.1.176)   After Hamlet kills Polonius, Gertrude becomes completely convinced that Hamlet is â€Å"Mad as the sea and the wind when both contend which is mightier.†(4.1.7) With these characters convinced of his madness, Hamlet is able to carry out several plans to avenge his father's death.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The logic he uses in his plots is proof of a sane mind.   He successfully uses the players to reveal Claudius is the murderer by changing the play   they perform to reenact the murder of Hamlet's father. â€Å"Let the galled jade wince; our withers are unwrung.† . When the murder scene is enacted, Claudius calls for lights and storms out of the room.   Claudius, knowing Hamlet is a threat, has him sent to England along with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.   the two bear a letter that was to have Hamlet executed upon arrival in England.

My Role Model :: essays research papers

My Role Model In my life I have had very few role models. They have been mostly famous people I see on TV like Michael Jordan, but what young man hasn't wanted to seemingly fly through the sky and slam dunk a basketball? But as you grow older and mature you soon realize that more than just famous people can be role models to you. To me one of my role models is my friend Nick. Nick and I are a lot alike. We both grew up without a father and had a very supportive mothers who love us very much. Nick is three years older than me and we have been friends for about two years. To begin to understand why I look up to Nick you will first have to learn about his past and where he is now. Like I said Nick grew up in a single parent home where the dad was gone. He went to school like everyone else. Every week he went to church on Wednesday and Sunday. His mom struggled to support him by working several jobs, although she was there when he needed her his relationship with her was strained. Through high school Nick played sports and hung out with a variety of people. Some good, some not so good. Eventually he fell victim to the so called "party crowd". He started drinking, doing drugs, and selling drugs. He just didn't care what others thought. All the while he was doing this he continued to go to church and pretend everything was fine. Eventually Nick graduated and moved on to college where things would get worse. His first year of college all he did was party. It got so bad that he was out five nights a week drinking. After his grades started to suffer he realized he had a problem. All this while he was still going to church. Church is eventually where he turned to find help. After kicking his bad habits Nick decided to help others who might have problems like his. Nick decided the best way to help others was to get involved in as an adult leader in the youth ministries program. He has really shown me what is like to grow up and take responsibilities. The reason I most look up to him is because he has turned away from all that pressure the world puts on people to be popular and is doing something with his life.

Mercury Drug Research Essay

Mercury Drug Corporation is the Philippines’ dominant pharmacy group. The Quezon City-based company operates a national chain of more than 450 drugstores, including company-owned and franchised stores. Mercury Drug is estimated to sell as much as 60 percent of all medicines sold each year in the Philippines (the country’s hospitals sell about 12 percent of medicines). Mercury Drug’s pharmacies follow the American model, combining drug and medical equipment sales with over-the-counter medicines, personal care items, basic household needs, cosmetics and other beauty products, and the like. Most of the company’s stores also are equipped to store and sell serums, blood plasma, albumin, and similar biologically active medical products. In addition to its drugstores, Mercury operates a chain of Mercury Drug Superstores. Generally attached to the company’s pharmacies, the Mercury Drug Superstores extend the group’s assortment to include convenience store and fast-food items. By the mid-2000s, Mercury Drug Corporation operated more than 150 Mercury Drug Superstores. Founded by Mariano Que, who first sold pills from a pushcart in the 1940s, Mercury Drug Corporation remains a privately held company. Leadership of the company also remains in the family: The company’s president is Mariano Que’s daughter, Vivian Que-Ascona. Mercury Drug is a subsidiary of the Mercury Group of Companies, which governs other Que family interests, including the 10*Q convenience store chain and the Tropical Hut fast-food group. In 2003, Mercury Drug’s revenues amounted to nearly PHP 43 billion ($8.8 billion). Founding a Filipino Pharmacy Giant in the 1940s Mariano Que started his career working in a Manila drugstore in prewar Philippines. There he came into contact with many medications, including the newly discovered class of sulfa drugs, including sulfathiazole. These new drugs, developed by German scientists in the early 1930s, were quickly hailed as new â€Å"miracle† drugs. Indeed, the sulfa drugs enabled the treatment of many illnesses, such as pneumonia, gonorrhea, and other bacterial infections, that previously had been difficult, if impossible, to treat. Despite the fact that the sulfa drugs later were shown to have a number of undesirable side effects (they formed deposits in the kidneys, and bacteria quickly became resistant), they were credited with saving millions of lives around the world through World War II. The end of the war and the liberation of the Philippines by U.S. forces brought new business opportunities in the country. During the occupation, supplies of medicines had become scarce, and the immediate postwar period saw a surge in demand for sulfa drugs, and sulfathiazole, considered by many to be a virtual cure-all. With most of the country’s businesses, including its pharmacies, destroyed during the war, much of the country’s trade shifted to its busy marketplaces. Mariano Que, inspired by the new entrepreneurial spirit, used his drugstore experience to launch his own business. At first, Que bought and sold medical vials and capsules. After he had generated sufficient savings, however, he took PHP 100 (worth about $1.50 at the time) and bought a bottle of sulfathiazole tablets. Que brought the sulfathiazole bottle to Manila’s busy Banbang market and sold the pills—in single doses. The method of selling, known as â€Å"Tingi-tingi,† became extremely popular in the poverty-stricken Philippines, bringing life-saving medications within financial reach of many more people than before. Que invested his profits in purchasing more pills, and before long he had generated enough revenue to buy a pushcart, which he filled with an expanding assortment of pharmaceuticals. The unregulated nature of the country’s drug market, especially its pharmaceutical black market, led to abuses by sellers, who sometimes peddled fake or dangerous formulations, or sold medications long out of date, often at extortionist prices. Que, however, built a reputation for the quality and freshness of his products, and also for the fairness of his prices. Before too long, he had built up a steady clientele, and in March 1945, Que opened his first store. Que named the Bambang-located store Mercury Drug, after the Roman god and bearer of the caduceus, the symbol of the medical profession. Branching Out in the 1970s Mercury Drug remained a one-store operation into the 1960s. In the meantime, Que continued to drive innovations in the Filipino pharmacy sector. In 1948, for example, Que began a drug delivery service, becoming the first to use motorized vehicles for swifter delivery times. In the 1950s, Que expanded his store hours, introducing a 17-hour-per-day, seven-days-per-week opening schedule. Part of the motivation behind the move came in recognition of a Filipino tendency to auto-medicate their illnesses. By remaining open  longer, Mercury Drug responded to its clients’ demands for increased access to pharmaceutical products. Launched in 1952, the new opening schedule was expanded to 24 hours per day in 1965. Mercury Drug began its drive to become the Philippines’ dominant drugstore group in the next decade. At the beginning of the 1960s, the company was contacted by the Ayala Corporation, which was building a shopping center in Makati. Ayala offered to lease space to Mercury, in order to include drugstore services at the center. Mercury agreed, and once again revealed its penchant for innovation, opening the country’s first self-service pharmacy in 1963. Two years later, Mercury opened its third drugstore, in Quiapo, which became the company’s flagship and set the model for its further development. In 1967, the company opened a centralized warehouse to serve its growing store chain, introducing computer-guided temperature controls to safeguard its products. Then, in 1969, the company became the first to introduce biological refrigerators in its stores. This permitted the company to assure the quality of its life-saving medicines. Mercury Drug began building out its n etwork of drugstores, staying close to the Manila market for much of the early 1970s. The company also began branching out beyond pharmaceutical sales. A significant early purchase was that of Medical Center Drug Corporation (MCDC). Founded in 1946, MCDC focused on sales of pharmaceutical supplies, equipment, and basic surgical instruments. The purchase of MCDC, complementary to its existing drugstore business, led Mercury Drug to change its structure. In 1972, Que created the Mercury Group of Companies, Inc., which in turn oversaw Mercury Drug and MCDC. Both companies remained independent of the other; in 1980, MCDC changed its name, to Medical Center Trading Corporation (MCTC), in order to highlight its difference from Mercury Drug. MCTC then grew into the Philippines’ leading importer and distributor of medical, hospital, laboratory, and related equipment, with branches throughout the Metro Manila and surrounding region. MCTC was not the only venture by Que (who was joined by daughter Vivian Que-Ascona, later president of Mercury Drug) to expand beyond his drugstore empire. The introduction of the convenience store concept in the Philippines in the early 1980s represented both a new source of competition for Mercury Drug and a new opportunity. Mercury developed its own convenience format in response to the growth of competitors such as 7-11. Typically located next to its drugstores, the Mercury Drug Superstores expanded the company’s range of goods beyond drugs and into wider consumer categories, such as beauty and personal care products, fast-foods, and the like. Separately, the Que family added other interests, including the Q*10 convenience store format and the Tropical Hut fast-food restaurant chain. Nonetheless, Mercury Drug Corporation remained the focus of the family’s holdings. â€Å"Oligopoly† in the New Century Mercury Drug, meanwhile, continued to grow strongly. In 1976, the company expanded beyond the Metro Manila market for the first time, and over the next decades added locations in the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao regions of the Philippines as well. Supporting this network was the implementation of a fully computerized warehousing, inventory, and order processing system, installed in 1985. Mercury Drug’s growth was impressive: By 1995, the company operated more than 270 stores. Less than ten years later, Mercury had expanded its number of branches to more than 450, giving it a near monopoly grip on the country’s drug sales. By 2004, Mercury controlled as much as 60 percent of all drug sales in the Philippines. Ironically, Mercury’s dominant position led the group, which had achieved its early growth based on its low prices, to be criticized for what many considered as its restrictively high prices. Indeed, as some critics pointed out, similar drugs could be purchased in India and other markets for as much as one-third the price Mercury Drug charged. In the early 2000s, the government began taking action to force the Philippines’ drug industry, including Mercury Drug, to lower prices on many life-saving medicines. As part of that effort, the country’s Trade and Industry and Health departments began encouraging the parallel importation of pharmaceutical generics from India, which had earned worldwide recognition for the quality of its generic equivalents. Company Perspectives: The company’s mission is continuously be the leading, trusted and caring drugstore. In 2004, the government stepped up its pressure. In September of the year, the government passed legislation expanding drug discounts for the country’s senior citizens. The country’s smaller independent drugstore owners protested the decision, in part because it was expected to serve only to increase Mercury’s dominance over the market—as the country’s largest retailer of pharmaceutical products, Mercury was easily able to negotiate discounted prices from its supplies. Also in that year, President Arroyo established the lowering of drug prices as one of the government’s priorities. In December 2004, the Filipino government announced a new plan to break what some were calling Mercury’s â€Å"oligopoly† on the country’s retail market. The Philippine International Trading Corp. (PICT), owned and run by the Filipino government, announced its intention to organize up to 300 of the country’s independent pharmacies into a new network of privately owned and operated drugstores, dubbed â€Å"Botika ng Bayan.† The new network would then sell drugs, sourced by PICT directly from drug companies, at prices as much as six times less expensive than â€Å"market†Ã¢â‚¬â€i.e., Mercury’s—rates. Despite these pressures, Mercury Drug Corporation remained a fixture on the Philippines pharmacy market. The company also remained one of the Philippines’ largest corporations, ranking in eighth place among the country’s largest corporations and third place among the corporations in the high-quality services/products br acket. Mercury Drug appeared to have discovered its own â€Å"miracle drug† for success. Principal Subsidiaries Mercury Drug Superstore. Principal Competitors Caltex; I-Mart International Corporation; Phils. Corporation; Easy Mart; Petron Corporation; Philippine Seven Corporation; Robinsons Convenience Store Inc.; Seaoil Philippines Inc.; Shell Philippines Inc.; Philippines Corporation. How did Mercury Drug Started? From its humble beginnings, Mercury Drug has gone beyond expectations. Shortly after the liberation of Manila from Japanese occupation, Mariano Que, realizing the need of the people for medicines, bought with his hard earned savings of P100 a bottle of 1000 tablets of Sulfathiazole and sold it â€Å"patingi-tingi† for P1.00 per tablet in the sidewalks of Bambang, Manila. Sulfathiazole is a wonder drug that cures all during that time. From pushcart – peddling and with his previous working experience in a drugstore before the war, he eventually opened his first small drugstore in Bambang Street. Mercury Drug has today grown into a vast network of over 700 company-owned and franchised stores nationwide. Mercury Drug Stores Success Mercury Drug believes that it owes its success to the millions of customers who have trusted and patronized the drugstore chain all throughout these years. Its feat could also not have been possible without its pool of professional and dedicated staff numbering close to 9,000 today. As a way of giving back to the people, Mercury Drug vows to bring quality, safe and affordable health-enhancing and life-saving medicines closer to the public. In the first place, it is what the name Mercury Drug stands for. In Roman mythology, Mercury is known as the god of commerce and manual skill. Being the messenger of gods, Mercury needed a winged feet for his swift flights. Mercury Drug remains committed to its name as seen on its corporate philosophy of total and speedy customer service: â€Å"To serve you, to have what you want, when you want it.† Aside from bringing its chain of stores closer to the homes of the people, Mercury Drug has constantly endeavored to reach the hearts of the customers. To achieve this, Mercury Drug has taken pride in the introduction of many firsts in the drug retailing business —all in an effort to satisfy, please and further serve the people. Mercury Drug Innovations In 1945, it opened a drugstore and one of its innovations is to sell â€Å"tingi-tingi† or piece by piece to those who could not afford to buy a whole bottle of medicine. Realizing that not everyone could go to the drugstore, Mercury Drug introduced the first motorized customer delivery service in 1948. Four years later, it commenced the 17-hour, 7 days a week drugstore service; in 1963, the country’s first self-service drugstore; in 1965, the 24-hour, 7 days a week service; in 1967, the first computerized temperature-controlled central warehouse; in 1969, the first drugstore chain to use biological refrigerators to preserve life-saving medicines and in 1976, the first drugstore chain to expand throughout Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Mercury Drug believes that quality and life-saving medicines made affordable and accessible are as important today as it was then. Now more than ever, it is committed to introducing enhanced services to better serve the customers farther and wider, whoever and wherever they may be. For instance, Mercury Drug makes certain the availability of less common but life-saving medical products such as serum, blood plasma, albumin and the like that are stored in a Bio-refrigerator. This would require Mercury Drug to invest on modern technology and to continuously upgrade its facilities in its head office, stores and distribution centers. Aside from pharmaceutical products, it now carries basic household necessities such as food, health and personal care products and others for the buying convenience of its customers. It has also incorporated value added facilities and services in many of its drugstores. More and more branches are open on a 24-hour service all days of the week. Aside from cons istently complying with the 20% discounts to senior citizens, Mercury Drug has also launched its †Suki† card, a customer program as a way of expressing gratitude to its loyal customers. As a drugstore with a heart, Mercury Drug has been conducting â€Å"Operation Bigay Lunas† every March 1, on their anniversary day together with its business associates. For the past decade, this annual and all-day free clinic catering to the less-privileged provides medical consultations and free medicines to indigent patients in selected cities and municipalities nationwide. This year alone, it served more than 130,000 beneficiaries in around 63 cities and municipalities. In 2002, Mercury Drug, in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), has launched a program that has been helping rural and urban marginalized communities nationwide to have access to potable water system within their communities through the Artesian Well Project. The installation of this potable water system helped improved the quality of life of the beneficiaries by promoting better health and sanitation practices. Mercury Drug Perspectives and its Struggles with the Philippine Government In 2004, the government stepped up its pressure. In September of the year, the government passed legislation expanding drug discounts for the country’s senior citizens. The country’s smaller independent drugstore owners protested the decision, in part because it was expected to serve only to increase Mercury’s dominance over the market—as the country’s largest retailer of pharmaceutical products, Mercury was easily able to negotiate discounted prices from its supplies. Also in that year, President Arroyo established the lowering of drug prices as one of the government’s priorities. In December 2004, the Filipino government announced a new plan to break what some were calling Mercury’s â€Å"oligopoly† on the country’s retail market. The Philippine International Trading Corp. (PICT), owned and run by the Filipino government, announced its intention to organize up to 300 of the country’s independent pharmacies into a new network of privately owned and operated drugstores, dubbed â€Å"Botika ng Bayan.† The new network would then sell drugs, sourced by PICT directly from drug companies, at prices as much as six times less expensive than â€Å"market†Ã¢â‚¬â€i.e., Mercury’s—rates. Despite these pressures, Mercury Drug Corporation remained a fixture on the Philippines pharmacy market. The company also remained one of the Philippines’ largest corporations, ranking in eighth place among the country’s largest corporations and third place among the corporations in the high-quality services/products bracket. Mercury Drug appeared to have discovered its own â€Å"miracle drug† for success. Mercury Drug Mission Statement â€Å"Continuously be the leading, trusted and caring drugstore.† In the years to come, Mercury Drug will keep on looking for opportunities to further enable customers to have more access to quality, safe and life-saving medicines, thus enabling them to have more meaningful, healthier and longer lives. It will always pursue its commitment to better and further serve its customers whose trust and loyal patronage has allowed Mercury Drug to be of continued service to the nation. Mercury Drug Official Website: https://www.mercurydrug.com Mercury Drugstore| â€Å"This drugstore as I believe have also started as a small pharmacy and they grew to be a big chain of drugstores†inquire| â€Å"I like the idea of what they have presented to their clients and customers, you can have this Suki Card and earn points as you purchase in the mercury drugstores†inquire| â€Å"The best thing about mercury drugstores is that there are branches, usually near residential areas that have extended operating hours†inquire| â€Å"Mercury drugstore branches are also strategically placed in some shopping malls that is convenient for customers†inquire| | | | People in the Philippines, especially those who live in the urban areas are very much exposed to the drugstores called Mercury Drug. This is a local drugstorechain in the country that has quite a number of branches throughout the country. This drugstore as I believe have also started as a small pharmacy and they grew to be a big chain of drugstores. I like the idea of what they have presented to their clients and customers, you can  have this Suki Card and earn points as you purchase in the mercury drugstores; these points are then converted to cash to be used for your succeeding purchases. Known for having the most complete varieties of medicines, even those that are not very common, mercury drug sure has made their way to the top of the pharmaceutical industry as a retailer. Just a few years back, they have also put up some retail products sold in their bigger shops which is also good, since you can use your membership card with supermarket items like household products, or bread s, and chips. The best thing about mercury drugstores is that there are branches, usually near residential areas that have extended operating hours. This helps a lot to those families who will have emergencies and would need to buy medicines during these hours. They open early too, for those who will be going to the office, so they can purchase what they need first prior to their work time. Mercury drugstore branches are also strategically placed in some shopping malls that is convenient for customers; not only that, aside from the usual medicine, and healthcare products, Mercury Drug also are selling some medical equipments common to hospital patients and practitioners. The first Mercury Drug drive-thru The company began in 1945 with a single store. Today, Mercury Drug has more than 700 stores. Even with a wide lead over competitors, Mercury Drug still aspires to reinvent itself. I happen to pass by Madison St. in San Juan Greenhills and was surprised to see a Mercury with a drive-thru. Terms of UseCLOSE Please read this agreement carefully before accessing or using this site and its mobile applications. 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