Leaders of the Nation of Islam Essay -- Black Muslim Malcolm X Elijah

Leaders of Nations The Nation of Islam impacted many African American people during its time. This Black Muslim nation demanded adherence to basic teachings, which included racial separation, white devilry, and the coming Armageddon. None of these basic teachings supported James Baldwin’s perceptions, which pitied whites for their inability to see through the color curtain and embrace differences that whites and blacks held together to create a better, inexorable, and supreme nation. Leaders such as Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X provided the vision of the Nation of Islam. These moguls proved to be two of the most powerful leaders of their time. They paved their way through history and rightfully landed a spot belonging to the Islam nation. Even after death, Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X still influence people in communities around the world to look beyond themselves and conquer a solution to the problems that societies still face. However there were some that did not concur with the Nation of Islam, and one of these people was James Baldwin. Although Baldwin, like a lost child, is not confident as to where or to whom he belongs to in life, Baldwin is certain that a black nation separated from all other races will only separate blacks from the future of a better nation and keep them from further developing as a community. Born in Georgia on October 7, 1897, the first leader of the Nation of Islam was a man named Elijah Muhammad. He has often been portrayed as a saint by his peers, but during World War II, Elijah Muhammad expressed support for Japan, on the basis of its being a nonwhite country, and was jailed for sedition. On August 24, 1946 Muhammad was released from prison in Milan, Michigan. Accord... ...We Need Not Look for Another. Phoenix, Arizona: Truth Publications, 1971. Harris, Robert L. "Malcolm and the Cross." Rev. of Malcolm and the Cross: The Nation of Islam, Malcolm X, and Christianity, by Louis A DeCaro Jr. New York University Press 1998. Hoffer, Eric. "The Negro Is Prejudiced Against Himself; The Negro Is Against Himself." New York Times 29 Nov. 1964, sec. M: 27-35. Kihss, Peter. â€Å"In Return for Years of Slavery, Four or Five States.† New York Times 23 Apr 1961: 1. Kihss, Peter. â€Å"Negro Extremist Groups Step Up Nationalist Drive.† New York Times 1 March 1961: 2. "Man of Myth and Fact: Elijah Muhammad." New York Times 29 June 1964: 32. Trinklein, Rhaya. The Official Website of Malcolm X. 24 Nov. 2003. CMG Worldwide. .

How to Play Chess

Learn How to Play Chess: The Rules It's never to late to learn how to play chess – the most popular game in the world! If you are totally new to the game or even want to learn all of the rules and strategies, read on! |History of Chess |Special Rules |Chess960 | |Starting a Game |Check & Checkmate |Basic Strategies & Openings | |How the Pieces Move |Draws & Repetition |Getting Better at Chess | pic]Prefer to watch a video? Click here to learn chess with a 15 minute video! [pic] History of Chess The origins of chess are not exactly clear, though most believe it evolved from earlier chess-like games played in India almost two thousand years ago. The game of chess we know today has been around since the 15th century where it became popular in Europe. The Goal of Chess Chess is a game played between two opponents on opposite sides of a board containing 64 squares of alternating colors. Each player has 16 pieces: 1 king, 1 queen, 2 rooks, 2 bishops, 2 knights, and 8 pawns. The goal of the game is to checkmate the other king. Checkmate happens when the king is in a position to be captured (in check) and cannot escape from capture. At the beginning of the game the chessboard is laid out so that each player has the white (or light) color square in the bottom right-hand side. The chess pieces are then arranged the same way each time. The second row (or rank) is filled with pawns. The rooks go in the corners, then the knights next to them, followed by the bishops, and finally the queen, who always goes on her own matching color (white queen on white, black queen on black), and the king on the remaining square. The player with the white pieces always moves first. Therefore, players generally decide who will get to be white by chance or luck such as flipping a coin or having one player guess the color of the hidden pawn in the other player's hand. White then makes a move, followed by black, then white again, then black and so on until the end of the game. How the Chess Pieces Move Each of the 6 different kinds of pieces moves differently. Pieces cannot move through other pieces (though the knight can jump over other pieces), and can never move onto a square with one of their own pieces. However, they can be moved to take the place of an opponent's piece which is then captured. Pieces are generally moved into positions where they can capture other pieces (by landing on their square and then replacing them), defend their own pieces in case of capture, or control important squares in the game. The King The king is the most important piece, but is one of the weakest. The king can only move one square in any direction – up, down, to the sides, and diagonally. Click on the â€Å">† button in the diagram below to see how the king can move around the board. The king may never move himself into check (where he could be captured). [pic][pic] 8 a b c d e f g 8 h 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 a b c d e f g h 1 pawn  promotion pic][pic][pic][pic] 1. Kd4 Kf6 2. Kd5 Kf5 3. Kd6 Ke4 4. Ke7 Kd4 5. Ke6 Kc5 6. Kf5 Kd5 7. Kf4 Ke6 8. Ke4 [pic] Copy/paste the code below into your webpage or blog html to display this game: [pic] |HELPRESTARTSOLUTION |P|| | |FLIP|SHARE |ANALYZE |PGN | | | | | The Queen The queen is the most powerful piece. If moved she can move in any one straight direction – forward, backward, sideways, or diagonally – as far as possible as long as she does not move through any of her own pieces. And, like with all pieces, if the queen captures an opponent's piece her move is over. Click through the diagram below to see how the queens move. Notice how the white queen captures the black queen and then the black king is forced to move. [pic][pic][pic][pic] 8 a b c d e f g 8 h 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 a b c d e f g h 1 pawn  promotion [pic][pic][pic][pic] 1. Qg4 Qa8 2. Qg7 Qa2 3. Qc7 Qg8 4. Qb6 Qe6+ 5. Qxe6+ Kd8 [pic] Copy/paste the code below into your webpage or blog html to display this game: [pic] |HELPRESTARTSOLUTION |P|| | |FLIP|SHARE |ANALYZE |PGN | | | | | The Rook The rook may move as far as it wants, but only forward, backward, and to the sides. The rooks are particularly powerful pieces when they are protecting each other and working together! pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic] 8 a b c d e f g 8 h 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 a b c d e f g h 1 pawn  promotion [pic][pic][pic][pic] 1. Rh7 Rc8 2. Rb6 Rc1+ 3. Kd2 Ra1 4. Rb8# [pic] Copy/paste the code below into your webpage or blog html to display this game: [pic] |HELPRESTARTSOLUTION |P|| | |FLIP|SHARE |ANALYZE |PGN | | | | | The Bishop The bishop may move as far as i t wants, but only diagonally. Each bishop starts on one color (light or dark) and must always stay on that color. Bishops work well together because they cover up each other’s weaknesses. [pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic] 8 a b c d e f g 8 h 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 3 3 2 2 1 a b c d e f g h 1 pawn  promotion [pic][pic][pic][pic] 1. Bc4 Be7 2. Bf4 Bd7 3. Bb8 Bg4 4. Bb5+ Kf7 5. Be5 Bh5 6. Bc4+ Kg6 7. Bd3+ Kg5 8. Bh7 [pic] Copy/paste the code below into your webpage or blog html to display this game: [pic] |HELPRESTARTSOLUTION |P|| | |FLIP|SHARE |ANALYZE |PGN | | | | | The Knight Knights move in a very different way from the other pieces – going two squares in one direction, and then one more move at a 90 degree angle, just like the shape of an â€Å"L†. Knights are also the only pieces that can move over other pieces. [pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic] 8 a b c d e f g 8 h 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 3 3 2 2 1 a b c d e f g h 1 pawn  promotion [pic][pic][pic][pic] 1. Ne2 Nc6 2. Nd2 Nf6 3. Nf 1 Ne5 4. Kf2 Nh5 5. Ne3 Nf6 6. Nf5 Ne4+ 7. Ke3 Nc5 8. Nc1 Nd7 9. Ng3 [pic] Copy/paste the code below into your webpage or blog html to display this game: [pic] |HELPRESTARTSOLUTION |P|| | |FLIP|SHARE |ANALYZE |PGN | | | | | The Pawn Pawns are unusual because they move and capture in different ways: they move forward, but capture diagonally. Pawns can only move forward one square at a time, except for their very first move where they can move forward two squares. Pawns can only capture one square diagonally in front of them. They can never move or capture backwards. If there is another piece directly in front of a pawn he cannot move past or capture that piece. [pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic] 8 a b c d e f g 8 h 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 a b c d e f g h 1 pawn  promotion [pic][pic][pic][pic] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. c4 dxc4 5. b3 cxb3 6. axb3 c5 7. dxc5 a5 8. f4 f6 9. g4 g5 10. fxg5 fxg5 11. h4 h6 12. h5 [pic] Copy/paste the code below into your webpage or blog html to display this game: [pic] |HELPRESTARTSOLUTION |P|| | |FLIP|SHARE |ANALYZE |PGN | | | | | Promotion Pawns have another special ability and that is that if a pawn reaches the other side of the board it can become any other chess piece (called promotion). A pawn may be promoted to any piece. [NOTE: A common misconception is that pawns may only be exchanged for a piece that has been captured. That is NOT true. ] A pawn is usually promoted to a queen. Only pawns may be promoted. [pic][pic][pic][pic] 8 a b c d e f g 8 h 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 a b c d e f g h 1 pawn  promotion [pic][pic][pic][pic] 1. a7 f2 2. a8=Q f1=N+ 3. Kd3 [pic] Copy/paste the code below into your webpage or blog html to display this game: [pic] HELPRESTARTSOLUTION |P|| | |FLIP|SHARE |ANALYZE |PGN | | | | | En Passant The last rule about pawns is called â€Å"en passant,† which is French basically means â€Å"in passing†. If a pawn moves out two squares on its first move, and by doing so lands to the side of an opponent’s pawn (effectively jumping past the other pawn’s abili ty to capture it), that other pawn has the option of capturing the first pawn as it passes by. This special move must be done immediately after the first pawn has moved past, otherwise the option to capture it is no longer available. Click through the example below to better understand this odd, but important rule. [pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic] 8 a b c d e f g 8 h 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 a b c d e f g h 1 pawn  promotion [pic][pic][pic][pic] 1. e4 dxe3 2. dxe3 e5 3. fxe6 fxe6 4. g4 g5 5. h3 b5 6. axb6 axb6 [pic] Copy/paste the code below into your webpage or blog html to display this game: [pic] |HELPRESTARTSOLUTION |P|| | |FLIP|SHARE |ANALYZE |PGN | | | | | Castling One other special rule is called castling. This move allows you to do two important things all in one move: get your king to safety (hopefully), and get your rook out of the corner and into the game. On a player’s turn he may move his king two squares over to one side and then move the rook from that side’s corner to right next to the king on the opposite side. (See the example below. ) In order to castle, however, it must meet the following conditions: it must be that king’s very first move it must be that rook’s very first move there cannot be any pieces between the king and rook to move the king may not be in check or pass through check [pic][pic][pic][pic] 8 a b c d e f g 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 a b c d e f g h 1 pawn  promotion [pic][pic][pic][pic] 1. O-O O-O-O [pic] Copy/paste the code below into your webpage or blog html to display this game: [pic] |HELPRESTARTSOLUTION |P|| | |FLIP|SHARE |ANALYZE |PGN | | | | | Notice that when you castle one direction the king is closer to the side of the board. That is called kingside. Castling to the other side, through where the queen sat, is called castling queenside. Regardless of which side, the king always moves only two squares when castling. Check and Checkmate As stated before, the purpose of the game is to checkmate the opponent’s king. This happens when the king is put into check and cannot get out of check. There are only three ways a king can get out of check: move out of the way (though he cannot castle! ), block the check with another piece, or capture the piece threatening the king. If a king cannot escape checkmate then the game is over. Customarily the king is not captured or removed from the board, the game is simply declared over. [pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic] 8 a b c d e f g 8 h 7 7 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 a b c d e f g h 1 pawn  promotion [pic][pic][pic][pic] 1. f3 e5 2. g4 Qh4# [pic] Copy/paste the code below into your webpage or blog html to display this game: [pic] |HELPRESTARTSOLUTION |P|| | |FLIP|SHARE |ANALYZE |PGN | | | | | Draws Occasionally chess games do not end with a winner, but with a draw. There are 5 reasons why a chess game may end in a draw: The position reache s a stalemate where it is one player’s turn to move, but his king is NOT in check and yet he does not have another legal move The players may simply agree to a draw and stop playing There are not enough pieces on the board to force a checkmate (example: a king and a bishop vs. a king) A player declares a draw if the same exact position is repeated three times (though not necessarily three times in a row) Fifty consecutive moves have been played where neither player has moved a pawn or captured a piece. Chess960 Chess960 (also called Fischer Random) is a chess variant that follows all of the normal rules of chess, but where the â€Å"opening theory† does not play a large role in the game. The starting position of the pieces is randomly chosen by following only 2 rules: the bishops must be on opposite colors, and there must be one rook on each side of the king. The black and white pieces are in a mirrored position. There are exactly 960 possible starting scenarios that follow these rules (thus the name â€Å"960†). The only odd rule is with castling: the rules are mostly the same (king and rook cannot have moved and cannot castle through check or in check), with the additional rule that the squares between where the king and castled rook will end up must be vacant from all pieces except the king and rook. For more info and examples, click here. Some Tournament Rules Many tournaments follow a set of common, similar rules. These rules do not necessarily apply to play at home or online. Touch-move If a player touches one of their own pieces they must move that piece as long as it is a legal move. If a player touches an opponent’s piece, they must capture that piece. A player who wishes to touch a piece only to adjust it on the board must first announce the intention, usually by saying â€Å"adjust†. Introduction to Clocks and Timers Most tournaments use timers to regulate the time spent on each game, not on each move. Each player gets the same amount of time to use for their entire game and can decide how to spend that time. Once a player makes a move they then touch a button or hit a lever to start the opponent’s clock. If a player runs out of time and the opponent calls the time, then the player who ran out of time loses the game (unless the opponent does not have enough pieces to checkmate, in which case it is a draw). Click here to watch two players quickly playing a timed game of chess! Basic Strategy There are four simple things that every chess player should know: [pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic] 8 a b c d e f g 8 h 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 a b c d e f g h 1 pawn  promotion [pic][pic][pic][pic] 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Nxd5 Nf6 5. Nxc7+ Kd8 6. Nxa8 Ne4 7. f3 Bf5 8. fxe4 Bxe4 [pic] Copy/paste the code below into your webpage or blog html to display this game: [pic] |HELPRESTARTSOLUTION |P|| | |FLIP|SHARE |ANALYZE |PGN | | | | | #1 Protect your king Get your king to the corner of the board where he is usually safer. Don’t put off castling. You should usually castle as quickly as possible. Remember, it doesn’t matter how close you are to checkmating your opponent if your own king is checkmated first! #2 Don’t give pieces away Don’t carelessly lose your pieces! Each piece is valuable and you can’t win a game without pieces to checkmate. There is an easy system that most players use to keep track of the relative value of each chess piece: A pawn is worth 1 A knight is worth 3 A bishop is worth 3 A rook is worth 5 A queen is worth 9 The king is infinitely valuable At the end of the game these points don’t mean anything – it is simply a system you can use to make decisions while playing, helping you know when to capture, exchange, or make other moves. [pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic] 8 a b c d e f g 8 h 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 a b c d e f g h 1 pawn  promotion [pic][pic][pic][pic] 1. e4 a6 2. d4 h5 3. Nf3 Rh6 4. Bxh6 Nxh6 5. Bc4 b6 6. O-O f6 7. Nc3 g6 8. Re1 Bg7 9. Qd3 Bb7 10. Rd1 Qc8 11. e5 Qd8 12. Qxg6+ Kf8 13. exf6 Bxf6 14. Qxh6+ Ke8 15. Qg6+ Kf8 16. Qf7# [pic] Copy/paste the code below into your webpage or blog html to display this game: [pic] |HELPRESTARTSOLUTION |P|| | |FLIP|SHARE |ANALYZE |PGN | | | | | #3 Control the center You should try and control the center of the board with your pieces and pawns. If you control the center, you will have more room to move your pieces and will make it harder for your opponent to find good squares for his pieces. In the example below white makes good moves to control the center while black plays bad moves. #4 Use all of your pieces In the example above white got all of his pieces in the game! Your pieces

Gap Inc. in 2010: Is the Turnaround Strategy Working? Essay

Executive Summary Gap Inc. is facing the problem of decreasing sales in the family clothing store industry. Included in this paper is a detailed analysis of the family clothing store industry. This external analysis has showed that the industry is extremely competitive and difficult to make a profit due to low profit margins. The internal analysis of the company shows that although sales have decreased, Gap’s financial performance strengthens every year. Their profitability, leverage, and liquidity ratios have improved steadily every year which helps the company maintain a somewhat strong business situation. There are several possible alternatives for Gap Inc. to help increase sales and market share including maintain status quo, create new product lines and segment their target markets, and expand company operated stores in foreign markets which is the suggested course of action. Problem Statement The problem facing Gap Inc. is their decreasing sales and market share in the family clothing store industry due to the decreasing popularity of their clothing. Background and History Gap Inc. has several brands including The Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta, and Piperlime. Gap Inc. was founded in 1969 by Doris and Don Fisher. They started out selling clothing that targeted teenagers in San Francisco and expanded their clothing line to include active wear in 1970. The company went public in 1976. Gap Inc.’s clothing was popular in the 1990s and as their clothes were becoming popular and sales were increasing rapidly, so was their debt due to expansion. As their long-term debt increased, the quality of their clothing decreased. By 2000, their clothing style was not popular. The company had a few CEOs including Millar Drexler who was fired due to decreasing sales, Paul Pressler who resigned due to the company’s weak performance and he was replaced by Glen Murphy. Pressler’s turnaround strategy for Gap included reducing long-term debt. Murphy’s turnaround strategy was to expand business internationally and improve on the style and design of the clothing. PESTE Analysis Political Forces * Foreign governments; can cause delays or stall shipments by imposing new rules. * Better labour standards in foreign countries could cause an increase in textile prices. * The World Trade Organization. Another Multi-Fiber Arrangement could be imposed in the future. Economical Forces * Recession – consumers more cautious of prices * Interest rates will affect a store’s ability to afford loans for expansions * Exchange rates will affect costs to those companies that are importing textiles from foreign countries. Social Forces * Consumer’s tastes change frequently in the fashion industry. * Aging population – as the baby boomers age, their fashion needs will be different. * Obesity rates rising, demand for plus size clothing rising * Sweat shops/poor working conditions for employees of suppliers in foreign countries can cause bad publicity Technological Factors * The internet is becoming a popular way to sell merchandise. * New software and advancements in IT make it easier and more efficient for companies to track inventory and make the ordering process easier. Environmental Factors * People are more environmentally conscious and want to ensure companies are committed to green practices and are being socially responsible. * Clothing manufacturers can be creating a large amount of pollution due to their operations, especially if running a large plant. Porter’s Five Forces Threat of Rivalry Gap Inc.’s competition includes Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle Outfitters, Ross Stores, and several small local companies. The threat of rivalry is high due to: * Several competitors; thousands of small local and regional retailers. * No cost to buyers to switch brands. * Low profit margins; estimated to be only 3.4% in 2008. Threat of New Entrants The threat of new entrants is moderate to high due to: * Several possible new entrants, especially those operating specialty clothing stores. These include stores such as Reitmans who target women or H&M and Zara that target young adults. * Product differentiation and brand loyalty will make it more difficult to enter. Threat from Substitutes The threat from substitutes is high due to: * Several good substitutes are available such as: * Make your own clothes * Shop at specialty clothing stores * Buy second hand from flea markets, yard sales, or second hand stores * Department stores/big box retailers such as Sears or Wal-Mart. * No cost to buyers to switching to a substitute. * Prices are comparable or cheaper for substitutes and maintain quality Supplier Bargaining Power Supplier bargaining power is slightly higher than normal due to: * Limited supplies, potential for shortages * Products are differentiated in quality and style, however, could easily be duplicated by another supplier. * No cost to buyers to switch suppliers; however, may not be possible if there are shortages. Buyers Bargaining Power Buyers bargaining power are fairly high due to: * Low cost to switch suppliers * Products are differentiated in quality in style, however, could be easily duplicated. This increases buyers bargaining power. * Buyers are price sensitive – low profit margins and most of their purchases rely on third party suppliers from foreign countries. Overall, the family clothing store industry is not a very attractive industry. With all competitive forces being moderate to high, it would be very difficult for a new entrant to make a decent profit. Factors Driving Change * Entry of foreign companies * Regulatory influences and government policy changes. Regulations for importing textiles from foreign markets could cause an increase in prices for family clothing stores. * Changing social issues – increasing obesity rates * Changes in lifestyle – people becoming health conscious which affects their clothing needs. These factors driving change have the potential to decrease the demand for the family clothing store industry. As demand decreases, competition will become more intense. The combined impact of these factors could lead to lower industry profitability, especially if the companies cannot turnover inventory. Key Success Factors * Location * Brand loyalty * Keeping current with fashion trends These key success factors will determine how successful the companies in the family clothing industry are. Location is important because customers want to shop close to home. Companies must build brand loyalty to keep their customers coming back. Most importantly, if the company is not staying current with fashion trends, their customers will shop at a store that is offering the latest fashions.

The Nature of Nurture.

The Nature of Nurture. Our global village is gradually increasing its capacity in an unconscious way. People living in this modern world no longer have the privilege to possess any objective or subjective thing larger than that which fits within one's own private space. However, some people, especially those with overwhelming power and renowned fame, still believe in the theory of "survival of the fittest" through the capitalistic system; they spread their influence to those who have limited strength and feeble minds as easily as they might blow away dust. It is so ridiculous that people have desired to take control over the biological world, but they are bullying and humiliating those around them for various purposes. If every individual could help others, especially for the privileged to aid the poor, they would create more opportunities and mutually benefit the life they all desire.It is no doubt that the United States is the strongest and most influential country on earth, it is also one of the most re active members that assists the underdeveloped countries to have well and healthy living, and promotes the necessity of the maintenance of the original global appearance.The United States, which becomes the current status through originally taking advantage of global resources out of Mother Nature, with sufficient financial budgets and well-known identity, believes that it is essential for competent countries to support the underprivileged nations because they should know the reason of give-and -take. They derive almost natural resources since they have more ability and power to access; meanwhile, they have to consider that the powerless nations have less chance to do so. It is reasonable for them to share supportive and substantial supply with the poor.Another unreasonable issue, the deterioration of Mother Nature by privileged people, definitely needs to be examined closely. Even though people...

New Capitalism by Peston

New Capitalism by Peston Introduction The lucid facts, logical ideas, mindboggling thoughts and authoritative opinions presented in Richard Sennett’s highly revered book of â€Å"New Capitalism† have been increasingly debated over the recent past based on their relevance in the modern day society.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on New Capitalism by Peston specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A few economic bigwigs have been able to come out in opposition of thoughts presented in that book, while a whole lot of many others have strongly defended it. So what really is it about this book that makes it a bone of contention for economists, economy-oriented academicians and even scholars from other fundamental disciplines such as sociology? Preliminarily, the book coherently outlines the earlier forms of industrial capitalism in both public and private organizations and its global impacts. From that background, he then goes a mile further and circumspectly analyzes the current form of capitalism which he calls â€Å"New Capitalism† and explicates its diverse effects including: the progressively widening gap between the â€Å"haves† and â€Å"have-nots† in the society, the rise of a new influential capitalist group of people based on their timely positioning in the shifting economy, socio-political and economic traumas of those who constantly face oppression from actions by the elitist class in the society and finally, Sennett presents possible solutions and practical initiatives that can help bring reform to this derogative new form of capitalism (Sennett, 2006). It is based on these documentations by Sennett that this paper is going to explain the current socio-economic and political happenings as selectively reported by the media on the amassed consequences of â€Å"New Capitalism.† Main discussion The evolution of New Capitalism and its consequences Just a few decades ago, banks were co nsidered as invincible institutions that could never collapse. Their perceived strength for a long time is what essentially ensured that economies of countries stayed intact in spite of repeated global hiccups Stelzer (2008). But looking at the current situation, one can not help but feel awed- if not sympathetic- at their rate of collapses which have in turn led to the tumbling of governments. This is the exact scenario that Sennett (2006) had forecasted, and many more sociopolitical happenings are further getting confirmed by the day. A recent expansively written article by BBC’s renowned writer Robert Peston in December 2008, clearly highlights how the dawn of the New Capitalism is adversely affecting Britain, USA and the world at large- and how the already grim situation can get grimmer if reformative steps are not taken. His article is primarily going to be the basis of analyzing and ascertaining projections by Sennett (2006).Advertising Looking for essay on busi ness economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More To begin with, many researchers observe that the current economic challenges that are being faced globally are principally because of them getting into huge debts. To this effect, Peston (2008, p.1) says that: We borrowed too much, especially in the US and the UK. And the process of paying the money back is not only leading to a fall in living standards but is also precipitating very significant changes in how the global financial economy operates. He goes ahead and cites that the most affected parties in this issue of borrowing are households and corporate institutions. And based on the fact that so much of the economy is controlled by these two parties, the resulting economic impact is devastating. Sennett (2006) explains this situation by saying that in the New Capitalism- which we are in fact already experiencing; societies will be enticed into taking huge debts by the cal culative money managers. Once this is done, the lenders will come to ask for their money when you least expect it. And if you can not pay it back, they will freeze your assets and booming businesses thus getting even more benefits than what should. This is the typical scenario that Peston is explicating above. Peston (2008, p.1) further preempts that the â€Å"Economic conditions in 2009 will be treacherous. Therell be a formal recession in most developed economies, and the economic contraction is highly likely to be more severe in the UK than almost anywhere.† And as we now know, most of the high performing and well-to-do economic countries have been on a downward spiral with the USA and UK being the most affected (Stelzer, 2008). According to Sennett (2006), this economic meltdown and economic tumbling further presents an opportunity for the rise of capitalists’ states that had foreseen this scenario ages ago and socio-economically aligned themselves accordingly. A g ood example is China who, according to Peston (2008, p.2), have been saving over the past decade as a country and as individuals. He additionally states that the Chinese have also been increasingly industrious over the past few years making viable (yet cheap) products, which are in turn exported to the USA and Britain. Then unknowingly, we borrow money from clever bankers who saved their money (or at times, from moneys that our governments borrowed from countries like China) in order to buy these goods. As a result, China and these few bankers keep on progressing financially while our nations continue spiraling downwards. Essentially, this is what Sennett means when he says that â€Å"the rich will keep on getting richer while the poor ones get poorer† (p.6).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on New Capitalism by Peston specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Moreover, Stelzer (2008) and Peston (2008, p.1 and p.6) assert that the new age capitalism has resulted in higher numbers of unemployment. Peston (2008) equates this numbers to â€Å"The extraordinary volatility weve experienced in the price of sterling, commodities, energy, shares and capital which makes it so hard for businesses and investors to plan.† (p.1). He then collectively alludes that the remaining unemployment figures are as a result of tight budgets in economies which is making companies streamline their expenditure through cutting down of jobs (p.5-6). To this effect, Sennett (2006) says that the cutting down of jobs will only affect the tumbling economies and not those capitalist societies that had anticipated the socio-economic shake up. Again, this is the reason why China and India have been recently reported to have increased employment rates (Stelzer, 2008). Interestingly and sadly, this new brand of capitalism is making most governments use the common man as their financial cushion- when in real sense, it should be t he opposite. Accordingly, Peston (2008, p.3) notes that this â€Å"oppression† to the common man is comes in form of over-taxation and the reduction of support-funds. The money realized from the taxes are then used by the governments to try resuscitating the, seemingly, dying financial powerhouses like banks, state corporations, privately state owned investments among many others. As for the reduction in funds, this is simply meant to cut on the expenditure by banks and other donor organizations so that the money can be ploughed into other revenue-generating projects. According to Sennett (2006), this poses a great challenge to the â€Å"modern man† who has grown up relying on such funds. Consequently, the withdrawal or reduction of the funds leads to impoverishment of this people which further opens a door for a vista of detrimental effects like: low economic output, poor healthcare and in some cases, untimely deaths which wholesomely plunges these economies even more . In relations to the above point, Peston (2008, p.3) observes that once the banks have started facing problems, most money managers withdraw their moneys from banks and, in most cases, invest them in overseas countries or bank them in offshore accounts. This eventually leaves their native bank with no money to conduct its business. And as we all know, this cumulatively impacts negatively on the country’s socioeconomic and political setup (Sennett, 2006).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Notably important, Peston (2008, p.1) says that â€Å"For many years to come, whats happening will affect the relationship between business and government, between taxpayers and the private sector, between employers and employees, between investors and companies.† This is a trivially bad circumstance to end up in- based on the much we have witnessed so far. It is therefore important that we not only look at the consequences of the New Capitalism, but go a step further and show how we can curb or if possible, ultimately stop its negative effects. In doing so, we must first inherently establish its root causes (things that have contributed to it), then from here; we can get to uproot them and cultivate a new environment that nurtures positivity by offering possible solutions. So what/who is responsible for this perilous situation we are in? Contributing factors to the consequences of New Capitalism With regards to what/who is responsible for our current New Capitalism predicame nt, Peston (2008, p.5) says that â€Å"We’re all at fault to varying degrees.† Whether knowingly or unknowingly; we all have, in one way or another, contributed to the dilemma we are in. Starting with the government, Peston (2008, p.5) reports that â€Å"The authorities in the US and the UK were aware of the dangers of allowing the financial and trade deficits with China and other exporting nations to persist† but instead of correcting it through proper regulation of taxation and interest rates to reduce increased consumption; they chose to keep quiet thus landing us in our current quandary. Additionally, Peston (2008, p.5) says that the general public partly got themselves into the mess that they are in. Instead of questioning the ramifications of the colossal hedge funds and private booms of 2007 which were given at absurdly cheap terms; they blindly signed the dotted line and partook of the funds. As at now, most of them are still struggling with repaying tha t, when they would have simply avoided it in the first place. As for the banks’ role in the devastating implications of New Capitalism, Peston (2005, p.5) expressively notes that: A corollary of precisely this complacency was that central banks, such as the Bank of England, were hopelessly wrong in believing that the explosive growth of credit and the surge in the price of assets such as houses was somehow hermetically sealed from the rest of the economy, such that it wouldn’t damage everything when the bubble was finally popped. As we now know, the growth of credits was a porous plan that negatively impacted and still continues to devastate Britain’s economy. To make matters worse, Peston (2008, p.5) observes that: Regulators were negligent in allowing the creation of what’s become known as a shadow banking system, in which trillions of pounds of long term loans in the western economies were financed with credit that could be withdrawn far too quickly. A s a result, there was no fall back or something to adhesively hold the economy once financial shake-ups began hitting hard. Finally, Peston (2008, p.5) blames the media for agenda setting a platform for the negative growth of New Capitalism by ignoring to play the â€Å"watchdog role† and warning the world about this predicament. The way forward- possible solutions Of course banks and the government played a bigger role in getting us in this dangerous situation we are in; but going around negatively trumpeting each others’ names and pointing judgmental fingers to one another will not help us. So what is the way forward for Britain, USA and other parts of the world as well? Firstly, Zhou Xiaochuan’s sentiments that the US should take a leading role and adjust its policies, reduce fiscal deficits and increase its saving ratios since it is the world’s superpower; can be a good start (Peston, 2008, p.2). Factors like the heavy debts by the US and the falling down of prices might inhibit this, but in overall it is a venture worth trying (p.4-6). Peston (2008, p.5) just like Sennett (2006) say that massive printing of money can also help reducing debt. However, this should be done sparingly and cautiously to avoid high inflation like the renowned case of Zimbabwe. Personally, I think that the creation of more investment avenues for those at the grassroots of the society can also offer a good balance in the spread of resources thus reducing the gap between the rich and the poor. Once equilibrium is reached, the society is bound to progress as an entity and in-turn, having a positive socioeconomic impact on a global scale. This, among many other fundamental solutions, not stated, can be of invaluable help. Conclusion In finality, it is inevitable to note that New Capitalism is not an entirely bad thing. China, India, Japan, Saudi and other increasingly growing economies are typical examples to ascertain that (Peston, 2008, p.2). Additionall y, the increased networking and cooperation among various countries has been able to open up more trading avenues for investors to spread their financial tentacles. All we have to do is positively learn from our mistakes and forge ahead rather than just sitting down and blaming ourselves over past things that we can not change. References Peston, R. (2008) The New Capitalism. BBC News Web. Sennett, R. (2006) The Culture of the New Capitalism. London: Yale University Press. Stelzer, I. M. (2008) New Capitalism: Market capitalism in the United States will never be the same. Weekly Standard Web.

Becoming a Medical Billing Specialist

Becoming a Medical Billing Specialist Keisha Marselis SLS 1105-65 Strategies for Success March 20, 2010 Becoming a Medical Billing Specialist I love working with people and on computers. So I looked for a career where I can do both. Deciding to become a Medical Billing Specialist was the perfect choice for me. When I first entered into the medical field, I became a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant). I love doing my job because I was able to help others in need. As time passed I knew I wanted to do more but I just didn’t know what that was. Then one day I went to the doctor’s office with a patient for a routine checkup and I started talking to one of the medical assistants. She asked me if I liked my job. I told her that I love what I did but I wanted something more. I also mentioned that I had went to school for basic computer training before I went to school for CNA. Then she said that I should think about going to school for Medical Billing and Coding. When I started looking into the field, I was astonished. I would be able to do the two things I love, working with people and on computers. I discover that a person interested in medical billing and coding should have excellent knowledge of the field, is willing to help those in need and have flexibility to obtain additional training for job advancement. â€Å"Medical coding is a key step in the medical billing process. Every time a patient receives professional health care in a physician’s office, hospital outpatient facility or ambulatory surgical center(ASC), the provider must code and create a claim to be paid, whether by a commercial payer, the patient or CMS(The Centers for Medicare Medicare Services)† (American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), 2010). A medical coder’s main job is to look over patient’s records and other information to code and classify a patient’s diagnosis or procedure. Then they must assign and input the correct diagnostic code to establish the amount of money a provider receives from the insurer. Coders are also responsible for making sure codes meet all federal, legal and insurance regulations. Jeffress (2003-2010) specifies that â€Å"the healthcare industry depends on skilled medical billing and coding specialists to accurately record and register patient information, verify their insurance policies, and keep track of patient accounts†. When a patient comes in to the doctor’s office, you are the first and last person they come in contact with. So it is important that you get all of the patient’s information to properly start off their file. You also have to make sure the patient has their proper health insurance and understand what their responsibilities are for co-payment, if needed. They would have to fill out different documentation about them and their family medical history. It is also important to help them understand how to fill out these forms so that everything can be properly documented in their file. When the patient sees the doctor, he/she will have a somewhat understanding of why the patient is visiting. While the patient is seeing a doctor, the doctor may tell them a few things that they might not understand. So the patient might come and ask you questions pertaining to what the doctor just told them. By being trained in the field you learn about medical terminology. This is when you breakdown what was told to them. You would be able to explain to them the medical diagnosis or procedure the doctor has told them about. Help them understand what the doctor wants them to do.

Cereal Aisle Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cereal Aisle Analysis - Assignment Example Consumer behavior process comprises of different stages which are undertaken by every customer. These stages are problem recognition, information search, and evaluation of alternatives, purchase decision, purchase and post-purchase evaluation. Customers need to firstly identify their need with respect to purchasing a product or service. This kind of need is further utilized to search information and take appropriate action. All possible alternatives available in the market place are identified by customers. Finally purchase decision is made and products or services are purchased (Alba and Hutchinson, 2008). Growth or success of a brand depends on post purchase evaluation. I visited a local grocery store where I observed behavior of three consumers who were going towards three different aisles. All of the three consumers had different demand such as one wanted to purchase breakfast cereals, another was looking at bread aisle, and third was visiting cereal aisle. Customer A had a need for breakfast cereals and the lady was visiting the store outlet with her kid. She compared prices of all breakfast cereals kept on the track and selected some like Kellogg’s, Lucky Charms and Cocoa Puffs. However while making final purchase decision her kid put across his preference towards Kellogg’s Apple Jacks. The lady finally purchased breakfast cereal of Kellogg’s. On the other hand, customer B was in a hurry, he smartly moved in and went to specific department to purchase a particular brand’s bread.