Mass Media Critical Analysis Family Guy Essay Example

Mass Media Critical Analysis: Family Guy Essay The animated sitcom series Family Guy, which began broadcasting on American television channels in 1999, has always courted controversy. The perceived crude humor and lack of inhibitions in the characters of the show have offended the conservative sections of American society. At times unfavorably compared to The Simpsons, an animated family comedy which preceded it, Family Guy has many defining qualities of its own. The show has also had issues with commercial viability, as its producers have at times hesitated to begin a new season. Yet, the show has left a mark on American television scene by drawing and sustaining dedicated fans. It has also left an impression on the broader popular culture, as some of the themes and motifs of the show are adopted and discussed in other shows and other media. This essay will argue that despite the controversial elements in its makeup, Family Guy is a valuable tool to understand American culture and society, especially human interpersonal re lationships and the humor/aesthetic sense of American TV audience. In Family Guy, the male characters talk openly about their sexual desires and experiences. Also, men praise each other for their sexual conquests. For example, in one episode, in what is a spoof on a popular children’s cartoon, one smurf congratulates another smurf for ‘smurfing’ Smurfette in a clear sexual allusion. In turn, boys/men express pride of accumulating sexual experience with girls/women. Women set sexual limits. Women were sometimes portrayed actively rejecting men’s sexual advances. Lois’ repeated efforts to curb her husband Peter’s requests for sex is another source of humor. In more than one episode, Peter attempts to initiate sex with Lois in the presence of their young child. Outraged, the wife stops her husband, exclaiming, â€Å"For God’s sakes! Stewie is right here!† (Kim, et al. 145) Women need boyfriends or husbands. Female characters without boyfriends or husbands were made to feel deficient. A teenage bo y asks his inexperienced sister, â€Å"What kind of gifts have boys gotten for you, Meg?† causing Meg to cry hysterically and run out of the room. (Kim, et al.145) In this context, not all media critics are able to appreciate and hold a liberal view of Family Guy. Those from the conservative sections rate the show lowly. They cite the show’s supposed foul, raunchy angle for the denigration. According to this view, We will write a custom essay sample on Mass Media Critical Analysis: Family Guy specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Mass Media Critical Analysis: Family Guy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Mass Media Critical Analysis: Family Guy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer In its first full year, the show’s creators managed to include nearly every conceivable obscenity, and references to every imaginable sexual perversion from incest to necrophilia. Series staples included nudity and references to pornography and masturbation. One episode this spring featured Peter Griffin giving his adolescent son his entire stockpile of pornographic magazines. The fact that Family Guy aired during the family hour makes it that much worse. Institutions such as the church and family were held up to ridicule on a near– weekly basis†¦ (â€Å"Top 10 Worst Anti-family Shows on Television† 12) The very first episode of Family Guy, titled Death Has a Shadow (which Fox Network first broadcast on January 1999) encapsulates the show’s humorous take on a major political issue – that of social welfare. The episode shows how the head of the family, Peter Griffin, accidentally ends up getting government welfare payouts (a whopping $150,000 a week due to a clerical error). There is a series of comic errors both en route to acquiring this welfare and also till its rightful cessation. But this episode is typical of the crude, dark, and at times irreverent humor that Family Guy has come to represent. There are references to some of the major features of American culture, including binge drinking, welfare state, addiction to sport, toys, incarceration, prison sentences, etc. Michael V. Tueth has made a distinction between television programs that engage in satire and those that produce ‘transgressive humor’. By his classification, Family Guy belongs to th e latter. Therefore, critics of the show will have to grasp this nuance before forming their judgments: Rather than portraying the objects of its humor in hopes that witty ridicule and public shame might provoke change, transgressive humor does not expect or even desire a change, for then the fun would end. This distinction seems to be supported by the way focus group members differentiated between the humor of King of the Hill and Family Guy, which they had less commentary on but claimed to watch more often (Tueth B06). The first episode also reveals the aesthetics of the American audience that is attuned to relishing magic realism on screen. For example, the sudden interruption of the realistic narrative flow by the giant anthropomorphized jug of Kool-Aid (an artificially flavored soft-drink) takes everyone in the courtroom by surprise. As people in the courtroom gaze bemused at this unexpected entry, the Kool-Aid icon backs away out of the room gently, smoothly, and efficiently, only as a cartoon character can do. This example typifies another aspect of American television, namely that of product placement. In terms of the aesthetic relevance, it shows how American viewers enjoy elements of magic realism. As a noted media commentator observes, The episode offers no explanation for this sudden incursion and hardly any time to dwell on it because as soon as the invading creature exits the scene, the episode continues apace, forcing the viewer to move on with the renewed flow of narrative. This was a familiar sensation, however, one I recognized but never before from animation. In fact, I was reminded of works from the literary world, particularly those that use a technique called magical realism†¦ (Crawford 52) When ones studies the show in question with other animated sitcoms such as The Simpsons (the first animated show to be screened in prime time since The Flintstones in the 1960s), Beavis and Butthead, King of the Hill, South Park, and Futurama, one could see what is fresh and new with Family Guy. Developing on the strong foundation of audience of animated sitcoms allowed writers to be more adventurous with novel comedic styles. In other words, upon the groundwork of ‘realism’ left by preceding animated sitcoms, the ‘magic realism’ of Family Guy thrives. In this sense, the show could be seen as a chapter in the evolution of American television entertainment. To this extent, Family Guy is a source for sociological study and insight. For example, †¦although Family Guy is essentially a situation comedy, and comedy is the prime objective of the show, the concerns of the postmodern age are evident in the pop-culture magical realism it utilizes. The fact that Family Guy and many other prime-time animated sitcoms are so sophisticated intertextually is due to the anxieties that the postmodern writer experiences (Crawford 52). In conclusion, Family Guy is a rich source for sociological study in the context of American culture. It reveals interesting details about the American audience’s sense of humor and other social preoccupations. In particular, the role of sex and the complexities of family relationships are colorfully and humorously portrayed, offering the audience fresh perspectives. Works Cited Crawford, Alison. â€Å"†Oh Yeah!†: Family Guy as Magical Realism?.† Journal of Film and Video 61.2 (2009): 52+. Print. Tueth, Michael V. â€Å"Family Guy’ Alive†. The Washington Times (9 Jan. 2007): B06. Print. Kim, Janna L., et al. â€Å"From Sex to Sexuality: Exposing the Heterosexual Script on Primetime Network Television.† The Journal of Sex Research 44.2 (2007): 145+. Print. â€Å"Top 10 Worst Anti-family Shows on Television.† Human Events (25 Aug. 2000): 12. Print.

Should I Hire Someone to Upload My Ebook or Do it Myself

Should I Hire Someone to Upload My Ebook or Do it Myself When Hope saw my Fiverr gig on uploading ebooks to ebookstores for $5 each, she asked me how I could do it so easily and so cheaply. Actually, uploading is the easiest part of self-publishing, and you probably already have everything you need. Heres what you should know to upload your ebook (varies  ·          An account with the vendor (Amazon, iTunes Connect, Nook Press, Kobo, etc.)  ·          Book title and subtitle (optional)  ·          Series name and number (optional)  ·          Author name(s)  ·          Publisher (you can just use your name, e.g.: Amy Author Books)  ·          Description (back cover blurb)  ·          Book categories (you can find BISAC codes here; two to five categories, depending on the platform)  ·          Age range (for childrens books)  ·          Print length (optional)  ·          Language its written in  ·          ISBN-13 (optional) from Bowker in the U.S., plus the print ISBN-13 if there is a print version  ·          Base Currency (yours - USD, CAN, GBP, EUR, AU, etc.)  ·          Book price in your currency  ·          Book price for other countries (either use their default at the exchange rate or change to end in .99)  ·          Keywords (what the reader will search for to find your book)  ·          Whether you want Digital Rights Management (DRM)  ·          If its not in the public domain, verification that you have the rights to publish it  ·          An ebook file (most will take .doc files, but an .epub looks better)  ·          A cover (in .jpg or .png format) Once the client provides me with all of this information, its easy to just copy and paste. If a problem comes up, its usually in iBooks, related to the cover. The outside cover shown on the site needs to be a minimum of 1,400 pixels wide. However, the cover on the inside of the book must be smaller (no more than four million pixels). The same is true for all interior images. So, if its so easy to upload, why would anyone hire someone else to do it? Usually, its because they dont have access. For example, uploading to iBooks requires a Mac. If you dont have a Mac, you can use Mac in Cloud for a fee, go through an aggregator like Draft2Digital or Smashwords, or hire someone to do it for you. The learning curve for Mac in Cloud could be costly, and, if you go through an aggregator, you will be charged 10-15 percent of all sales you make. Thats why people will pay someone on Fiverr to upload to iBooks for them. It does require that you give a stranger your userid and password to your account, but if you find someone with good reviews, its not much of a risk, and you can always change your password immediately after they upload. Another reason people might hire someone else to upload their ebook is if they live outside the U.S. and want to publish their book on Nook Press. I understand its difficult, if not impossible. So, hiring someone to do it for a few bucks makes sense. I hope I took some of the mystery (and fear) out of uploading for you, and helped you make your decision whether to do it yourself or hire someone to do it for you. And, hey, if you need assistance, check out my Fiverr gig. Id be happy to help you.

Satirical Attack on the Education System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Satirical Attack on the Education System - Essay Example He writes for a newspaper with a satire style, where he criticizes the educational system for not training their students enough to have acceptable writing and research skills. The writer can be trusted because of the use of evidence and logic to present his claims, and though his appeal to logos is based on his own personal experiences as a shadow writer and may be contested, his rants and insights have been reproduced in other scholarly articles, and furthermore, Dante effectively uses the appeal to emotions by focusing on how his job impacts the future professionals and workers of the world. Using logos, Dante successfully argues his main claim that the educational system is to be primarily blamed for students depending on shadow scholars because of the emphasis on grading and not education and their inability to handle cultural differences. The reasons that he provided are based on his interactions with students, whom he categorized into three types: â€Å"the English-as-second-language student; the hopelessly deficient student; and the lazy rich kid† (Dante par. 21). He supports these categories through examples of what they expect from their writers and why they expect this way. For instance, for the rich student, he says: â€Å"While the deficient student will generally not know how to ask for what he wants until he doesnt get it, the lazy rich student will know exactly what he wants† (Dante 22). Still, his experiences are hard to verify since his clients will certainly not admit to plagiarism. It is possible to check his claims, nonetheless, through g oing through academic articles written on the topic, such those from Austin, Simpson, and Reynen and Scanlon. These authors agree that many students use these paper mills because they can and because of the failings of the educational system. Dante’s ethos is perceived is high because he is consistent on what he says he does for his clients.

CDBM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

CDBM - Essay Example influenced by: the country’s accession to the WTO; economic development; creation of a middle class; Westernized culture; and technological advancements like the internet. The industry players have been prompt in taking into account the social and cultural diversity issues in the country through their efforts in creating an efficient marketing mix and adding value added features to suit the need of every possible market segment. However, this can be further enhanced by the employment of strategies which recognizes the different profiles of customers in each key cities and emphasizing on the promotion of health benefits from coffee products. The existence and mere survival of an industry lies in its ability to efficiently respond to the internal and external influences. It is irrefutable that business organizations’ strategies mirror their unique responses to the external challenges and opportunities in the environment which, in turn, is facilitated by their internal resources and competences. This paper will concentrate on the responses of the China specialty coffee industry to the various internal and external influences that it currently faces. Recognizing that this sector can be properly examined through the use of different strategic management tools, this report will be utilizing famous technique PEST Analysis for the external environment scanning. Meanwhile, the internal environment will be assessed through the identification of its various stakeholders through the Porter’s Five Forces Model. The next section will focus on the Chinese specialty coffee market responses in the face of social and cultural diversity. This report will thoroughly examine the impact of the social and cultural trends in the industry’s strategies while assessing the efficacy if their responses. Lastly, recommendations for improvement will be identified. Gaining the traditional recognition of being a tea country, marketers are aggressively and strategically transforming

Environmental Footprint Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Environmental Footprint - Lab Report Example This increase in carbon dioxide emissions results in increase in the global Earth temperature. Consequently, development of newer homes in areas that have been originally covered with forests results in increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, since the forests functioned as carbon sinks. In addition, same lifestyle among humans may result in degradation of ecosystems and loss of biodiversity. As the human population increases, new modifications on the landscape, such as creation of new structures, result in altering of the ecosystem of a place and disruption of the ecosystem processes. The ecosystem processes are controlled by the biodiversity in an area. If everyone enjoyed the same lifestyle, the rate of consumption of resources would increase rapidly. This would result in a decline, in the resource base for humanity. Changing human lifestyles, such as preferring fast foods to agricultural products can also result in decreased farming activities. This may lead to lack of food r esources necessary to support human population and, hence, may affect the economic security. Consequently, increase in human activities, such as deforestation, affects ecosystem processes, which reduces the productivity of land. ... In addition, turning down of the temperature of the heating thermostat by eight degrees Fahrenheit and the air conditioner by seven degrees Fahrenheit can provide savings of $24 and $42 respectively. This will save about 770 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere. Activities, such as washing clothes in cold water instead of hot will save up to $10 annually and in the process there would be savings by 181 pounds of carbon dioxide emission. In addition, using the sleep feature in the computer will save $10 annually saving about 159 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. In order to reduce carbon emissions, recycling products associated with foodstuffs can be used. This will save about 447 pounds of carbon dioxide. The total amount of carbon emissions saved by an individual amounts to 19,905 pounds. This produces savings amounting to $2,304 per year. For a population of 100 million in America, the total amount of carbon emissions saved would amount to approximatel y 1990.5 billion pounds of carbon dioxide saved per year. Therefore, the total savings in dollars would be about $230.4 dollars per annum. Implementation of these solutions will greatly reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which will result in maintaining a stable earth temperature. In addition, reducing the miles driven by vehicle will help improve the air quality, as the production of carbon dioxide from the vehicles will be reduced. Consequently, increased recycling as a measure to reduce pollution will help improve water quality, as most of products that were disposed in the waters will be re-used. Reduction in the emission of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will improve the health conditions of humans especially those who have breathing

Should English Be The Global English Language Essay

Should English Be The Global English Language Essay Today, the world has shrunk to the size of a handheld electronic device. In nanoseconds we can stream through cyberspace and reach the other side of the earth. More and more, we are becoming a global economy, interdependent upon each other for trade and commerce. That means interacting with people in foreign lands we may never visit. It would only make sense that we all learn to communicate in one language to save time and effort, to reduce the possible miscommunication diluted through translation, and to streamline transactions. But is it feasible, and if so, is it really the best course of action? The concept of a global language is hardly new. Throughout the centuries, to the conquerors went the spoils, which means they became economically superior. In order to trade with those in power, one had to speak their language. Colonization became the norm, first by Rome, then Spain, then France, then England. That is how the US was settled. In the 19th and even into the 20th century, the English speaking powers of Great Britain and the United States ruled the world of commerce, power and trade. Both World Wars were won largely due to the efforts of these allies. Though communism was on the rise at the end of World War II, within forty years it was no longer deemed a threat. Capitalism ruled, and so did the language of the capitalists English. The fact is this: English is present worldwide and is spoken on every continent. As of 1995, it was deemed to be the official language in sixty countries and was prominent in twenty more  [i]  . Approximately 500 million to 1.8 billion people are estimated to speak English, or at least be able to successfully carry on a conversation in it according to an article by Debateopedia.  [ii]  David Crystal estimated in his Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language (1995) that the number of English as a second language speakers (i.e. people who lived in a country where English was the assumed official language but not their native tongue) in the world equaled close to 98 million while those who spoke it as a foreign language was estimated to be, as low as 100 million and as high as 1,000 million.  [iii]   So, the concept that English should become the new global and internet language seems logical to many people. But is it? Or is that an antiquated, narrow world view left over from the British colonization era that both globalization and Internet communication has begun to dissolve? In order to analyze this in a neutral light, it is necessary to look at both sides of the argument and weigh it against the global economic and population trends of today and for the next forty or fifty years. It is, however, necessary to note that this article is originally written in English Americanized English, which many website providers today prefer to use because of its universal appeal. That being said, it is hard to remain totally unbiased. The Argument For English as a Global Language One cannot argue that English has dominated many forms of literary expression in the last seventy years thanks to the silver screen, radio and television. In literary works, from poetry to scientific research papers, English continues to be dominant if the author wishes his or her work to get international recognition, according to MÃÆ' ¨litz (2004).  [iv]  He states, in an internet article published by the Center for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), If you want to reach a world audience, write in English those who strive to make a mark in their discipline strive to publish in English. By and large, the ones who stick to their home language English accepted of course have lower ambitions and do less significant work.  [v]   The article goes on to state that with the advances in telecommunications in the last thirty years, the dominance of English in auditory and audiovisual entertainment has become far greater than books. In 1960, English represented about a quarter of the world publishing market, yet translations into English equaled about 50%, according to the CEPR. Twenty years later, while the share of English publishing had dropped to only 17%, translations still remained at or over 50%. If their facts are accurate, it shows English was, at that time, still the academically preferred language. This was written long before the introduction of Kindle and I Pads which to date cannot yet handle the characters of Hebrew, Russian, Chinese, Japanese or Arabic and have limited downloadable options in French, Italian or Spanish. Whether or not these two inventions will increase English domination of the written word or not remains to be seen. Still, English appears to be the most dominant language into which others are translated. If you want to reach the world, even on the web, your website needs to be in English. After all, English has been the official language of the UNO since 1945 as well as NAFTA, NATO and other international trade and diplomatic organizations. It is the official language of the Council of Europe even though there are a total of eleven languages represented. In the Olympics, English shares dominance with French. Athletes are expected to know English in order to be interviewed by television reporters. English is the language of Microsoft, Coca-Cola, MacDonalds and Hollywood. English is the language of pop-culture, or tourism, of markets and trade, of the Internet.  [vi]   In a blog offered by Ronald Hilton of the Hoover Institution in Stanford, CA, Madhukar N. Goagte of India points out English is the language all pilots must use no matter what airport they are communicating with in which country. In international airports, in fact, all announcements are in three languages the universal picture symbols, the native tongue and in English if it is not the native tongue.  [vii]   Dr. Ali S.M. Al-lssa states that English language teaching (ELT) has been a global activity and a large business and industry for the past five decades or so. This has been concurrent with the international role English language has been playing on the world arena in the postcolonial/neocolonial age dominated by the USA.  [viii]   He goes on to reference his point by stating what Dua (1994) said, i.e. that British promotion of English as a second language was solely in an effort to protect and promote capitalism, an effort that the US took over in the postwar era.  [ix]  Despite the rise of manufacturing in China, Mexico and elsewhere, the majority of commercial buyers remain those from the USA and other English speaking countries. Therefore, it is only natural to speak, advertise and trade in that language. One could argue, therefore, since the trend to make English the universal internet language is already established out of popular demand and commercial dominance, it should be allowed to continue. But will this always be the case? Will the decline in recent years of the European and American economic markets versus the rise of the Chinese markets tip the scales in favor of everyone learning Mandarin? Is it arrogant to state that reading and speaking English is the only way to achieve economic success on a global level? Barbara Wallraff (What Global Language, 2000) reported what an international information technology expert she interviewed named Michael Dertouzos relayed about the mood at a conference he attended in Taipei. Chinese traders were grousing about the fact they had to use English in order to make money on the Internet. Ten years later, they still do. The Argument Against The Tower of Babel The ancient story of the Tower of Babel exists in the Torah, the Koran and the Bible. It tells of a time when all people spoke the same language and became so arrogant that they decided to build a tower up to God, in essence to become equals. As a result, the tower was sent tumbling to the ground. As a punishment for this audacity, the people began babbling in incomprehensible languages. Since they could not intercommunicate, they were rendered powerless. Is the same thing happening today? Goethe is quoted to have said, Wer keine andreren Sprachen kennt, weiss nichts von seiner eigenen. (He who knows no other languages, knows nothing of his own.) Just because an American business person or tourist is monolingual, to assume that everyone else he meets should speak English borders on the same arrogance as the people of Babel, does it not? Over 70% of Europeans are at least bilingual. In fact, most of the world outside of the USA speaks more than one tongue. It is not uncommon for a country to have several native languages within its borders. Throughout history, as tribes and villages were conquered, the dominating victors language become predominant, but native tongues were not eliminated. The predominance of one universal language was first proposed as far back as 1887 by L.L. Zamenhof in his treatise on Esperanto. This was a language he created to facilitate international trade communications. It is a blending of many European based languages and is supposedly designed to be learned quickly. Over 120 years later, it is a viable international language and is spoken by many people, but because it has no culture attached to it, it is lifeless. It hasnt really grown in vocabulary. There are few idioms or colloquialisms. It lacks color and culture, which language is designed to express. Does English domination thwart the creative development of other cultures? Language is one of the cornerstones of a civilizations culture. The more you use that tongue, the more you become absorbed into the societys mores and customs. Even MÃÆ' ¨litz does go onto argue that having English as the dominating factor, is as limiting as having all music written for a cello (English Language Dominance, 1999). Translations cannot pick up all the idioms, nuances and beauty of a language or the culture to which it belongs. Scholars such as Rasool (1999) agree. She sees language is a developmental feature of a culture. . . . people must be provided with the skills, knowledges and expertise to shape their own development priorities. Literacy defined within the framework of sustainable development would therefore include a broad and critical knowledge base, an understanding of how societies function. . .  [x]   Language is the fabric that interweaves a culture together. To take that away and make one language a universal one would be like diluting a teaspoon of sugar in a gallon of water. The hint of the sweetness may remain, but it is not very noticeable. The result is a watered down version that loses its heart and soul. The flavor of the culture is absorbed and almost disappears in the common denominator of a universal language. One may point out that is what the colonization mentality of the British empire was in essence all about, and American commerce has become the offspring of that concept. Alistair Pennycook would be the first to agree. In his article, Development, Culture and Language (1999), he showed how parental demand for learning English can backfire Hong Kong has been a good example of this: parental demand produced extensive schooling in English, which did not have an effect of giving people greater access to resources; rather, it gave people an inadequate education both of and through their first language.  [xi]   Parents want their children to succeed and have all the advantages they did not have. But, does that mean learning a new language and absorbing another culture? Along with English comes Western culture, which has not always been proven to be a wonderful improvement. Japan is evidence of this. Obesity, once rare, is now rampant among younger Japanese who have developed a taste for hamburgers, chocolate candy, pizza and fries. Smoking related diseases continues to be on the rise. Acne plague the faces of the youth. A generation is being lost as young Japanese in their twenties and thirties literally bow out of society unable to reconcile their thirst for Western ways with the traditions of their parents. Known as the dead children, they literally lock themselves away in their rooms for years on end. Depression and suicidal rates are escalating among this age group. Is English the Official Language in the US? Few people realize that the US federal government has never established an official language of the country, and only twenty-five out of the fifty states have.  [xii]  Perhaps because the Founding Fathers all spoke English it was never considered an issue. However, today, that is not the case. According to the United States Census Bureau, between 1980-1990 the number of Spanish speaking people residing in the US rose by 50% and Chinese speakers grew by 98%.  [xiii]  Hispanics make up almost 1/3 of that population, and where as English is becoming the preferred language of the younger generations born there, many still claim it as a second language. Spanish is still the primary one of the home among a majority of Hispanics living in the US. It is estimated that 2.4 million Chinese now live in the US and most speak their native tongue as a first language. Add to that Koreans, Vietnamese, Japanese and Arabic nation immigrants, and this melting pot becomes more like a mixed salad . Everything blends, but little cross culture is absorbed. It is just saturated by the dressing called Americanism. Whats more, the trend is world-wide. David Graddol, of the English Company, a British based firm that deals in international commerce, has written extensively on this subject of English and its decline as a global language. He states, . . . the globalization of English isnt going to happen the way people expect it to.  [xiv]  In another paper called Decline of the Native Speaker(1999), he explains that the percentage of native English speaking people in the world will shrink dramatically by the year 2050 to 5%. Chinese Mandarin will be the primary language with 1,384million speakers. Hindu and Urdu will be the next most popular as will Arabic. English will run fourth or fifth, followed closely by Spanish.  [xv]   However, others like linguist K David Harrison believe English will continue to rise globally as more and more people become literate through the internet despite the fact it is declining as the primary language.  [xvi]  Yale linguist, Stephen Anderson, in the same AP article, pointed out that all over the world, being multilingual is more of the norm than the exception. Therefore, learning is English easier for them? Will that make English as a global language more doable? David Crystal, in Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language(1995), states that two thirds of the worlds children are multilingual, yet only 98 million know English as a second language. That would include children in the USA. Graddol puts the estimate even higher to more than 350 million. It is hard to tell because census questions do not necessarily ask that, nor are they conducted worldwide. The point is, English as a language is becoming less and less dominant, even in English speaking countries like England and the US. It is only a matter of time before knowing English will become less and less a necessity in the world market. Today, it is estimated that over 1.6 billion people are non-English speaking. Commerce and trade are the main factors in establishing the universality of a language, as Pennycook and Dua have expounded, as well as the main factor in governmental and educational dominance. Pennycook (1994) states In some way, it might be said that the English language class may be less about the spread of English than the spread of certain forms of culture and knowledge. . . through the very practices of English language teaching. (pp.178-179)  [xvii]   Phillipson (1990,1992) concurs. He says ELT (English language training) was seen as a means towards a political and economic goals, a means of securing ties of all kinds with Third World Countries.   [xviii]   As those countries continue to become rich off American and European commerce, will the balance of power shift? And if so, will the need to speak English topple as well? Surely, anyone who listens to the evening news realizes how precarious the economy is in the US and Europe. The Federal government now owes trillions of dollars to China alone, especially after the recent bailouts of banks and mortgage companies. The US is now beginning to feel the full wake of the economic tsunami of 9/11 and the military response to that attack. The more we become economically dependent on Asian loans and Arabic oil, the more diluted our dollar and possibly our global influence will become. Couple that with the population decline of native English speakers juxtaposed with the rise in Hispanic, Chinese and Arabic ones in so called English countries, and it seems the future remains wide one for determining which language, if any, will reign supreme. Will History Be Repeated? In conclusion, it seems that man has an instinctual desire to communicate. Whomever dominates is the one who speaks while others listen. In order to listen, they must learn the language. If international commerce, fueled by the internet, is to continue, there must be a common economical language in order to buy, sell and trade. Pictures may be better than a thousand words, but words are an intricate part of deal making and economics, much less culture. If we are truly moving towards being a global culture, religion and society, then it follows that a global language is a natural development. At this point in our history, it is English. It is doubtful it will ever be Esperanto. Still, students of economics have longed learned that knowing a foreign language can be the key to higher salaries. Up until the mid1800s it was Latin, the language of science, medicine and culture. Then it became German. Next, especially after the world wars, it became popular to learn French. In the 1960s, particularly in the Southwestern US, Spanish became the language to learn. In the 1970s, it was Russian. When the USSR splintered, college and high school students began to clamor to learn Japanese. Today, Mandarin Chinese is on the rise as the language to master. Will visual pictures replace words? Will sign language become the universal, non verbal form of communication as more and more of us become visually orientated instead of literate? Whatever the future is, one thing is for certain. If history serves as an example, man will always strive to regain the elusive power he lost centuries ago at the Tower of Babel.

Henry David Thoreaus Walden and Aldo Leopolds A Sand County Almanac E

Henry David Thoreau's Walden and Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac While discussing Henry David Thoreau's Walden and Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac, we attempted to address an important challenge -- Is the close observation and description of nature merely an idle thing for people in today's world? It could be suggested that nature writing and the close enjoyment of natural environments is merely "recreational" and not intellectually, economically, or politically worthy of our efforts. Perhaps this activity has "spiritual value" or gives us a "sense of peace." But does it really have anything to do with the way we live in the world today? It seems to me that this question is central to the whole course of study and that we need to be able to answer it convincingly and in some detail. In my view, there can be no doubt to the correct answer. The close observation and description of nature is no idle thing. It is an act of world-making, or founding one's world view. Since behavior is determined by the ways in which one sees the world (reality), it is the groundwork of one's behavior. It is this act in which we find both Thoreau and Leopold engaged. Thoreau himself comments on its significance in the essay, "Where I Lived and What I lived For." By closely observing, but especially by describing (by using language) we establish our lives within the whole natural world. We express our desire and commitment to live within that world. Now, perhaps this sounds trivial and trite in today's world, but it is no trivial commitment for a citizen of today. Modern human life is set so firmly within a human-built world and dwells so thoroughly on human issues only that it is normal for us all to grow up and live out our lives... ... goal of that culture is to keep us outside of our human selves, located firmly within its agendas and serving its purposes. That culture does not want to acknowledge another world, a natural world. To do that would be allowing human liberation, for that would present people with a true picture of who they are and offer them a station that is not dominated by the established political/economic agenda of today. This is no idle thing; it is a powerful political issue, in fact. The established culture does not really want its citizens to live in any world but the specific one that it provides, that it has defined, and that it controls to its advantage. When we read Thoreau's Walden closely, we see this same cultural tension even one hundred and fifty years ago. Thoreau was well aware of the fact that his life at Walden Pond was a liberating counter-cultural experience.

Etiology and Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disorder and is the main cause of dementia. The major clinical manifestations of Alzheimer’s disease include gradual loss of memory and language. Other major symptoms and signs of this disease are psychiatric and behavioral abnormalities and disabilities in the routine or daily living activities.The etiology and Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease include various factors. Biological Factors Even though the etiology and pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease is still not known fully, it is discovered to involve a complex mix of genetic as well as environmental factors.Among genetic and environmental factors, genetic factor is proved to be playing a major role in the etiology and pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. The most important cause of Alzheimer’s disease is found to be the mutations in chromosomes 21, 14 and 1 which are spread or moved in a typical autosomal dominant mode. These mutations make p rotein overproduction in neuritic plaques, B amyloid. Even though the beginning of the familial form is often early, the nature and route of the disorder is found to be influenced by few environmental factors.But it is found out that familial form is responsible for only a negligible proportion of cases of Alzheimer’s disease (even less than five percent) (Cummings et al. , 1998b). Nearly fifty percent of the people who are having ancestors with Alzheimer’s disease are found to be getting this disorder once they enter their 80s and 90s (Mohs et al. , 1987). Few genotypes (the model of genetic inheritance in a person’s body) are found to give risk for the late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (which is very common).Taking an example, the ApoE-e4 allele on chromosome 19, that encourages the deposition of B amyloid, is proved to increase the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease (Corder et al. , 1993). All other genes that are doubted to be responsible for the development of Alzheimer’s disorder are being studied (Kang et al. , 1997). Apart from this particular reason, there are various other biological risk factors that contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disorder Cummings et al. , 1998b).Cognitive capabilities and aging are among the biological factors. The manner in which these traits contribute to the increased risk is not still proved, however, it is proved in the medical field that the numerous neurobiologic changes that are associated with the normal aging of the brain of a person also contribute to the major risk factors of Alzheimer’s disorder. As people get into the later part of their life, this age related neurobiologic changes make then more liable for Alzheimer’s disorder.These neurobiologic changes include neuron and synaptic loss, lessened dendritic span, reduced size and density of neurons present in the nucleus basalis of Meynert, and poor cortical acetylcholine levels (Cummings et al. , 1998b). Based on these factors and the frequency and occurrence curve of this disorder, medical researchers have come to the conclusion that people are very much liable to Alzheimer’s disorder if their life span is extended (beyond the normal age) beyond eighties and nineties (up to 100 and 150). People above 90 years are highly susceptible to Alzheimer’s disorder.Among this, those who have Alzheimer’s history in their family are 90 % prone to this disorder. Protective Factors Apart from the biological factors there are various other factors that influence the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Various protective factors that are powerful enough to delay the commencement of Alzheimer’s disorder have been discovered. For example, Genetic endowment with the ApoE-e2 allele is capable of reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disorder (Duara et al. , 1996). The exact role and the original mechanism of action of ApoE-e2 allele, however, are not com pletely understood.Deep thinking, higher educational level and wisdom are also proved to be associated with the delay in the commencement of Alzheimer’s disease (Stern et al. , 1994; Callahan et al. , 1996a). Few medication and drugs are also found to be good for delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disorder. For example, medications, like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Andersen et al. , 1995; McGeer et al. , 1996) and estrogen replacement therapy (Paganini-Hill & Henderson, 1994), are found to be effectively delaying the commencement of Alzheimer’s disease.Apart from this, Vitamin E and the drug selegiline (otherwise known as deprenyl) are also proved to holdup the crucial stages of the course of Alzheimer’s disorder, for example the nursing home placement, serious functional impairments or disorders as the disease progresses and lead to death (Sano et al. , 1997). According to Behl et al. , 1995, the course of action of the protective agents in a pe rson is not completely known; however, these agents are proved to check the toxic action of oxidative stress (through antioxidants like vitamin E or estrogen).These agents also counter the work of inflammatory mediators related to plaque formation (through anti-inflammatories) (Mark et al. , 1995). Histopathology The pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disorder is also proved to be associated with the histopathologic variations in Alzheimer’s disease. These histopathologic changes include neuritic plaques, synaptic loss, neurofibrillary tangles, hippocampal granulovacuolar degeneration, and B amyloid angiopathy (Cummings et al. , 1998b).Majority of the genetic and epigenetic risk factors are some or the other way linked with B amyloid. This has helped the medical researchers to conclude that the formation of B amyloid peptide is the most crucial pathological event or step in the course of spread of Alzheimer’s disorder in a person (Cummings et al. , 1998b; Hardy & Hi ggins, 1992). A successful intervention in the course of Alzheimer’s disease spreading may include get in the way of any of the numerous steps included in the slow progress of Alzheimer’s disease pathogenetic cascade.Few of the intervention modes include intervening to reduce B amyloid generation from the amyloid precursor protein, intervening to decrease the B amyloid aggregation as well as the generation of beta-pleated sheets, and intervening in the amyloid-related neurotoxicity process. Successful interference in these steps may help interrupt Alzheimer’s spread. Apart from this, few therapies can successfully block the neuronal cell death and can slow down the inflammatory response occurring in neurotic plaques.Therapies are also proved to inhibit the work of certain growth factors and hormones and also delay the replenishment of deficient neurotransmitters. As the complete obstruction of the processes within the B amyloid cascade may affect the usual cereb ral metabolic processes, successful interruptions may bring about partial interruptions (Cummings & Jeste, 1999). Studies about the molecular neuroscience of Alzheimer’s disease have researched several crucial aspects of pathophysiology and etiology.Researchers are working to thoroughly understand the entire processes and reasons behind cell death, neuronal degeneration and subsequent memory degradation. Medical world is expecting new revelations from these studies and are on the way to lay a new therapeutic path for eliminating Alzheimer’s disease from the world (National Institute on Aging, 1996). Medical world is expecting researchers to come out with the real physiological factor that makes a human body prone to Alzheimer’s syndrome. Role of AcetylcholineAcetylcholine is also suspected to play a part in encouraging Alzheimer’s disorder in a person. Loss or decrease of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine also is proved to be responsible for the pathogen esis of Alzheimer’s disease. Postmortem researches in Alzheimer’s disease infected people have explained the loss or reduction of basal forebrain and cortical cholinergic neurons and the exhaustion of choline acetyltransferase, which is the enzyme that carry out acetylcholine synthesis (Mesulam, 1996). Several post mortem reports have come out with the same reason.The scale of this central cholinergic deficit is associated with the severity of dementia that results in the ‘cholinergic’ hypotheses of cognitive deficits in Alzheimer’s disorder (Mesulam, 1996). This hypothesis and the clinical researches have proved that Acetylcholine play a major role in Alzheimer’s disease. However, acetylcholine is not the only neurotransmitter that encourages the growth of Alzheimer’s disorder in a patient. Researchers are still working to find out the role of other substances in the pathogenesis of the Alzheimer’s disorder.The researches relat ed to the pharmacological treatment of this syndrome are coming out with new results. It has been proved that a delay or break in the spread of Alzheimer’s disease is proved to reduce its prevalence in the body of a patient even by half (Breitner, 1991). In order to inhibit the spread of this syndrome in a person it is necessary to delay the onset of the disease to such an extent where mortality from other resources surpasses the frequency of the steps of the disease.So the most crucial step in inhibiting Alzheimer’s disease is the identification of the factors that stop the onset or slow down the progress of the disease in the patient. Working on these agents would help reduce the spread of the disease. References Aarts, P. , & Op den Velde W. (1996). Prior traumatization and the process of aging. In B. A. van der Kolk, A. C. McFarlane, & L. Weisath (Eds. ), Traumatic stress: The effects of overwhelming experience on mind, body and society (pp. 359–377). New Yo rk: Guilford Press. Abrams, R. C. , Rosendahl, E. , Card, C. , & Alexopoulos, G. S. (1994).Personality disorder correlates of late and early onset depression. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 42, 727–731. Adams, W. L. , Garry, P. J. , Rhyne, R. , Hunt, W. C. , & Goodwin, J. S. (1990). Alcohol intake in the healthy elderly. Changes with age in a cross-sectional and longitudinal study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 38, 211–216. Aevarsson, O. , & Skoog, I. (1996). A population-based study on the incidence of dementia disorders between 85 and 88 years of age. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 44, 1455–1460. Aiken, L. (1990). Chronic mental illness. In B. S. Fogel, A. Furino, & G.Gottlieb (Eds. ), Mental health policy for older Americans: Protecting minds at risk. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press. Albert, M. S. , Jones, K. , Savage, C. R. , Berkman, L. , Seeman, T. , Blazer, D. , & Rowe, J. W. (1995). Predictors of cogniti ve change in older persons: MacArthur studies of successful aging. Psychology and Aging, 10, 578–589. Alexopoulos, G. S. (1997, November 6). Epidemiology, nosology and treatment of geriatric depression. Paper presented at Exploring Opportunities to Advance Mental Health Care for an Aging Population, meeting sponsored by the John A. Hartford Foundation, Rockville, MD.

Bead Bar Business Case

Bead Bar Business Case Free Online Research Papers The Bead Bar is company that has three divisions: (1) studios, (2) franchises, and (3) Bead Bar on Board. The studio division oversees the company’s six bead bar studios. Along with the original, there are now two studios in New York City, one on Long Island, one in Washington, D.C., and one in Boston, Massachusetts. The franchise division sells a complete beading supply package to businesses that want to open their own bead studio. The division is responsible for fulfilling franchisees’ supply requirements. The company still uses paper-based forms. The Bead Bar is now large enough that the paper-based system is inefficient and has caused some problems, including lost orders, incorrect invoicing, and fulfillment delays (Malaga, 2005). Information systems allow globalization. If the Bead Bar were to establish a website where people could purchase beading products, they could end up with larger profits. People from all over the world can purchase beading products easily and conveniently because the role of information allows the possibility to convert currencies and languages over the Internet. Information systems also allow each franchise to interact with each other or clients conveniently, as well, via email and/or teleconference, etc. Also, information systems allow for networking so that each franchise can share information with each other in a short amount of time. Information systems could also stop the Bead Bar from losing business. Since the Bead Bar is growing and yet still using a paper-based system, they will run into organization problems. The loss of orders, incorrect invoices, and delayed fulfillments will definitely cause unhappy customers. These unhappy customers will then tell others about their less than satisfactory service they received with the Bead Bar. Thus, giving the Bead Bar a bad reputation. Information systems allow a more organized and efficient way to handle customer orders, in a timely manner none-the-less. Information systems will also make it easier to handle finances and accounting, as well. DBMSs perform many functions for the business community. One of these functions is to manage data storage. Databases can hold a large amount of data, for companies. Companies use DBMSs to store all information on their customers, and their suppliers, as well. Databases can also manage inventory, which is essential to companies, so that they know when to order new products. This will allow companies to know which products are used most, or in retail, which product are best sellers. It will also be able to tell one which products are not selling enough to make a profit. This will tell the person who orders inventory what not to order again in the future. DBMSs also allow us to access this data relatively quickly, which is important. People want things done quickly, and they want their information retrieved quickly (Malaga, 2005), and DBMSs allows this to happen. Databases are imperative to the business community. I can only imagine that as businesses receive more and more information, they will need more and/or bigger DBMSs. Since the Bead Bar is going to be global they should use an enterprise DBMS. This will allow Bead Bar executives to hold a large amount of various data, provide security so that data cannot be compromised, and allow other Bead Bar executives to access the database and view data that they need to be aware of. The Bead Bar should use a distributed enterprise database since they have 5 franchises (especially if they plan to build more) and are about to start an online store. A distribute enterprise database is more reliable, and much faster than a centralized database. They will also permit each store to automatically know the prices that the main store sets. The local databases report their sales, inventory levels, and so on to the main store, which then sends price changes and the like to each database (Malaga, 2005). The Bead Bar should use a relational model database. The relational model is flexible and much easier to use than the network model (otherwise, I would have recommended the network model instead). I think that the relational model is best because each executive of the Bead Bar has a different use for a database, and the relational model will provide the tools they need for each of their uses. The relational model can also handle multiple tables and actually relate the tables to each other. This will prove to be a huge convenience for the Bead Bar. The Bead Bar is just beginning to really go global, and before they know if their business will really take off on the World Wide Web they should keep costs at a minimum. Therefore, I believe the Bead Bar should use a bus topology. In a bus topology, all of the devices on a network are connected to a common central cable called a bus or backbone. A backbone is the main portion of a computer network that is capable of carrying the majority of traffic on the network (Malaga, 2005). The backbone is commonly used to connect large networks or companies together. The major advantages of the bus topology are that it is relatively inexpensive and it is easy to add new devices to the network by simply connecting them to the bus. If the main cable fails, however, the entire network will shut down, and it may be difficult to determine why the cable failed. Due to its low cost and simple configuration, the bus topology would be the appropriate choice for the Bead Bar. I recommend a client/server type of architecture for the Bead Bar. It will help to control that can operate what feature, and will allow organized information from clients to be sent. In networks with a client/server architecture, certain computers act as providers of services, or servers, and others act as requesters of services, or clients. A server is a powerful computer with a fast processor and a lot of memory that is capable of handling simultaneous requests from clients. Some servers may be set up to provide shared data for clients, some handle only printing, and others might provide a variety of services (Malaga, 2005). Networking can be extremely complex. It takes a lot of planning and configuration, and the Bead Bar has a chance to make huge profits by going global. However, the Bead Bar executives cannot get ahead of themselves. They should invest in information systems, databases, and network topologies that are of low cost, and yet do the job that needs to be done. As the Bead Bar becomes more stable, and brings in a secure income then the Bead Bar should upgrade to more reliable information systems that would not fail as consistently, yet however, cost much more. If the Bead Bar waits for the stable income, they will be able to afford the upgrades without any financial troubles. References Malaga, R. (2005) Information systems technology. Prentice Hall. Pearson Education. Research Papers on Bead Bar Business CaseBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfOpen Architechture a white paperThe Project Managment Office SystemDefinition of Export QuotasIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductGenetic EngineeringResearch Process Part OneInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesStandardized Testing

Free Essays on Death Of A Salesman ( CharacterS)

â€Å"Death of a Salesman† is a play that occurs over a 36-hour period. The play is organized into two different plots. The present day plot is in 1949 and the second plot, which are flashbacks, takes place in 1933. The Lomans live in Brooklyn in a house that they almost have paid off. The drama starts when Biff comes home from New York City to move back in with his parents. In this play there are two protagonists and two antagonists. Since there are two plots in the play, they both have a protagonist and an antagonist. One plot is in 1949 and the other is in 1933. In 1949 the protagonist is Willy and the antagonist is Biff. Willy undergoes a change at the end of Act II, when he realizes that Biff really loves him. â€Å"Isn’t that remarkable? Biff- he likes me!† (Miller 1070). Willy never knew if Biff liked him or not. Biff is the antagonist because he expressed to his father that even though they do not get along, he still does love him. In 1933, Willy is the antagonist and Biff is the protagonist. Biff was a star football player in high school, with scholarships, but he flunked math his senior year and was not able to graduate. He was going to make the credit up during the summer, but he caught his father cheating on his mother Linda. This shock changed Biff’s views of his father and everything Biff believed in. Biff was then lost . He even got thrown in jail for stealing. Willy is the antagonist because he caused the change in Biff. Biff would have never questioned his father if he had not lost all respect for him. In this play, the conflict moves the plot. When Willy gets into an argument he always has flashbacks, which moves the plot to 1933. Willy Loman is an elderly failing salesmen where his salary is taken away and works on straight commission. Willy’s business philosophy is that having personality and being â€Å"well-liked† is all you need to be successful. He tell his sons, â€Å"Be liked and you... Free Essays on Death Of A Salesman ( CharacterS) Free Essays on Death Of A Salesman ( CharacterS) â€Å"Death of a Salesman† is a play that occurs over a 36-hour period. The play is organized into two different plots. The present day plot is in 1949 and the second plot, which are flashbacks, takes place in 1933. The Lomans live in Brooklyn in a house that they almost have paid off. The drama starts when Biff comes home from New York City to move back in with his parents. In this play there are two protagonists and two antagonists. Since there are two plots in the play, they both have a protagonist and an antagonist. One plot is in 1949 and the other is in 1933. In 1949 the protagonist is Willy and the antagonist is Biff. Willy undergoes a change at the end of Act II, when he realizes that Biff really loves him. â€Å"Isn’t that remarkable? Biff- he likes me!† (Miller 1070). Willy never knew if Biff liked him or not. Biff is the antagonist because he expressed to his father that even though they do not get along, he still does love him. In 1933, Willy is the antagonist and Biff is the protagonist. Biff was a star football player in high school, with scholarships, but he flunked math his senior year and was not able to graduate. He was going to make the credit up during the summer, but he caught his father cheating on his mother Linda. This shock changed Biff’s views of his father and everything Biff believed in. Biff was then lost . He even got thrown in jail for stealing. Willy is the antagonist because he caused the change in Biff. Biff would have never questioned his father if he had not lost all respect for him. In this play, the conflict moves the plot. When Willy gets into an argument he always has flashbacks, which moves the plot to 1933. Willy Loman is an elderly failing salesmen where his salary is taken away and works on straight commission. Willy’s business philosophy is that having personality and being â€Å"well-liked† is all you need to be successful. He tell his sons, â€Å"Be liked and you...

Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Systems Research Paper

Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Systems - Research Paper Example Though there are systematic reviews concluding that EMRs have the potential to reduce medication errors, save clinicians’ time, promote adherence to evidence-based guidelines in management of various health conditions, and improve patient safety; adoption of EMR systems is still low in health care setting (Jones, & Blavin, 2013; King, Patel, Jamoom, & Furukawa, 2014). According to Jones, and Blavin (2013), only 1.5% of the non-federal acute care facilities had a comprehensive electronic health record system in 2008 while only 7.6% had installed basic EMR. To facilitate widespread adoption and utilization of HITs, the Congress passed the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, with an overarching aim of enhancing the efficiency, quality as well as safety of the American health care system (Silow-Carroll, Edwards, & Rodin, 2012). Through Medicaid and Medicare EHR programs, HITECH av ails financial incentives to eligible health care providers and hospitals that adopt and demonstrate meaningful use of the health information technology. The meaningful use legislation seems to be associated with increased adoption and implementation of EHR systems in various health care settings. For instance, in the year 2012, about 17% of non-federal acute care health care centers reported to be using a comprehensive EHR system while 27.6% reported to have adopted a basic EHR system.

Response Execution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Response Execution - Essay Example These plans may be carried out verbally and informally, especially for incidents that are simple in nature and have short duration by the Incident Commander. Written action plans, are considered whenever there are two or more areas of responsibility involved, the duration of the incident carried on into another operational period, new organizational elements are triggered and if it is required by agency policy (Greene, 2001). Incident management plans are written to clearly provide a statement of objectives and appropriate measures, provide a gauge to ensure efficiency and cost-effectiveness and to provide a basis to assess the progress and accountability of the incident of the incident team (Greene, 2001). A sniper was reported within the vicinity of the power failure area. The said sniper is randomly shooting citizens in the downtown park area. Said area is congested due to the power outage. According to initial reports, two civilians were shot by said sniper and may still be alive. There will be one assigned Incident Commander (IC) who will directly have the overall responsibility of the resolution of the situation. In this exercise, the Governor of Arizona is the most likely candidate as he/she is mandated by State of Arizona to execute the Emergency Response and Recovery Plan (SERRP), the ICS management plan of the state (State of Arizona, 2003). The IC shall oversee the functions of the incident command system (ICS) and their respective section chiefs - operations (responsible for direct tactical actions), planning (responsible for preparation of action plan, resource maintenance and situational status), logistics (provide support), finance administration (procurement of supplies and cost accounting), information officer, safety officer and other representatives from assisting agencies. (Greene, 2001). The unified command ICS structure will be used, as it is the structure being utilized by the SERRP. Due to the potentially wider scope and further implications of the scenarios, the Governor of