Cancer Essays (3924 words) - RTT, Anatomical Pathology,

Cancer Cancer Of all the diseases and viruses that are known to man, no other can strike fear in so many people's hearts, as the word cancer. What is cancer? Cancer is a new growth of tissue resulting from a continuous proliferation of abnormal cells that have the ability to invade and destroy other tissues.1 Cancer may be found in any type of cell or tissue in the human body. Cancer is not found in just humans, but also in animals and plants. Cancer cells can grow where ever normal cells grow or divide. Cancer is not one disease but many single diseases classified under one name.2 In our bodies we produce many thousands of new cells everyday. We produce these cell in order to grow until we reach adulthood. When we reach adulthood, these cells reproduce primarily to heal wounds and to replace the cells that have died.3 When we look at a cancerous cells, we see that it divides endlessly. As the cell divides and multiplies, it takes up more and more of the space that the healthy cells once had to work in. These cells will take up more and more space until they are able to move into new areas of the body or the organism in which they live dies. This process of moving to new sites within the body is called metastasis.4 1. Robert A. Weiberg, Racing to the Beginning of the Road,Random House 1996, pg. XI. 2. Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia,1994,NewMedia, Inc. 3. R. Grant Steen, The Basic Science of Cancer, Plenum Press, 1993, pg. 31. 4. Steven A. Rosenberg, The Transformed Cell G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1992, pg. 341. 1. There are many different types of cancer. Out of the hundreds of different types of cancer, there are three sub types to help classify the different types of cancer. First, Sarcomas, arise from connective and supportive tissue such as bone, cartilage, blood vessels, muscle and fat. Second, Carcinomas, which include the most frequently occurring forms of human cancer, arise from epithelial tissue, such as the skin and the lining of the body cavities and organs, and the glandular tissue of the breast and prostrate. Carcinomas with a structure resembling skin are termed squamous cell carcinomas. Those that resemble glandular tissue are called adenocarcinomas. Third, Leukemias and lymphomas include the cancers that involve blood forming tissues and are typified by the enlargement of the lymph nodes, the invasion of the spleen and bone marrow and the over production of immature white cells.5 The only number greater than the number of different types of cancer is the number of people found to have these deadly diseases. One million new cases of cancer are diagnosed in the United States alone each year. Five hundred thousand die each 5. Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, 1994. 2. year from this disease. It is also estimated that about 30% of the Americans living today, or 76 million Americans will develop cancer in their lifetime.6 As scientist search to cure this terrifying disease, with the help of millions of dollars in donations, we still do not even know what causes cancer to invade. We do understand that the diseases likeliness to form is heightened with the different environments that people live in. Researchers see that with constant contact with carcinogens, substances that promote the development of cancer, is almost a guarantee that the person will develop cancer at some point in their life. Chemicals, radiation and viruses are the main types of carcinogens. Constant exposure to these carcinogens cause gene abnormalities that can be inherited or induced in a body cell. These cells can also be damaged by outside sources. After many mutations from these carcinogens, it is thought that mutations will occur and will produce a malignant cell that will copy itself into many cancerous cells. Viruses are the cause of about 15% of all cancers. The virus is able to invade cells and cause them to synthesize new viral particles; viruses carry oncogenes that can 6. Excerpted from Encarta Encyclopedia, 1997. 3. infect cells and cause malignant transformation. Chromosomal structure change has been observed in 90% of all human cancer. Chromosomes are the repository for all genetic information required to build a cell. 7 Chromosomal changes are now considered as common

The Runner (Influential characters in the novel) essays

The Runner (Influential characters in the novel) essays In The Runner, the characters Mr. Tillerman (Bullets father) and Patrice (Bullets employer) both influence Bullet in the way as to which his behavior is constantly altered throughout the novel. Both Mr. Tillerman along with Patrice compared very much to each other in that they influenced Bullets behavior in many ways the same. Contrary to both their influential comparison, they also influenced Bullet in very contrasting ways from each other. Mr. Tillerman tended to influence Bullet negatively for the most part, and Patrice positively; yet in a way their, what seems to be consistent, influences on Bullet also took opposite affects than what they were intended. Mr. Tillerman, Bullets father, and perhaps Bullets worst enemy, had a great affect on his sons life. In retrospect to the beginning of the novel, and also throughout it, Bullet would often seem to be angered by his fathers actions and words. It was things like his fathers demands for Bullet to get a haircut, the reason being that he looked like a girl that really drove Bullet to make the decisions he made in life. Bullet took these negative comments and demands and turned them into somewhat his fuel for running. Through his anger towards his father, Bullet used that as his motive to excel in his seemingly only pastime: running. Likewise, in a positive way, to how Bullets father influenced him, Patrice also had the same affect, although Patrice was most subtle in doing so. It was just the way that Patrice responded to Bullet purposely trying and trying to anger the man by throwing a really large crab overboard that was a really good catch. His response was simply no re sponse, which oddly enough said a lot. Patrice seemed to keep an open mind about things in which eventually rubbed off on Bullet, influencing Bullets decisions in a positive way as well. From a long-term point of view, Mr. Tillerman and Pat...

Nike Corporation Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Nike Corporation Case Study - Essay Example When Nike sets a standard, the industry follows it like a tradition. In the consumer products industry there are two distinct marketing strategies. One is make to sell and the other is make to order. Everyone starts with the make to sell strategy by offering products they think should be bought by consumers. The focus is more on sales than on production. The risk is enormous and the fear of rejection is immense. With passage of time and a better knowledge of preferences manufacturing evolves towards the made to order strategy where the focus shifts to production capability and costs as the demand is now better known and the fear of rejection is almost eliminated. This now opens the avenues of larger markets including globalisation. To become a Global Player critical mass is a must for any multi-national company. This is the evaluation tool to find a company’s capability to survive both financially as well as exponentially. Global Distribution Network and economies of scale are the two key factors for ensuring success. Continuous availability of the product is a very important factor and this is possible by having a competent retail outlet set-up. Equally important is the supply chain and it must be geared up for local supplies at short notices. Lack of these facilities will result in loss of market and inhibit market penetration and dominance. In addition, achieving economies of scale through minimizing manufacturing costs is necessary for manufacturers to meet their financial goals and to erect a barrier for competition to encroach their markets via prices. The success of a business depends on how effectively a company uses its resources and maximizes production as per the market needs to meet its targ ets. In order to maximize one’s own production and profitability in business, it is essential that comprehensive planning on location of its production facilities is done to

Annotated bibliography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Annotated bibliography - Essay Example These criteria were useful in selecting entries in the bibliography list. Amoako-Gyampah, K. and Salam, A., 2004. An extension of the technology acceptance model in an ERP implementation environment. Information and Management, 41(3), pp. 731-745. Amoako-Gyampah and Salam (2003) intended on establishing the relationship between belief systems, usefulness of technology and subsequent use of the ERP system. The authors collected data from over one thousand workers in their country .They used the TAM (technology acceptance model) model to establish hypotheses for their paper. Amoako-Gyampah and Salam found that communication and training affect belief systems. This paper will be quite useful in assessment 3 because management is yet to approve the ERP project. They need reassurance that the plan will elicit support from members of the organisation. This paper will provide insights on how the company can achieve high usage rates. The major advantage of such an article is that it is theor etically founded on a pre-existing model. Furthermore, it uses empirical research to support its assertions, so Peet’s can rely on it. The paper addresses nontechnical factors that alter ERP usage, which is quite useful in the analysis. Fui-Hoon, N., Zuckweiler, K. and Lau, J., 2003. ERP implementation: Chief information Officer’s perceptions of critical success factors. ... This means that reengineering ought to focus on tailoring the business processes to fit ERP software. They also add that errors in adoption occur when enterprises fail to use capabilities within the ERP system. Organisations have sometimes made too many customisations before understanding their business practices. This paper is insightful because it relies on views of CIOs who have succeeded in implementing ERP systems. Subjects are thus speaking with authority on the matter. The article is relevant to the assignment because it extols the merits of buying one’s ERP system and taking advantage of its capabilities. Gattiker, T. And Goodhue, D., 2005. What happens after ERP implementation: Understanding the impact of interdependence and differentiation on plant level outcomes. MIS Quarterly, 29(3), 559-587. In the paper, the writers assess implications of certain organisational qualities in the performance of the ERP system. They found that organisational models must have low lev els of differentiation and high interdependence for them to experience ERP impact. Data integration works well when interdependence between subunits is high. Furthermore, ERP coordination improvements will be minimised when units in a company depend on each other. The article will be useful in this assessment because it addresses some of the potential glitches that could minimise these outcomes. Findings could be used to convince management about the usefulness of an ERP project as Peet’s already has highly interdependent business functions. Additionally, customisation will moderate effects of differentiation in the organisation. For the business report to garner support from management, it must acknowledge potential barriers and identify ways of overcoming them. This is what the

The Canterbury Tales Literary Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Canterbury Tales Literary Analysis - Essay Example rough the eye of the narrator, who is a pilgrim himself, apparently ready to appreciate his companions for their worthiness, and also record their condition, their array, and their social degree: â€Å"To telle yow al the condicioun/Of ech of hem, so as it semed me,/And whiche they weren, and of what degree,/And eek in what array that they were inne;† The narrator took his â€Å"tyme and space† to relate his story which means that that he has considered his subjects for a period before putting their descriptions on paper, and his portrayals derive as much from his observation as his individual perceptions and opinions regarding the characters. The characters are described in order of their social rank: the military estate represented by the Knight and the Squire is followed by the clerical estates depicted through the Prioress, the Monk, the Friar and the Parson; and then by the laity represented by the wealthy Franklin to the poor Plowman; the upper middle class is followed by a lower one and the rascals at the end. The pilgrims include: a knight, a squire, a yeoman, a prioress, a second nun, the nuns priest, a monk, a friar, a merchant, a clerk, a sergeant of law, a franklin, a haberdasher, a carpenter, a weaver, a dyer, a tapestry weaver, a cook, a shipman, a doctor of physic, a wife of Bath, a parson, a plowman, a miller, a manciple, a reeve, a summoner, a pardoner, the host and the narrator himself. The number of professions depicted are representative of various sections of the society, and Chaucer presents a rich tableau of his times. The narrator is conscious of the social differences.He respects them, and in his description of the clothing, the accessories, and glimpses of behavior conjures up a wide array of characters. The Canterbury Tales was Chaucers attempt at realism in an era when most of the writers of his time were still engaged with larger-than life heroes; his character live, breathe drink and crack jokes as in real life, and Chaucer

A Critical Examination of Credit Unions

A Critical Examination of Credit Unions Table of Contents Introduction credit unoin credit union facts Why credit union? Who can join? Payday loans or credit union Payday loans Credit union Key features References Introduction credit unoin Credit unions are non-profit financial institutions established on co-operative principles ground, Credit union exist to help the financial welfare of their members as well as to improve the financial State of the local community. Credit Unions is created on principle of ‘ethical lenders’, Particularly, they facilitate help to their members or the community by generating capital from the members in forms of deposits or saving in which to serve and provide loans to other members at a good interest rate. credit union facts There are around 400 credit unions in Britain with capital and assets of close to  £1 billion. Over one million people are members of credit union, and the goal would be to boost this by twice by 2017 throughout the credit union expansion project. The credit union sector is rising and improving rapidly, however is up till now small comparing to other nations, for example: Ireland in which 70% of the general public are members of credit unions, compared to only around 2% in Britain. Approximately more than 90% of the British people has the ability to be a part of a credit union considering where they are living. And some people are qualify throughout their workplace. Across the globe there are 56, 000 credit unions providing financial services to 200 million members in 101 countries. According to the ABCUL (association of British credit union limited) at year end September 2012 there are 22 credit unions across the UK now offer current accounts, and more than 35,000 people have their current account with a credit union, never to mention some credit unions offer mortgages, cash ISAs and insurance products. And in just between September 2012 and March 2013 there has been steady growth in the sector, not only the number of members increased by 3.2% but also in term of assets recorded rise 6.7%, beside, growth of loan by 2.4%.In fact only for the last decade between 2002 and 2012 Britain has witnessed growth in membership and loan in the credit union sector more than double by 125% and 146% in that order, and treble times in deposits along with assets by 196% and 199% respectively (abcul, 2013). Now-days over than 68,400 individuals benefit from the services by 21 credit union in wales alone. Why credit union? Credit unions appear to be very competitive and actually happens to demonstrate one of the best value in Britain current market for loans up to as much as about  £2, 000, and many which will compete with bank rates for considerably higher value loans too. Credit union can be beneficial to people who can’t have access to regular standard bank or financial products like; struggling communities or people with financial difficulties. Besides, they usually a better option to pay-day loans or lending sharks. However, theyre not only just for people with financial problems, but also they attract people who desire to deal with ethically financial institution to enhance and helping out their local community. What is more some large credit unions deliver products which could be better and outdo popular traditional banks. Their main services are savings and borrowing, but also various other more services that can be offered include things like current accounts or ISAs, mortgages. Who can join? Since January 2012, the requirement for membership in credit union are at ease to some extent, and now is easier than before. its more choice instead of obligation, however, there still some criteria to be met for instance common work place, living or if belonging to trade union or an organisation, and even individuals now can be members. Now for someone working for the Royal Mail Group and a member of the main trade union for postal workers; the Communication Workers Union (CWU), surly he’s qualify to join credit unions, and it would be the best choice for him to join credit unions such as; and Penny Post Credit Union, or Commsave Credit Union Limited and 1st Class Credit Union. Key finding Payday loans or credit union If you decided to take a loan from payday Loans Company, it’s wise to fully understand the term payday loan also really essential to compare some payday loans with other loans provider such as: credit unions. Payday loans Pounds to pocket payday loans It’s a company that provides payday loans, unsecured loans usually for short time, which the interest rate depending on the amount of the loan and the payment dates, they provide loans up to  £2000. Highlights Fixed interest rate of 172% per year 14.3% Monthly Interest Rate 399% APR Representative[2]  £12 late fee per missed payment Quick approval Instant funds Pound to pocket highlights 1 1st Stop Instalment Loans Limited company offer unsecure loans up to  £1000 for terms sometime weeks or from 3 to 12 months. Highlights 173.49% Fixed Annual Interest Rate 361.3% APR Representative  £12.00 Missed Payment fee Easy access Credit union Credit Union provides its own members with competitive loans rate for long term, and shorter term as well, the long term may go up for 5 years, and loans up to  £10,000 with no hidden fee. However, few requirement has to be met. In case you are in a situation which you think you may need to get a loan from a payday loan company, make certain you have looked at the comparison and the review between payday loans and loans provided by credit union, so you can to make sure that youve considered all options. The table below will show how payday loans are in comparison to credit union loans There are a number of key differences between the payday loans and credit union loans for example first thing you would notice here that the APR [3] rate is extremely high with the payday loan in comparison to credit union, which means you would have to pay the percentage rate amount over the loan period as well the original loan, and that’s sometime could be double or triple the original amount you barrowed, another thing for example in the table above with pound to pocket payday loan, the original amount of the loan is  £1000 and the annual percentage rate is very high 172% more than double and you end up paying  £2151 , moreover if you miss any payment they would charge you even more, as the penalty fees applied for the missing payment and that is more likely to cause additional financial difficulty for the troubled borrower, turning to credit union loans the APR fairly low Compared to payday loans, in addition the credit union often give lower APR loan if you are a mem ber with saving account. As the above table shows that  £1000 loan with commsave for 12 months period will cost  £151.04 and that’s small amount in comparison even to credit card charge or other financial provider. Nevertheless the term APR Representative in payday loan are shocking for example with pound to pocket payday loan the APR representative is 399% means the loan will be around 4,000 if you couldn’t pay the original loan for a year. As for Alex I believe it would be reasonable for him if he stay away from payday loans, as sometime they are can be fascinatingby first glance, as they are promoting on simplicity and instance funds. however the higher APR usually ending up with more debit particularly if the loan for long term, on the other hand if Alex want to borrow money to take his girlfriend to Paris he could get the money from credit union, with their low APR it would make more since, beside the credit union got more support towards the member and that would definitely benefit Alex with financial guidance, another alternative can be if Alex borrow the money from a friend or a family member this way he can avoid the interest on the loan completely and save even more. Furthermore a trip to Paris would cost more than  £1000 that means Alex is likely to be trapped in a cycle of debt if he moved to payday loans, and with the living cost for his home plus the rent, So I don’t think he would be able to cover the payday loan monthly charge, again it’s wise to stay away from any payday loan company especially with Alex financial situations. Key features Speaking about credit union and the financial products, clearly they provide an exceptional advantages for the members, even more favourably than banks, and to compare which credit union best we have to compare their products and the advantage and the services. First for the saving account for each credit union in the above table they all provides saving account, with no differences, now moving to the dividend rate the deference here is much wider, hence penny post credit union have the highest dividend rate means it pay more for the member with difference 1.5% than commsave, surly it’s a big difference here, furthermore penny post credit union is more than six times higher than Cardiff and Vale credit union that only just 0.75 which is negligible relating to others, additionally in term of methods of paying in money, it’s almost similar apart from Cardiff and Vale credit union with the membership card, but that doesn’t really make any difference. For the maximum amount the member can deposit, again Penny Post Credit Union with no maximum deposit would be the best choice for Alex. That’s being said the it’s clear that the best choice for Alex is Penny Post Credit Union as he can join easily because he’s already a member with royal mail group, plus the saving account he will get with penny post is much higher, nevertheless there is more for Alex circumstances to consider such as the loan he want to have and the fact he’s trying to save enough money to get married, as with penny post he can benefit with their saving account or maybe use their ISA saving account with no tax, and in the same time he could get his loan with low APR rate . References 1st Class Credit Union, 2012. About Us. [Online] Available at: http://www.1stclasscu.co.uk/content.asp?section=1 [Accessed 9th March 2014]. abcul, 2013. Facts and Statistics. [Online] Available at: http://www.abcul.org/media-and-research/facts-statistics [Accessed 9th March 2014]. Cardiff Vale Credit Union, 2014. about us. [Online] Available at: https://www.cardiffcu.com/index.php [Accessed 9th March 2014]. commsave, 2014. [Online] Available at: https://ssl.commsave.co.uk/about/history [Accessed 8th March 2014]. findyourcreditunion, 2014. find your credit union. [Online] Available at: http://www.findyourcreditunion.co.uk/home [Accessed 9th March 2014]. Helen, S., 2014. Credit Unions. [Online] Available at: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/credit-unions [Accessed 6th March 2014]. Lewis, M., 2014. Cheap Payday Loans UK. [Online] Available at: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/payday-loans [Accessed 9th March 2014]. moneyfacts, 2012. guides. [Online] Available at: http://moneyfacts.co.uk/guides/savings/what-are-credit-unions220212/ [Accessed 8th March 2014]. Penny Post Credit Union, n.d. News. [Online] Available at: http://www.pennypostcu.com/content.asp?contenttype=News [Accessed 9th March 2014]. Welsh Government, 2013. Credit unions. [Online] Available at: http://wales.gov.uk/topics/people-and-communities/regeneration/debt/affordcredit/?lang=en [Accessed 9th March 2014]. World Council of Credit Unions, 2012. Statistical Report. [Online] Available at: http://www.woccu.org/documents/2012_Statistical_Report [Accessed 5th March 2014]. [1] Simply just two withdrawals per year allowed with this particular account and it does provide a 1% more dividend when compared with Regular Savings Account. [2] APR representative implies 51% of successful applicants are given the stated interest rates, however, the remain 49% may have totally different rate [3] Annual Percentage Rate [4] By July 2013 membership was over 6000. [i] UK tax-free savings account [ii] Dividend rate is how much money the dividend is over the coming year.

Essay --

Abraham Lincoln was born February 12, 1809 in his home in Kentucky. He was given the same name as his grandfather and he did not have a middle name. Abraham's parents were Thomas and Nancy Lincoln. He had two other siblings. They were Sarah Grigsby and Thomas Jr, but Thomas Jr. died when he was just a baby. When Abraham was 8 his mother Nancy died of milk sickness at the age 34. His father then remarried to Sarah Bush Lincoln. She had already had 3 children. John, Matilda, and Elizabeth. Abraham really liked Sarah. Abraham's father Thomas was very against slavery. Abraham was very smart man but he was only schooled for about a total of 18 months all together. He was homeschooled by his stepmother Sarah. She taught him how to read and write. He would read when he was at home so that he could get out of doing labor with his father, even though he was very good at using an axe. He even helped his dad make log cabins. Abraham had many different jobs. He was a rail-splitter, a river boatman, and a village postmaster, but none of these jobs satisfied him. At one time he even opened a general store in Salem, but it failed. He even later became a successful lawyer. In 1832 Lincoln ran for a seat in the Illinois House of Representatives, but he lost. He won the election for State Office in 1934 and was in the Illinois State Legislature from 1834-1842. Abraham served for United States House of Representatives from 1847-1849. When his term was over he moved back to Springfield to practice law. He became a lawyer and a very good one at that. He was given the nickname "Honest Abe" because everyone respected him so much. He joined the Republican side since he was against slavery. Abraham wrote the Emancipation Proclamation. The first draft w... ...n. After it Robert, Thomas, and Mary moved to Chicago and he finished his law studies at the University of Chicago. On September 24, 1868, Robert Lincoln married Mary Eunice Harlan. They had two daughters and one son. Mary "Mamie" Lincoln was born October 15, 1869. Abraham Lincoln II was born August 14, 1873. His nickname was Jack. Jessie Harlan Lincoln was born November 6, 1875. Robert was very worried about his mother. He committed her to a psychiatric hospital in Batavia, Illinois in 1875. Mary didn't like this and wrote letters to numerous people trying to show that she shouldn't have to be hospitalized, but Robert stood by what he thought and even the director of Bellevue told the jury at Mary's trial that she would benefit from treatment. With Mary trying to escape from her sons decision her and Robert never fully reconciled and stayed distant from each other.

Money should not be an issue to receive treatment Marisel Diaz Essay

Introduction The Healthcare Reform policy sounds very complicated, even for our House of Representatives, which has been dealing with it for the past years. And for regular citizens, it is extremely complex to understand as well. During the Progressive Era, President Theodore Roosevelt was a strong supporter of health insurance. He believed that â€Å"no country could be strong whose people were sick and poor.† These days, we also have someone who shares the same philosophy, Senator Bernie Sanders, who is advocating for Universal Healthcare. I also share the same idea as Senator Sanders, that if we need to fix the Healthcare system, it should be in order to improve the life of all, not only of those who are able to afford it.   Despite the efforts of President Barack Obama, 27.6 million Americans still are without health insurance today (Kaiser, pg. 1). The insurance system is very complicated America’s Healthcare system has different kinds of insurance. For instance, life insurance, car insurance, home insurance; but only healthcare insurance becomes more complicated and more expensive. Currently, the United States uses a combination of public and private healthcare, and the cost is one of the highest in the world. Insurance. Is a contract between the insurer and insured, whereby the insurer undertakes to pay the insured a fixed amount in exchange of a fixed sum (premium) on the happening of a certain event (like at in a certain age or at death), or compensate the actual loss when it takes place, due to the risk insured. High prices for premiums. The amount health insurance companies charge each month for coverage. It must be paid every month, regardless of whether you use the services or not. For instance, premiums can be paid by the employers, shared by both the employees and the insured, and the plan’s sponsor. Deductibles. The deductible is a level expenditure that must be incurred before any benefits are paid out. Health insurance policies generally have yearly deductibles, which is less effective in removing moral hazard (Dewar, pg. 59). Coinsurance. Coinsurance is the proportion of the total expenditure that is paid by the insured. Coinsurance helps to reduce the moral hazard factor for the insured who has spent more than his or her deductible because healthcare is not free to the consumer (Dewar, pg. 59) Today, 27 million people have no health insurance The majority of people who are left uninsured are from low-income families or even moderate-income families that simply cannot afford the high prices of insurance, do not have the option of obtaining insurance through their jobs, live in states where Medicaid was not expanded, or simply are immigrants who are not eligible for coverage. A solution to the high prices of health care and uninsured citizens would be the adoption of a universal healthcare system. For instance, Canada has a national health insurance program, which is basically a government-run health insurance system covering the entire population. Universal care has proven to be less expensive and would likely improve health care access and outcomes for Americans (Gleason & Ridic, pg. 4). In addition, nationalized health care is a logical, moral imperative for the U.S., and it should be a right, not a privilege. One of the advantages of adopting a national health insurance will be the significant economic advantage because the entire population will have access to health care regardless of money. Most cases of bankruptcy are not caused by reckless spending. According to Deb.org, most citizens claim bankruptcy by financial hardship, and many of them are low-income individuals who cannot afford to pay unexpected major expenses, for instance, due to job losses or medical bills. According to a study published in early 2005, 46 percent of bankruptcies were related to outstanding medical conditions. For example, medical expenses not covered by insurance, or losing at least two weeks’ worth of work because of illness (Krulick, 2012). Additionally, copayments will be insignificant to pay. Citizens will not be filing for bankruptcy due to lack of money. Another advantage will be that physicians will receive payments on a negotiated fee service, and hospitals will receive global budget payments. Cons of adopting Universal Healthcare (Single payer system) In order to see the cons of the system, we should take a look at the outcomes and technology. I will remark that financial barrier does not exist. A research shows that approximately fifty-six percent of the respondents in Canada believed their health care system requires minor changes, and only five percent of the population think that Canada’s healthcare system needs complete rebuilding (Blendon, Leitman & Morrison, pg. 7).   Overall, Canadians are very content with their healthcare system.  The waiting list for diagnosis and surgery exist in Canada. The U.S. could experience waiting lists as well. The reason why Canada has been experiencing a waiting list could be because the government is currently spending less on healthcare than in other years. However, when Taiwan made the switch, wait times were not an issue. This could be different depending on the size of our population and how many people would utilize care once it is available to them. Higher taxes. Canada tax system represents the main revenue. Many of the benefits that Canadians enjoy are made possible through taxes. For instance, the government provides roads, schools, healthcare, social security, public safety, and others benefits to low-income families, charities, students, seniors, and people with disabilities. Tax revenues provide social benefits. Old age security, Canada child tax, working income tax, universal child care benefits. Canadian residents support their tax system by paying their fair share of taxes, and in return, they benefit from the programs and services provided by their government. Importation of drugs from other countries. Senator Bernie Sanders proposes a â€Å"rule that would allow pharmaceutical companies to charge fair prices for drugs developed with taxpayer-backed research.† It sounds very logical since all citizens are paying for it, prices for American citizens should be more economical. In 2013, per capita, spending on prescription drugs was $858 compared with an average of $400 for nineteen other industrialized nations (Kesselheim & Ross, pg. 12). We should be able to negotiate prescription drug prices. According to GoodRx discount, a 30-tablet supply of Invokana at a 100 mg dose will set you back $411 at Walgreens in the U.S., even with a coupon. Meanwhile, a month’s supply of that same dose of Invokana in Canada costs about $234. Having a competition in the market helps to reduce prices and open choices for patients or consumers. Importing prescription drugs from other countries will help to lower the prices and improve the quality as well. Another way could be, perhaps, the use of technology such as virtual doctor appointments. Innovation is a risk, but we will never know if we do not try it out. Additionally, the life style would be improved. Reducing poverty in the U.S. should be the most important thing to do. Inequities in the structure of societal resources vary and can be striking. According to Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, â€Å"A population’s health is shaped 10% by the physical envi ronment, 20% by clinical health care (access and quality), 30% by health behaviors (themselves largely determined by social and physical environments), and 40% by social and economic factors.† (Senterfitt et al., 2013). Sometimes, the perception of paying more does not necessary means or makes things better. Conclusion: Despite having one of the best healthcare systems in the world, the bureaucracy that governs the healthcare industry has to be transformed to be more effective and to promote health, not just mitigate illnesses. References American Bankruptcy Institute. (2012). Annual Business and Non-business Filings by Year (1980-2011). Retrieved from http://www.abiworld.org/AM/AMTemplate.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=65139&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfmhttps://www.kff.org/uninsured/fact-sheet/key-facts-about-the-uninsured-population/https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2545691?JamaNetworkReader=True&redirect=truehttps://www.cihi.ca/en/nhex_2014_report_en.pdfhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3633404/Senterfitt, J.W., Long, A., Shih, M., & Teutsch, S.M. (2013). How Social and Economic Factors Affect Health. Social Determinants of Health, Issue no.1. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. https://berniesanders.com/issues/medicare-for-all/#more.

Music Industry and Technology

Music Industry and Technology Thesis Statement Changes in the information and communication technology directly impact on the music industry. Emergency of new technologies has shaped the music industry so far and will also determine the future of the industry. Advancements in technology have influenced the music world both positively and negatively.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Music Industry and Technology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The advancement of technology over the last century has revolutionalized how music is made, distributed, marketed and listened to. The use and invention of MIDI, Sequencers and the advent of the internet has promoted file sharing, music downloading and piracy. On the other hand, there are also many gains accrued to both customers and artistes due to same technologies. Introduction This paper explores both the positive and negative impacts of technological advancement on the music industry. The paper fur ther describes some of the technological innovations and analyses how the innovations have contributed to the positive growth of the music industry. Moreover, the paper looks into the future of the music industry based on changes occasioned by technological development. The final section of this paper highlights how various technologies have shaped the music industry and what it all means in terms of future music production and distribution. Technology and Music Industry Music production requires the use of gadgets or instruments. As a result, advancement in the music industry is directly dependent on the technological changes. Technology changes affect the way music is composed, recorded, produced and distributed. As technology improvements are registered in the world of communication, so also does the music industry become very dynamic. Technology has made it easy to produce and reproduce music. Due to efficiency in music production, mass production of music recording is very easy (Beken 242). Mass production is easy because technology enables easy reproduction of recorded music. The ease to reproduce music is positive because it helps artistes to serve mass markets. However, the ease in reproduction has led to the piracy phenomenon. Piracy is where individuals reproduce music without permission of the rights owners. There is much debate with regard to whether music piracy serves any meaningful purpose. On one hand, piracy is more or less like fraud. However, piracy is not entirely bad. Through piracy, musicians are heard by many and this blows their popularity to high ratings.Advertising Looking for term paper on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A musician is like a brand and the extent to which they are able to connect with fans makes a great difference. Therefore, although music piracy leads to recording companies making losses, it in a way helps musicians in mounting popu larity. With the advent of the internet, piracy has gone really hi-tech and easy to execute. Although internet related downloads lead to loss of revenue on the part of musician and producers, it can be argued that music piracy has improved accessibility to music. Through the internet many fans can have accessibility to songs not easily available in print and even music produced by unknown artistes. Some little known artistes easily create a wave by releasing their little known music to music pirates. With regard to upcoming artistes, the use of internet has increased or made them more inclined towards experimentation. The upcoming artistes are able to test market their music. Through streaming the music on the net, they are able to analyze response to their music and drum up or psyche up fans towards more record sales and huge concert participation. Historically, the music industry in the US was under control of four major companies which included the â€Å"Sony Music Entertainment †, â€Å"Universal Music Group†, †EMI Group† and the â€Å"Warner Music† (Scott 123). These were recording companies that had resources to support their artistes by providing advertisement through radio and music shows (Scott 123). Most artistes struggled to catch the attention of and get signed up by any of the big established labels. Those that could not clinch contracts with these prestigious firms had to go to smaller labels that didn’t have much resource. The smaller producers or labels could not provide as much exposure as the artistes would have liked. Entertainment related advertising requires huge investing. The challenge is compounded by the fact that there are many established artistes who carry the limelight. The cost of production in the music industry has for long remained very high. When an artiste does not contract with the big labels, they get low quality products into the market. For instance, the videos produced by such compa nies are of low quality thereby prompting their not to being shown on television. Technological advancement has made music production easier and even little known labels can now deliver quality. When it comes to advertisement and exposure, the internet through music download has provided a better avenue for artiste to get exposed widely.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Music Industry and Technology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Technology and Fight against Piracy in the Music Industry As already indicated, improvement in technology has led to easy reproduction of music. This in return has led to piracy or illegal reproduction of music. Although, piracy in some cases works to the advantage of artistes, it is generally a vice that has to be tackled. By downloading music posted on the internet and sampling the same, individuals may like the music and decide to buy other albums are associated with the same artis te. Consequently they may decide to share with their friend, who may in turn end up buying the same copy of music. The positive side of music piracy notwithstanding, this vice has challenged music industry in a devastating way. Its effects have been felt by artiste and also pirates themselves. The law enforcers and the recording industry are on the look out and are cracking down the pirates around the world. Additionally, the consumers who are beneficiaries of pirated albums lose due to the discouragement it serves on artistes. The consumer will enjoy taking the shortcut in order to save some dollars but by not buying original music, the musicians get discouraged thus the music industry suffering. Secondly, when many consumers go for pirated products, the producers are forced to sell the original music exorbitantly so as to recoup production costs. As a result, the genuine consumers continue to suffer and piracy is further fueled or encouraged. Piracy has caused companies in the mus ic industry to lose colossal sums of money. Most recording companies don’t generate sufficient revenues to finance their production costs. Moreover, to remain in the market, most of them use much of the profits that they get to subsidize their music so that it moves in the market. This means that profitability is largely affected. As a result, not much money is available to invest in expansion or to sign in new artistes that would take music to a higher standing. The pirates have not realized how costly it is for the producers or if they do, they are very insensitive whenever they steal the music. Piracy has killed the creativity of most artistes in the music industry. Most songwriters, singers, producers and those involved in the music industry have been deeply affected. This is because the royalties’ and fees that are supposed to be accrued from the business are not realized. This fee is necessary for any artiste to make a living. To add injury on insult, recording c ompany, labels and artiste’s reputation is entirely damaged by the inferior quality that is produced by the pirated music copies.Advertising Looking for term paper on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More To ensure that artiste and the music industry remain successful, measures and elaborate framework to counter piracy such as incorporation of anti-piracy campaigns, extensive support from governments, and incorporation of technology enabled anti-piracy catch nets come in very handy. Governments have to develop policies that are pro-industry. Technology experts should come up with measures to easily identify pirated and counterfeit music and the law enforcers should be on alert to exercise justice. MIDI One of the technological developments that have revolutionalized the music industry is ability to synchronize musical instruments with computer technology. Technology advancement in the music industry allows both computers and most of musical instruments to communicate effectively. The efforts to have musical instruments communicate effectively with computers led to the creation of MIDI. MIDI is basically the short form of â€Å"Musical Instrument Digital Interface†. This is a c ommonly used language for transmission of information in an electronic environment between computers (Rumsey 81). This technology facilitates artistes to play instruments which are MIDI enabled and allows their music to be captured by the computer system in form of a MIDI file. When MIDI came into existence, more instruments supporting this form of files were created and enhanced to provide efficient utilization of this technology. MIDI technology has brought about more instruments which support this file formats which include keyboards used by pianist, electronic sets of drums used by percussionist among other instruments (Rumsey 160). The MIDI technology has facilitated the development of MIDI software’s, which are compatible with the instruments developed to enhance performance by musicians. This has assisted musicians’ performances to be recorded at the same time being notated in a real music sequence. MIDI provided a kind of â€Å"real† recording studio whe re musicians got the opportunity to record their music in real time (Rumsey 165). The MIDI software systematically controls the beat of the music being played. MP3 MP3 technology is another advancement that changed the music industry. MP3 is a music sound compression technology which reduces sound sequence into a small file without interfering with the original quality of sound. MP3 files are easily identified with an .MP3 extension. The MP3 technology has help to shape the music world. Technology makes it possible to download huge files of songs and other media files on the internet and compress them in an MP3 player or device and hence having a choice of songs to listen to (Rumsey 55). The technology has helped to save disk space at the same time saving expenses on purchasing storage devices such as CD’S, Tapes and other expensive storage devices. The Internet has played a significance role of promoting the use of MP3 devices. Many websites have promoted the use of MP3 as a device by either giving applications that facilitates file compression or linking the user to appropriate site where the user can download songs of his or her choice. Moreover, most websites have effectively complied with copyright laws and allows the users to buy music of their choice. The latter have developed their MP3 song formats which ensures that high audio quality is guaranteed at the same time marketing them to allow accessibility to more audiences. However, the use of MP3 and the websites used to promote it illegally is causing the music industry to loose millions of dollars (Rumsey 117). These sites have encouraged copyright violations because it is illegal to alter or copy any music from an audio or CD device and redistribute without being given consent by the owner. Whereas there has been an effort to curtail this form of music piracy, currently, no sure measure has proved to work regarding copyright and secure song distribution standards. Sequencers Sequencers are ano ther technological advancement or innovation that has helped change the music world. This technology has also in a big way had an impact on the music world. This technology has been around in one form or another for quite some time but it found its way into music industry not long ago (Rumsey 219). Sequencer is popularly known to people as â€Å"4 track recorder†. Sequencers facilitate recording of actual sound as it is being played. Sequencers began appearing in the music industry as software’s mostly installed in computers. Early computers didn’t have enough memory to handle the capability of the sound produced i.e. Sound files could take up more space than text conventional files; hence this decreased their usage (Rumsey 118). However, in recent years, sequencers are popularly used by both musicians and non musicians to enhance their music production. The technology has decentralized what was seen as an exclusive work of recording engineers to virtually anyon e. Moreover, the software is cheap and is even offered for free by some parties (Rumsey 222). Sequencing and MIDI technology has facilitated change in the music industry because once these applications are available to an ordinary person; he or she can record his or her own music. Both applications have revolutionalized the music industry and created opportunities for accessibility to wider musical creations; especially for average person (Rumsey 221). Other technological advancements that have changed the music industry include the use of wave files, digital technology, CD-Rom and web pages. Most web pages created by musicians are interactive thus providing real time interaction between fans and artistes. This technology has enabled not only the musicians (those people who have formal education in music and its performance) and almost anyone who has a passion for music to manage to compose, record and share their pieces of work. CD-ROMs are already packaged multimedia which contain s information about different kinds of music, mostly the style and history. Digital technology makes it possible to record live music directly using the computer and writing the music on a CD; a process called â€Å"burning†. E-music stores Technology has successfully enabled the creation of online music databases and the coming up with music programs to support its growth. Programs such as iTunes and Napster music stores have promoted the sale of e-music by charging a fee which is smaller for any song and other media based files (Leonhard 295). Although this sounds much cheaper than buying the original song, in the real sense it has some fee attached and hence many people tend to prefer using other costless methods to get the song they want. Music Applications/programs With advancement in IT, many more music applications and programs have been created. These music applications and programs facilitate fast music download on the internet. Music applications such as cabos, kaza a, limewire, among other applications, facilitate fast download of music files on the internet. These applications have killed the music industry because they get music and other media files absolutely free and without recognition of the owner of the file (Leonhard 121). Although, theses applications provide a standard platform of getting older music that are not available in print or discovering a new artiste but they help to kill the music industry. Internet Files Sharing The emergency of file sharing has facilitated sharing of files and data that is being distributed. File sharing facilitates accessing files, which is stored remotely and allows people to extract, copy, retrieve files or information only if they have access privileges. File sharing is only possible because technology allows or enables it to happen (Frakes 403). File sharing has created an impact in the music industry and has affected the revenue accrued from the sale of music online. Internet has made it possible for users to access thousands of files stored in different locations around the world. File sharing has been facilitated by having sophisticated software’s which makes it possible to acquire genuine music and directs it to unknown server (Frakes 407). From the server, users only have privileges’ of only logging in and accessing thousands of songs then they can make a choice in terms of which songs they want. Open file sharing has provided a mechanism by which millions of files can be shared among artistes and other parties in the music industry. E-File sharing has facilitated reduced probability of people purchasing original music. Most people have favored online file sharing instead of purchasing CDs and tapes (Cusic 87). However, the music industry has inflated prices on its original CD’s making file sharing a route to acquire songs of interests. This has encouraged rapid increase in E-file Sharing. Music Labels Modern labels have changed the way and means of producing and distributing music. The changes in ways of music production and distribution have created a shift in individual artiste engagement of the market. Technology has lowered the cost of production (Cusic 125). As a result, individual artistes can now produce themselves easily. Individual artistes no longer see the need of signing big contracts. The current changes enabled by technology allow modern labels enough flexibility and more prospects (Wang 146). Technology, therefore, does not just mean more money in the banks but also easier production and more creative solutions. Social Networking Websites and Music Recording Industry Technology has provided a platform whereby people across the world can share music and other information at a click of a button. Additionally, social network websites have been on the increase. This proprietor incorporate into their site a database which enables musicians to upload their albums at the same time encouraging their supporters to listen to them free of charge (Burgess 45). Social websites such as MySpace, face book among others have been in the forefront of providing storage space for most of the artistes. Consequently Social websites have provided a platform on which artistes, who by other means wouldn’t have been known, to advertise their music. Through social network sites, musicians are able to promote their albums hence reaching more audiences. MySpace for instance has launched and promoted much successful music careers and has assisted artiste in getting recording contracts (Burgess 67). Future of Music Industry Just like the music industry has so far been shaped by technological advancements, the future of the industry is also pegged on technology. The process of distribution of music will continue to change toward more electronic means and recording companies will be powerless to do anything regarding this. There will be a challenge of securing rights especially with the emergency of digital network s, licensing and e-distribution (David 66). Consequently, online music marketing is likely to expand and become a major avenue of music selling. The growth and expansion of online music industry is projected to increase. The technologies will double the availability of online database and the download speeds of music will increase. One of the greatest concerns for the future music industry will be piracy and security of files especially due to sabotage maneuvers of rival music camps. There is need for effort towards technology that can help curb piracy and any form of illegal downloads. As of now, technology to guard against piracy and illegal download is yet to gain accessibility in the music industry. The software will greatly improve illegal file download and protect the artistes, music industry and customers as well (David 2). Legislation by governments to protect and institute legal framework to deal with copyright issues, piracy, counterfeits will see the music industry thrivi ng hence making good fortune. Technology and Changing Artiste Attitude Due to technological changes, the attitudes of musicians have also been changing over time. The emergence of new and unknown artistes is expected to change the course of music industry. Many of them do not put much effort in making their original music. Secondly, they do not focus on creating music that is good in itself but rather music that they think people will like. Going into the future, larger recording companies as well are likely to be inclined towards compelling artistes to come up with music that can sell. The concern is with production of music that can easily be taken to by fans once released in the market. Going by technology and already recorded trends, many small independent labels are likely to be the norm of the future. The emergence of small labels allows the artiste to do what he or she deems is best for her music (David 146). It also allows for lesser known artistes to grow at own pace and no t to be held back by recording company requirements. These little known artistes are known to take personal initiative with zeal, they posse’s creative ideas and have clear song structures. Artistes’ attitudes are also changing in terms of what they expect when they produce music. Rather than expecting royalties, artistes are looking forward to other benefits (Burgess 17). Such benefits may include gigs or opportunities for live performances and marketing deals. The music industry should embrace music piracy, instead of fighting it; they should analyze the important ideas behind it because most of the ideas benefit the music industry as a whole. The technology behind should be appreciated as well. The music industry in the future instead of encrypting the CDs, they should come up with a strategy of building a system whereby most of the music is accessible for free, so that if the customers feels that she or he likes the music, it can be easier for him to buy. This proc ess will be inexpensive strategy to support an artiste at the same time positively transforming the impact of â€Å"free music download† Streaming The music industry is being transformed by the emergency of streaming technology. This is seen by most people as an alternative and remedy to the problem of music piracy. This is a feature which allows someone to view a movie or a song partly, without having permission to download it (Cabrera 109). This will be an important step in the music industry because it will enable people to sample new albums and make a choice either to buy it or not. Future of CDs’ Technology advancement is likely to yield the manufacture of rip proof CDs. Such technology will play a major role in curtailing music piracy. Once they are rip proof, it will be difficult for the CD’s to be ripped or copied on a computer system. This will only allow the person who originally bought it to be the one to posses and use (Cusic 110). However, this tech nology will make it impossible for the rightful owners to copy the CD for personal use thus rendering devices such as iPods obsolete. CDS are slowly but surely being faced out as people go for other convenient mediums on which to record and sell music. Digital music downloads, iPods, MP3 are some of the technological devices and mediums that are facing out the CD technology (Cusic 123). The shift from CDS to digital music downloads is facilitated by the availability of fast internet speeds, which allow for quick music downloads at a relatively cheaper cost. Additionally, recording companies and artiste will prefer having an online database for storage of their music which will facilitate accessibility to wider audiences or markets. The online databases will eventually kill the CD technology because audience will prefer purchasing a song directly using their iPods, MP3 players and their computer systems (Cusic 126). E-music music databases for example â€Å"youtube† will reduc e the ability of CD survival because consumers will prefer listening to their favorite music for free; provided they have a steady and fast internet connection. Conclusion Developments in the music industry are pegged on technological advancement. So far technological developments have enabled file sharing, video streaming, piracy, online music purchasing, and music storage by the use of iPods, MP3 players and phones. Through such like devices or platforms both consumers and artistes are advantaged while being disadvantaged in other ways. The technological advancements have provided artistes and their customers with platforms on which they interact whereas doing business in a more elaborate and enhanced manner (Wang 123). The enabling properties of technology have made music production and distribution easy. This has led to artistes being able to sell massively thus creating many billionaires in the industry. However, technology continues to threaten the industry in terms of quality of production and Piracy. Due to technology making recording and distribution easy, everyone has become a producer thus compromising professionalism in the industry. Vices like piracy have become more pronounced due to the enabling effects of technology. Through the internet, stealing music through downloading has increased and mechanisms have to be developed so that both artistes and consumers continue to enjoy the privilege of accessibility offered by the internet while not abusing each other’s rights. Beken, Tom. Organized Crime and Vulnerability of Economic Sectors: The European Transport and Music Sector. California: Maklu, 2005 Burgess, Richard James. The Art of Music Production. London: Omnibus Press, 2002 Cabrera, P, J. IPhone Games Projects. Michigan: Springer, 2009 Cusic, Don. Music in the Market. North Carolina: Popular Press, 1996 David, Matthew. Peer to Peer and the Music Industry: The Criminalization of Sharing. California: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2010 Frakes, Dan. Mac Os X Power Tools. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2004 Leonhard, Woody. Windows XP Hacks Mods for Dummies. London: For Dummies, 2005 Rumsey, Francis. Desktop Audio Technology: Digital Audio and Midi Principles. Massachusetts: Focal Press, 2004 Scott, Michael, D. Internet and Technology Law Desk Reference. New York: Aspen Publishers, 2009 Wang, Wally. Steal this File Sharing Book: What They Wont Tell You About File Sharing. New York: No Starch Press, 2004

European Warfare Between 1100 †1400

European Warfare Between 1100 – 1400 Free Online Research Papers The Middle Ages was one of the most violent periods in the history of Europe. There were a number of large, long-term wars between the various powers of the time, for example the ‘Hundred Years War’ between England and France. This period of protracted warfare led to a change in the nature of warfare and it’s features. During the late middle ages there was a period of economic growth and prosperity. This put an increased amount of wealth and resources into the hands of the ruling elite of Europe. But rather than enjoying this wealth in peace, the rulers of the European kingdoms, being a warrior elite, chose to spend their new wealth on weaponry and warfare. The scale of military operations increased as the aristocracy became even more aggressive than before and pushed against the borders of their dominions. Medieval warfare was fought by ravaging and destruction. There was little or no distinction between soldier and civilian to the attacking armies. The armies were forced to ravage the land they attacked, as supplies were normally insufficient. This was because the logistics and process of supplying a large army was slow, costly and uncertain. For example, the historian John France explains that if each soldier eats one kilo of bread a day, and a pack horse can carry 150 kilos, then to feed a force of 3,000 you would need 140 pack horses. This would further increase as food for the horses was included, and would increase significantly if the army included cavalry, whose warhorses would require even greater supplies. Therefore armies were forced to resort to thieving and pillaging to survive. Medieval armies consisted of foot soldiers and horsemen or cavalry. Foot soldiers were usually infantrymen, consisting of peasants and other lower class members of society, and were only called into military service when required. They received little training and were poorly armed, at least at the beginning of the middle ages. They appear to have suffered from a lack of confidence in their abilities, which was a result of their low social standing but also of the lack of faith shown in them by superiors. During the period, the use of infantry became more sophisticated and organised. The use of horsemen as a cavalry unit was a popular tactic in the middle ages. The horsemen were usually knights, who could afford to own a horse and the necessary equipment. By the 13th centaury knights wore plate armour as protection from the increased use of arrows. Knights were often the only professional or semi-professional members of an army. This has meant that many historians have considered them as the integral part of a medieval army. The historian John France states that the knight was the most important element of an army. The knights were a very mobile force, but they could be limited by the landscape on which a battle occurred, which was usually more suited to a foot soldier. Knights were not an invulnerable force on the battlefield. An effectively employed infantry could defeat a cavalry charge, despite what many modern portrayals of medieval warfare in popular culture show. Foot soldiers that were disciplined, organised and well armed could withstand cavalry, forcing the knights to fight hand to hand on the ground. A major feature of medieval warfare was the introduction of new weaponry. New weapons were developed and employed by armies in the middle ages. This was due to the improving economy, which allowed for a huge increase in the production of weaponry, and therefore the improved quality of weapons. One such weapon was the crossbow, a medieval projectile weapon, which revolutionized warfare in the 11th Century. The crossbow was introduced to the English by the Norman Invaders in 1066 and became widely used among the armies of numerous countries. Crossbows were originally constructed of horn and pliable wood but were eventually made of iron which added great power to its firing. The crossbow became a popular weapon in warfare because its penetrative power was far superior to the antiquated short bow. It could fire up to 350 metres and could easily pierce chain mail or light plate suits wounding the victim terribly, and usually fatally. The bow was also noiseless, accurate and powerful, making it an ideal weapon. It was so shockingly destructive that Pope Innocent II declared the weapon barbarous to be used in warfare, except against infidels. He issued a bull against the use of the weapon in 1139 on the grounds that it was a weapon hateful to G-d and unfit for Christians. The crossbow revolutionized warfare; it rendered the cavalry soldiers and their heavy armour virtually defenceless against the agile, crossbow-armed infantrymen. Kings began to recruit more infantry armed with crossbows than cavalry soldiers. While the crossbow was indeed a lethal, effective weapon against an army of horsemen, it had its drawbacks for use in the open battlefield. It was extremely heavy and bulky and was very complex to operate. It required the archer to wind up the mechanism after each arrow had been fired. Even experienced archers could fire only one arrow per minute. After all, as described by Payne-Gallwey, the task of firing the weapon involved Taking the weapon from the shoulder of the soldier; Unhooking a windlass from a waist-belt; Fitting the windlass to the stock and string; Winding up the bow; and finally Arranging the bolt and, after taking aim, pressing the trigger. It is easy to see what a complex and tedious task it was to fire the crossbow. It was for these reasons that the weapon was best suited for sieges and defence alone. Although the crossbow was an effective lethal weapon, it was soon to be overshadowed by the English longbow, a far superior projectile firing weapon. The longbow could be as tall as seven and a half feet, and was drawn to the ear as opposed to the short bow, which was drawn only to the chest. The improved longbow could be fired only up to 250 metres, 100 metres short of the crossbows firing distance. The relatively close firing range, however, made little difference in the performance of the longbow since it was able to pierce heavy armour at a shorter distance than the crossbow could pierce chain mail and lighter armour. Another improvement in the longbow is that it could be fired with greater speed than its predecessor, the crossbow. An experienced archer could fire twenty arrows per minute, while the average archer could fire ten per minute. This made the new weapon fit for battle and operable by the less experienced archers since less practice was needed to fire the weapon. The longbow was better suited for battle than the crossbow for reasons other than its power, ease of use and quick firing capabilities. The weapon was also useful to frighten the enemy on the battlefield. When fired simultaneously, a shower of thousands of arrows could be fired upon an enemy army. Any soldier would easily fear that at least one arrow would hit him, causing them to lose morale. Descriptions from the time talk of the sky being black with arrows and how they blocked the sunlight out. Horses too were driven into frenzy over being struck with the arrows. The horses would then throw their armoured riders to the ground and bring any formation they had into confusion in their panic. In order for the shower of arrows to effectively frighten the opposing army, the longbow men required great discipline to fire at the exact same moment. The effects of the longbow would not have been as frightening had the arrows been fired one at a time. The required discipline changed the manner in which the soldiers were trained for battle. The longbow men required years of training from childhood in order to develop the strength to actually draw back 100 to 175 pounds of pressure. The crossbow was a more advantageous weapon for the simple reason that any man could fire the weapon, even an inexperienced archer. Additionally, the crossbow was, in some respects, more beneficial because the ammunition was less expensive and less bulky than conventional arrows. It was also easier to fire the crossbow from behind a shield than with a longbow. Both the crossbow and the longbow revolutionized medieval warfare. While each projectile weapon had its own advantages over the other, both played a role in changing the manner in which battles were fought, the types of soldiers that were used and the kind of training that was required. Certainly, the invention of these powerful projectile weapons, which could easily pierce the formerly impenetrable armour, brought with it a new type of strategic warfare. Another main feature of medieval warfare was the advent of the castle. A castle or fortification was not only of strategical importance, and a properly fortified military residence but also provided a safe place in which shrines could be built, were places of refuge, and places for the lords to live. Most significantly a castle provided an impressive status symbol of the power and wealth of the lord who owned it. Initially castles were designed and built to hold down conquered territory and served to intimidate and strike fear into the local community. Castles were brought to Britain by William the Conqueror, when he invaded England in 1066. William took control of his kingdom by ordering the construction of motte and bailey castles throughout his new dominion. Before the invasion of England, in the Normans other campaigns their usual tactic had been to seize a castle and use it as a base from which to terrorise and subjugate the local area. Castles were almost impossible to capture in battle, and contrary to popular belief, medieval armies rarely besieged castles. This was due to the immense cost that would be incurred in keeping an army around an area for a prolonged period of time. It was also due to the fact that the besieged castle was often better prepared for the siege than the attacking army, as well as having better conditions than whatever temporary camp the besieging army would be forced to use. As Gillingham states, campaigns against castles would still include the ‘ravaging’ of the land around it as in a normal battle, mainly because the conquest of a castle would use up a lot of resources. During the Middle Ages technological, social and cultural developments forced a change in the nature of warfare. The main development in medieval warfare was technological. The evolution of new weaponry such as the crossbow and the longbow. Without these developments warfare would have remained in a similar state to what it had been at the fall of the Roman Empire. Word Count: 1,799 Bibliography Barber, Malcom, The Two Cities: Medieval Europe 1050 – 1320, (Oxford: Routledge, 1992) Bilson, Frank, Crossbows, (Vancouver: Douglas David and Charles Ltd., 1974) France, John, Western Warfare in the Age of the Crusades 1000-1300, (London: Routledge, 1999) Gillingham, John, An Age of Expansion c.1020-1204, in M. Keen, ed., Medieval Warfare, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999) Hindley, Geoffrey, Medieval Warfare. (London: Wayland Publishers, 1971) Housley, Norman, European Warfare c.1200-1320, in M. Keen, ed., Medieval Warfare, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999) Koenigsberger, H.G., Medieval Europe 400 – 1500, (Essex: Pearson Education Ltd., 1987) Payne-Gallwey, Sir Ralph, The Crossbow: Its Military and Sporting History, Construction and Use. (London: Skyhorse Publishing Ltd. 2007) (Originally published 1901) Prestwich, Michael, Armies and Warfare in the Middle Ages: The English Experience. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1996.) Verbruggen, J.F., The Art of Warfare in Western Europe During the Middle Ages, (Suffolk: Boydell Brewer, 1997) Villalon A. and Kagay D., Crusaders, Condottieri and Cannon: Medieval Warfare in Societies around the Mediterranean, (Leiden, Netherlands: Brill, 2003) Research Papers on European Warfare Between 1100 - 1400Assess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Open Architechture a white paperGenetic EngineeringWhere Wild and West MeetQuebec and CanadaDefinition of Export QuotasPETSTEL analysis of India19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married Males

Mergers and Acquisition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Mergers and Acquisition - Essay Example The paper here studies the effectiveness of the mergers and acquisitions and also the limitations of the overall process in gaining the profitability of the newly formed company. The role of Merger and acquisition: Most organization incorporates the strategy of the mergers and acquisition only in time of crisis faced by them. As a result the organization entering in to the process fails to critically look in to several issues like the strategic fit, and the risk involved with such strategies. The shareholders value in the firm takes a major setback due to such hasty decision making, from the companies’ behalf. The organizations should critically analyze the role play of such strategies. Generally there are various roles which are carried out by the undertaking of an effective merger and acquisition strategy. (The Boston consulting group, n. d) Mergers and acquisitions can create opportunities for the organizations to lower the respective cost of various expenses incurred. The incorporation of the merger strategies by the organization helps them to establish a new set of business model which can result in gain of productivity of both the organizations concerned. The overall market position can also be improved by the successful implementation of the strategy. Overall the mergers can create opportunities for an organization to gain new capabilities or simply add to their existing skill set. (The Boston consulting group, n. d) The success factor of the mergers and acquisition can lead to a gain of the scale both in measures of scale and scope. A successful merger can lead to the elimination of various risks associated with the execution of the business. The option of leveraging the asset of the acquired organization with that of the other organization provides huge financial benefit for the organizations. A successful merger can also lead to tremendous growth and diversification of the organizations. (Hunt, 2009, p.212,) It has been noted that the recent tr end suggests that the organizations are failing to apply the strategy of the mergers and acquisitions in a proper fashion which has contributed to the overall failure. The fine line between the success and the failure of the mergers can be based on significant factors. As the mergers and acquisitions of the organizations leads to a complete restructure of the companies, proper effort form the management is needed to be careful after the implementation. Other than the financial and market factors organizations also needs to be careful regarding the human resource planning. . (Mergers integration, n. d)The failure of the mergers can significantly hamper all levels of the organization. Due to the non achievement of the expected gains of the organization the shareholders are affected at the beginning and it leads to their discontent. The most severe implication of the failure of the mergers can result in the accumulation of more amounts of losses for the organization than the gains whic h leads to the decline of the value of the shareholders. The failure can lead to a complete business tragedy for the organizations by factors like decrease of productivity, and customer satisfaction and loss of reputations of the brand name. (Mergers integration, n. d) Reasons for failure: The reasons for the failure of the

Nursing Image Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nursing Image - Essay Example Dorothea Lynde Dix (1802-1887) made a significant contribution to the state of mental health in the United States during the period starting late 19th Century. She is remembered for pioneering mental assylums in the United States. Dorothea Dix is regarded as a â€Å"voice for the mad†. Her contribution to the improvement of the lives of the mentally ill people in the United States cannot be compared to that of any other person in the history of nursing. Mental health is an important aspect of nursing, thus all mentally-ill patients deserve good nursing and care, just as other patients. According to Parry (2006), evidence shows that Dorothea might have been a victim of neglect from her parents, thus this might have influenced her to advocate for the well-being of mentally ill people in society, who were equally neglected at most times.In the year 1841, Dorothea Dix volunteered her time and knowledge to the East Cambridge jail, where she held one hour of devotion with female inm ates in that jail. While on this mission, Dorothea Dix realized that those inmates that were mentally-ill were living in poor conditions. For instance, these were chained in filthy and cold cells. Dorothea therefore, after making this observation, was committed to ensuring that the mentally-ill inmates lived in good conditions, and not the one she had witnessed. Most inmates have no power over their health, as while in prison, they cannot control the circumstances surrounding their health, such as the quality of the cells, among other aspects.