Stock Dividends and Stock Splits Essay Example

Stock Dividends and Stock Splits Essay For investors, it is important to understand stock dividends and stock splits. Stock dividend is different from stock split.   While it is true that, in both cases, new shares of stock are issued to current stockholders, distinction between the two has been recognized.   The distinctive difference between a stock dividend and a stock split is that in the former, there is a capitalization of earnings or profits, together with a distribution of the added shares which evidence the assets transferred to capital, while in the latter, there is a mere increase in the number of shares which evidence ownership without altering the amount of the capital, surplus or segregated earnings.   In short, a stock split is but a dividing up of the outstanding shares of the corporation into a greater number of units without touching the stockholder’s original proportional participating interest in the corporation.   Stock split is basically one of form and not of substance.Concept of divi dendsA stock corporation subsists to make a profit and to allot a percentage of the profits to its stockholders.   The board of directors of a public corporation may declare dividends out of the unrestricted retained earnings which shall be payable either in cash, or in stock to all stockholders on the basis of outstanding shares held by them.   A dividend is that part or portion of the profits of a corporation set aside, declared and ordered by the directors to be paid ratably to the stockholders on demand or at a fixed time.   It is a payment to stockholders of a corporation as a return on their investment.   It is a feature of a dividend that all of the stockholders of the same class share in it in proportion to the respective amounts of stock which they hold.Without disturbing the capital stock, a dividend is an aggregate amount which can be shared among stockholders.   The term has been considered as suggesting that there must be a surplus or profits to be divided.   To warrant the declaration of dividends, there must be actual bona fide surplus profits or earnings over and above all debts and liabilities of the corporation.   Although a corporation has earned no profit from the current period, it may properly pay dividends from accumulated surplus out of previous years.   On the other hand, dividends may not be declared as long as a shortfall exists although; it has realized actual profit in the current year.Stock dividendsInstead of cash, a corporation may opt to declare stock dividend, which is a dividend payable in unissued or increased or additional shares.   Stock dividends do not decrease the value of the stockholder’s interest; they only bring down the cost per share of the stockholdings. To illustrate, Mr. X owned 200 shares of stock at $10 per share worth $2,000.   The company declared and distributed 25% stock dividend.   Mr. X would now own 250 shares for the same value of $2,000, with a new value per share of $8 ( Heakal, 2003).   A corporation may increase its authorized capital stock by way of stock dividends without touching its unissued shares as long as there are retained earnings to justify the declaration.The declaration of stock dividend may be revoked at anytime before the actual issuance of the stock.   Unlike in cash dividend, a stock dividend requires, as a general rule, more than a mere declaration to make it effective.   It must be approved by the stockholders. Until the stock is actually issued, or at least in some manner especially set apart to the stockholders, its effect is not complete.   The so called stock dividend in shares of the kind already held gives the shareholder nothing in the way of a distribution of assets, but merely divides his existing shares into smaller units.   There is no increase in his proportionate claim upon the assets of the corporation or income by reason of such a paper dividend.   There is no obligation upon the corporation to declare stock dividends, which are not distributions but only a change of the share and capital structure.   Since the declaration of stock dividend gives the stockholder nothing until all the formalities necessary to a valid increase of stock are complied with, its revocation, therefore, takes away nothing.   But unless rescinded, the shareholders have absolute right to their respective shares in the stock dividend so declared and actual delivery of the corresponding certificate is not essential to make the shareholder the owner of the dividend (De Leon, l993).Dividends DatesEssentially, there are three dates to observe in dealing with dividends.   The first to consider is the date of declaration where the board declares dividend and sets the amount of dividend, the payment date and the ex-dividend date. Next is the record date, where all list of of current stockholders who are to receive dividends are rolled up. The most important date is the 2-day period before the record date whi ch is designated as the ex-dividend date. This is to allow completion of all unfinished transactions before the record date.   Those stockholders not on record or do not own the stock before the ex-dividend date will not be entitled to dividend payment. Proceedings not completed at the ex-dividend date, the price of the stock is immediately reduced as dividend payment dilutes the value of the company and investors absorbs the diminution in value (â€Å"Investing†, 2007).Effect of declaration of stock dividendA stock dividend transfers the surplus covered by such dividend into permanent account thereby placing it beyond the power of the board of directors to withdraw from corporate use and to distribute to the stockholders.   Such a capitalization of surplus adds nothing to and takes nothing from the corporation.   The corporation merely transfers the surplus to capital account and issue shares of stock to represent the same.   Such shares may be preferred as well as c ommon stock.After a declaration of stock dividends, the stockholder receives no greater proportional interest in the assets of the corporation that he had before.   In this regard, it is identical in substance with a splitting of original share in which outstanding shares are exchanged for an increased number of new shares of proportionally less par value than the old, leaving the aggregate value of all his stock substantially the same.   Such an increase simply dilutes the shares as they existed before.   The declaration of stock dividend is advantageous to existing creditors of the corporation to the extent that corporate earnings are capitalized, unavailable for distribution to stockholders.   At the same time, it improves the cash position of the corporation with expansion projects or programs eliminating the necessity of borrowing and paying high interest rates.Stock dividends are not taxable as income because they represent merely an unrealized gain to the stockholders who receives nothing from the corporation that answers the definition of income under the revenue code (â€Å"Strengthening†).Illustration:A, B, C, D and E organized a stock corporation with an authorized capital stock of $400,000 divided into 4,000 shares with a par value of $100 per share.   Each subscribed to and paid for 400 shares.   Hence, the actual asset of the corporation at the beginning of the business was $200,000.After a few years of profitable business, the assets of the corporation amounted to $400,000 with no debts.   Instead of declaring cash dividends, it was agreed to increase the capital stock in the form of stock dividends with a total value of $40,000 which amount represents the actual increase of his share or interest in the business.   At the start of the year, each stockholder held 400 shares with a total value of $40,000 which is 1/5 of the total corporate capital of $200,000.   At the close of the year, after stock dividends are declared, each stockholder still holds 1/5 interest in the corporation with his 800 shares worth $80,000 in relation to the increased corporate capital of $400,000.   But the proportional interest of each share in the corporate assets is decreased because of the increase in the number of shares, from 1/2,000 to 1/4,000 (Kennon, 2007).Stock dividend from issue of additional sharesWhenever an increase is made in the capital account of a stock corporation, the increase is valid only when it represents additional shares issued for which the equivalent consideration is received by the corporation.   The increase may be the result of an issue of additional shares or the re-investment of retained earnings effected by the distribution of shares as stock dividend.Hence, a corporation with outstanding no par value shares originally issued at $5 per share cannot increase its capital account by transferring its surplus to its capital account without issuing additional shares for the amount transferr ed.   Under such method, stockholders who have already paid in full their no par value shares would in effect be made to pay additional amounts for the same shares to increase their value.   No par value shares of capital stock issued shall be deemed fully paid and non-assessable.   Once no par value shares have been issued at their issued price, their value can no longer be changed.   Accordingly, such stock dividend by a transfer of the surplus to capital with no shares to be issued cannot be validly made (De Leon, 1993).Stock dividend distinguished from cash dividendStock dividend does not involve any disbursement to the stockholders of accumulated earnings, while cash dividend involves disbursement of said earnings.   Corporate creditors may reach for stock dividends, being still part of corporate property, while cash dividend declared and paid becomes the absolute property of the stockholders and cannot be reached by the creditors.   While corporate capital is incre ased by a stock dividend, cash dividend does not.   Except in the sense that capital stock constitute a liability, no debt from the corporation to the stockholders is created by the declaration of stock dividend.   The declaration of cash dividend creates an obligation to the stockholders who then hold such stock.It is important to note that a dividend payable in stock is not synonymous with, and is not always or necessarily, a stock dividend.   A dividend payable in stock may, under some circumstances, is a cash dividend, as where the dividend consists in treasury stocks or in stocks of another corporation.Stock splitsThe board of directors may approve a stock split when the market is too high or too low, as sometimes investors are forestalled from buying or keeping their stocks.   In stock split, the market per share is adjusted by the same ratio which results in additional shares being issued and the market price being reduced to a trading level to attract investors. Stoc k splits are generally carried out in two different ways.   In a par value stock, the original certificate is converted into a new certificate validating the original shares, plus the new shares issued.   In a no par value stock, the stockholder keeps his original certificate but receives additional certificates for the additional shares issued. In either case, the split merely changes the number of outstanding shares without affecting the stockholders’ equity or the capital stock (Heakal, 2003).Illustration:X Corporation has 100,000 outstanding shares of stock, with a par value of $10 per share.   The board of directors feels that a lower price is necessary to attract more investors, it authorized that the 100,000 shares be replaced by 500,000 with a par value of $2.   Thus each stockholder will receive 5 shares in exchange for each share owned.   This increase in the number of outstanding share is referred to as stock split (Little, 2007).On the other hand, the re verse stock split, involves the reduction of the outstanding shares into a smaller number of shares and it is done when it is felt that a higher price for the shares will be advantageous to the corporation.   Thus, in the same example above, the 100,000 outstanding shares may be called in and replaced by 50,000 shares with a par value of $20 per share.   There is an increase in the par value of outstanding shares with a corresponding reduction in the number of shares issued.If a stock splits, it does not make it a better investment or enlarges the share in the company’s earnings nor does it affect materially short sellers. The aim of stock splits is to lower the trading price of a stock to a level viewed as popular to investors. It is comfortable to purchase stock at $10 per share than at $100 per share. Hence, when share prices have moved up considerably, publicly-listed companies declare stock split.ConclusionOne way or another, the stock itself may change, whether it i s a stock split or a stock dividend.   It is crucial that an investor must be fully aware of the character of corporate actions to understand how a corporate decision affects his interest in the business. Corporate action may bring a change in the stock (â€Å"Corporate†).Whether it is cash dividend or stock dividend, dividends matter. It is the evidence of profitability.   It offers unvarying return on a less secure investment. Dividends grow as the company grows thus providing more economic value to the investors. Some investors profit from dividends.   Investors would purchase stocks right after dividend is declared and sell it after collecting the dividend, thus, receiving dividend at no cost.   However, this does not usually happen successfully as the dividend payout reflects immediately the stock price.It is important that an investor understands stock splits.   Stock splits do not change the equity of the company or the net assets of the business.   Board o f directors approves stock splits to maintain high level of trading activity of its stock. Sometimes a reverse stock split is decided to discourage small investors and maintain its status because a relatively low stock price is considered highly speculative and often trades over the counter. Stock Dividends and Stock Splits Essay Example Stock Dividends and Stock Splits Essay For investors, it is important to understand stock dividends and stock splits. Stock dividend is different from stock split.   While it is true that, in both cases, new shares of stock are issued to current stockholders, distinction between the two has been recognized.   The distinctive difference between a stock dividend and a stock split is that in the former, there is a capitalization of earnings or profits, together with a distribution of the added shares which evidence the assets transferred to capital, while in the latter, there is a mere increase in the number of shares which evidence ownership without altering the amount of the capital, surplus or segregated earnings.   In short, a stock split is but a dividing up of the outstanding shares of the corporation into a greater number of units without touching the stockholder’s original proportional participating interest in the corporation.   Stock split is basically one of form and not of substance.Concept of divi dendsA stock corporation subsists to make a profit and to allot a percentage of the profits to its stockholders.   The board of directors of a public corporation may declare dividends out of the unrestricted retained earnings which shall be payable either in cash, or in stock to all stockholders on the basis of outstanding shares held by them.   A dividend is that part or portion of the profits of a corporation set aside, declared and ordered by the directors to be paid ratably to the stockholders on demand or at a fixed time.   It is a payment to stockholders of a corporation as a return on their investment.   It is a feature of a dividend that all of the stockholders of the same class share in it in proportion to the respective amounts of stock which they hold.Without disturbing the capital stock, a dividend is an aggregate amount which can be shared among stockholders.   The term has been considered as suggesting that there must be a surplus or profits to be divided.   To warrant the declaration of dividends, there must be actual bona fide surplus profits or earnings over and above all debts and liabilities of the corporation.   Although a corporation has earned no profit from the current period, it may properly pay dividends from accumulated surplus out of previous years.   On the other hand, dividends may not be declared as long as a shortfall exists although; it has realized actual profit in the current year.Stock dividendsInstead of cash, a corporation may opt to declare stock dividend, which is a dividend payable in unissued or increased or additional shares.   Stock dividends do not decrease the value of the stockholder’s interest; they only bring down the cost per share of the stockholdings. To illustrate, Mr. X owned 200 shares of stock at $10 per share worth $2,000.   The company declared and distributed 25% stock dividend.   Mr. X would now own 250 shares for the same value of $2,000, with a new value per share of $8 ( Heakal, 2003).   A corporation may increase its authorized capital stock by way of stock dividends without touching its unissued shares as long as there are retained earnings to justify the declaration.The declaration of stock dividend may be revoked at anytime before the actual issuance of the stock.   Unlike in cash dividend, a stock dividend requires, as a general rule, more than a mere declaration to make it effective.   It must be approved by the stockholders. Until the stock is actually issued, or at least in some manner especially set apart to the stockholders, its effect is not complete.   The so called stock dividend in shares of the kind already held gives the shareholder nothing in the way of a distribution of assets, but merely divides his existing shares into smaller units.   There is no increase in his proportionate claim upon the assets of the corporation or income by reason of such a paper dividend.   There is no obligation upon the corporation to declare stock dividends, which are not distributions but only a change of the share and capital structure.   Since the declaration of stock dividend gives the stockholder nothing until all the formalities necessary to a valid increase of stock are complied with, its revocation, therefore, takes away nothing.   But unless rescinded, the shareholders have absolute right to their respective shares in the stock dividend so declared and actual delivery of the corresponding certificate is not essential to make the shareholder the owner of the dividend (De Leon, l993).Dividends DatesEssentially, there are three dates to observe in dealing with dividends.   The first to consider is the date of declaration where the board declares dividend and sets the amount of dividend, the payment date and the ex-dividend date. Next is the record date, where all list of of current stockholders who are to receive dividends are rolled up. The most important date is the 2-day period before the record date whi ch is designated as the ex-dividend date. This is to allow completion of all unfinished transactions before the record date.   Those stockholders not on record or do not own the stock before the ex-dividend date will not be entitled to dividend payment. Proceedings not completed at the ex-dividend date, the price of the stock is immediately reduced as dividend payment dilutes the value of the company and investors absorbs the diminution in value (â€Å"Investing†, 2007).Effect of declaration of stock dividendA stock dividend transfers the surplus covered by such dividend into permanent account thereby placing it beyond the power of the board of directors to withdraw from corporate use and to distribute to the stockholders.   Such a capitalization of surplus adds nothing to and takes nothing from the corporation.   The corporation merely transfers the surplus to capital account and issue shares of stock to represent the same.   Such shares may be preferred as well as c ommon stock.After a declaration of stock dividends, the stockholder receives no greater proportional interest in the assets of the corporation that he had before.   In this regard, it is identical in substance with a splitting of original share in which outstanding shares are exchanged for an increased number of new shares of proportionally less par value than the old, leaving the aggregate value of all his stock substantially the same.   Such an increase simply dilutes the shares as they existed before.   The declaration of stock dividend is advantageous to existing creditors of the corporation to the extent that corporate earnings are capitalized, unavailable for distribution to stockholders.   At the same time, it improves the cash position of the corporation with expansion projects or programs eliminating the necessity of borrowing and paying high interest rates.Stock dividends are not taxable as income because they represent merely an unrealized gain to the stockholders who receives nothing from the corporation that answers the definition of income under the revenue code (â€Å"Strengthening†).Illustration:A, B, C, D and E organized a stock corporation with an authorized capital stock of $400,000 divided into 4,000 shares with a par value of $100 per share.   Each subscribed to and paid for 400 shares.   Hence, the actual asset of the corporation at the beginning of the business was $200,000.After a few years of profitable business, the assets of the corporation amounted to $400,000 with no debts.   Instead of declaring cash dividends, it was agreed to increase the capital stock in the form of stock dividends with a total value of $40,000 which amount represents the actual increase of his share or interest in the business.   At the start of the year, each stockholder held 400 shares with a total value of $40,000 which is 1/5 of the total corporate capital of $200,000.   At the close of the year, after stock dividends are declared, each stockholder still holds 1/5 interest in the corporation with his 800 shares worth $80,000 in relation to the increased corporate capital of $400,000.   But the proportional interest of each share in the corporate assets is decreased because of the increase in the number of shares, from 1/2,000 to 1/4,000 (Kennon, 2007).Stock dividend from issue of additional sharesWhenever an increase is made in the capital account of a stock corporation, the increase is valid only when it represents additional shares issued for which the equivalent consideration is received by the corporation.   The increase may be the result of an issue of additional shares or the re-investment of retained earnings effected by the distribution of shares as stock dividend.Hence, a corporation with outstanding no par value shares originally issued at $5 per share cannot increase its capital account by transferring its surplus to its capital account without issuing additional shares for the amount transferr ed.   Under such method, stockholders who have already paid in full their no par value shares would in effect be made to pay additional amounts for the same shares to increase their value.   No par value shares of capital stock issued shall be deemed fully paid and non-assessable.   Once no par value shares have been issued at their issued price, their value can no longer be changed.   Accordingly, such stock dividend by a transfer of the surplus to capital with no shares to be issued cannot be validly made (De Leon, 1993).Stock dividend distinguished from cash dividendStock dividend does not involve any disbursement to the stockholders of accumulated earnings, while cash dividend involves disbursement of said earnings.   Corporate creditors may reach for stock dividends, being still part of corporate property, while cash dividend declared and paid becomes the absolute property of the stockholders and cannot be reached by the creditors.   While corporate capital is incre ased by a stock dividend, cash dividend does not.   Except in the sense that capital stock constitute a liability, no debt from the corporation to the stockholders is created by the declaration of stock dividend.   The declaration of cash dividend creates an obligation to the stockholders who then hold such stock.It is important to note that a dividend payable in stock is not synonymous with, and is not always or necessarily, a stock dividend.   A dividend payable in stock may, under some circumstances, is a cash dividend, as where the dividend consists in treasury stocks or in stocks of another corporation.Stock splitsThe board of directors may approve a stock split when the market is too high or too low, as sometimes investors are forestalled from buying or keeping their stocks.   In stock split, the market per share is adjusted by the same ratio which results in additional shares being issued and the market price being reduced to a trading level to attract investors. Stoc k splits are generally carried out in two different ways.   In a par value stock, the original certificate is converted into a new certificate validating the original shares, plus the new shares issued.   In a no par value stock, the stockholder keeps his original certificate but receives additional certificates for the additional shares issued. In either case, the split merely changes the number of outstanding shares without affecting the stockholders’ equity or the capital stock (Heakal, 2003).Illustration:X Corporation has 100,000 outstanding shares of stock, with a par value of $10 per share.   The board of directors feels that a lower price is necessary to attract more investors, it authorized that the 100,000 shares be replaced by 500,000 with a par value of $2.   Thus each stockholder will receive 5 shares in exchange for each share owned.   This increase in the number of outstanding share is referred to as stock split (Little, 2007).On the other hand, the re verse stock split, involves the reduction of the outstanding shares into a smaller number of shares and it is done when it is felt that a higher price for the shares will be advantageous to the corporation.   Thus, in the same example above, the 100,000 outstanding shares may be called in and replaced by 50,000 shares with a par value of $20 per share.   There is an increase in the par value of outstanding shares with a corresponding reduction in the number of shares issued.If a stock splits, it does not make it a better investment or enlarges the share in the company’s earnings nor does it affect materially short sellers. The aim of stock splits is to lower the trading price of a stock to a level viewed as popular to investors. It is comfortable to purchase stock at $10 per share than at $100 per share. Hence, when share prices have moved up considerably, publicly-listed companies declare stock split.ConclusionOne way or another, the stock itself may change, whether it i s a stock split or a stock dividend.   It is crucial that an investor must be fully aware of the character of corporate actions to understand how a corporate decision affects his interest in the business. Corporate action may bring a change in the stock (â€Å"Corporate†).Whether it is cash dividend or stock dividend, dividends matter. It is the evidence of profitability.   It offers unvarying return on a less secure investment. Dividends grow as the company grows thus providing more economic value to the investors. Some investors profit from dividends.   Investors would purchase stocks right after dividend is declared and sell it after collecting the dividend, thus, receiving dividend at no cost.   However, this does not usually happen successfully as the dividend payout reflects immediately the stock price.It is important that an investor understands stock splits.   Stock splits do not change the equity of the company or the net assets of the business.   Board o f directors approves stock splits to maintain high level of trading activity of its stock. Sometimes a reverse stock split is decided to discourage small investors and maintain its status because a relatively low stock price is considered highly speculative and often trades over the counter.

Remembering Life - Creating Wholeness from Loss

Remembering Life - Creating Wholeness from Loss It’s Memorial Day and I am remembering. Remembering those who have passed in various ways throughout the years. Those who have touched me personally. Remembering, etymologically, is a putting back together of parts. When someone is torn from us, we naturally perform this reconstruction through our thoughts. The most recent lost in my life was my friend Nikk, who died unexpectedly two weeks ago. He was 33. His family has chosen not to request an autopsy, so we don’t know how he died, whether it was an aneurysm or a tumor or a heart attack. I have a compulsion to understand, to know the reason. His family, understandably, believes that the final result is the same so why put their son’s body through invasive procedures? What’s important is not how it happened but how we choose to remember. And so we remember. The music, the love, the funny things he said and did. The contribution he made. In Memory of Nikk C. These are the sorts of things we are called upon to piece together about all our loved ones who have passed on. I remember these things about my father who died of pneumonia at age 57; my college roommate who was killed in a car accident in the prime of her life; and my grandmother who lived to a ripe old age. What of my high school classmate who was hit by a bus? Or the professor who was going to be my thesis advisor until he was in an accident on his way home one night? We experience painful loss, and in the same transaction we are gifted with memories that repair the rift. What will we choose to remember? And what can we learn from those memories about how best to live our lives? I asked some of Nikk’s friends what message they thought he would want to send to the world. Some words and phrases that came up were were joy, spontaneity, embracing who you are, connecting closely with others, believing in others even when they don’t believe in themselves, and being a force for positivity, inspiration and love. Recently he had completed a huge web development project for the Rainbird Foundation, whose mission is to end child abuse. He definitely made his mark. The pieces come together. I had a brush with possible death when I was in a car accident four weeks ago, and I have been called to consider what people will remember about me. I want to be thought of for the creativity I have put into the world, for the ways I have expanded and progressed other people’s lives, for my spirit and my contributions. I hope that many people’s lives have been made better because I have touched them. Celebrating Life The phrase â€Å"Memorial Service† has rather somber connotations, and so Nikk’s family gathered people together for a â€Å"Celebration of Life.† Whatever the title, what we all did there was scroll through our memories. We experienced joy, we connected with each other, and we appreciated all that Nikk had created. We say â€Å"Rest in Peace,† and we want the souls of our loved ones to be at peace if that is our belief. I believe that with that phrase we are seeking peace and wholeness in ourselves as we adjust to life without the person who passed. I also believe it’s the remembering, and the inspiration that springs from it, that will get us there. Category:Life and LeadershipBy Brenda BernsteinMay 28, 2013 1 Comment Andrea says: May 28, 2013 at 2:54 pm Hi Brenda Im sorry for your loss. Nikk must have been touched by the joy in your life, too. He sounds like he was such a special guy. Log in to Reply

Lessons Learned from Ovarian Cancer Survivor Stories

Lessons Learned from Ovarian Cancer Survivor Stories An ovarian cancer diagnosis may bring to mind grim statistics instead of optimistic ovarian cancer survivor stories. Why? The numbers can be discouraging. Each year, approximately 22,000 women are newly diagnosed with the disease. An estimated 14,000 die from ovarian cancer (OC) yearly. Every woman diagnosed with breast cancer (BC) knows at least one BC survivor she can look to with hope and questions. But ovarian cancer is diagnosed more infrequently and often at a later stage. OC patients are typically older, and the symptoms of ovarian cancer can be confused with any of a number of illnesses. In its earliest and most curable stage, there may not be any physical symptoms, pain or discomfort. For these reasons, you may not know an ovarian cancer survivor. Perhaps the only celebrity you may have heard of  with ovarian cancer was the comedian Gilda Radner, whose Gildas Club (now named the Cancer Support Community) provides a meeting place for those with cancer to build emotional and social support.   Their Survivor Stories SHARE (Self-Help for Women with Breast or Ovarian Cancer), was the first national hotline offering peer-to-peer support for women with ovarian cancer. The survivors staffing the hotline  share their stories of how they were diagnosed and how they fought back. Hotline callers often ask them for their own experiences, seizing each survivor story as a lifeline of hope and inspiration. The inspiration is profound. In one hotline training group, women from 40 to 70 revealed that theyd recovered from Stage 2, 3, and even Stage 4 ovarian cancer. They learned from each other that even if OC recurs, it can be successfully treated. Many new treatment options have been developed that long-term survivors didnt have available when they were diagnosed. Progress is being made for treatment and diagnosis. The rate of diagnosis has slowly fallen over the past two decades, according to the American Cancer Society. Making women aware that ovarian cancer exists and that they should seek out medical care if they experience any symptoms can help them get treatment earlier. The Ugly Stepsister Ovarian cancer has been called the ugly stepsister of female cancers because OC doesnt get the same kind of attention as breast cancer. The advantages of mammograms, the habit of monthly self-exams, the instant recognition of a pink ribbons meaning, and the widespread availability of support groups have been advanced by breast cancer awareness and advocacy. In comparison, ovarian cancer awareness and advocacy are still in their infancy. Groups like Gildas Club, SHARE, Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance (OCRFA), the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, and others are educating women about the disease. But the meaning of the teal-colored OC ribbon is still largely unknown. Ignoring Your Health Women know what to do when they feel a breast lump. But the uncertainty clouding the often vague symptoms of ovarian cancer makes it hard for women to take action. You may  brush things under the rug when youre not feeling well. Because women tend to the needs of others, they can become adept at ignoring our own. A woman who experiences tiredness, weight loss and loss of appetite can think these are just normal reactions to the stresses and pressures of her life. Not Simply in Your Head You sense when somethings wrong, even if you cant put your finger on it. The SHARE ovarian cancer hotline volunteers, hear from countless women who say that they had a nagging uneasiness over subtle changes that worsened over time. But because most of them are (or have been) caregivers, they are  afraid of being hypochondriacs. They are reluctant to take time away from others to focus on themselves. When you finally take the time to see a doctor but come away without answers, and are made to feel as if your dis-ease may simply be in your head, how many call it quits? Your Own Best Advocate I am alive today because I didnt let my first inconclusive visit to a doctor be my last. I saw a nurse practitioner, an OB-GYN, a surgeon, and a family practitioner before the necessary tests were ordered and an accurate diagnosis was made. Fortunately, my OC was caught at Stage 1 and the prognosis for full recovery after a hysterectomy and chemotherapy was very good. When it comes to ovarian cancer, you have to be your own best advocate. If youre reading this because you may have some of the symptoms, but youre afraid of an ovarian cancer diagnosis, dont let the fear stop you from seeking medical help. Like every other form of cancer, early detection is the key.

How should one live Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

How should one live - Coursework Example However, we should not forget that all people are linked to the earth. In this regard, we are all connected, and this connectedness requires us to live in harmony and ecologically conscious. The question on how an individual should live is significant to human existence. Aristotle provided an explanation on how one should live through the concept of eudaimonia (Pojman, 2005). This concept was translated to imply happiness, fulfillment and human flourishing. Aristotle gave this answer because he established that eudaimonia was the only goal of life that could be taken into account as "an end in itself, and not a means to another end" (Pojman, 2005). Aristotle can be viewed to have offered an appropriate manner to live, if such a thing subsists. He came up with eudaimonia through observing the virtues that were portrayed by people who seemed happy and flourish (Pojman, 2005). As it was, such people conducted themselves with some degree of courage, honesty, integrity, honor, fairness and rationality. Therefore, how one ought to live is concerned with ethics, which develops an individual’s virtuous character (Pojman, 2005). Notably, if an individual develops such a p ersonality, he or she understands the right thing to do and do

Sports Marketing Plan - a plan to increase interest and attendance for Research Paper

Sports Marketing Plan - a plan to increase interest and attendance for C.D. Chivas U.S.A. located in Los Angeles, California - Research Paper Example The services are presented to our esteemed customers are offered ad Chivas which is in Los Angeles, California. There are no particular criteria or method for accessing our services except for the tickets. It is our responsibility to ensure our target customers enjoy the entertainment. In this section, we major in the analysis of our competitors and the comparison with our services. Among our competitors are: Galaxy, NBA, and the choice to staying at home. We will examine the quality of service of our competitors. For instance, we will have to look into the times at which our competitors offer their games, the price of their tickets among others. As a service provider in a stiff competition market, we shall examine the strengths and weaknesses of our current competitors such us Galaxy and NBA. We will consider any competitor potential and with ability to influence the choice of our customers. At this stage we will provide a defensive and offensive strategic context so as to assess the opportunities and threats. This stage is very essential as a component of our corporate strategy. The entertainment industry has a wide scope and nature as sales depends on the customers’ enjoyment of the games. Our competitors who are Galaxy and NBA also offer similar services as we do and therefore quality of service we offer will distinguish us from our competitors. Our customers include every individual who enjoys watching games. We target teenage and young adult groups as our major customers. As mentioned before, the key success factor is the quality and cost of our services. Our competitors though offer similar services, we beat them in quality and our prices are also moderate and affordable to our customers. As a competitive strategy, we shall increase and multiply the number of our first time attendants. Possibly, we need to increase this by 500 people per game. The overall increase population is 9000 and we want to achieve this by October 31, 2013. In order to

Railway ticketing lines Essay Example for Free

Railway ticketing lines Essay This proposal will outline a comprehensive proposal for setting up railway ticket selling and information center for Paddington Railway Station. This will be achieved through outlining the operational as well as management aspects of the project. Operational Issues Waiting is often considered as frustrating and a boring job which most of the passengers have to bear while waiting for their turn to receive tickets for their journey. For a learning organization, it is therefore necessary that a system of procedures shall be implemented which helped it achieve the operational excellence by carefully managing different timings i. e. peak times, low times etc during ticket selling procedure. Since it is often believed that services are experienced and goods are consumed therefore from a operational point of view management of waiting lines carries great significance in order to achieve necessary efficiency as well as productivity. (Maister,1985). We propose to manage waiting lines during following times: Peak Hours We propose to set up different counters i. e. increase number of counters to manage peak hours. This will allow us to reduce time spent on delivering each ticket or providing information. Queuing theory will be used to manage peak hours also. (Young, 1996). In order to avoid the usual problems happening at this time, we also intend to upgrade our database and system in order to analyze the travelling patterns of passengers coming at this time. This would allow us to prepare in advance to gather resources which best suit that time and type of customers. Interpeak Hours Waiting lines during this period will be managed by increasing the coordination between the counters and the passengers. This will be achieved by employing extra professionals who will guide our customers to right counters and will provide them right guidance to reach the correct counter to receive their tickets. Off Peak Hours Since off peak hours do not produce the similar amount of passenger rush therefore normalized operations with focus on delivering accurate service will be performed. It is also important that this will be the time which also be utilized for marketing purposes. References 1. David Maister. (1985). the Psychology of Waiting Lines. Available: http://davidmaister. com/articles/5/52/. Last accessed 8 November 2008. 2. Scott T. Young, (1996). Managing Global Operations: Cultural and Technical Success Factors. New York: Greenwood Publishing Group. 209.

Russians and Americans Essay -- essays research papers

Russians and Americans Americans often think that they have a better chance of finding a common ground with aliens from outer space than with "resident aliens" from Russia. Frequently Russian immigrants feel exactly the same way about their American co-workers, classmates and even spouses. A key to gaining and sustaining a mutual respect in cross-cultural relationships is an understanding of distinctive cultural norms of people from different countries. Without going too deep into historical and psychological aspects of typical Americans’ and Russians’ behaviors and traditions, let us look at a few dissimilarities between representatives of these two cultures. In Russia, children are customarily expected to stay with their parents in the same apartment or live nearby, and parents are often very upset when children move away. This closeness arises not necessarily by choice, but by deep-rooted traditions and, later on, by difficulties in getting a separate apartments. Many older people feel that several generations should still live together. Also, Russian grandmothers feel that it is their duty to raise grandchildren; in many cases they are involved in their childrens’ live much more than parents are and they greatly enjoy it. In the USA it is customary for the younger generation to leave home right after high school, often moving across the country to start college or a new job, and live in his or her own apartment or house. The older generation is even glad, when this move occurs, and happily builds plans for a free life that starts when "children are out of the house." Traditionally, Russian men are breadwinners, and wives are house-makers and full-time mothers. After the revolution in 1917, the majority of women entered the workforce, but people's mentality has not changed. All household duties are still considered a woman's responsibility, even if she works longer hours than her husband or makes more money. Lately, in the most "modern" families, husbands have started to take on more household duties, but in the majority of families, the situation remains the same as a hundred years ago. In the USA, if both spouses work outside the home, it is a norm to share responsibilities for housekeeping and for spending time with children. More so, it is quite normal for fathers in America to take care of children after work, even i... ...k for it beforehand. If a person get caught for a traffic violation he or she better give a policeman money right away even if the person did not actually speed; otherwise that person might loose not only his or her license, but also, for a few days, his or her freedom. Americans mostly mind their own business when it comes to somebody else's demeanor or behavior as long as it does not directly disturb them. Russians on the other hand, especially older folks, very often make it their business to know other people’s business. They might on the length of a persn’t dress or the misbehavior of a child and complement this opinion with a full lecture on appropriate clothing or upbringing of youngsters. In general, Americans are individualists and Russians are collectivists. This essay is the comparison of two great different nations, which are similar and different at the same time in our views and desires, aspirations, concerns and prejudices. It seems that Americans have much of an open mind than Rusians. Russians are very conservative. In most of cases it is difficult for them to a change in their beliefs. For the Americans freedom is good, but it is nothing without responsibility.

Succession Planning

CASE STUDY ON SUCCESSION PLANNING AT RANBAXY Formation of the Company: Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited was started by Ranbir Singh and Gurbax Singh in 1937 as a distributor for a Japanese company Shionogi. The name Ranbaxy is a combination of the names of its first owners Ranbir and Gurbax. Bhai Mohan Singh bought the company in 1952 from his cousins Ranbir and Gurbax. After Bhai Mohan Singh's son Parvinder Singh joined the company in 1967, the company saw an increase in scale. Summary of the Case Study: Ranbaxy ranks No. 1with a 2007 turnover of Rs 4,198. 96 crore (Rs 41. 89 billion) by sales, Ranbaxy is the largest pharmaceutical company in India. The case discusses about the CEO succession planning controversy at Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited, one of India's largest pharmaceutical company. The founder of Ranbaxy Mr. Bhai Mohan Singh established this company in 1961. By 1967 his son Dr. Parvinder Singh (Dr. Singh) joined the company and worked hard to take the company to great heights, by 1982 he became the Managing Director of his company. Since the retirement of Mr. Bhai Mohan Singh in 1993, his son (Dr. Singh) took full control of the company’s business affairs.Dr. Singh adopted highly professional work standards and was well known for his commitment to corporate governance and corporate ethics. Although it was a family owned business, Ranbaxy was managed and run by professional managers. He wanted to internationalise Ranbaxy in order to transform it into a multinational pharma giant, to accomplish this task, he carefully chose a team of professionals. He retired in the year 1998 after he was been detected to be suffering from cancer. At his day of retirement, he chose Devinder Singh Brar (D. S. Brar) as the MD and CEO of the company. Dr.Singh wanted his sons (Malvinder Singh and Shivinder Singh) to earn their positions through hard work and merit to enter their company. Devinder Singh Brar (Brar) had joined Ranbaxy in 1977 as a business development man ager. A thorough professional and hard worker, he soon rose through the company's ranks to become one of Dr Singh's most important and trusted men. Dr Singh had the overreaching vision for his company; he reportedly relied on Brar's knowledge and professionalism to implement it. In the early 1990s, differences cropped up between Dr Singh and Bhai Mohan Singh over the growth route the former was charting for the company.Dr Singh wanted to take the risk of investing huge amounts into basic R and in expanding operations to other countries. Brar supported Dr Singh's vision of internationalising the company by setting up operations in various countries like China, US, Ireland, and others in Europe. In the late 1990s, Brar chalked out a strategy to shift half the company's business to the US, a decision which was staunchly opposed by members of the Singh family. Questions: 1) Was Brar’s decision to step down as the CEO a forced one or a personal choice? When Brar took over as Ranba xy’s MD and CEO, the company did not have any family representation on the board.It was a company managed by professionals. His leadership and managerial skills were responsible for the company's excellent performance in both the domestic and the international markets. In 2002, Ranbaxy was one of the fastest growing pharmaceutical companies in the US and was very close to achieving the $1 billion revenue mark in 2004. However, there were other analysts who believed that Brar's resignation would not affect the company's performance. This was because he had laid down a well-crafted vision (Garuda Vision) for the company and the strategies to execute that vision had already been put in place.In the given case study it clearly states that there has been a big misunderstanding between Brar and the promoter (Bhai Mohan Singh) over Dr. Singh’s vision of shifting half the company over to US, this decision was strongly opposed by Bhai Mohan Singh. Regardless of this opposition, Brar went ahead with Dr. Singh’s plan and made the company to emerge in the top level in the international market globally. Therefore, his decision to step down as the CEO is both a forced one and a personal choice. The forced one is not shown directly but it is indirectly indicated by Bhai Mohan Singh which led Brar to step down on his own (personal choice).Below is a paragraph to prove that Brar’s decision was both a forced one and a personal choice. Commenting on the conflicting views in the media regarding this issue, an analyst remarked, â€Å"We feel that this slight aberration is mainly because of the sentimental issues involved. † According to Business Today Magazine dated July 1999, for six years, Bhai Mohan Singh has harboured a major grouse; he attributes the fallout with his son to certain †elements† in the company. †I realise that some people in Ranbaxy influenced his (Parvinder's) mind,† he says, while refusing to divulge t heir identities.Therefore, the patriarch is apprehensive that history might be repeated. Two other things bother Bhai Mohan Singh. How would Brar & Co. decide to induct Malvinder without grooming him and giving him a chance to prove himself in a responsible position? He warns: †If things go wrong, I will intervene. † And what will happen to Ranbaxy once Brar retires by 2004? In an interview to BT last year, Brar, 46, said: †I am going to give up all the executive powers when I turn 51 years. † Other possible reasons for Brar to step down: He might be unwilling to continue the role within the company, because of the disinterest shown and the dispute between Bhai Mohan Singh and him. ?He might indicate the conclusion of a contract or time – limited project which was Dr. Singh’s vision of internationalising the company and also set the company for a bigger goal of reaching $1 billion in sales by 2004 (Dr. Singh’s Vision) and Brar planned it out strategically and successfully. Brar helped the company to emerge successfully to achieve Dr. Singh’s vision; by 2002 Ranbaxy’s sales turnover was Rs. 39. 4 billion.In December 2003, Ranbaxy’s consolidated revenues crossed Rs. 44 billion ($960 million). Brar comfortably lead the company towards accomplishing its goal of earning $1 billion in revenues by 2004. ?In the case study it indicates clearly that he wants to look at other opportunities. He said â€Å"Having fulfilled my role in the company, I would like to devote my time to other pursuits in the next 10-15 years of my working life† Therefore, Brar’s decision to step down was both forced shown indirectly and his personal choice. 2)Between Tempest and Malvinder who will be a better successor at Ranbaxy and why?

Freewill vs Predistnation in Dr Faustus Essay

Dr Faustus is a german scholar who shuts himself off from human normal life to achieve his aspirations, he is not only willing to to sell his soul to the devil but also to be the devil himself † to be a spirit in form and in substance†,Dr Faustus is born to an ordinary family in germany in a small town called Rhode , he was educated at wittenberg a famous German university and obtained a degree in theology. Faustus is a shakeasperian character he isn’t rich or a king but he is a man of hight social rank,he has a flaw in his character,the hero (dr Faustus) has a problem in his character which leads to his downfall. Faustus is a great scientist who has a great knowledge,he has an extreme pride and arrogance, he is not happy with the level of knowledge and science that he reaches, he wants to reach a level that fit with his think,he wants to control the earth , to gaine power and full control,to transcend human life Oh what a world of profit and delight† Of power,of honour,of ominopotance By comparing himself with a â€Å"studious artizan,† Faustus hopes to gain all worldly pleasures and goods as the fruits of scholarly work. He does not understand,everything must be under his command All of these things have left him unsatisfied, so now he turns to magic to black magic Faustus realizes that by practicing the dark arts, he will have extreme power in the world. This is the turning point in his transition from scholar to magician. Faustus conjured a demon, Mephistophilis, ordering him to go to Lucifer with the offer of Faustus’s soul in return for twenty-four years of power and of pleasure with Mephistopheles as servant to him, Before the time comes to sign the contract, Faustus has doupts, but he puts them aside and signs away his soul, writing with his own blood. Faustus begins his years filled with sinful nature. He feeds greedly on the art of awakening the dead,he realizes his mistake in believing power will bring him happiness,at the end of his 24 years Faustus is filled with fears and he becomes regretful for his past action,yet this comes too late when his fellow scholars find his body torns in pieces and his soul carried to hell. There is a failure of Christianity at the end of the drama because Faustus fails o repent. He cries out but no one is ready to listen . The ultimate lesson is that if we try to change our label from â€Å"Human being† into â€Å"God†, ultimate truth will be a punishment and that is terrible damnation,The end of the Faustus is really horrible,Faustus doubts in god’s existence is the worst thing. Eternal damnation is a result of suspicion in God. Indeed, Faustus is a tragic common man.

Safe Food Supply System

Safe Food Supply System Food is essential for the survival of any living creature. At the same time food can cause problems to health if it is not properly preserved or processed or consumed. The importance of food safety goes on increasing day by day. Governments are taking hard efforts to ensure food safety.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Safe Food Supply System specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Unlike other households items consumers are much concerned about the quality and safety of the food items they buy. The reason is that if they consume non-secure food that may cause problems to their health. The bacteria and other harmful invisible insects contained in the food items create health problems and it may even lead to hazards to life. These necessitate the need for a safe food supply system for ensuring a food safety. The food supply in America is not enough safe. Food safety issues Many factors can lead to food related disease outbrea ks. Among this the severity of some diseases are less and it affect lesser number of people, but some others, are too severe and affects large number of people, such as cholera(Hui, 2001 p.172) Sometimes the food items like non-processes meat might have infected with bacteria like E.Coil, Salmonella†¦etc. The consumption of food bacteria affected food item causes illness like cholera, hepatitis†¦etc. If a person is affected by food infection there may be symptoms of such infection, like vomiting, fever†¦etc. Food supply and issues in America It is the duty of every government to ensure food safety to its citizens. Through efficient and sophisticated supply food safety could be ensured. In United States of America the food supply system is not proper and enough care is not taken for ensuring the food safety. This is evident from the fact that there is a higher rate of death due to disease from contaminated food consumption (Food safety and food borne illness, 2007). Fa st food culture has swallowed the American food system. There are plenty of fast food stores and restaurants in the United States of America. â€Å"Over the last three decades, fast food has infiltrated every nook and cranny of American society† (Schlosser, 2001p.3). Fast food always creates health problems, but even then people are interested in fast food. Though people can prepare food in traditional method of food preparation and can follow traditional food culture, majority are not opting for that.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Though there is a system namely Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) in the country for ensuring supply of safe and healthier supply of food, it need to more active and efforts must be taken to reduce the death out of lack of food safety (Food Safety and Food Security: What Consumers Need to Know, p 2). Majority of the people in the United States believe that, they have got a safe food supply system (Stinson et al. 2007). However, the fact is not like that, it is not that much safe as now the food items are imported from countries like India and safety of such food items is matter of concern. Steps to be taken for ensuring food safety The food poisons and other problems caused by lack of food security are increasing day by day. Efforts should be made to limit or eliminate these problems and ensure food safety in the country and thereby becoming a model country for all over the world. Following are some recommendations for ensuring food safety. a. Implementing clean food preparation techniques One of the chief causes for becoming the food items contaminated is lack of cleanliness in the food preparation place. Also the carelessness by those who make food items cause to become the food items infected by bacteria and other harmful creatures. b. Ensure immediate consumption of the fast perishable items: The perishable food items are to be immediately consumed; otherwise it may cause to become the food item filled with insects and bacteria. By way of ensuring immediate consumption of this kinds of food items food safety can be guaranteed.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Safe Food Supply System specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More c. Conduct awareness programs: It is one of the better ways to ensure food safety. Majority of the people are not aware of the after effects of the consuming bacteria involved and expired food items. Awareness programs need to conduct for bringing the attention of consumers as well as workers in the food industry. d. Efforts from the part of the government: Without the support of the government, it is difficult to make a food safety programs successful. The government has to contribute economically as well as non-economically for safety ensuring efforts. The policies need to be designed by the gove rnment in such a way that it does not allow any kind of violation of the rules of food safety. e. Proper preservation of food: Once the food items are prepared they are to be preserved well. Otherwise it may cause to become the food contaminated. If the food item requires refrigeration it should be refrigerated. f. Proper handling:Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Hands should be washed before touching the food item as there are chances that our hands may contain poisonous things or bacteria (Prevention of Food Poisoning). Conclusion Health is a matter of concern for everybody. Nobody would like to sacrifice health for wealth or any other purpose as health is considered the most rewarding wealth. However, improper food habits and food preservation and processing can cause many hazards to human life. The effective management of food and its utmost care in handling and processing can reduce the perils to a great extent. Work Cited â€Å"Food safety and food borne illness†. Media Center-World Health Organization. 2007. Web. â€Å"Food Safety and Food Security: What Consumers Need to Know?† United States Department of Agriculture-Food Safety and Inspection Service. Web. Hui, Yiu H. and Wai-Kit Nip, Meat science and applications. CRC Press, 2007. Prevention of Food Poisoning, Food Poisoning. Mamashealth.com. Web. Schlosser, Eric. Fas t food nation: the dark side of the all-American meal, Part 10 Edition 001 Series. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2001. Stinson, F. Thomas, Jean Kinsey, Dennis Degeneffe, and Koel Ghosh. Defending Americas Food Supply against Terrorism: Who is Responsible? Who Should Pay? Choices, 2007. Web.

Black or White

American society is portrayed in Michael Jackson’s song â€Å"Black or White. † Whereas the racism is defined as a superior behavior against other race-thus making it inferior, the singer refers to this term as â€Å"See, it’s not about races, just places, faces, where your blood comes from is where your space is. † Michael Jackson, one of the most influential artists in the music industry, calls for equality in how people view and behave towards each other. The question, which this master thesis investigates, does it matter if you’re black or white, is clearly answered by the singer: â€Å"It don’t matter if you’re black or white. † Jackson was trying to influence his society to act in a similar way and he calls for them to live their lives by Dr. Luther’s dream â€Å"†¦. judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. † However, almost thirty years later, it still seemed only as a dream because he sang: â€Å"I’m tired of this Devil†, where the bad is being represented by the prejudice. At the same time, he clearly states: â€Å"I’m not gonna spend my life being a color† – this is where he makes his conclusion. This can imply that even though he doesn’t discriminate and would like to see color prejudice gone, he is still being discriminated against. While being the most prominent artist in the music industry, he still calls himself â€Å"a color† and he rebuts against it and wants to be seen for the person he is and not the pigmentation of his skin. It is widely known that Michael Jackson had many facial plastic surgeries and it is controversial whether or not he altered his skin color by chemical peels or was it the disease called vitiligio that changed his face color to white. Therefore, it can be speculated that he modified skin to appear white, which ultimately is his vision. It can be further questioned – since Michael Jackon can’t win his struggle for racial equality, did he give up and go white – just to end his inner battle? Will all his suffering come to closure since now he looks white? Is this the true answer? It may be deemed as so since the skin color is the guide of one’s position in the society where being white claims supremacy-control and power. It should be noted that Michael Jackson is one of the greatest musicians of all times, having sold over 750 million records worldwide. He has accomplished so much in his life, yet still feels inferior and calls for racial equality in the world. His vision for a better world to live in, free of racism, ends on a sad note: â€Å"It’s black, it’s white†. To summarize, through decades, the blacks have fought to be equal, as the American nation shall guarantee those rights, yet, the society is still divided into the superior, the whites, and inferior- the blacks (and other people of color). Blacks have always been portrayed as the dirty, the poor, the lesser-of-a human type whereas the whites are seen as the dominant, the good type. Again, Jackson does not agree with this stereotype in saying: â€Å"I ain’t second to none. †Moreover, he claims that he will no longer be scared and mentions historical symbol of a KKK group: â€Å"I ain’t scared of your brother, I ain’t scared of no sheets. With his passing in 2009, many of his inner struggles come to the end, but will the next generation start working on being color-free as the king of pop envisioned? America has always struggled with racial issues, especially those of black and white. Some them included racial segregation, education, workforce, banking and even seating on the bus. Black people continuously tried to â€Å"break thru† into community, but were always pushed aside as dirty, poor and unwelcome. We, in modern times, see the United States of America as a country that treats everyone equal. Americans should all be all equal, no matter what race, color, religion or any other characteristics they have. After all, we all remember year 2009, which is when Americans elected their first African American President. Question that comes to mind – why â€Å"first African American President,† not just simply their 44th President? So – the race and color of your skin does matter in modern times. My analyses of selected books, academic journals, films and music video will concentrate and argue if Americans indeed discriminate against race or if it is history and no longer exists in American life. First, I would like to take into consideration the iconic Michael Jackson, one of the greatest, perhaps the greatest singer and performer of the 21st century. Not only his songs deserve a closer look, but also his lifestyle – ideas, fears and the public opinion. â€Å"Black or White† by Michael Jackson and Bill Bottrell is a one of the greatest singles in Michael’s career. It was released on November 11, 1991. What inspired Michael to particularly select these two topics? Black or white – as implied in the song, he sings about skin color. Songs starts in Africa, possibly showing Jackson’s â€Å"beginning† – he is black. In one of the scenes, Michael sings â€Å"I ain’t scared of no sheets; I ain’t scared of nobody† while he is walking through fire images – which is being compared to KKK and its torch ceremonies. Here, he is portraying his painful vision of KKK and its vision. Later, the performers sing â€Å"I’m not gonna spend my life being a color. † What a great statement. Michael, throughout his whole life and his career, shows us his inner and constant fight for a non-racial America. Being black himself, he had struggled and finally came to the top, but still did not achieve the level of happiness – which is â€Å"no color† in his country. Later, Jackson sings on Statue of Liberty’s torch, again possibly reminding us about the KKK, and at the same time – the Statue symbolizes liberty, which for him will be color-free, no discrimination America. We shouldn’t forget about Michael’s actions in this video. In the original version, he is smashing the car, windows and the inn exploded. However, later he had to edit this version to minimize his violent behavior, however. He altered it by adding four racial graffiti messages onto the windows that he was smashing. As I suggested earlier, Michael Jackson is portrayed as an angry black man who simply hates the discrimination against black people and shows his feelings by destroyed his surroundings, as he was being destroyed himself –just for being of black color. In is interesting to observe, the Jackson, when asked to change his destructive aggressive music video, he indeed did change it, but didn’t forget about this hostility towards discrimination. He had just portrayed it differently (graffiti). First message reads: â€Å"Hitler Lives,† then â€Å"Nigger Go Home,† â€Å"No More Wetbacks,† and finally â€Å"KKK Rules. † It can be argued if Michael Jackson is simply smashing windows with those painful ideas – is destroying them – to make a better world? Finally, the song comes from the album â€Å"Dangerous. † What did the author have in mind? Are all of those issues, painful experiences and the fight for non-colored America dangerous? It can be argued that yes. Jackson showed us the dangerous side of being black, where he was always forced to fight and that causes different sorts of trouble. In â€Å"Black or White,† Michael brilliantly portrayed two core problems people were facing daily: black or white. As we look at his lifestyle and constant metamorphoses, Michael Jackson had numerous surgeries that altered the color of his skin and make him â€Å"white. † It is very controversial as many sources quote that Jackson had a condition where one looses a pigment of his skin, called vitiligo. However, Michael Jackson public image is seen as a person who constantly tried to be white, therefore, sought surgeries to help him attain this goal. Michael Jackson shows us that it could have probably been easier to make himself white and not struggle for color-free America, where everyone is equal, no matter of who there are or what they look like. It would also be important to analyze some of the lyrics from Jackson’s music video. He sings: â€Å"I had to tell them I ain’t second to none. † It can be understood that he no longer is accepting the fact that black is â€Å"second,† which is worse, just because of the color. He continues: â€Å"And I told about equality† – he tells us he wants to be considered equal, despite his skin color. Next verse, he has really had enough of being pushed around because he is black â€Å"I am tired of this devil, I am tired of this stuff, I am tired of this business. † Finally, he talks about racism in: â€Å"See, it’s not about races, Just places, Faces, Where your blood, Comes from, Is where your space is, I’ve seen the bright, Get duller, I’m not going to spend, My life being a color. † Here Michael Jackson compares himself to simply being a â€Å"color. † He is less than a human being only because he is not white. He is â€Å"black. Again, he accents his refusal of living his life being black. He wants to be equal, equal to white. It should be also noted that throughout video, Michael Jackson is wearing black and white clothing (white shirt, black blazer, white accents on his right arm and nails, black shoes, white socks). He seems to be a person caught in a black-and-white world and struggles to change it, showing his pain. However, at the very end, he turns into a black panther. This transformation may symbolize him as a black man who will fight for his rights, yet, still remain black. In book â€Å"The Color of Credit: Mortgage Discrimination, Research Methodology, and Fair-Lending Enforcement† Stephen L. Ross and John Yinger present racial issues and argue the importance of skin color in banking. It should be noted that this book was published in 2002, year where we all think that American people are equal, especially on racial basis. Therefore, why and how does the skin color come into play in banking? First, the American lenders take many factors into consideration when disbursing the mortgage. Such factors include many details such as the creditor’s ability to repay the loan – where the lender accesses the potential risk of losing the loan. There are many different lenders and they base their information on statistics, demographics and make final decision based on the risk factors. Research showed that mainly blacks would seek loans, which are not favorable to all lenders. Therefore such bank does take race into consideration when reviewing for application for credit. It is also shown that blacks will most likely work with subprime lenders (44%) with comparison to whites (only 4%). Blacks generally cannot use the prime mortgage market due to their poor qualifications, thus creating the black to white ratio of getting the mortgage with figures of 2. 28 denial for prime market and 1. 27 for subprime. At the same time, limited research shows that blacks-even though have some qualifications as white – would remain in the subprime market and thus be charged higher fees. Equal Credit Opportunity Act says: It shall be unlawful for any creditor to discriminate against any applicant, with respect to any aspect of a credit transaction— n the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex or marital status, or age (provided the applicant has the capacity to contract). (U. S. Code Title 15, Chapter 41, Section 1691) This would mean that all people should be treated equally in banks, when doing business in banks, no discrimination in credit transaction. However, authors argue that the bank may take a different look at the person and who they are in â₠¬Å"business necessity† can be proved. Therefore, even while it is regulated by law, certain discriminatory practices can and do exist. Later, it would be rather hard to prove that the lender discriminated based for example on race. All regulations are not very clear and courts find it hard to find such a connection of discrimination. It is implied that blacks, with poorer ability to repay, living in lower income communities, must face subprime, expensive mortgages – to possibly make as much money as possible in the shortest time-so if the black borrower defaults on his payments, the lender wouldn’t lose its investment. This is to compare with the white borrower who lives in the richer-type setting, is more likely to meet his payments, therefore, he is offered a prime mortgage rate, without the necessity to further secure the loan. It can be argued if blacks and whites are treated equally, despite many regulations. On one hand, the lender must adhere to all necessary regulations, but on the other hand, such institution can make necessary decisions to make that mortgage profitable – thus, taking all factors into consideration in the application process. We can further analyze that race and color of skin does matter when one is being evaluated for such an application. It is believed that whites pose a lower risk to a financial institution than blacks. This also means, as authors point out, that black are less likely to be approved for a higher-priced home than a white person, which causes the real estate agents to discriminate and not show the more expensive houses to blacks. Maybe they don’t discriminate, they just know that lender is not likely to approve a black person in comparison to the same application of a white person? It is particularly important to note that authors point out that ‘‘on average, black mortgage applications have higher loan-to value and debt-to-income ratios than do white applications. ’’ In closing, it should be noted that while many regulations exist, there is no proof that racial discrimination has gone away and some research suggests that blacks still have lower approval rate in comparison to the whites. It is said that race does play a key role when the lender looks at your mortgage application.

Professional Role and Future Goals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Professional Role and Future Goals - Essay Example There are so lots of theories, styles and opinions that are linked through effectual leadership. I always believe that there is one kind of leadership style that is mainly efficient, and if I can only expand that style, I would be effectual as a leader. Being a leader, I truly believe that it is best to stick by what comes obviously. I believe that decision-making is one of the mainly serious reoccurring responsibilities that leader face in his organization. An excellent decision would assist any company achieve its strategic goals, counting meeting the needs and demands of the company's employees and customers. George Halvorson made a commercial-level planned decision when he decided to re-organize. He took the structural approach, which "focuses on redesigning organizations and jobs or labour situations." (Brockner, J., 2002, p.436-442) I would like to adopt this approach focal point mainly upon the elimination of work, rather than reducing the number of employees. I think it encompasses activities such as close down area of works; delivering, groups, separation and products, and redesigning tasks, and plummeting in general work hours (Cameron, K. 2004, p.189-211).