The Beauty Myth And Its Effect On Women s Sense Of Self...

The first chapter, Work, is about the ways in which the Beauty Myth threatens the huge steps that women have made in the workplace. Wolf discusses how women are still being held back by having to work two shifts (one being paid for by employer and another for the unpaid work done at home) compared with the single shift worked by men – still made strides; and how the introduction of a third shift, the beauty shift, serves the purpose of keeping women down by keeping them tired and preoccupied. Too tired and preoccupied to be successful at work, and too tired and preoccupied to become concerned or even interested in unions or other political action that might help to change the situation. The beauty myth also serves an important function in threatening women’s sense of self-worth and self-esteem, so as to diminish their hopes, motivations and expectations to what the system can cope with. Wolf also writes about how, even though there is censorship on sex discrimination, women are still being forced to all aspects of continued, acceptable discrimination in the context of their appearance – what she calls the PBQ. Of course, the PBQ only relates to women. Male broadcasters for example don’t need to be young, adorable, sophisticated or graceful; male broadcasters achieve dignity with age. But of course the same rules don’t apply to women, who find themselves without a job because they are not â€Å"attractive† enough to read the news, and the courts that are supposed to enforceShow MoreRelatedRhetoric For A Short Video On Beautiful Or Average1691 Words   |  7 Pagespaper reveals my thoughts and explanation on rhetoric for a short video on beautiful or average. The discussion will focus on the perception, self-confidence, self-esteem and feelings of females when confronted with a decision to rate themselves on beautiful or average. Keywords: beautiful, average, feeling, perception, self-confidence, self-esteem Final Paper Beautiful or Average We are all affected by it, rhetoric in advertising. Today marketing groups around the world continueRead MoreA Brief Note On Anorexia And Bulimia Nervosa1561 Words   |  7 PagesIn today s western society, an abundance of factors contribute to the way one thinks and feels about themselves physically, and essentially how one would act upon this. All over the world, messages and images of skinny women are engrossing people s lives, leaving negative and long-lasting affects behind. Current beliefs of western culture suggest one must obtain a perfect, which has become analogous to thin, physique in order to achieve happiness and success, causing many young women to feelRead MoreBeauty Standards Has A Positive Or Negative Influence On Nigerian And Ghanaian Women1860 Words   |  8 Pages Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder Research Question: Looking into the studies deeper the posing question is rather Eurocentric beauty standards has had a positive or negative influence on Nigerian and Ghanaian women and to what extent has the beauty standards transformed these women’s cultural rootedness? Body image is a picture of one s own physical appearance established both by self-observation and the reactions of others (Medical Dictionary). How we view ourselves can be distorted byRead MoreSociology of Advertising and The Stereotyping of Women in the Media: Gender Roles, Personal Dissatisfaction and Issues of Patriarchy- Who Is Really to Blame?2525 Words   |  9 PagesThe Stereotyping of Women in the Media: Gender Roles, Personal Dissatisfaction and Issues of Patriarchy- Who Is Really to Blame? We live in a consumer world. Everything we do and perhaps everything we are is based on consumption and commodity. Daily life has become a constant juggle of products and services - needs verses wants. People and objects become interchangeable. People become identified and classified with material goods. While advertising and the consequential high levels of consumptionRead MoreBlack Naturalism and Toni Morrison: the Journey Away from Self-Love in the Bluest Eye8144 Words   |  33 PagesAlthough my students were unaware of it, in a sense what they were questioning from the standpoint of literary criticism is not only the theory of postmodernism with its emphasis on race, class and gender, but the theory of naturalism as well: the idea that one s social and physical environments can drastically affect one s nature and potential for surviving and succeeding in this world. In this article, I will explore Toni Morrison s The Bluest Eye from a naturalistic perspective; however, whileRead MoreStereotypes, Stereotyping and Ideals Essay5008 Words   |  21 Pagesand ultimately unattainable, how has she come to be an â€Å"icon† of femininity (duCille 101)? Girls and women across the country look to Barbie as a beautiful ideal, and strive for a body like hers. As a result, many batt le endlessly with dieting, eating disorders, distorted body images, and low self-esteem. In addition to physical standards put forth by Barbie, models, and mannequins, girls and women must also comply with given gender norms. Not only must they achieve an ideal body type, but also idealRead MoreGender Roles Of Women And Women3211 Words   |  13 Pagessocial constructs that determine how men and women are viewed, categorized, and stereotyped. In theory, gender roles seem benign: they are, after all, simply relics of cultural tradition; in practice however, they have proved malignant, and are the root of many obstacles women and men face in the United States today, confining individuals through archaic, sexist assumptions and stereotypes. At the heart of this stereotyping is the idea that true women are sensitive, nurturing, and submissive to theRead MoreEssay on Food Advertisements 2423 Words   |  10 Pagessoon over weight. I knew I had to do something but that urgency would die when I would be introduced to a new flavor of Brewster’s ice cream or a limited time only supreme large fries that I saw advertised on the television or in a magazine. My self esteem and body-image suffered a great amount during those years of constant struggle. As I looked at pictures of celebrities, athletes, average people, friends, my sister and then myself, I noticed something, all of them were thin except me. After thisRead MoreThe Body Shop14072 Words   |  57 Pagesdifferent places like Tahiti, New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Reunion, Madagascar, Mauritius, Australia, and Johannesburg.   Her fascination with the women she encountered in these places became an episodic event in her life.   It later formulated her tale of success.   As stated in Lessem and Palsule (1999), she was mesmerized by the organic products that women in the Polynesian islands use to nurture their bodies.   Then, she went back to England and married a Scotsman poet and traveler named Gord on RoddickRead MoreConsumer Behavior Study Notes7882 Words   |  32 Pagesand its surroundings Weber’s Law The stronger the initial stimulus, the greater its change must be for it to be noticed K= ΔII where: K = the constant increase or decrease necessary for the stimulus to be noticed (this varies across the senses) ∆I = the minimal change in intensity of the stimulus required to be just noticeable to the person (JND) I = the intensity of the stimulus before the change occurs * Retailers generally use a markdown rule of at least 20% to make an impact

Determining The Artistic Value Of A Theatrical Film Or

Determining the artistic value of a theatrical film or television program is difficult to measure. People view art differently. Each person has their own perspective, what impresses one person may not impress another. Some are impressed by the actors, some by the cinematography, some by the music, others by the script. Measuring success in the movie industry is much more than garnering a large fan base instantly or generating millions of dollars on opening night. How much critical acclaim a movie garners, how original the script is and how many repeated viewings a film receives are better indicators that a film is not just successful financially, but also artistically. A director must rely on the successful cooperation of many†¦show more content†¦Jack’s son is possessed by a supernatural being who convinces Jack to start drinking again. Throughout the winter he is driven to alcohol increasingly and attempts to take the life of his wife, son, and the former hotel cook . Jack Nicholson was able to capture one of Stephen King’s most complex characters in his performance as Jack Torrance. The Shining was not only highly critically acclaimed and original, it also generated a lot of repeated views. Jack Nicholson proves that a large part of a movie or television show’s artistic success depends on the performer’s ability to execute the script well. A film is considered to be artistically successful when the cinematography of the film is considered to be of excellence. Cinematography is the art of making a motion picture. Through the director of photography, the cinematographer, decides what the general visual look of the film will be. The cinematographer will use manipulation of the camera to get his artistic vision of the script shown. In the film, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Andrew Lesnie uses his ability to operate a camera in the directing of the different visual cuts made in the film. For example, he dir ects the camera operator to zoom in on the ring and the deep, flame-colored scripture is shown. This gives the audience a sense of not only how important the ring is to the plot, but also a tinge of foreboding. Through the work of Andrew Lesnie, the film is highly regardedShow MoreRelatedNew Currents Of European Cinema1270 Words   |  6 Pagesthat it reshaped politics and economics. With the formation of the European Union, the destruction of the fracturing of the Soviet Republic, and the advent of the internet, artistic sensibilities began to blur across country lines. This is not to say that nations ceased to have their specific cultural relevancy within their films. Rather, they gained the benefit of drawing upon multiple sources of inspiration that have each had their own long histories. The redrawing of political and social bordersRead MoreThe Arts Have Been Long-Recognized As A Vital Component4734 Words   |  19 Pagesperspective into the more immaterial questions of life. Da Vinci’s brilliance came from the world around him, a world that cared deeply about intellectual curiosity and inspired creativity. The modern arguments surrounding the arts do not deny their value, yet they get lost when faced with demands about budget, their direct impact on test scores, and where exactly they fit in a given curriculum. Many public schools have seen their arts programs disappearing, despite the numerous studies publicizingRead MoreRe-Defining the Independent Film Value Chain9672 Words   |  39 PagesRe-defining the Independent Film Value Chain A paper by Peter Bloore Introduction: An industry value chain or system could be summarized as a connected series of activities, that combine to create and deliver a product (or value) to customers. These activities could include research and development, manufacturing, packaging, marketing, and distribution. Strictly speaking, a value chain represents those activities as carried out within a single company, and a value system represents those activitiesRead MoreThe Walt Disney Company Report15335 Words   |  62 Pageshas never looked back, it has constantly and steadily growing only to takeover more renowned production powerhouses like Marvel and Lucasfilms. This expansion is not limited to film industry, Disney is spreading its wings to Shanghai, China to open its new and largest Disney Land. While it continues to quietly absorb the film giant UTV motion pictures of India. What numbers and these big acquisitions fail to portray is the creativity that goes into creating magic on screen, fantasy on earth andRead MoreMetz Film Language a Semiotics of the Cinema PDF100902 Words   |  316 PagesFILM LANGUAGE FILM LANGUAGE A Semiotics of the Cinema Christian Metz Translated by Michael Taylor The University of Chicago Press Published by arrangement with Oxford University Press, Inc. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 60637  © 1974 by Oxford University Press, Inc. All rights reserved. English translation. Originally published 1974 Note on Translation  © 1991 by the University of Chicago University of Chicago Press edition 1991 Printed in the United States of America 09 08 07 6Read MoreEssay on Georg Lukacs, quot;the Ideology of Modernismquot;7555 Words   |  31 PagesUnion), modernism is the last desperate cry of a dying economic system, capitalism. As late capitalism crumbles, it generates more and more alienation and meaninglessness in its citizens, and modernism is the attempt to reflect that collapse of value and meaning and human belonging in literary form. Because capitalist society is too corrupt and too chaotic to find meaning any longer, modernists insist that there is no meaning anywhere, and people who believe in meaning are just old-fashioned. Read MoreContemporary Issues in Management Accounting211377 Words   |  846 Pageshis MBA from Rotterdam School of Management, and his Ph.D. from the University of Maastricht. His research and teaching interests are in the areas of intellectual capital, in accounting and control of the knowledge-based firm, and in knowledge-based value creation. He served and serves on the editorial boards of severa l national and international academic journals, and has held, or still holds, visiting academic positions in Germany, Spain, Sweden, Finland, and France. Robert W. Scapens, Ph.D., MA(Econ)Read MoreRastafarian79520 Words   |  319 Pageshistory of resistance and black consciousness that has been part of the Jamaican experience for years. The truth is that there has always been a committed Jamaican counter- culture that celebrates and sees redemption in Africa and rejects the European values that have oppressed a society. But prior to the advent of popular culture and especially the music recording business in the late twentieth century, its apparatus of cultural formation was controlled fully by the elite who, to a large extent, ranRead MoreFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 PagesThe Changing World of Technology What Is a Knowledge Worker? 6 How Technology Affects HRM Practices 6 Recruiting 7 Employee Selection 7 Training and Development 7 Ethics and Employee Rights 7 Motivating Knowledge Workers 7 Paying Employees Market Value 8 Communications 8 Decentralized Work Sites 8 Skill Levels 8 A Legal Concern 8 Employee Involvement 20 How Organizations Involve Employees 20 Employee Involvement Implications for HRM 20 Other HRM Challenges 21 Recession 21 Off Shoring 21 MergersRead MoreProject Mgmt296381 Words   |  1186 Pages3) 6.4.2 Estimating tools (.1.3.4) 6.3.1 Identifying resources 7.1 Activity cost estimates (.2.3.4.5) 5.1.2.4 Delphi method Chapter 6 10.5.3 Cost/schedule system (.1) 6.6 .2.1 Time performance 7.2.3.1 Cost baseline development 7.3.2.1 Earned value system (F.4) 7.3.2.4 E.V., performance status report 7.3.2.2 E.V., forecasts 7.3.2.3 EV., to complete index (EAC) 7.3.2.5 Schedule and cost variance Developing a Project Plan 4.2.2 Planning tools 6.2 Sequence activities [1.2] 6.5.1 Bar and milestone

Furman Selz Free Essays

The firm had a unique approach to everything – from hiring employees, selecting clients to providing services. As the firm grew in size and in revenues, its founders realized the need for professional management. This brought about the very first change – in form of Edmund Hails. We will write a custom essay sample on Furman Selz or any similar topic only for you Order Now With a highly structured and consistent approach, Hajji set out to re-form the entire system and expand the company with the help of Steve Belcher, COO. The new PL’s (Profit ; Loss system) and Compensation system were Ingredients of this change management process. During the acquisition process, Farman Sell witnessed drastic culture hinges from the Orlando Clan culture to a Bureaucracy one. Farman Sell was acquired by Xerox Financial Services Inc. In 1987. On one hand, the people of Farman Sell were put-off by the bureaucratic style and on the other hand, the firm enjoyed being under the umbrella of a big brand. Following the ‘Black Monday’ of 1987, the financial services sector was badly hit and even though the performance of Farman Sell was above average, Xerox decided to sell its financial services unit and once again, Farman Sell became a private company owned by the firm’s management and a group of employees. Edmund Hajji took over the reins and quickly distributed company stocks to key employees in order to retain them. The firm then focused on aggressive hiring of new talent and expansion of Its business. Farman Sell became a very sought-after company to work with. In 1995 the Federal Reserve relaxed the Glass-Steal regulations, which had emerged as a way to control the banking industry after the Great Depression. Then there were few restrictions when commercial banks want to combine with security business and vice versa. As a result, many mid-sized investing banks were looking to merge with larger rims and therefore attain growth and the possibility to participate in larger deals. As business grew across various dimensions, Farman Sell realized that they were ‘t competitive and they lost a lot of deals because of smaller size of the firm, limited equity and the businesses that were increasingly becoming global, especially when there was huge growth In mergers and acquisitions. This Is when INNING Barings acquired Farman Sell, pursuing an international expansion strategy in both banking and Insurance. The acquisition made by INNING shows clear failures in the 3-Stages Model of Merges and Acquisitions. In the first stage, â€Å"Pre-Combination†, there Is a lack of the cultural assessment needed by the HRS department. It Is needed to evaluate the philosophies and values of both companies, and therefore understand among toners, ten learning styles, relative value AT stats Consolers or ten value AT teamwork versus the individual performance and recognition. Thus, it would be easier for both companies to develop a plan for managing the process of the M;A. In the INNING case, there seems to be a lack of this pre-combination assessment, in that the company wanted to climb up the rankings without investing more money. They din ‘t understand that the company the day before the acquisition was the same as the day after. INNING Barings had most of its business in commercial banking and insurance, with absolutely no business lines in areas of Investment banking. Almost immediately, tension started developing between managers of INNING Barings and Farman Sell because there were differences in agreement on key business issues. The complexities in structure of INNING were not taken well by former Farman Sell employees. Regarding the second stage, â€Å"Combination-Integrating the Company’, there are several decisions that would help n the process of the acquisition. Firstly, there was no integration manager, who is a key person – not in running of the business, but in attaining a higher percentage of retention of the acquired managers and key employees and at the same time in achieving the business goals earlier. Second, INNING group decided to have 2 co-leaders in the new company and this created confusion. The workers felt that they din ‘t understand the expectations that INNING had. In order for a MA to succeed, it is necessary to have a strong leader who can manage the new business combination ND avoid uncertainty, lack of direction and the adjournment of important decisions. In this second stage, clear and positive communication is extremely important. It is also necessary to identify key employees and develop the incentives process in order to retain them. It is evident that INNING did not realize the importance of investing time and money into the newly formed relationship with Farman Sell resulting in failure to achieve common ground while making business decisions. Lack of communication usually leads to confusion, reduced productivity, a high level of uncertainty and low morale. The situation was worsened by the departure of key management personnel, one after the other, in a very short span of time. The problem can be attributed to poor integration post acquisition. It seems that INNING understood who the key players were, and positioned them in different departments, such as Steve Blob (Research), Bill Shutter and Chris Moore (Corporate Finance), who along with Bill Torsos were called the â€Å"troika† and developed a new incentive system to ease the complexity created. The problem arose when as a consequence of the Russian debt crisis, only a small number of top performers received bonuses and most of other employee din t receive anything, even though INNING Barings had no part in the Russian problem. As a result of pessimism and the problems with bonuses, many talented people left the company. Statistics reveal that about 70-80% of mergers fail to provide value to the company. The people driving the business are the single most important factor determining the success of a merger or acquisition and this fact cannot be ignored. The 6th Principle for Managing Change shows us the importance of the different stakeholders in the company when it under goes changes. The company needs to understand who are these key stakeholders and prioritize them. While the senior management of Farman Sell was supporting the acquisition there were many employees across several levels of management that fold under the category of Skeptics. I nose are ten people winos n seas nave to De reassess Tort smooth transitioning. Looking at the Change Curve we see several reactions of employees of Farman Sell – from initial shock to denial and anger. It is evident from the fact that people felt betrayed when they realized that they were ;t going to be an independent subsidiary. At the same time, HRS personnel at Farman Sell were not forth coming in haring information, because they were angry at how things had been handled. Finally, everything led to Depression, when a lot of key employees left the company. If INNING had invested sufficient money and effort towards smooth integration, the curve could follow the intended path to acceptance, discovery and integration. Now that Farman Sell has already been acquired by INNING Barings, we strongly recommend that INNING invests additional funds as well as effort for a smooth integration and sustainability. This includes looking into various issues: * Management issues * Talent recruitment, compensations and rewards Alignment of HRS policies * Defining a vision for the newly acquired company * Identifying procedures that work well with both parties * Identifying cultural barriers to progress In addition, internal communication is also a critical tool. A seamless communication will ensure that people do not become pessimistic and lose confidence. It will reassure employees and instill a greater sense of belonging. In cases of M A, involving cross-border deals, cultural differences, legislative complexities, local know- how and ways of doing business all provide obstacles to smooth transitioning and progress. A lot more sensitivity is required when affecting such deals – both pre acquisitions as well as post-acquisition. For example, the newly formed teams may face inter-personal conflict and not be clear about its responsibilities and goals. Ideally, post an acquisition, efforts should be made to allow the acquired firm retain its best management practices and values that are important to its managers. This will help create greater harmony in operations. In addition, a feedback taken from different levels of management can help identify problem areas and allow senior managers find ways to resolve them. How to cite Furman Selz, Papers

Baker Hughes (BH) Organization

Questions: 1. Evaluate the interrelationship between the different processes and functions of an organisation .2. Justify the methodology to be used to map processes to the organisations goals and objectives .3. Evaluate the output of the process and the quality gateways .4. Design systems to manage and monitor quality standards specified by the organisation.5. Demonstrate a quality culture to ensure continuous monitoring, evaluation and development of the process.6. Recommend improvements which align with the organisations objectives and goals and which result in improvements.7. Discuss potential implications of your recommended changes for example the impact on operational costs, on morale and motivation, on customer satisfaction. Answers: 1. Baker Hughes (BH) Organization is in the energy sector. It provides services related to oil drilling and consulting in the oil and gas sector. The organization is run effectively at the moment. However, there is some uncertainty going on at the moment due to its recent acquisition by the organization Halliburton. In Baker Hughes, there exists strong interrelationship between the different processes and organizations of an organization for example, HR, Marketing, Purchasing, Quality, and Training etc. The Marketing or the Purchasing department generally takes the training before it actually goes down in the field (Bettis, 2015). Any Purchase or procurement activities is closely linked with Quality check of the product. The HR department conducts periodic trainings and appraisals for the employees so as to keep them updated. This kind of inter-relationship helps the organization to grow in a smooth manner. 2. The functional, operational and the strategic processes within the organization are well strategized by the leaders within the organization. The leaders at the company try to focus on their core competency of drilling service providing. They try to procure quality materials and help their clientele to undergo drilling methodologies. The values provided by the BH is being appreciated by all their clients. The core values of the organization is revised every quarter to keep it updated with the industry standards (Becker, 2013). The functional processes are restructured so as to maintain the quality within the organization. The Methodology focused is New and Renew. This can be explained as introducing new methods and reforming the older methods to renew them so as to ensure greater success of the organization. 3. Quality Gateways is as such not yet been thought in BH. However, the company is very much stringent regarding the quality of everything they deal with. It may be the human resources they procure or the raw materials. The quality is given the utmost priority. The services with poor quality is being restructured as and when required. They are dealt seriously and kept outside of eyes of any competitor organization or clients (Bozarth, 2015). After the quality is improved, then they become the part of normal process flow. The organization might think in line with that of Quality Gateways in the near future. They can undergo certain strategic change with the implementation of best strategies available in the market to cater quality products and services to the clients. 4. Organizational Performance needs to be improved year on year so that the organization achieves success. At BH, the management focuses on improving the procurement department with the integration with latest technology. The savings in the procurement stage provides major benefits to the organization. The procurement of the raw materials acts as tone of the major costs within the organization. The selection of suppliers also contributes to the same. ERP solution (SAP) is implemented so as to monitor the performance of all the departments and to generate real time reports which can help the management to take key decisions (Carroll, 2014). The productivity is given importance and employees are directed to work towards the development in the department they work in. The work of individual departments need to work in an integrated manner so as to ensure increase in organization performance at the macro level. 5. The management of the organization is supportive to the new changes being proposed by the employees. They have given the employees the liberty to think innovative ideas and present it in front of the management. The behavior of the managers towards the employees is very kind. It gives the employees the required motivation and helps them in increasing their productivity. The attitude of the employees as well as the managers are positive and all are working towards the development of the organization (Jeston, 2014). The approach of the managers is towards long term perspective and they try to build strategies which can help the company to achieve success in the longer term. All these strategies help the company to maintain the quality standards. The management focus towards the development of the employees as well because they are the base of the company which works hard and helps the company to grow. 6. The organization is at a phase where the future of the organization is a bit blur. It is due to the acquisition of the company by the major organization Halliburton. The company are currently thinking about the satisfaction of all the clients and want to satisfy them with quality products and services. The recommendation to the company would be to hold on to the key employees and try to keep them motivated (Hill, 2014). The resources should be kept still so as to cater to future requirements. The people of the company needs to work hard and prove to the clients. The use of the ERP solution has been a major benefit for the organization. They should try to build on their existing solutions and should try to bring in new technology so as to foster growth. 7. The increase in the IT Technology will help the company to keenly monitor all its departments. The cost impact to the company can be a bit in the current scenario (Hitt, 2012). However, there wont be any major implications because of these. The managers and the supervisors will also get help with the IT technologies as they will be able to map the demand and supply in a better manner. The company will continue to operate in the similar manner after the acquisition as well. BH has certain long term strategies which they intent to build phase by phase after the acquisition completely takes place (Slack, 2015). The financial impact on the BH with this IT enhancement plans will be more at first but will stagnate and boost the companys operational performance to a greater extent. References Bettis, R.A., Ethiraj, S., Gambardella, A., Helfat, C. and Mitchell, W., 2015. Creating repeatable cumulative knowledge in strategic management. Strategic Management Journal. Becker, J., Kugeler, M. and Rosemann, M. eds., 2013. Process management: a guide for the design of business processes. Springer Science Business Media. Bozarth, C.C. and Handfield, R.B., 2015. Introduction to operations and supply chain management. Prentice Hall. Carroll, A. and Buchholtz, A., 2014. Business and society: Ethics, sustainability, and stakeholder management. Nelson Education. Jeston, J. and Nelis, J., 2014. Business process management. Routledge. Hill, C., Jones, G. and Schilling, M., 2014. Strategic management: theory: an integrated approach. Cengage Learning. Hitt, M., Ireland, R.D. and Hoskisson, R., 2012. Strategic management cases: competitiveness and globalization. Cengage Learning. Slack, N., 2015. Operations strategy. John Wiley Sons, Ltd.

Baker Hughes (BH) Organization

Questions: 1. Evaluate the interrelationship between the different processes and functions of an organisation .2. Justify the methodology to be used to map processes to the organisations goals and objectives .3. Evaluate the output of the process and the quality gateways .4. Design systems to manage and monitor quality standards specified by the organisation.5. Demonstrate a quality culture to ensure continuous monitoring, evaluation and development of the process.6. Recommend improvements which align with the organisations objectives and goals and which result in improvements.7. Discuss potential implications of your recommended changes for example the impact on operational costs, on morale and motivation, on customer satisfaction. Answers: 1. Baker Hughes (BH) Organization is in the energy sector. It provides services related to oil drilling and consulting in the oil and gas sector. The organization is run effectively at the moment. However, there is some uncertainty going on at the moment due to its recent acquisition by the organization Halliburton. In Baker Hughes, there exists strong interrelationship between the different processes and organizations of an organization for example, HR, Marketing, Purchasing, Quality, and Training etc. The Marketing or the Purchasing department generally takes the training before it actually goes down in the field (Bettis, 2015). Any Purchase or procurement activities is closely linked with Quality check of the product. The HR department conducts periodic trainings and appraisals for the employees so as to keep them updated. This kind of inter-relationship helps the organization to grow in a smooth manner. 2. The functional, operational and the strategic processes within the organization are well strategized by the leaders within the organization. The leaders at the company try to focus on their core competency of drilling service providing. They try to procure quality materials and help their clientele to undergo drilling methodologies. The values provided by the BH is being appreciated by all their clients. The core values of the organization is revised every quarter to keep it updated with the industry standards (Becker, 2013). The functional processes are restructured so as to maintain the quality within the organization. The Methodology focused is New and Renew. This can be explained as introducing new methods and reforming the older methods to renew them so as to ensure greater success of the organization. 3. Quality Gateways is as such not yet been thought in BH. However, the company is very much stringent regarding the quality of everything they deal with. It may be the human resources they procure or the raw materials. The quality is given the utmost priority. The services with poor quality is being restructured as and when required. They are dealt seriously and kept outside of eyes of any competitor organization or clients (Bozarth, 2015). After the quality is improved, then they become the part of normal process flow. The organization might think in line with that of Quality Gateways in the near future. They can undergo certain strategic change with the implementation of best strategies available in the market to cater quality products and services to the clients. 4. Organizational Performance needs to be improved year on year so that the organization achieves success. At BH, the management focuses on improving the procurement department with the integration with latest technology. The savings in the procurement stage provides major benefits to the organization. The procurement of the raw materials acts as tone of the major costs within the organization. The selection of suppliers also contributes to the same. ERP solution (SAP) is implemented so as to monitor the performance of all the departments and to generate real time reports which can help the management to take key decisions (Carroll, 2014). The productivity is given importance and employees are directed to work towards the development in the department they work in. The work of individual departments need to work in an integrated manner so as to ensure increase in organization performance at the macro level. 5. The management of the organization is supportive to the new changes being proposed by the employees. They have given the employees the liberty to think innovative ideas and present it in front of the management. The behavior of the managers towards the employees is very kind. It gives the employees the required motivation and helps them in increasing their productivity. The attitude of the employees as well as the managers are positive and all are working towards the development of the organization (Jeston, 2014). The approach of the managers is towards long term perspective and they try to build strategies which can help the company to achieve success in the longer term. All these strategies help the company to maintain the quality standards. The management focus towards the development of the employees as well because they are the base of the company which works hard and helps the company to grow. 6. The organization is at a phase where the future of the organization is a bit blur. It is due to the acquisition of the company by the major organization Halliburton. The company are currently thinking about the satisfaction of all the clients and want to satisfy them with quality products and services. The recommendation to the company would be to hold on to the key employees and try to keep them motivated (Hill, 2014). The resources should be kept still so as to cater to future requirements. The people of the company needs to work hard and prove to the clients. The use of the ERP solution has been a major benefit for the organization. They should try to build on their existing solutions and should try to bring in new technology so as to foster growth. 7. The increase in the IT Technology will help the company to keenly monitor all its departments. The cost impact to the company can be a bit in the current scenario (Hitt, 2012). However, there wont be any major implications because of these. The managers and the supervisors will also get help with the IT technologies as they will be able to map the demand and supply in a better manner. The company will continue to operate in the similar manner after the acquisition as well. BH has certain long term strategies which they intent to build phase by phase after the acquisition completely takes place (Slack, 2015). The financial impact on the BH with this IT enhancement plans will be more at first but will stagnate and boost the companys operational performance to a greater extent. References Bettis, R.A., Ethiraj, S., Gambardella, A., Helfat, C. and Mitchell, W., 2015. Creating repeatable cumulative knowledge in strategic management. Strategic Management Journal. Becker, J., Kugeler, M. and Rosemann, M. eds., 2013. Process management: a guide for the design of business processes. Springer Science Business Media. Bozarth, C.C. and Handfield, R.B., 2015. Introduction to operations and supply chain management. Prentice Hall. Carroll, A. and Buchholtz, A., 2014. Business and society: Ethics, sustainability, and stakeholder management. Nelson Education. Jeston, J. and Nelis, J., 2014. Business process management. Routledge. Hill, C., Jones, G. and Schilling, M., 2014. Strategic management: theory: an integrated approach. Cengage Learning. Hitt, M., Ireland, R.D. and Hoskisson, R., 2012. Strategic management cases: competitiveness and globalization. Cengage Learning. Slack, N., 2015. Operations strategy. John Wiley Sons, Ltd.

Jesus Freak by dc Talk free essay sample

Jesus Freak is my favorite song because it inspires me to live like a Christian and to spread the gospel whenever opportunity presents itself. It does that through a fast Christian rock format. I would give it 20 out of 20 stars.

First Steps in Plotting a Novel

First Steps in Plotting a Novel First Steps in Plotting a Novel First Steps in Plotting a Novel By Maeve Maddox Sterlin writes: My girlfriend says plots are a dime a dozen, but I feel different. I am trying to write my story and I am loaded with themes, but no plot, nothing to drive the themes or story. Can you offer any tips or techniques for devising a plot? In one sense the girlfriend is correct. The writing section of any library houses dozens of books offering ready-made plots. One plot seems to be enough for many action stories: The hero is attempting to stop an assassination or foil plans to destroy the world. Reversals and disasters occur at predictable intervals before the action-packed climax and spectacular successful outcome. Theres nothing wrong with stories like that. We all enjoy them, especially as movies, but theyre not especially memorable. If your ambition is to write a novel that will linger in the readers mind after the last page, plotting requires a less mechanical approach. Many writing teachers describe plot as the skeleton of the novel, but I dont think thats quite the right metaphor. Picturing plot as skeleton suggests that the other elements of the novel can be hung on it or peeled off. I think that creating the right plot involves combining character and story in such a way that the result is a fused whole. Plot, character, story, theme and setting should bond with one another like the molecules in vulcanized rubber. What tips or techniques have I to offer? Only what Im doing myself as I begin my newest fiction project: 1. Read one of the many books about plot, for example 20 Master Plots and how to build them by Ronald B. Tobias. 2. Describe the story you plan to write in one sentence. If you cant say what your book is about in one sentence, you dont have a clear enough idea of what youre trying to do. 3. Decide what the main character wants more than anything else in life. The plot will grow out of this desire. 3. Write a character description of the protagonist that includes appearance, likes, dislikes, fears, childhood trauma, occupation, etc. Plot is behavior. The kind of experiences your character has had in the past will determine how he behaves in the future. What he fears will affect his actions. Plot grows from character. 4. Make a timeline for the events of the novel. This will give your plot anchor points. 5. Make a map that shows where all the action will take place. This will help you gauge distances and figure the length of time necessary to move your characters from one place to another. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Dialogue Dos and Don'tsThe Difference Between "will" and "shall"Is "Number" Singular or Plural?

Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Assignment - Essay Example According to the principle, actions are right as long as they encourage happiness as a form of pleasure and they are wrong as long as they discourage happiness. The Greatest Happiness Principle articulates many ideas regarding happiness as pleasure and unhappiness as pain or lack of pleasure. Since this theory establishes that the only thing that is yearned for by an individual is happiness and pleasure, this view of life is often seen as having no greater purpose. This indicates that the only thing which one demands is pleasure thereby disregarding all higher yearnings. However, this notion implies that individuals have no other yearnings apart from pleasure. In reality, things that might satisfy the pleasure of one individual may not satisfy that of the other. Because of this some pleasures are more satisfying than others due to their intrinsically virtuous properties. Mills has describes two forms of pleasure – higher and lower – based on the characteristics of these pleasures (5-6). But what brings about the difference in characteristics? The difference in the quality, according to Mill, results from the preference of one pleasure over the other among people who are aware with the two pleasures (6). Hence, the chosen pleasure is superior to the other one because the preferred pleasure dominates the other one due to a higher quality. Relatively, the preferred pleasure is a higher pleasure because of its higher quality in terms of preference. Due to the quality differences in the numerous forms of pleasures, some pleasures are preferred over the others. Mostly, people who are aware of both higher as well as lower pleasures prefer higher pleasures in their ways of life. Higher pleasures make use of higher faculties which is why any human may not choose to switch to an animal and enjoy animal pleasures. Humans use a higher form of capacity and reasoning and that is why any unhappy human would not replace for a happy and satisfied animal unless the state of unhappiness is so severe that he may want to escape from the situation. Another theory has been presented by Immanuel Kant that relates to the question of morality. According to Kant, all the ethical philosophies are by nature comprehensive, reasonable, and objective hence the categorical is a way by which actions are assessed and they qualify as being comprehensive, rational, and reasonable. The Categorical Imperative provided a path to evaluate our actions and make ethical judgments based on the set criteria. The Categorical Imperative allows an individual to make judgments regarding his or her actions, and how an individual decides which moral principles are going to be applied. Kant described two types of imperatives including categorical and hypothetical, which defines Kant’s view of moral law and what the right action in a particular situation is. The Categorical Imperative applies to all classifications without any exceptions. Since the moral law is an essent ial obligation therefore according to Kant, it is a Categorical Imperative. That is to say, it is applicable on all moral representatives, times, and places, universally. They are always applicable due to rational reasoning rather than an empirical study. Some actions however are backed up by personal interests or motives which drive an individual to take a particular course of action. The moral worth is guided by a specific motive which decides whether an action is right or

International Supply Chains Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

International Supply Chains - Essay Example More simply, it is the science (and art) of ensuring that the right products reach the right place in the right quantity at the right time to satisfy customer demand. It has also been defined as "the management of inventory in motion and at rest". (Source:http://www.ocs.ca/english/30_logistics.html). A supply chain is a network of facilities and distribution options that performs the functions of procurement of materials; transformation of this material into intermediate and finished products; and distribution of these finished products to customers. (Source: Ganeshan & Harrison - Introduction to Supply Chain Management) International Supply Chains are those supply chains that transcend national boundaries in their operations. Logistics and supply chain solutions help clients realize the many benefits of an improved supply chain. They include reducing distribution costs, improving customer service, speeding up sales process and improving customer loyalty. The United Nations Convention on International Multimodal Transport of Goods (Geneva, 24 May 1980) states that "International multimodal transport" means the carriage... The United Nations Convention on International Multimodal Transport of Goods (Geneva, 24 May 1980) states that "International multimodal transport" means the carriage of goods by at least two different modes of transport on the basis of a multimodal transport contract from a place in one country at which the goods are taken in charge by the multimodal transport operator to a place designated for delivery situated in a different country. The operations of pick-up and delivery of goods carried out in the performance of a unimodal transport contract, as defined in such contract, shall not be considered as international multimodal transport." In loosely coined terms of day-to-day industry usage, multi-modal simply represents a combination of truck, rail, water, and or air transport to haul everything from small to large items, from raw materials to finished goods, and from perishable to non-perishables. (Source from website ). Major transport growths tries to achieve a balance between providing accessibility to the markets, economic efficiency and reduce threat to the environment. Multimodal transport, that is using two or more transport modes for a trip between which a transfer is necessary, has been touted as a solution for the current transportation issues. This came into full force with the invention of the container in 1960's by Malcolm MacLean. McLean explained that while sitting at a dock waiting for cargo he trucked in to be reloaded onto a ship, he realized that rather than loading and unloading the truck, the truck itself (with some minor modifications) could be the container that is transported. (Source from website ). The improvement in

Organization Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Organization Development - Essay Example It has been also notified that NAB had a very prosperous past and flourishing from 1980 to 1990. After that, the bank started to lose its credibility due to organizational decisions such as the plan of expansion. 1.2 Importance of the study Numerous factors influence the business effectiveness. Therefore, we will analyze the effectiveness of organization in the context of organizational culture. Many authors have analyzed organizational culture and organizational culture is gaining significant magnitude regarding business enhancement. In the current study, we will discuss several dimensions of organizational culture per se: organizational development, effectiveness and management. Clearly, organizational culture is not a limited subject; it has various branches and affects the whole organization. Moreover, the study will guide organizations for taking right steps in the correct directions. 1.3 Introduction In the current study the weaknesses and a few incidents will be discussed, whi ch have been the core cause of the downfall of the services’ standards of the NAB. Some reasons will be highlighted. This aspect of the study will help to develop a correct future prospect of any bank. Furthermore, the literature review will help to ascertain the true reasons for such happenings. Prior to analyze the current topic, a general view of organizational culture will be put forth for deeper understandings. The context of the current topic will be supported through previously done research. The focal point of the current paper is organizational culture. The organizational culture has been designed with the help of past examples; those examples have been found important, successful, and relevant for the development of organizational culture. Experienced people have obtained the help from organizational practices, and values to develop a hypothesis for organizational culture’s implementations (Schein, 1990). 1.4 Choosing a company; Why bank? I will focus on the National Bank of Australia as every company has a dissimilar history. The bank has gone through very difficult times. Moreover, the social atmosphere influences significantly the banking industry; therefore, in my view to study a culture of a bank is helpful to ascertain the solutions of present cultural issues. I am well aware of the culture of NAB. The National Bank of Australia two decade ago was the largest bank of Australia. It had a reputation. Its shares were selling like a hot cake. The bank had planned to expand its boundaries from Australia to North America and Britain. 1.5 General perception and definition of organizational culture By understanding the behavior, thoughts, point of views and feelings of a group of people within the organization, or in the world, a set of rules and regulations development is called culture (Schein, 1996). To ascertain the attitude of an individual within the organization three-core aspects can be studied within the parameters of cultures, t hese are organizational culture, occupational culture, and national culture (Hofstede, 1991). 1.6 Organizational Culture If there were dissimilarities between shared experiences and standards, it would generate organizational culture; moreover, it is developed and enhanced within the organization and not go beyond the limits of organization. The culture that grows between schooling and university period until the

Miniplates for Osteosynthesis of Middle Facial Fractures

Miniplates for Osteosynthesis of Middle Facial Fractures INTRODUCTION Numerous biomechanical studies illustrate the stability of the rigid fixation for mandibular fractures4-6. However, little research has focused on the maxilla, despite the fact that Le Fort fractures and osteotomies are common clinical presentations. For the treatment of Le Fort maxillary fractures, the primary aims include the restoration of correct midfacial vertical height and anterior projection and restoration of occlusion. Nonetheless, the removal rate of the miniplates and screws were approximately 50% in orthognathic surgery (Le Fort I osteotomy), due predominantly to infection or wound dehiscence7. The other problem is that patients sometimes complain of weak clenching after the operation, therefore questions regarding minimum number of plates and stability following fixation have risen in recent times. Miniplate osteosynthesis, developed by Champy in 19751, is todays standard for the treatment of facial fracture. More recently resorbable plates2 and screws and 3-dimensional miniplating system3, have been introduced for fixation of facial fractures. Many studies have proved the efficacy of three dimensional plating systems in mandible fractures but very little research have been carried out on midface fractures. We studied the efficacy of three dimensional plates in midface fractures and found them efficacious enough to stabilize the bone fragments during osteosynthesis. Three dimensional miniplating system was introduced by Farmand (1992)3. The basic concept of three-dimensional fixation is that a geometrically closed quadrangular plate secured with bone screws creates stability in three dimensions. The three dimensional plates are positioned perpendicular to the fracture line. The screws adapt each part of the plate separately without any tension to the bone. The cross linking provides the stability to the system. Three dimensional miniplates are easy to adjust, requires minimal tissue dissection thus least disturbing the blood supply and because of its design fixation points remain in the vicinity of fracture line. Its low profile design and space between plate holes permits excellent revascularization. The biomechanical and technical advantages of three dimensional miniplate systems over two dimensional miniplate system promoted the current study to evaluate the efficacy of the 3-D titanium miniplates as a viable treatment modality in the osteosynthesis of middle third facial fractures. MATERIAL AND METHOD Subjects for the present study were selected amongst the patients, attending the outpatients department and emergency services of Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, Kothiwal dental college and research centre,Moradabad. Study comprised of thirty patients, with isolated lefort I fracture,20 patients had bilateral fracture and 10 patients had unilateral lefort I fracture . All patients were taken up randomly irrespective of age, sex caste and creed. Patients were diagnosed on the basis of clinical examination and radiographic interpretation. Preoperative evaluation included careful examination of the soft tissues and underlying skeleton. A thorough physical examination was carried out to exclude any other injuries. All selected patients were informed about the experimental nature of the study and the possible complications were explained. Their co-operation was solicited and informed consent was obtained. The patient received prophylactic antibiotic coverage and analgesics at the time of initial presentation. INVESTIGATIONS Radiographs: The following radiographs were used to confirm clinical diagnosis and to assess the exact location of fracture and degree of displacement Occipitomental view and submentovertex view for midface PA – Mandible view OPG view (Orthopantomogram) CT scan as needed Other investigations Routine Blood investigation Urine analysis Urine analysis TREATMENT PLANNING All patients were admitted to the hospital prior surgery. Erich’s arch bar were placed on upper and lower standing teeth to stabilize the fracture segment and to achieve occlusion before plating. ARMAMENTRIUM Basic instrument set for maxillofacial surgery Instrument used for intermaxillary fixation 3-DIMENSIONAL TITANIUM MINIPLATE 1.7 MM SYSTEM PLATES DESIGN: 4 different designs of three-dimensional titanium miniplates were included. 2ц¦2 holed square plate 2 x 2 holed rectangular plates 3 x 2 holed continuous rectangle or double rectangle 42 holed –continuous rectangle plate All the plates had 1.7 mm diameter holes. PROFILE HEIGHT 0.6 mm (low profile plates) SCREWS Non compression, self-tapping, monocortical screws with round head. Diameter : 1.7 mm Length : 5mm, 7mm and 9 mm DRILL BIT: Diameter: 1.2 mm CONVENTIOANAL TITANIUM MINIPLATE 1.7 MM SYSTEM 1ц¦2 holed – straight plate PROFILE HEIGHT 1.0mm SCREWS Non compression, self-tapping, monocortical screws with round head. Diameter : 1.7 mm Length : 5mm, 7mm and 9 mm DRILL BIT: Diameter: 1.2 mm ACCESSORIES Screwdrivers Bone plate holding forceps Bone plate bending forceps Plate cutting pliers OPERATIVE TECHNIQUE FOR THREE DIMENSIONAL MINIPLATES Patients were operated either under general anesthesia (Naso-tracheal intubations) or local anesthesia. Strict asepsis was followed. In this study, the fracture sites were exposed through standard intraoral vestibular incision.(Fig.1), Following reduction of the fragments and temporary maxillomandibular fixation, a suitable 3D plate was selected and bent with a plate bending pliers to conform the proper adaptation of plates to bone surface. The three dimensional titanium miniplates were then positioned in such a way that the horizontal cross-bars were perpendicular to the fracture line and the vertical ones were parallel to it (Fig.2). Holding the plate perpendicular to the reduced fracture, drilling was performed through the hole in the plate strictly perpendicular to the bone surface. The drilling was performed at slow-speed along with copious saline irrigation to prevent damage to the bone by heat. To avoid injury to the dental roots the superior holes were drilled strictly monocortically, and directed into the space between the roots. Later screws of suitable length were selected for fixation of the plate. In each case the upper screws were tightened first, followed by the lower ones. For screw tightening the rotations were executed using the screw-holding screw driver. Maxillomandibular fixation was released and occlusion was checked by moving the lower jaw. The site was closed using 3-0 silk suture material. No maxillomandibular fixation was required in any of the patient. OPERATIVE TECHNIQUE FOR THREE DIMENSIONAL MINIPLATES Operative technique for conventional plate was similar to the one used for three dimensional miniplate.Intraoral vestibular incision was used in all the patients and after fracture reduction either conventional 2 dimensional L shaped plate was fixed at zygomaticomaxillary buttress region and 2 hole with gap miniplate was placed over nasomaxillary buttress region. POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT Postoperative course of medication consisted of injection ceftriaxone 1gm 12 hourly (i.v.), injection metrogyl 100ml 8 hourly (i.v.) and analgesic and multivitamin preparation continued till 5th postoperative day. All patients were put on liquid diet for first 2 weeks. All patients were encouraged to maintained good oral hygiene. Sutures were removed on the 7th postoperative day. All patients were followed up at regular interval that is at 1st week, 3rd week, 6th week and 3 month postoperatively regarding restoration of function, stability of system used and any complication. Assessment of the patients was done under following parameters: Pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (0-10) Swelling present/absent. Occlusion intact/deranged Mobility of fracture segment-present/Absent Infection/wound dehiscence -present/Absent Hardware failure present/Absent STATISTICAL ANALYSIS The following statistical tools were employed for the present study: Mean, Standard Deviation, Student’t’ test, Paired‘t’ test and Chi-square test RESULTS We obtained following results in our study Patients in the 31-40 years of age were the predominant age group presenting with midface fractures (50%). Males were most commonly affected with Lefort I fracture (92.84%). The most common cause of midface fracture was found to be road traffic accident (92.8%). There is significant decrease in pain at 3 WK, 6 WK and 3rd Months from the Baseline (1WK) for both the groups Swelling was present in 15 patients (50%). It decreased significantly at 3W, 6WK, 3 MONTHS, from baseline (1WK)(fig.3) There is significant improvement (75%) in post traumatic Parasthesia of infraorbital nerve following fixation with 3-D plating system.(Fig.4) Occlusion was achieved in all the patients after surgery No sign of infection and hardware failure was present in any patient. DISCUSSION Le Fort I maxillary fractures are among the injuries encountered most frequently in patients who suffer facial trauma and it is common in orthognathic surgery. Fixation of maxillary Le Fort I fractures(/osteotomy) by RIF of the facial skeleton has become an accepted, and even expected, form of treatment. When the teeth of the maxilla and mandible are clenched, anatomic support for the midface is provided through a series of buttresses or struts that distribute masticatory forces from the teeth to skull base.19-21 The vertical struts of the midface are clinically the most important in management of Le Fort I maxillary fractures. The 3 principal vertical buttresses of the maxilla are the nasomaxillary (medial) buttress, zygomaticomaxillary (lateral) buttress, and the pterygomaxillary (posterior) buttress.4 The internal fixation of Le Fort I fractures should use miniplates and screws and be fixed at anterior and lateral buttresses for the ideal internal fixation, whereas the posterior buttress should be without fixation due to the surgical difficulty of the operative approach.4 Surgical treatment of Le Fort I fracture according to the â€Å"ideal internal fixation† produces satisfactory results, but patients sometimes complain of weak clenching after the operation. Very few comparisons of the different maxilla fixation modalities and their behavior have been reported currently. In clinical Le Fort I fracture treatment, restoration of the correct midfacial vertical height and anterior projection and restoration of occlusion are critical. Therefore, questions have arisen regarding the stability and number of plates required of adequate fixation of lefort fractures. The fixation of 2 miniplates on each side as suggested by AO/ASIF, provides adequate stability and conventionally it has been the standard treatment for lefort fractures , Farmand8 in 1992 developed new titanium miniplate system that takes advantage of biogeometry to provide stable fixation and he called it as three dimensional plating system. A geometrically closed quadrangular plates secured with bone screws creates stability in three dimensions. .These plates have low profile design, excellent biocompatibility, and minimal rebound after bending. The present study was carried on patient’s age group 10- 50 years with the mean being 33.14 years. The maximum number of patients were in a age group between 31- 50 years (nearly 50%).This is in accordance with the study of Khateeb T,Abdulla FM(2007)9. There was predominance of males in this study, male is to female ratio being 13:1,and percentage of male patients being 92%. .Motamedi MH (2003)10 observed in a retrospective study on 237 patients, percentage of male patients being 89% and that of female patients being 11%, our study is in accordance with this study. In this study road traffic accident (92%) were found to be the major etiological factor for the fracture of the middle third of the facial skeleton .These findings coincides with the findings of, Iida S, Kogo M 11 who reported road traffic accident to be the most common cause of injury in a retrospective analysis of 1502 patients with facial fractures. In the present study it was observed that among the maxillary fractures, Lefort II fractures( approx78%) were most common, this finding is in accordance with the study Motagemi MH (2003)10 which reported the incidence of Lefort II fractures to be 54.6% among all maxillary fractures in a five year retrospective study on 237 patients . In the present study, post traumatic parasthesia of the infraorbital nerve was present was present in 4 cases (57.14%) (out of the 7 patients with zygomatic complex fractures) which was clinically inferred as compression of nerve by fracture fragments .Anesthesia was relieved in 3(75%) out of 4 patients in a three month follow up period which found to be due to infra orbital nerve relieved from compression by means of reduction of fractured segments in to its correct position. c. Demen et al (1988)12 reported the presence of sensory disturbances of infraorbital nerve in 219 cases (80.2%) out of 273 patients The influence of treatment approach on the recovery of the injured infraorbital nerve is controversial in the literature .Several authors reported that frequency of persistent sensory disturbance is independent of the method of reduction and fixation of fracture. Deman and box (1993)12 state that reduction and fixation are important factors in recovery from sensory disturbances of infraorbital nerve. Taicher (1993)13, observed that there is higher recovery rate of infraorbital nerve with miniplate osteosynthesis than with other method of treatment .We report a (75%) recovery rate of in our study, Our results support these findings .This significantly high recovery rate with 3 D plate can be explained by the fact that fixation with 3 D plate provides better stability to the complex in all the three dimensions of movement? However there is no study in the literature on the recovery of infraorbital nerve after fixation with 3-D plates. In the present study occlusion was achieved in all the patients after surgery. Conventional treatment with maxillomandibular fixation is associated with its well known limitations and disadvantages. Klotch DW(1987)14 studied internal fixation versus conventional therapy in midface fractures and found that a more stable occlusion is achieved with internal fixation .S Anand, Thangavelu (2004)15studied the use of three dimensional plate fixation of fractures and osteotomies and stated that satisfactory occlusion was achieved in all the patients after internal fixation with 3- plates and no patient required any maxillomandibular fixation. Claude Guimond(2005)16 studied the use of 3-D plate for fixation of mandibular factures and reported similar findings in their study. As three dimensional plates provide stability in three dimensions of movement the need for maxillomandibular fixation is greatly diminished or moreover eliminated. Our study is in accordance with these studies. No patient reported for any type of postoperative infection, wound dehiscence during the period of three month follow up. Lia G (1997)17 reported the similar results in his study .He found no post operative complications in 30 treated cases of 3 D titanium bone plating. S Anand, Thangavelu (2004)15 studied the role of 3-dimensional plating system and did not reported any infection in their study .Claude Guimond(2005)16studied the use of 3-D plating in mandibular fractures and reported a significantly low rate of infection as compared with other systems. Farmand(1995)3 studied the use of 3-D plates in fixation of fracture and osteotmies and reported an significantly low rate of post operative infection with 3-D plates. No infection in our cases could be attributed to the preoperative antibiotic therapy in all patients,and proper sterilization technique. In none of the patients plates need to be removed exhibiting there excellent biocompatibility in this short period of study. Farmand(1992)18, in their respective studies on the use of three dimensional plates in oral and maxillofacial region did not report any hardware failure with the use of these plates ,our study is in accordance with these studies. Thus as a result of clinical experience it can be inferred that the use of 3 D plates and screw system in the management of midfacial fractures give good results in term of function ,esthetic and acceptability. However, owing to fewer numbers of cases, no definitive conclusions can be drawn, for this; studies with larger sample size and long term follow up are recommended.

Todays Consumer Culture: Bought Self-worth and Artificial Happiness Es

"There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold And she's buying a stairway to heaven. When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed With a word she can get what she came for. Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a stairway to heaven." From "Stairway To Heaven", by Led Zeppelin Shopping malls didn't just happen. They are not the result of wise planners deciding that suburban people, having no social life and stimulation, needed a place to go (Bombeck, 1985). The mall was originally conceived of as a community center where people would converge for shopping, cultural activity, and social interaction (Gruen & Smith, 2005). It is safe to say that the mall has achieved and surpassed those early expectations. Unfortunately, in today's consumer culture, the mall is the center of the universe and and this has shaped consumers in a negative way. In contrast to the original concept of providing the consumer with greater choice, the mall actually limits the choices of the suburb shopper. The consumer is forced to go to the mall to full-fill shopping needs, but, once inside, also made to feel guilty if they do not make any purchases. The mall promotes materialism and superficiality, a sense of bought self-worth and artificial happiness. Housing shortages and increased mobility (car) allowed families to move away from the city and into the suburbs. These areas were designed to be self-contained, pre-packaged communities with schools, parks, homes, etc within close proximity of each other. Not far from jobs in the city, the suburbs provided the safe, enclosed realm ideal for raising families. The only problem was the fact that most stores were downtown and too far for mothers (who did most of the shopping) to driv... ...y, advocates this cycle of earning money, spending money, and buying happiness. Overall, the malls promote a sense of superficiality, a need to acquire goods for social acceptance, and an emphasis on artificial happiness. Though they began with innocent intentions, the sinister effects of changing societal values has left us in a jeopardizing situation. Our shallow "needs" for consumer goods have weakened society and compromised our position as a close community. Â   Works Cited Gruen, V., and Smith, L. (2005), Shopping Towns, U.SA.: The Planning of Shopping Centers. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold. May, Elaine Tyler. Homeward Bound: American Families in the Cold War Era. Basic Books, 2008. Miller, Daniel. Capitalism: An Ethnographic Approach. Berg, Oxford. 1997. Miller, Daniel. A Theory of Shopping. Polity Press, Oxford, 1998. Â   Â  

Bringing Out the Best in Others

When I arrived home after being promoted as the CAD (Computer-aided design) Manager of our company, I had great difficulty going to sleep. It felt as though I was on top of the world and the exhilaration I felt was intensified as I looked back to the years when I first set foot in America. I was an eighteen-year-old lad then and I was very anxious to get assimilated into American society. My entire family and clan had high hopes that somehow I would make it good in a foreign land.Fear of failure probably gave me a head start as my drive and determination to climb the corporate ladder was so strong: I immersed myself in the study of American English and culture more than my other compatriots did. I worked and studied at the same time hoping that my academic credentials and relentless drive to succeed would open doors for me. Fortunately, I was not disappointed. One after the other, the doors of opportunity began to open. I found work to finance my schooling and when I was through with my schooling I immediately found work as CAD Drafter.Little by little, my superiors took notice of my technical and programming skills. Perhaps, over and above these skills, what really made my superiors realize that I was intent on moving up was my refusal to give up when the team seemed to have run into a blank wall. I always kept trying to figure a way out of the problem long after the others in the team had already given up. Indeed, there were a lot of instances when my plain stubbornness solved a difficult problem. Now, as a CAD Manager, I am determined that this same persistence could again one day give me another shot at a higher position.Besides, I am convinced that I have to be particularly quick to recognize the existence of the same trait in my subordinates. I know that a worker with a drive similar to mine would make a difference in the accomplishment of tasks. After literally burning the lines breaking the news back home through an overseas call, I sat in my apartment and asked myself, now what? I realized that having been promoted is not the end of the road. Instead, I was given another uncertain road to trek.This time, the rules are different; the expectations are higher and the demands are also certainly harder. That very night, my elation slowly gave way to apprehension. Even then, I congratulated myself for a job well done and steeled myself for another formidable challenge to be hurdled. I took stock of the team assigned to me and wondered if I could really be an effective leader considering that I have risen from the ranks. Immediately, Mr. Tom Higen came to mind. Like me, he rose from the ranks such that he knows virtually everything about CAD.I silently resolved that I would pattern my management style after his. Mr. Higen would be my role model and mentor. To lead the team effectively, I knew that I had to know the members of my team on a deeper level. John Maxwell (2001) writes that successful people-developers make the right assumptio ns about people, ask the right questions about people and gives the right assistance to people (p. 143). I felt that Mr. Tom Higen demonstrated this trait in his dealings with us. Indeed, he is a very focused worker and yet found time to bond with us, his subordinates.It is true that in my other jobs, I also had superiors who would ask how I was doing almost every time they met me in the lobby or elevator. Yet when one is not sincere, the phony nature of the question somehow gets through and I often had the feeling that they would ask what I was doing not because they really cared about what I was doing but because they could not find any other statement to break the ice. When Mr. Higen asked how I and my other colleagues were doing, I could immediately sense that he was not mouthing a perfunctory, one-liner as some sort of lip-service to what they call corporate bonding.I could feel that he was sincere in asking the question and without much reservation or hesitation, I and my coll eagues could discuss with him our personal problems and eventually we would move on to discussing with him work issues and difficulties. While the presence of other superiors would make us uneasy, Mr. Tom Higen’s presence would be a welcome treat as we found in him an ear that was ready to listen. Realizing that I should also try to establish a strong bond with subordinates, I made it a point that in our weekly meetings, I would ensure that I would arrive at the conference room 30 minutes ahead of schedule.While waiting for the other team members to arrive, I would ask how one’s child was doing or how one was coping with a new-found hobby or sports activity. In these sessions, I was able to gauge whether a subordinate’s performance is being affected by a domestic problem. Once, Matt Cavaness, a Senior CAD Specialist who is an exuberant guy suddenly became withdrawn and failed to meet a deadline twice. It is in one of these pre-conference talks that he disclosed that his 1-year-old daughter kept getting ill and the doctors could not give a final diagnosis. I remarked, â€Å"Now I see why you aren’t your usual self.I will pray that no serious illness has befallen your daughter. I think he was so touched and relieved by my statement that his concentration at work was restored. Now, when the two of us have one-on-one discussion about production issues, we would outdo each other in saying, you are not your usual self, when we are stuck with an impasse. I would say I started to gain the trust and loyalty of Matt by that thoughtful remark. It is indeed surprising how such a seemingly insignificant gesture could pave the way to a strong bond of professionalism and friendship.I think that in this instance, I took the step in making the right assumptions about people as John Maxwell suggested. I discovered what is valued by my team mate and knowing what he values, I use it as a means of connecting with his inner self. I began to see him in a different light and became more understanding of his previous lapses. Another positive result of my pre-conference talks with my subordinates was the fact that whenever I set a meeting or discussion, nobody would get late as what happens in other departments.Since they all know that I always arrive at the venue 30 minutes ahead of time, they either arrive at the venue 30 minutes ahead of schedule or be at the meeting place at least 10 minutes before the sessions. They surely find it embarrassing to keep me waiting. Since I want all meetings and all outputs to be delivered on time, I must ensure that I myself demonstrate this demand in my very own work ethic. This management practice bolstered my integrity, a quality which Maxwell regards as the most important ingredient of leadership (p. 49).Taking off from such a fruitful pre-conference talks with Matt, I also resolved to know the other members of the team in a deeper way: Gunilla and Miguel, the Senior CAD Specialists and Ramon a nd Olive, the Project Cad Specialists. By knowing a lot about their personal circumstances, I believe that I could sincerely engage them in conversations that would delve on both the personal and professional aspect of the employee. I familiarized myself with the personal background of my teammates. I even took pains to memorize the number of children that my subordinates had and ensured that I could at least remember their names.When an employee would come in to refer an issue, I would make it a point to begin with a small talk about the employees current personal undertakings. This went on for quite some time until one of them remarked, â€Å"You’re bent on becoming a Mr Higen, aren’t you? † I was dumbfounded by the man’s perspicacity. With that I suddenly came to realize that perhaps my aping Mr. Higen was being counterproductive. Instead of seeing me as a superior who is as caring and concerned as Tom, I was coming across as phony and a copy-cat. Surp risingly, when I ceased trying to become a clone of Mr.Higen, I suddenly became more relaxed in my conversations that the spontaneity and warmth of my concern as a superior showed through. My co-workers began to like me and began opening up to me as a person and as a professional. My inhibitions and my mental cues to be like Mr. Higen eventually gave way to a more relaxed and natural way of dealing with my subordinates. I began to have a very caring attitude towards my subordinates. I have begun to accept that I am who I am in my own unique way and not through the ideal of some other person.While I am resolved to pay forward the kindness of my superior, I am also obliged to remain true to my identity. This is the only way I could safeguard my identity as a unique individual. After having impressed my subordinates about my concern for their personal and professional welfare, I was dead-set on ensuring that they would throw in their unconditional support in the attainment of our goals . I believed that one sure way of motivating them towards this managerial objective of mine is to gather the input of each member in how to attain the goal in the best and fastest way possible.Again, meetings were in order. The first two projects that were finished in this manner truly went fine and ahead of schedule. However, when each team member became less inhibited in voicing his opinion, we eventually came to a point when we could no longer agree as to which is the best course of action to take. As the leader, I would moderate and resolve issues and made sure that the exchange of ideas did not become a clash of personalities. It came to a point when I could no longer reconcile opinions that in one project, we were at a gridlock and time was running out.I eventually realized that even when management principles require the input of subordinates, my role as the manager would have to be exercised with firmness and finality to avoid such impasse. Nonetheless, to soothe feelings th at might have been hurt by my choice of a course of action over another, I would announce that a particular course of action is what we ought to follow as an exercise of my management prerogative but once it would not turn out to be the best, we would resort to another suggestion later.I realized that even when inputs are sought from subordinates, I, the manager, still have the final say as to the direction that we would take. By doing this I take on accountability and responsibility if anything goes awry and not the subordinate who offered the suggestion. Indeed, decision-making remains my call in spite of the fact that suggestions from subordinates have been solicited. I am technically proficient in all the programs related to drafting and I keep abreast of all the modern software related to CAD.Thus, my co-workers could always count one me to give them the correct and updated technical advice. I relished being the perennial technical point person until I realized that my availabi lity and dependability on the technical side of our work has become counter-productive. I eventually sensed that as the CAD Manager, I should be focusing on other aspects of production. In fact, I should not bother myself too much with the technical work as an employee was already assigned to specifically attend to it.I must have made myself too available for consultation than I should that Olive kept coming to me for inputs for projects assigned to her. Her importuning consumed a considerable amount of time and having become aware of this I made sure that it somehow has to end. The next time that Olivia came for the usual technical consultation, I pretended that I was on my way out for a business lunch with a client. Throughout the day, I made sure that I could not be contacted by her. As the project was due at 5 pm on that day, Olivia was forced to study the technical material herself. In doing so, she was able to solve her problem.I believe that after two other unsuccessful attem pts to get my opinion on a project she was doing, Olivia finally resolved to finish the project all by herself. From then on, realizing that her attempts to consult me midway through a project was merely time-consuming, Olivia finally decided to do her work on her own as well. I realized that by making myself too available, I was not leading my team. I was in fact pitching in for the work that they should have been doing in the first place. Besides, the practice has not resulted in Olivia being able to do the project all by herself.I was teaching her but I did not intend the process to be a repeated activity as she had to be weaned from my constant supervision. I wanted her to be a self-directed or independent employee who is able to reach her goal with minimal or without supervision. This must be what Maxwell had in mind is his admonition to give the right assistance to people. The assistance I was giving Olivia at the start was not the right kind as it had the tendency to make her complacent and dependent. Looking back, I also became aware that my Transition Skill was inadequate.Catapulted to a managerial position, I realized that I would have to go beyond the technical and programming skills and instead hone my managerial skills. I have to make sure that my technical skills are as impeccable as my managerial skills. I needed to learn fast how I could best bring about the best in my five subordinates. Due to the fact that I sometimes had to go on business trips that would take at least a couple of days of absence, I had to delegate some of my tasks. In delegating selected tasks, I would see to it that the job that is delegated is the area where the employee excels.However, I rely on Matt to make the crucial decisions when decisions have to be made immediately. I once thought that delegating tasks is not liked by most subordinates as it would seem to be an additional burden. I learned that in delegating tasks, I have to make the other person realize that dele gation is an affirmation of my trust and confidence. I would begin my delegation spiel with the phrase, â€Å"This is a vital process which, I believe, is best done by you. † This statement makes the person warm up to the idea of the responsibility and he would gladly accept the task without much hesitation.Although I do delegate certain tasks, I still ensure that I am still on top of everything by periodic calls or when absolutely needed, I would have those with delegated tasks discuss matters with me via teleconference. Going back to the admonition of Maxwell about making the right assumptions about people, I found that I have unstated assumptions about people and no matter how I try hard not to make an assumption for fear of being prejudiced, the human mind is always classifying or making categories about things and about other people. For example, I treat my two Filipino subordinates, Miguel and Ramon, the way I treat myself.That is, as immigrants like me, I know that lik e me, they are in a make or break situation such that no matter how adverse the circumstances may be, they will gladly pitch in to help. With this in mind, I give them work that is at times higher or more demanding than that being done by the rest. These two Filipinos always deliver quality work on time. Indeed, people have a way of living up or down to your opinion of them (Maxwell, 147). While assigning work to these two individuals, I always ensure that I are to listen to what is going on with their families.Aware perhaps that I always seek the best for them and their families, I am amply rewarded by their efforts to always bring out the best in themselves. Maxwell says further, â€Å"People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care† (147). The same holds true for Matt and Gunilla. I found that even if they are hard-pressed for time, they would normally respond with enthusiasm to a new project once I had recognized their needs both on the professional and the personal level. For Matt, mere mention of his CD rock collection would send him rattling off album titles since he knows them by heart.I once bought a rock CD for him and he was beside himself with joy. That I should bother with my time to go looking for his type of music was such a profound joy for him. Gunilla on the other hand, loves gardening. Although I do not have much time for late night meetings, I gave her an unexpected visit. I found her busy puttering in the garden. She was ecstatic when I gave her a book about gardening. By the way she enthusiastically responded to my questions, I knew right there and then that I could count on her when it was time to get things done.While I was quite successful with the first four team members, I was a dismal failure when it came to Olivia. It was not because I couldn’t find anything that would make her respond with enthusiasm or anything that would be a common hobby at the stage of her life. Whenever her attention was c alled to certain lapses, she would accept it with a stony face, pout and then start working on a new task. At first I secretly resented it. However, I eventually confronted her about it and she had a litany of woes as an excuse. To ensure that she is able to produce as much as her fellow employees, I paired her off with Matt Cavaness.Nonetheless, she would not change her habits. Before I could think of another technique to make her more productive, she transferred to another company. My experiences with these people have so far been fruitful. In order to bring out the best in them, I need to show them my best side as well. I am a veritable role model in the department where I work. Aside from this, I must show them my utmost concern for them. By working together and at the same time valuing one another, synergy is achieved and more work is done or accomplished. REFERENCE Maxwell J. C (1971). Developing the leader within you. Nashville, Tennessee: Nelson Publishers

Hysteria elects Presidents essays

Hysteria elects Presidents essays I, using my extreme psychic powers, have figured out that Bush will win the debates. This should go against logic. Kerry is clearly the better speaker and smarter person, right? Right. However, in a post 9/11 environment, none of that really matters. What is going to win out in the mind of the American public, intellectual arguments, or two word catch phrases? What the public today really wants is Fox News-like intellectual McDonalds. On their face, the Bush motives and arguments seem to make the most simplistic sense. If your view and your world are bourne out of simplicity and stupidity, the way to fight terror is to invade the Middle East...the rationale for anything can be easily reduced to "protecting the American people". "Mr Bush, you flip-flopped on your promises to limit carbon monoxide, and you pulled us out of the Kyoto treaty, causing international outrage." "I did it to protect American businesses." "Mr. Bush, your invasion of Iraq has de-stabilized the Middle East, and possibly made the terrorism situation worse." "I did it to protect the American people" "Mr. Bush, your tax cuts have exacerbated a huge deficit, and contributed to the economic problems we now face." "I did it to put money back in the hands of the American people." "Mr. Bush, you allowed the assault weapons ban to expire, placing AK-47s and Mac-10s in the hands of anyone who can skirt the system." "We need our arms to protect the American people." Hysteria and fear dominate our time. Logic does not. Americans very much like sexy European accents, but they don't really like high-fangled European logic, or a worldview that involves other countries. The stupidity we now face is monumental. Never in the history of the world has a world superpower been so oblivious to everything going on around it. Jingoism and chauvinism reign supreme. Kerry's "flip-flops" are nothing new to politics...they ...

Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. At 6:01 p.m. on April 4, 1968, Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was hit by a snipers bullet. King had been standing on the balcony in front of his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, when without warning, he was shot. The .30-caliber rifle bullet entered Kings right cheek, traveled through his neck, and finally stopped at his shoulder blade. King was immediately taken to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead at 7:05 p.m. Violence and controversy followed. In outrage of the murder, many blacks took to the streets across the United States in a massive wave of riots. The FBI investigated the crime, but many believed them partially or fully responsible for the assassination. An escaped convict by the name of James Earl Ray was arrested, but many people,  including some of Martin Luther King Jr.s own family, believe he was innocent. What happened that evening? Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.    When Martin Luther King Jr.  emerged as the leader of the  Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, he began a long tenure as the spokesperson for nonviolent protest in the Civil Rights Movement. As a Baptist minister, he was a moral leader to the community. Plus, he was charismatic and had a powerful way of speaking. He was also a man of vision and determination. He never stopped dreaming of what could be. Yet he was a man, not a God. He was most often overworked and overtired and he had a fondness for the private company of women. Though he was the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize winner, he did not have complete control over the Civil Rights Movement. By 1968, violence had edged its way into the movement. Black Panther Party members carried loaded weapons, riots had erupted across the country, and numerous civil rights organizations had taken up the mantra Black Power! Yet Martin Luther King Jr. held strong to his beliefs, even as he saw the Civil Rights Movement being torn in two. Violence is what brought King back to Memphis in April 1968. Striking Sanitation Workers in Memphis On February 12, a total of 1,300  African-American sanitation workers in Memphis went on strike. Though there had been a long history of grievances, the strike began as a response to a January 31 incident in which 22 black sanitation workers were sent home without pay during bad weather while all the white workers remained on the job. When the City of Memphis refused to negotiate with the 1,300 striking workers, King and other civil rights leaders were asked to visit Memphis in support. On Monday, March 18, King managed to fit in a quick stop in Memphis, where he spoke to more than  15,000 who had gathered at Mason Temple. Ten days later, King arrived in Memphis to lead a march in support of the striking workers. Unfortunately, as King led the crowd, a few of the protesters got rowdy and smashed the windows of a storefront. The violence spread and soon countless others had taken up sticks and were breaking windows and looting stores. Police moved in to disperse the crowd. Some of the marchers threw stones at the police. The police responded with tear gas and nightsticks. At least one of the marchers was shot and killed. King was extremely distressed at the violence that had erupted in his own march and became determined not to let violence prevail. He scheduled another march in Memphis for April 8. On April 3, King arrived in Memphis a little later than planned because there had been a bomb threat for his flight before takeoff. That evening, King delivered his Ive Been to the Mountaintop speech to a relatively small crowd that had braved the bad weather to hear King speak. Kings thoughts were obviously on his mortality, for he discussed the plane threat as well as the time he had been stabbed. He concluded the speech with, Well, I dont know what will happen now; weve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesnt matter with me now, because Ive been to the mountaintop. And I dont mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life - longevity has its place. But Im not concerned about that now. I just want to do Gods will. And Hes allowed me to go up to the mountain. And Ive looked over, and Ive seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the Promised Land. And so Im happy tonight; Im not worried about anything; Im not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. After the speech, King went back to the Lorraine Motel to rest. Martin Luther King Jr. Stands on the Lorraine Motel Balcony The Lorraine Motel (now the  National Civil Rights Museum) was a relatively drab, two-story motor inn on Mulberry Street in downtown Memphis. Yet it had become a habit of Martin Luther King and his entourage to stay at the Lorraine Motel when they visited Memphis. On the evening of April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King and his friends were getting dressed to have dinner with Memphis minister Billy Kyles. King was in room 306 on the second floor and hurried to get dressed since they were, as usual, running a bit late. While putting on his shirt and using Magic Shave Powder to shave, King chatted with Ralph Abernathy about an upcoming event. Around 5:30 p.m., Kyles  knocked on their door to hurry them along. The three men joked about what was to be served for dinner. King and Abernathy wanted to confirm that they were going to be served soul food and not something like filet mignon. About half an hour later, Kyles and King stepped out of the motel room onto the balcony (basically the outside walkway that connected all the motels second-story rooms). Abernathy had gone to his room to put on some cologne. Near the car in the parking lot directly below the balcony, waited  James Bevel, Chauncey Eskridge (SCLC lawyer), Jesse Jackson, Hosea Williams, Andrew Young, and Solomon Jones, Jr. (the driver of the loaned white Cadillac). A few remarks were exchanged between the men waiting below and Kyles and King. Jones remarked that King should get a topcoat since it might get cold later; King replied, O.K. Kyles was just a couple of steps down the stairs and Abernathy was still inside the motel room when the shot rang out. Some of the men initially thought it  was a car backfire, but others realized it was a rifle shot. King had fallen to the concrete floor of the balcony with a large, gaping wound covering his right jaw. Martin Luther King Jr. Shot Abernathy ran out of his room to see his dear friend fallen, laying in a puddle of blood. He held Kings head saying, Martin, its all right. Dont worry. This is Ralph. This is Ralph.* Kyles had gone into a motel room to call an ambulance while others encircled King. Marrell McCollough, an undercover Memphis police officer, grabbed a towel and tried to stop the flow of blood. Though King was unresponsive, he was still alive - but only barely. Within 15 minutes of the shot, Martin Luther King arrived at St. Josephs Hospital on a stretcher with an oxygen mask over his face. He had been hit by a .30-06 caliber rifle bullet that had entered his right jaw, then traveled through his neck, severing his spinal cord, and stopped in his shoulder blade. The doctors tried emergency surgery but the wound was too serious. Martin Luther King Jr. was pronounced dead at 7:05 p.m. He was 39 years old. Who Killed Martin Luther King Jr.? Despite many conspiracy theories questioning who was responsible for the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., most of the evidence points to a single shooter, James Earl Ray. On the morning of April 4, Ray used information from the televised news as well as from a newspaper to discover where King was staying in Memphis. Around 3:30 p.m., Ray, using the name John Willard, rented room 5B in Bessie Brewers run-down rooming house that was located across the street from the Lorraine Motel. Ray then visited the York Arms Company a few blocks away and purchased a pair of binoculars for $41.55 in cash. Returning to the rooming house, Ray readied himself in the communal bathroom, peering out the window, waiting for King to emerge from his hotel room. At 6:01 p.m., Ray shot King, mortally wounding him. Immediately after the shot, Ray quickly placed his rifle, binoculars, radio, and newspaper into a box and covered it with an old, green blanket. Then Ray hurriedly carried the bundle out of the bathroom, down the hall, and down to the first floor. Once outside, Ray dumped his package outside the Canipe Amusement Company and walked swiftly to his car. He then drove away in his white Ford Mustang, just before police arrived. While Ray was driving toward Mississippi, police were starting to put the pieces together. Nearly immediately, the mysterious green bundle was discovered as were several witnesses who had seen someone who they believed to be the new renter of 5B rushing out of the rooming house with the bundle. By comparing fingerprints found on items in the bundle, including those on the rife and binoculars, with those of known fugitives, the FBI discovered they were looking for James Earl Ray. After a two-month international manhunt, Ray was finally captured on June 8 at Londons Heathrow Airport. Ray pleaded guilty and was given a 99-year sentence in prison. Ray died in prison in 1998. * Ralph Abernathy as quoted in Gerald Posner, Killing the Dream  (New York: Random House, 1998) 31. Sources: Garrow, David J.  Bearing the Cross: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. New York: William Morrow, 1986. Posner, Gerald.  Killing the Dream: James Earl Ray and the Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.  New York: Random House, 1998.