Plow Man

The short story â€Å"Plow Man† (2004), written by Jessica Grant, is included in the collection â€Å"Making Light of Tragedy†. This collection’s title is significant for Grant’s story because the narrator gravitates to comedy to deal with both the guilt and sadness he is feeling. This essay will take a deeper look into the situations where comedy is used as a coping mechanism to deal with the narrator’s guilty conscience including how he deals with the conflict of the wind and snow, the projection of his negative attitude onto others and his inability to let go of the material things still tying him to Jenny.The narrator uses comedy as a coping mechanism to help alleviate the guilt felt since losing his wife. Throughout â€Å"Plow Man† the narrator is struggling to ward away guilty feelings since his wife, Jenny, has passed. His remorse is conveyed in a humoristic manner, particularly when proceeding to take on the elements. The narrator amu singly views the winter setting as a villainous system, one that he feels is overpowering and out of his control.To relieve his guilt, the narrator plays a victim to the winter storm, instead of taking control and shovelling his driveway. The reader is able to view the comedic flair of the narrator, as he challenges the storm, by stating, â€Å"It aims for your chest. It picks a fight. If I’m inside, it unleashes its fury on the driveway†¦Come out here†¦ No. Fuck you† (95). The reader’s overview of the situation, knowing a blizzard does not consciously take out frustrations on people, creates the entertaining conflict.However, by forfeiting control of the situation, the narrator is able to reduce the guilt that he feels for not shovelling. Assisting in criminal behavior by slashing tires is another representation how the narrator relieves his guilt in a comedic way. He views the plow men as outlaws that are continuously burying him in snow, inhibiting his ability to get to his wife. The narrator describes the plows as â€Å"yellow-jawed monsters† (99), which is an absurd concept, as the lifeless plows are simply driven by men who are doing their jobs.The narrator is able to alleviate guilt associated with not being able to get to his wife by supporting the destruction of the vehicle that he foolishly believes is burying him in snow on purpose. The cell phone bill resembles the narrator’s final physical tie to Jenny. As one of her last requests, Jenny asked that he promised to keep her cell phone with her in case there’s a chance she needed to contact him. The narrator realizes that this request is unreasonable; however, he feels bligated to respect the request of his deceased wife. In a conversation between a Sprint representative and the narrator, he recognizes the hilarity of the situation â€Å"I’d like to leave it open indefinitely. Which started me laughing again† (96). The narrator makes t he decision to maintain his wife’s wishes, knowing that he will constantly be tormented by the monthly phone bill. However, he would rather sacrifice his own well-being, than face the guilt that he would experience if he was to terminate his wife’s cellphone account.In conclusion, throughout the â€Å"Plow Man† written by Jessica Grant, comedy is used to relieve the narrator’s guilt through the difficult conditions he is facing. The reader witnesses an attempt to alleviate guilt using humor in situations that include, the snow storm, slashing the tires of the plow men and the narrator’s inability to cancel Jenny’s cell phone in order to fulfill his promise to her. Works Cited Grant, Jessica. â€Å"Plow Man. † Making Light of Tragedy. Erin, ON: The Porcupine’s Quill, 2004.

Google Case: Ethical Principle

It is rather difficult to talk about ethics as it involves different point of view based on different moral standards one has and based on different ethical principles one uses. This Google China-cases mostly talks about the ethical dilemma faced by the company, whether it should obey the local law or put its global ethical standards as its best interest. Obeying the local law will push them to do self-censoring, which then raise many criticism internationally. Based on ‘cultural relativism’, it is said that ethics are nothing more than the reflection of a culture – all ethics are culturally determined, so that each firm should adopt the ethics of the culture in which it is operating. It has been explained before that China has an totalitarian political system contrasts with the Western culture which supports civil rights and liberties. So, based on this theory, doing self-censoring may be considered as ethical. However, this pragmatic view won’t be very suitable for justifying an action. The restriction from the Chinese government regarding some sensitive political themes may be recognized by some international people as denying the human rights. Here, based on the rights theories, human beings have fundamental rights which establish a minimum level of morally acceptable behavior. Because of the censoring, Chinese people lose their freedom of speech, especially less freedom in receiving information. However, it is part of their law and political system, which should be accepted by every company who wants to conduct business in China. Some Chinese people have accustomed with the censorship, not consider it as violating human rights, and support it for the sake of the nation. By self-censoring their website, Google is complicit with the Chinese government’s effort to restrict the freedom of speech. According to ‘Kantian ethics’, it is wrong toward treating people as means, since people should be treated as ends and never as means to the ends of others. When deciding that the benefits of operating in China outweighed the costs, Google used the ‘utilitarian approaches’. It holds that the moral worth of actions is determined by their consequences. An action will be judged as ethical and desirable if the balance of best consequences are over the bad consequences. What are the benefits and the costs should be measured carefully by Google. Google claimed that ‘Google. cn’ would provide better internet service to its customers in China while making more profit for the company. It also raised ethical awareness by making its users aware that some results were omitted, thus also put pressure on the other companies to do the same. In addition, it is better to give Chinese users access to information, than to none at all. Those practical and ethical benefits combined with the increasing profit has been considered by Google as outweighing the negative effects of censorship. The negative effects for the company might be criticism for the inconsistence with the ‘Don’t be Evil’ motto. For Chinese people, I think, there will be no significant net negative effects as the Chinese users will still get the censored search results, since the government would block the contents using the â€Å"Great Firewall†. After months criticism, Google shut down its Google. cn. It tried to regain its integrity and to protests implicitly the censorship in China. The reasons might come because it realized it couldn’t give better services to Chinese users due to many problems, it had denied the human rights, and also it gained the lower market share and profit rather than expected. It made greater harm for the company. In my opinion, China has different culture and law that should be considered before a company conduct business there. Each company should obey the rules in which it is operating. Censoring is considered as denying human rights in many parts of the world – especially USA, but in China it should be done in order to gain greater advantages for the whole nation. The problem here is because Google has basic ethical principle of ‘Don’t be Evil’ which contradict this kind of action. Moreover, it won’t influence much to Chinese users whether Google stays there or not, as it has better local search engine – Baidu. That is why, considering the condition and all the consequences, it is better for Google to leave China. Next, we can analyze this case based on Kantian perspective called ‘Universalizability’. It means that the companies have the duty to commit only those actions which could be universally applied. It can be demonstrated by the question: â€Å"What if every company agreed to self-censor in order to gain access to China? †. The answer is there will be unbeatable suppression of rights of freedom of speech and information. On the opposite question, the multinational corporations may influence the societal change and perhaps will improve the level of freedom of speech in China.

Cross Culture Management Exam Questions with Answers

Chapter 1 Q. 1. please, provide TWO examples which show that people around the world are still very different from each other, despite advances in technology and transportation. 1. In England children need to wear uniforms at school, but in Latvian schools nobody wears them. 2. Black schools and white schools still exist, as well as schools on religion Q. 2. Please give ONE example that shows that management is not the same everywhere around the world. 1. In China for example, business ppl don’t like to sign papers, they are more open for mutual trust, if u want to sign paper with them, they will think that u don’t trust them, but In Eu or Usa everything must be signed and written down to ensure that there won’t be any problems. Q. 3. Please explain why some Chinese negotiators among themselves refer to their western counterparts as harmless barbarians. Chinese ppl evaluate only their own culture, and because of the culture differences towards theirs aren’t the same, they criticise western culture. If u want to do business with Chinese then u will need to understand them, they won’t do anything. ) Q. 4. Please explain the 4 quadrants of the Johari window in your own words. Q. 5. ONE advantage and ONE disadvantage of having stereotypes Advantage: Help process new information by comparing it with past experience and knowledge. Disadvantage: It blocks our mental ‘’file’’ we ma ke our mindless open for other knowledge or information. Therefore we think things about people that might not be true Chapter 2 Q. 1. More important than observing behaviour is understanding the meaning of that behaviour. Please explain this statement and provide two examples. Observing behaviour is not enough. What is important is the meaning of that behaviour. This distinction is important as the same behaviour can have different meanings and different behaviours can have the same meaning. Example: Eye contact in Western culture means showing trust and honesty whereas in Asia it is a sign of disrespect and aggression. Example: In Usa showing OK sign with fingers means – approving smth, but in Brazil it means – literally â€Å"screw you† Q. 2. Please, explain the three layers of this model and give an example of each layer 1. Artefacts and behaviour – by observing (greeting rituals, dress code, use of titles of first and last name) 2. Beliefs and values (the way things are) – by interviews and surveys (getting know the meaning of behaviour) 3. Assumptions (space, language, time) – Interference and interpretation (distance between people as expressed in greeting rituals and ways of interacting) Q. 3. Please, choose a cultural artefact and explain its underlying belief/values. Dress code – For every culture there is different meaning in business dress codes: 1. USA – rolled up sleeves are considered a signal of getting down to business 2. Germany – Always wearing casual form even if it’s really hot – showing that they are here to work 3. French – reluctant to remove ties and jackets – because it’s official meeting Q. 4. Saying that our colleagues are late to a meeting because they are Latin misses the point. Please explain why. For example: is time seen as past/present or future assumption or monochromic / polychromic in Latin. Thus we need to better understand the behaviour observed to appreciate each other. Chapter 3 Q. 1. Please explain the 5 dimensions of Hofstede Q. 3. Space: Public (group oriented) vs. Private (more task-cantered); Time orientation: Past, Present, Future; Action: doing vs. being; Time focus: monochromic vs. polychromic; Communication: high-context vs. low context. Q. 4. 3 characteristics of high context communication and 3 characteristics of low context communication. High: other things have to be considered ( listener has to read between the line when listening to a person or reading sth. 1. Reading â€Å"between the lines† 2. Influenced by closeness of human relationships 3. Not everything is explicitly stated Low: Explicit orders given by person, listener doesn’t have to listen or read between the lines. 1. Meanings are explicitly stated in text. 2. Direct and linear communication. 3. Based on feelings CH 5. Q. 1. Please, explain the differences between the rational analytic approach and the subjective approach. Which approach do you prefer and why? I prefer rational analytic approach, because it’s more based on facts and figures, since it is more important when making decisions. Q. 2. Please describe 3 characteristics of each strategy. 1. Controlling model is more objective, more specific and low context. . Adapting model – more flexible, more qualitative, information gathered from personal sources like friends and colleagues. Q. 3. Please, provide 3 concrete examples of cultural differences you might have to deal with in a merger process. 1. Americans working with Japanese ppl; 2. The meaning of behaviour; (Brazilians and American s) 3. Q. 4. In what ways may differences in national culture hinder or facilitate internationalization efforts (page 139 – 141)? Notion of culture distance explains it as the greater the difference in home versus host country culture, the greater potential difficulties. Chapter 7 Q. 1. Which four cross cultural competences for managing differences abroad can be distinguished? Explain each competence in a few lines 1. Awareness of one’s cultural worldview 2. Attitude towards cultural differences 3. Knowledge of different cultural practices and worldviews 4. Cross-cultural skills Q. 3. Please, explain the different phases of a culture shock. 1. An initial stage of elation and optimism (the honeymoon) 2. A period of irritability, frustration, and confusion (the morning after) 3. And then a gradual adjustment to the new environment (happily ever after) Ch. 8 Mention ONE disadvantage and TWO disadvantages of a multicultural team. Do they tend to perform much better or worse than monoculture teams? Please explain your answer. Disadvantages: greater potential for frustration and dissatisfaction; richness of the diversity make interpersonal conflict and communication problems; different cultural assumptions. Advantages: contribute to new ways of looking at old problems, creating the opportunity for greater creativity and innovation The problem is ‘how to get settled’ or how to arrive at a common ground. Diverse groups have to confront differences in attitudes, values, behavior, experience, background, expectations, and even language. The ocean metaphor is used in the book several times. How can you link each level of the ocean metaphor to the strategies for managing tasks? Artifacts (level 1) such as the use of titles of first and last name, the presence and form of agenda, amount of social vs. task orientated. The beliefs and values (level 2) are indicated in discussions regarding the roles of the leader (hierarchy) and the structure of meetings. The underlying assumption (level 3) has to do with the use of power, individualism.

TQM IMPELEMENTION Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

TQM IMPELEMENTION - Research Paper Example TQM works on the assumption that the superiority of goods and processes is normally the conscientiousness of all who are involved in the manufacture or using up of the products and/or services presented by an institute, requiring commitment and the participation of administration, personnel, suppliers, and clientele, to convene or surpass client expectations. ADNOC deals in oil as well as incorporating the petroleum firms in UAE. It produces an average of 21 million barrels daily. ADNOC has diversified its products as well as used benchmarking as a strategy to provide better quality services. ADNOC strives in the provision of quality products by installing such necessary TQM standards in all its operations for example gaming policy allocation in the supply chain, in inventory, it is constructing a stack approach together with adequate support technologically and crucially the human resource (Ross, 1999) Having fourteen subsidiaries, ADNOC has tried in all its bid to ensure that it ha s the requisite resources available just like any other Organization with the most important being the human resource that proves to be the most vital in every Organization. ADNOC treats the planning of the human resource component with some specialty being one of its goals. The company takes notice of the fact that an employee that is not satisfied means hindrance in the Company’s productivity (Rawlins, 2008). There is much diversification of the products offered by the firm. The core objective being to locate, produce and ultimately market the various resources that is natural gas. Vision To develop into a value added dealer of environmentally welcoming, included and highly quality goods and plus the services in the whole gulf Mission: Quality-focused relationship managing a well thought-out logistics support stand providing comprehensive goods and services to the trade of oil & gas, while outstanding in commitment to its clientele, owners, staff and society Marketing Strat egies: ADNOC marketing The firm involves itself in deep analysis of the continuing products in the market. ADNOC has a very well defined market catering for the various clienteles with a sole focus of seeing a rise in demand of the oil in the future and the petrol stations helped through promotion by famous joints that have opened doors around them. This way, the customers converge and are therefore likely to consume fuel in the stations. ADNOC has a very steady brand positioning. Even though the differentiation in price is set by OPEC, the variance there from is managed by them (ADNOC). The firm has many oil reserves managed by the capital ( Rawlins, 2008). As concerns product differentiation, the firm employs such strategies that do achieve some uniqueness. ADNOC takes caution, though on the possibility of the oil exhausting in some time in the future. ADNOC has a very large network to be able to sustain its customers and give an ample time and resources to explore other viable po ints. Being the promoters of the firm, the customers are an integral part in promotion with the channel available both in and outside the boundaries of the country through the maintenance of the customer (Hults, et, al 2012). Products and/or the services provided the brand name of the company as they have over the time marshaled such reputation and therefore very difficult to lose on the grounds of quality. The firm also ensures that there are no flaws in the products or services. The OPEC determines

Does the EU have negative impacts on small states in the EU Does it Research Paper

Does the EU have negative impacts on small states in the EU Does it fringe them The divide between the north and the south - Research Paper Example It is to assess the impact of EU policies on the economic performance of small market economies within the EU, with special emphasis on Cyprus’s economy. Overall, there is a wealth of solid scientific research into the problem. Whereas books provide a comprehensive analysis of the relevant data and newspaper articles enlighten the reader on the latest developments in the region. Though the literature on the subject is abundant, there are some limitations in research too. A common thread from all sources reviewed suggests that EU policies have had an ambiguous effect on the economic performance of different small EU member-states. It would be wise to start this literature review by looking at how experts determine which EU economies are small and which are not. Today, there are as many approaches to defining small economies as there are scholars researching the problem. Indeed, there is no single yardstick by which to measure whether or not a particular economy is small. Some researchers look at the geographical area of the country and the amount of natural resources it has (Castello & Ozawa, 2014). It is with the believe that those factors are inexorably linked to the economic ability of a country. Others determine the country’s affiliation with a particular pool of economies by simply looking at its GDP (Gal, 2009). For example, Castello and Ozawa (2014) classify Belgium and the Netherlands as â€Å"small economies† (p. 29), even though the two countries have relatively competitive macroeconomic indicators. Ronald Schettkat (1999) broadens the list to include Ireland, Denmark, and Austria. Alt hough the number of EU member-states was smaller in 1999 and the economies of Austria and the Netherlands were weaker, they could be hardly classified as small. One plausible explanation for regarding these states as small economies is that some of their industries are characterized by concentrated market structures, which is a criterion of a small economy

Smoking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Smoking - Essay Example Medical experts believe that there are three main reasons why teenagers smoke. The first reason is that, smoking makes the youth feel older. They often see their elders smoking and seem to look more mature so they want to be like them, mature, and all the connotations that come with being an adult. The second reason is the reason most adults would like to believe as they do not want to be the cause or influence for the youth's bad habits: peer pressure. Young adults smoke so that they would look "cool" or "in" along with their friends. They have this notion that smoking is "cool" because their idols on TV do it all the time and, of course, they all want to be "cool" as well. The third common reason is that they try to experiment. They either underestimate the addictive nature of nicotine or just want to try it because it is prohibited by their parents. But whether it's the explorative nature of the youth or their defiant nature, smoking presents to be a rather inexpensive opportunity . The reasons for continuing to smoke are slightly more varied. Smokers say that smoking keeps them up, physically and emotionally, as nicotine has similar effects to caffeine. Others say it boosts their self confidence at gatherings and that it helps them make new friends.

The Modern Temper by Lynn Dumenil Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

The Modern Temper by Lynn Dumenil - Essay Example This stage of history is claimed by the author to have established â€Å"the central motifs that have shaped the modern American temper.† While she acknowledges how important the role is of World War I being a tool or process of making the ‘roaring twenties’ happen, Dumenil does not believe in the common knowledge which infers that World War I is hugely responsible for such an outcome on which various aspects of change in American society, politics, economy, and culture are embedded. To her, it seems that the main source points to the major events of the industrial revolution as well as the consequences of a rapidly industrialized culture within a capitalist society. This is to say that World War I serves only to polish the results in the overall image of progressive economy or the idea of prosperity which caused population to shift from rural regions to urban locations believed to possess centers of commerce and adequate employment to support good living standards. Among a number of trends which are quite vivid in her investigation of the 1920s, the expanding bureaucratic form of government is prominent yet somewhat notorious for yielding to excessive power which had stirred general distrust across the nation. By noting how a U.S. representative kept an argument about daylight-savings time in a wartime program, Dumenil demonstrates how federal laws are exercised even in handling petty matters of politics, sarcastically reacting â€Å"we might soon have laws passed attempting to regulate the volume of air a man should breathe, suspend the laws of gravity, or change the colors of the rainbow.† Alongside the increasing state of bureaucracy emerged urban liberalism and pluralism in America’s heterogeneous society. Coupled with a mass-consumer culture, this led to unequal distribution of wealth so that social movements which influenced different religious, ethnic, and cultural groups were

Biology really matters Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Biology really matters - Essay Example For example, young adults, who have low normal levels of human sex hormone, Testosterone tends to perform quite successfully on spatial tests, when compared to the ones with high normal levels. (Kimura, 2001). These fluctuations in the hormone levels could occur throughout the year, with higher levels happening in the autumn and lower levels in the spring, thus improving the subjects’ performance on spatial tests in the spring. On the other hand, women’s estrogen hormonal levels tends make quite effective in person-oriented occupations and functions. Unlike, the impact of seasons on the hormonal changes in men, women’s hormonal levels fluctuate around across the menstrual cycle, thus impacting their performance during those periods. (Kimura, 2001). Because of these biological differences in the hormonal levels, it is clear that women tend to gravitate towards fields like education, nursing and social work more often than men. (Kimura, 2001). On the other hand, al though, men and women are equally represented in the other health-related professions, in most cases men tend to perform better in the science fields. These differences in the hormonal levels also impacts men and women’s susceptibility to certain diseases, and which indirectly impacts their behavioral patterns. That is, according to United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, estrogens offer women of reproductive age some protection against cardiovascular diseases. That is, before the age of 65, heart disease is one of the leading causes of mortality among the men, but on the other hand, cancer causes death mainly in women. After menopause and due to the hormonal changes in the women’s physical body, a kind of reversal takes place, with women facing a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases than men and in turn, men face higher risk of cancer than women. (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe). With the most important risk factors for cancers being tobacco sm oking and diet,

Western Civilization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Western Civilization - Essay Example In reference to the creation of the universe and the formation of galaxies which are found to have taken place under a great deal of time and evolution, one must figure how indispensable a â€Å"first cause† is for according to Aquinas, an infinite series of causes is not possible. Though the universe seems infinite in space with unfathomable mysteries left to be explored, it has its beginning and thus, a cause which is itself not subject to a prerequisite of a separate cause. This proof serves a link and support to the fourth proof which accounts for the statement that God is the â€Å"greatest being†. Scientific efforts have heretofore shown evidence of how vast the immeasurable universe is and that our solar system is merely comprised in the Milky Way galaxy out of the hundreds of billions of galaxies known so far and this fact certainly leads us to imagine how astonishingly immense the Maker is of all these already colossal things. By the fifth proof, the saint argues â€Å"whatever acts for an end must be directed by an intelligent being.† Gravitational pull or force of gravity, as majority are fully aware of, keeps everything in place and puts the universe in perfect order as if it has originated from a thinking source that knows how to calculate, premeditate, and discern the heart of nature with remarkable sensibility. Looking at the symmetry widely present throughout creation within and beyond earth, it is rather difficult to deny that something or someone intelligent is responsible for the orderly structure and state of equilibrium. Otherwise, neither this world nor the overly extensive dimension it is a part of would have survived if it were to emerge from chances at random instead of through God’s intelligence by which logic and beauty alike are preserved. At this stage, it makes all the more sense to declare the third proof with conviction that God, indeed, is

What's Your Definition of Happiness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

What's Your Definition of Happiness - Essay Example As I take it, then, well-being is synonymous with persons own good, welfare, or interest. To say that something contributes to one's well-being is simply to say that it is in one's interest, that it is good for one, or that it makes one's life go better. Understood as such, well-being is an inherently evaluative concept: when we say that something promotes one's welfare, we ascribe a certain type of value to that thing. In particular, we identify it as having prudential value (Silverstein, 2000, p. 279) Ascribing values to objects is certainly an interpretive process, but what has value, the object or the perceiver’s interpretation of the object. One would have to posit that the object is inherently valueless other than the value it may have to itself. Myers and Diener have found in their research that although money has been said to buy happiness, its value can often be short-lived: Wealth, it seems, is like health: its absence can breed misery, yet having it is no guarantee of happiness. In one survey, people on Forbes’s list of wealthiest Americans reported only slightly greater happiness than other Americans; 37% were less happy than the average American. Even lottery winners gain only a temporary jolt of joy. (Myers and Diener, 1995, p. 13) Over time there have been many attempts to discern what true happiness is. Also, attempting to resolve the difference between happiness and pleasure has been a key component of this search. This stretches back to Aristotle who states emphatically that they are different. Pleasure, he poses, has its origin in the survival needs of an organism to preserve itself, quite an early Darwinian attitude. So, no matter how much pleasure or joy can be associated with certain activities done for their own sake, Aristotle refused to identify pleasure with happiness.  Ã‚  

Did the idea of Manifest Destiny simply mean acquring more terrtory Essay

Did the idea of Manifest Destiny simply mean acquring more terrtory for the United States Why or why not - Essay Example Many Americans began to believe that it was the nation's "Manifest Destiny" to expand westward. Manifest Destiny refers to a concept often used to explain or justify American expansion, especially in the decades preceding the Civil War (1861-65) and again in the late 19th century. While debate over expansion goes back to the beginnings of American expansion in the late 18th century, the phrase "Manifest Destiny" did not come into vogue until the 1840s. In 1845, John O'Sullivan, a democrat leader and editor of the New York newspaper 'The Morning Post, wrote: "Our manifest destiny to over spread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty". (O'Sullivan, John L. "Annexation", The United States Democratic Review) To many it seemed inevitable that lands to the west of the Mississippi, once claimed by Mexico, England, and a host of American Indian tribes, should eventually be settled by Americans. John O'Sullivan the editor of the influential 'Democratic Review' and the 'The Morning Post' had coined the phrase "Manifest Destiny" to describe this vision of a United States stretching from Atlantic to Pacific.

To Think or Not To Think, That is The Question Essay Example for Free

To Think or Not To Think, That is The Question Essay â€Å"Judgment matters: it is what separates winners from losers† (260). Blink by Malcolm Gladwell is a book about understanding how we arrive at the judgments we make. There are two ways that we make every decision: in the blink of an eye or with well thought out decision making processes. In this book Gladwell explores the many different ways that we make decisions using our adaptive unconscious. He attempts to convince the reader that snap decisions can be just as good as ones we ponder upon. In all aspects of our life we are continuously making decisions. Often times we go with our instincts. An instinct is something that is created by a collage of past experiences and the knowledge we have gained from them. The unconscious can make better decisions than the conscious at times. Have you ever had a â€Å"gut reaction† to something and then thought about it for a while and changed your mind? Frequently thinking is the wrong thing to do and the instinctive decision was the best one. Teaching us how the mind works during decision making is Gladwell’s main goal. From there it is up to us. The book begins with the story of the Getty Museum in California and the fourteen month process involved in their purchase of a Greek kuoros. The museum hired lawyers, geologists and researched the basics on what the style of a Greek kuoros would be. Eventually they were satisfied with all the information they had gathered and they purchased the statue. There was a big problem though. Numerous art experts looked at the kuoros and within seconds had a bad feeling about it. Their instincts were telling them that the statue was a fake. After much debate, the museum resigned itself to listing the kuoros in their catalog with the words â€Å"About 530BC, or modern forgery† (8). One way to hone our instincts is using something called thin-slicing. This is the process where you slow down what is happening. You take thin slices of time and use the pieces of knowledge you gain from that slice to make your decision. Gladwell draws on multiple studies and experiments to explain this. The study that is the most prevalent and mentioned throughout the book was what would become The Mathematics of Divorce by John Gottman. In this study Gottman videotaped couples engaging in a discussion about a contentious topic in their marriage. There were multiple sensors monitoring the couple’s physical changes, such as heart rate and movement. He found that by breaking down the videotaped interaction into fractions of a second and applying the information to a mathematical chart he was able to predict divorce rates among the couples. After watching just an hour of video tape per couple, Gottman is able to predict the divorce rate in the span of fifteen years with ninety-f ive percent accuracy. The next section of the book explains what defines a snap decision. When you experience something there is a feeling of knowing. You can’t explain how you know, you just know. He gives the example of tennis coach Vic Braden. Braden is able to predict when a tennis player is going to double-fault on his serve before the player had even released the ball from his hand. Braden was searching for an answer as to why he was able to do this and he couldn’t find one. It was a snap judgment, an instinct and something that cannot be explained. Instincts can also lead you astray. Gladwell’s chapter about Warren Harding explains how the former president rose up through the political ranks based solely on his appearance and the way he spoke. He was not a terribly impressive man intellectually, but voters went with their first impression of him. He won because he was the most handsome and eloquent candidate, not because he was the best. Our first impressions are not 100% reliable. We all have associations between certain things that are ingrained in our unconscious minds and we’re not even aware of them. There are stereotypes inside everyone, even when we consciously think there are not. Gladwell explains that â€Å"unconscious  attitudes are not compatible with values† (85). Our experiences create our first impressions, including those experiences that are negative. As I stated earlier, associations become ingrained in our unconscious minds even if we’re not aware of them on a conscious level. That is a case where a snap decision would be one made without having enough information. The opposite can be true as well. Sometimes we have too much information. Gladwell tells the story of heart attack diagnoses at the Cook County Hospital in Chicago. The doctors were running many tests and gathering too much information to accurately separate patients of different heart attack probabilities. The hospital reformed the way they analyzed heart attack patients by talking extensively with them along with doing some minimal testing. Using this new system proved to be more effective than when they were amassing a large amount of data. The author states that â€Å"truly successful decision making relies on a balance between deliberate and instinctive thinking† (141). Gladwell goes on to cite a study by Jonathan Schooler and Timothy Wilson regarding people’s preference in jam. Random shoppers at the grocery story were asked to sample several types of jam and rank them in order based on which was the best. When asked to explain why they made the choices they did many of the shoppers changed the order in which they’d ranked the jams. Why? Because when you have to explain an instinctive decision it’s difficult to put into words. This can lead people to change their choice to one that can be explained. One snap decision that was difficult to explain involved the shooting of Amadou Diallo, and unarmed man, by four police officers. They spotted Diallo in a dark entry way in a bad part of town late at night. When they spoke to him, he did not comply with their orders and began pulling something from his pocket. The situation was unfolding quickly. The officers didn’t take time to thin slice what was happening, to read Diallo’s mind. They assumed he was reaching for a gun, so they shot him. In truth he’d only been reaching for his wallet. Events need to be slowed down and thin sliced in order to listen to what instinct is telling us. We need to  pay attention to what is occurring in fractions of seconds, not in minutes. Gladwell states, â€Å"Every moment – every blink – is composed of a series of discrete moving parts, and every one of those parts offers an opportunity for intervention, for reform and for correction† (241). In the end, it is up to each of us to explore our adaptive unconscious and discover the pieces that make up our snap decisions. Gladwell clearly states his opinion, â€Å"The best we can do, I think, is try to puzzle out the right mix of conscious and unconscious analysis on a case-by-case basis† (269). We need to know what goes on inside our minds so that we can make solid judgments and know when to think and when to react without thinking. This book opened my eyes to many things. I found the studies fascinating and informative. The theory of thin-slicing is definitely something I’m going to try to use in my daily life, slowing things down and really paying attention. I believe there is a lot to be learned about what guides my choices and molds my snap judgments. This book is very relevant to the world of work. Business today moves faster than ever before. Information shoots back and forth at lightning speeds thanks to the progress that’s been made in communications technology. It’s vital that business people know how to read their own minds and are aware of some of the biases that may be involved in instinctual judgments that they make. There are so many times in business when you need to make urgent decisions and don’t have the luxury of time to contemplate. Another area where this book’s insight would be valuable is human resources/hiring. The sections on hidden prejudices serve as an invaluable reminder that we may have firm beliefs, but there are stereotypes hidden within our unconscious mind. It is good practice to be aware that how you are behaving, your body language, will affect how the potential employee will behave during an interview. Even if what is being said is benign, our faces show everything. Gladwell words it perfectly: â€Å"The face is not a secondary billboard for our internal feelings. It is an equal partner in the emotional process† (208). The quote at the beginning of this paper shows the attitude we must take when dealing with business in the twenty-first century. You have to possess the ability to make solid judgments in minimal time. Business decisions made now have an extremely large impact on society as a whole, directing the world down whatever path it goes. If the decision makers are able to look inside and see what makes them tick they will make better choices. Business today has a social responsibility, just as every person has a social responsibility. Gladwell leaves us by clearly defining the weight that is on our shoulders, â€Å"It is not enough simply to explore the hidden recesses of our unconscious. Once we know about how the mind works – and about the strengths and weaknesses of human judgment – it is our responsibility to act† (276). So one last time I quote this author, â€Å"Judgment matters: it is what separates winners from losers† (260). Works Cited Gladwell, Malcolm. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. 2005. New York: Back Bay Books/Little, B

Role of Social Media in Egyptian Revolution

Role of Social Media in Egyptian Revolution Table of Contents (Jump to) Introduction Literature Review Background of Revolution Mobilization Theories Use of Social Media in Egypt We are all Khaleed Said Asmaa Mafhouz Use of Social Media during 25th of January Conclusion Bibliography Introduction During the most recent years, the internet has intensified and disseminate in rapid pace like no other phenomenon in the world today. Referring to ITU and World bank, from 20000 to 2014, the number of individuals using internet rose, from 390 milion to 2,923 billion (ITU, 2014). This unmistakably demonstrates the impact of internet on our lives and how that more individuals of different age at this time utilize the web as a part of their regular life to be in touch and correspond with companions or associates, in order to purchase items, watch films, read daily news, or even just look for data that is important to them. In the previous century, the initial stage of internet which was also known as WEB 1.0 was very limited and people could only view the content that was already created for them. However, recently with the technological development there is an increased interaction between internet user, which has lead to Web 2.0. Web 2.0, contrary to Web 1.0, allows people create and share its own content. Flew (2005) , in few words, compared the advancement of the web from 1.0 to Web 2.0 by describing as a â€Å"move from personal websites to blogs and from publishing to participation† (Flew, 2005). The advent of Web.2.0, new media and sites like Facebook or Twitter, has allowed people from different parts of the world are able to experience and witness what is happening all around the world. Hence, new media has changed our world. It has broadened our means of communication and allowed us to connect with people across spaces and time in unprecedented ways. The emergence of technologies summarized as new media undoubtedly provides new means of activism for the world’s people. Referring to Castells (2007) â€Å"the recent advantages in technology, and how the technology is being used have created a new paradigm that is reconfiguring how power is negotiated in the public sphere†. Therefore, the new media has essential implication for political activists who under this new paradigm are able to as Castell points out â€Å" build their autonomy, and confront the institutions of society in their own terms projects†(Castells, 2007). Many crucial historical events, protest and revolutions were feasible thanks to invention of new technologies through different periods of history. The discovery of the print in Europe in mid 15th century helped the Reformation; 1848 revolutions occurred thanks to the Telegraph System which allowed rapid diffusion of political news across the Europe. Therefore technology continues to have an enormous impact in our lives. Social media has had vast impact even in recent times of political crisis such was the Arab Spring that spread-out in Egypt resulting in what many referred to as Twitter Revolution. Accordingly, I will aim to explore the role and the impact of the cyber activism through platforms such Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs on mobilizing people for collective action. The main research question lies on how has the social media impacted and effected the creation of social movements and their mobilization on overthrowing an authoritarian regime as in Egypt during the Arab Spr ing of 2011. Literature Review In recent years, new social media has been a very key topic which many scholars and academics explored. Professors Liervrouw and Livingstone in the Handbook of New Media: Student Edition (2002), which, according to Ellen Wartella, is a the first major review of interactive technologies and their cultural and social context defines social media; â€Å"information and communication technologies and their associated social contexts†( Lievrouw and Livingstone, 2002). Not everyone agrees with effectiveness of Social media, B.J. Mendelson in his book â€Å"Social Media† is bullshit† (2012) tries to expose the myths of social media. He illustrates how the conception of â€Å"social media† first came to importance, and why it has such a prevailing presence in the marketing field. Furthermore, he demonstrates why the Facebook friends and Twitter followers doesn’t not mean nothing without old-fashioned real-world connections. He analyzes famous stories of social media achievements, and reveals some unsettling truths behind the surface. What’s more he tell s how to best control the potential of the Internet—without spending a fortune in the process (Mendelson, 2012). There is a debate among scholars whether how much the social media plays a role and has an impact on collective action and brining social change by toppling authoritarian regimes. Clay Shirky (2008) is one of the foremost researchers to develop on the effects of the internet and support the role of social media as a new social tool for mobilization. In his book â€Å"Here Comes Everybody† he argues in favor of Internet effects on organization. Shirky states that with the creation of social media, a group can be formed without the previous limitations of time and cost. According to him â€Å"tools that provide simple ways of creating groups lead to new groups, [] and not just more groups but more kinds of groups† (Shirky, 2008). On the other hand, not everyone agrees with Shirky’s ideas. Malcom Galdwell, a Canadian journalist, in his 2010 journal is doubtful on the emancipation and empowers aspects of social networking in general. He is skeptical of revolutionary potential of it. Social media, according to him, creates only weak ties which are not powerful enough for powerful action in the terrain. As he puts â€Å"once the activists were defined by their cause, while now they are defined by their tool†(Galdwell, 2010). Numerous people in the scholarly world, media and policy making circles has attempted to comprehend and explain the reasons for the Egyptian Uprising in 2011. The mainstream hypotheses range from poverty and suppression to years of aggravation from unfulfilled expectation of a new generation, etc. Mohamed El Bendary, an expert on Middle Eastern Affairs, in his book â€Å"The Egyptian Revolution: Between Hope and Despair, Mubarak to Morsi† (2013), offer an account and a chronology of the 2011 Egypt’s uprising and its outcomes. As an Egyptian-American, he also analysis the US-Egypt relation and see if Egypt can became a democratic country without US economic assistance or intervention in the interior affairs. Furthermore, Tarek Osman a leading world expert in modern history of Egypt, in his journal for Cairo Review, gives a depth analysis for the causes of Mubarak fall (Osman, 2011). Also, in his book â€Å"Egypt on the Brink: From Nasser to Mubarak† which received universal recognition, he unfolds the reader with the situation in Egypt by giving a prospective on the remarkable demonstrations of January and February of 2011 and the ousting from power of Mubarak. In the renewed publication of his book, he puts those events solely in the framework of Arab Spri ng movement that continued to distress the entire Southern hemisphere. Background of Revolution The 2011 was a key year in the history of Egypt. Suddenly, an unexpected revolution was taking place before everyone’s eyes. On 25th January of 2011, which was also a public holiday known as National Police Day, and 11 days after the president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was toppled from power in Tunisa, Egyptian demonstrators stormed in the streets of Cairo, Alexandria, Suez and began their struggle in order to bring down Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, dissolve assembly, and draft a novel constitution. To analyze the characteristic’s and the causes of the Egyptian Revolution is important to get familiar with it’s historical background. In 1981, after the assassination of Anwar Sadat, the Egyptian people continued living under oppressive and authoritarian regime, hence with a different name. The alleged Modern Pharaoh, Hosni Mubarak became one of the longest leaders in power of the modern Egyptian history, ruling for nearly 30 years. With coming to power, Hosni Mubarak, introduced the â€Å"Emergency Law†, through which military officers and government were allowed to violate peoples privacy and detain them for any period of time, without any reason (Kanalley, 2011). As time went by, people began to feel discontent with his internal and external policy. The gradual worsening of socio economic condition, overwhelming and wide-spread corruption, and gap between rich and poor’s fueled the irritation and dissatisfaction of Egypt’s citizens towards his regime (Osman, 2012). A part of the problem was that Mubarak was fully detached and lived isolated from its own people. Tarik Osman writes that people of Egypt knew very little about him personally and he was mostly associated with ceremonials and public events (Osman, 2012). Consequently, the resentment aimed and targeted him personally. During his 30 years in power, people of Egypt only knew him as someone who was responsible for their everyday misery and troubles. This dissatisfaction towards Mubarak, gradually began to turn into violent manifestion of hatred. From 2004, there were many small demonstration where people began tearing his bill-boards and pictures in the street (Osman, 2012). According to Osman, Mubarak in turn responded by relying on containment, coercion and confrontation. Through containment, he wanted to introduce investment plans in order to ease the demands and lessen the pressure especially from the middleclass (Osman, 2012). Coercion turn out to be apparent as a tool to maintain any possible challenge, such as crushing of protest, restriction on civic organization, and the prevalent use of torture (Osman, 2012). On the other hand, confrontation was done in order to restrain any possible potential political force from challenging him in the near future (Osman, 2012). The pressure, determination, and spirit of youngusters—2/3 were under age thirtyfive forced the government to more and more depend on confrontation and coercion rather than containment. However the coercion used by the government gradually started to became unsustainable as the accessibility of Internet and international media gave to population a better consciousness and the prospect to mobilize their dissatisfaction Mobilization Theories The impact of Social Media as a tool for collective action and mobilization can be examined through a set of theories. Clay Shirky (2011) is one of the early researchers to develop on social media as a new social tool for collective action. He asserts that throughout the years, the world technology framework has gotten denser, more intricate, and more participatory. Individuals have picked up more noteworthy access to data, more chances to take part out in the open discourse, and hence, an upgraded capacity to embrace collective action (Shirky 2011). Thus, according to him these innovations such as, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter has become a reality of life and can help facilitate publics demand for change. People, activists, governmental and non governmental organizations, telecommunications firms are all actors that engage and participate in social media sites. Furthermore a key component of political participation can be explained through Manuel Castells network theory, where he believes that weak ties, anononymosity in internet and characteristics of online communication provide a solid ground for activism (Castells, 1996). According to him, Internet has shaped a ‘space of autonomy’ for the trade of information and the distribution of feelings of collective indignation and hope. He points that the lnternet network has turn out to be the tangible supporter of an innovative kind of political activism, an activism that sustains on horizontal networks, on political autonomy, leaderless organization, and baseless solidarity (Castells, 2012). Resource mobilization theory is based on the idea that a social movement success depends on the ability to mobilize people through resources such as time, capital, organizational skills, and several social/political event. By referring to this theory, lnternet offers communication bridges that helps a society build up and provide resources that can be used to coordinate protest where government mistrust is huge and civil activism is steadily suppressed. Use of Social Media in Egypt Social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Youtube were main actors in providing communitication between protestors and activists. The role and utilization of social media in the Egyptian uprising in 2011 has gathered a considerate amount of interest in the world. We are all Khaleed Said One of the major motives that sparked the hugest outrage in Egypt during that time was the police brutality that resulted in the death of Khaled Said . Khalid Said who was only twenty eight years and a computer engeenigering student, when two police offers entered in the internet caffe and beat him to death, supposedly for uploading a video in the internet, where police officers are seen sharing the drugs they’ve just seized (Bbc.co.uk, 2011). A picture of his corpse in the morgue snapped by his brother with a cellphone, went viral in the internet and caused a major outcry in the public opinion. The image published in the inteternet, according to HRW, showed a fractured skull, dislocated jaw, broken nose, and numerous other signs of trauma (Wedeman, 2010). The shock and outrage on his brutal death lead to the creation of the Facebook page â€Å"We Are All Khaled Said† which later became influential in future organization of demonstrations of 2011.The Facebook page promptly gathered over 460,000 users who spread around the internet the graphic image of Khaled’s disfigured body and YouTube videos contrasting those images with a healthy Said. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ © The day president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was toppled from power in Tunisa, â€Å"We are All Khalid Said† created an event in Facebook and declared an uprising in Egypt aswell. Approximatly 500.000 member were invited only in Facebook, to the demonstration of 25th of January, where they could signal whether they’d would attend by clicking â€Å"Yes†, â€Å"Maybe†, or â€Å"No†. Asmaa Mafhouz Seven days before the 25th of January protest, a women named Asma, posted a video on Facebbok, where she asked the people to take part in the demonstration of 25th. Her video went viral and the strongest aspect of this video was that she was not afraid to show her face and identify herself. According to Good man (2011), â€Å"the courage of this act, speaking out so forcefully as a women, inspired many others to start posting their images online†. Many argue that those affecting calls inspired many to join the uprising; Use of Social Media during 25th of January On 25th January of 2011, which day also coincide with National Police Day, huge demonstrations erupted in the streets of Cairo, Alexandria, Suez. The main reason behind the protest was the excessive abuse of police forces, especially in the case of Khalid Said. Among the requests of protesters were the resignation of Police Minister, the re-establishment of a fair minimum wage, abolishing the emergency law, and mandate restrictions for the president. The protestors plan for the first protest of 25th of January was held though online communication, via different Facebook pages (mainly â€Å"We are all Khaled†) and twitter accounts. Their goal was to increase the number of protests in as much cities as possible, especially mobilize those on poorer regions (deprived from PC and internet), and prevent the police cordons (Nuns, 2011). The police was aware about the protests, but, according to EI Bendary, they were expecting only a few number of demonstrators as happened in protests held six years earlier, however they were stunned when they saw the enormous number of activists gathered in Tahiri Square (Bendary 2012, pg 20). According to El Bendary, police must have not been aware of the lnternet use in Egypt, which had resulted in a massive digital connectivity. Conclusion The thesis has analyzed the role and impact of social media in the Egyptian Revolution. Throughout the paper the thesis has expanded and examined the role of The lnternet as a vital instrument that was used during the Arab Spring, especially in Egypt, and how it facilitated the revolution. Consequently, the ideas and beliefs that were diffused all the way through social-network sites, lead to a greater organization and mobilization for collective political action. Therefore, social media can be very effective in delivering the message and coordinating the activism, however its influence should not be overhyped. There are also many other factors that foster the change. Bibliography Bbc.co.uk, (2011).BBC World Service Programmes Egypt: We are all Khaled Said. [online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/2011/02/110217_outlook_egypt_protests_khaled_said.shtml [Accessed 27 Feb. 2015]. Castells, M. (1996).The rise of the network society. Malden, Mass.: Blackwell Publishers. Castells, M. (2009).Communication power. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. El-Bendary, M. (2013).The Egyptian Revolution. Flew, T. (2005).New media. South Melbourne, Vic.: Oxford University Press. Gladwell, M. (2010). Small Change.New Yorker. [online] Available at: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/10/04/small-change-3 [Accessed 27 Feb. 2015]. Goodman, A. (2011).http://www.democracynow.org/2011/2/8/asmaa_mahfouz_the_youtube_video_that. ITU, (2014).Statistics. [online] Available at: http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Pages/stat/default.aspx [Accessed 27 Feb. 2015]. Lievrouw, L. and Livingstone, S. (2005).Handbook of New Media. London: SAGE Publications. Mendelson, B. (2012).Social media is bullshit. New York, N.Y.: St. Martins Press. Nunns, A., Idle, N. and Soueif, A. (2011).Tweets from Tahrir. New York: OR Books. Osman, T. (2012).The Fall of Hosni Mubarak. [online] Aucegypt.edu. Available at: http://www.aucegypt.edu/gapp/cairoreview/pages/articleDetails.aspx?aid=233 [Accessed 27 Feb. 2015]. Osman, T. (2013).from Nasser to the Muslim Brotherhood. New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press. Shirky, C. (2008).Here comes everybody. New York: Penguin Press. Wedemen, B. (2010).Demonstrators in Egypt rail against brutality, mans death CNN.com. [online] Edition.cnn.com. Available at: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/06/25/egypt.police.beating/ [Accessed 27 Feb. 2015].

cuban missile crisis :: essays papers

cuban missile crisis "Nuclear catastrophe was hanging by a thread ... and we weren't counting days or hours, but minutes."Soviet General and Army Chief of Operations, Anatoly Gribkov The closest the World has ever been to nuclear war was with The Cuban Missile Crisis. The lives of millions lay in the ability of President John F. Kennedy and Premier Nikita Khrushchev to reach an agreement. The crisis began when the United States discovered that just ninety miles from the coast of Florida, the Soviet Union had set up nuclear missiles. On October 22, Kennedy announced the discovery of the missile installations to the public and his decision of the naval quarantine around the island. He also announced that any nuclear missile launched from Cuba would be regarded as an attack on the United States by the Soviet Union and demanded that the Soviets remove all of the missiles from Cuba. For thirteen days the two major superpowers of the world were on the verge of a nuclear war. The events leading up to the missile crisis as explained by Dinerstein were the long years of Cold War hostility and the revolutions occurring in countries of Latin America. The Soviet Union’s fear of losing the race in the weapons department and Cuba’s fear of an invasion by the United States sparked those thirteen stress filled days. In 1960 the United States imposed an embargo that cut off trade between the United States and Cuba because it was afraid that Castro would establish a Communist regime. Castro was determined not to give in to the pressure that was put on by the United States and decided to establish closer relations with the Soviet Union. An attempt was made by the United States to disintegrate Castro’s rule with the Bay of Pigs Invasion. The United States was easily defeated by Castro’s army. His victory during the Bay of Pigs Invasion asserted Castro's rule over Cuba. Most Cubans resented the intervention by the United States in Cu ban affairs. This resentment caused Castro’s supporters to increase in large numbers. With a confirmed rule over Cuba, Castro declared the island a Communist nation. Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev made the wrong assumption by thinking that the United States would not take any action when it supplied Cuba with nuclear war heads.

Gender Roles and Socialization in Adolescence Essay -- Reviving Opheli

A Review of Mary Pipher†s â€Å"Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls†, Laura E. Berk's â€Å"Infants and Children: Prenatal Through Middle Childhood†, and Lina A. Ricciardelli's â€Å"Self-esteem and Negative Affect as Moderators of Sociocultural Influences on Body Dissatisfaction, Strategies to Decrease Weight, and Strategies to Increase Muscles Among Adolescent Boys and Girls† Adolescence is one of the most difficult times for development. This difficulty is experienced very differently for boys and girls. This paper will examine how gender role socialization effects girls more specifically, the emergence of eating disorders and depression in adolescent girls. Mary Pipher, Ph.D. in her book â€Å"Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls†, discusses extensively the varied and difficult road that adolescent girls travel to adulthood. This book is a collection of Pipher’s experiences with clients, her daughter, and her own adolescence as well as a thought provoking social examination. The title refers to William Shakesphere’s character Ophelia, the young girl who drowned herself in a river after being shunned by Hamlet. Ophelia is the epitome of lost female youth. The transition that happens from girl to woman is quite difficult for most. Pipher examines the loss of self that most girls experience in their adolescence. She brings up the fact that preadolescent girls have the ability to be androgynous, as well as an interest in nearly everything. Gender roles are not limiting at this age, it is their time away from the female gender role. The onset of puberty changes most girls into very confused and ever changing creatures. They go from being carefree to careful of what their every move is. Most adolescent girls are hyper aware of themselves, over analytical of the reactions they receive from others, are critical of their bodies, and they â€Å"crash and burn in a social and developmental Bermuda Triangle†. The central question Pipher asks is â€Å"why are American adolescent girls falling prey to depression, eating disorders, and suicide attempts at an alarming rate?† There is no easy answer to Pipher’s question. Is the problem girls face a product of our culture? Or, is the problem that adolescent girls face a natural part of becoming an adult? Piphers answer is that the problem girls face is both culturally ... ... to behave in the same manner that their parents behave in within all situations? Girls are highly aware of the behavior of their parents, as well as the expectations of who they should become. Women are everywhere in advertisements, selling toothpaste, beer, auto insurance, and coffee. The concept of a ideal woman is one who is passive and yet strong, a caregiver who sacrifices all to provide for everybody else. That role is so terrifying to many that it is either rejected, mixed up, or deeply internalized. Anorexics may just be the reality of this perfect woman. Thin, in control, passive, and concerned with what others want of them physically the anorexic seems to embody all the qualities we attribute to perfection. Is that truly what one should aspire to become? The role of a woman is ever changing. Perhaps one day it will adapt to be more androgynous. Women and men should both strive to become more then just masculine and feminine counterparts. They should be free to rise above masculinity and femininity, to a more equal and blended place. Sources Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls. Pipher, Mary P.h. D. Ballentine Books: Random House 1994.

The Leader-Follower Relationship :: leadership, motivation theories

Leadership is studied and analysed so that the effective practices can be taught and applied in today’s organizations. The concept of leadership has been expanded to discuss the follower’s role in the leader-follower relationship. While leading is often considered an active role, following can have a negative connotation, especially when seen as a passive, subordinate position. However, following can be a choice, and the difference between the leader and follower is the activities, rather than abilities (Wren, p.201). An organization possesses effective followers is just as important for success as having effective leaders. Hersey and Blanchard describe this relationship as dynamic and use Situational Leadership (R) as a model for the leader’s to improve the performance of their followers. Manz and Sims describe a historical view of leader types which has evolved to view the superleader as the most effective type for our current culture. The role of the superleader is to empower followers to become self-leaders themselves. The Situational Leadership model may contain the word â€Å"Leadership†, but it is mostly about effective management practices and does not address developing the role of the follower. There is a difference between managing and leading. In Managerial Roles, H. Mintzberg describes 10 roles, grouped under the categories of interpersonal, informational and decision roles, that a manager should posses. An effective leader should have those skills as well, in addition to having an overall vision, clearly communicating those goals and motivating their followers to work towards it (Wren, p.378). Leadership is also about directing change. Without change, leadership is only management of the status quo (MacNeil, Cavanagh, Silcox, p.6). There is nothing wrong with begin a successful manager, just as there is much value to be an effective follower. The role of the follower and subordinate is very different in terms of ability and choice. Subordinates are considered passive, lacking in initiative and responsibility. The image of sheep comes to mind, where as followers are more active, and engage in more critical thinking (Wren, p.195). Robert Kelley further describes the effective followers have good self-management skills, abilities and motivation, which are exactly the same qualities apparent in effective leaders. That relationship between leader and follower is defined by the role they play, since an effective follower has the skills to switch positions with the leader.

Apocalypto Essay

Jayna Eckerson Apocalypto Essay Indiana State University Apocalypto is a movie about a man name Jaguar Paw who is a part of a Mayan tribe. Jaguar Paw, his father and his other tribe mates were out hunting for food when they came across another tribe leader and his people were passing through their forest. The tribe leader told Jaguar Paw that their homes were invaded by men from a different tribe and warned him to look out for them. After the he told Jaguar Paw about the other tribe men, he was scared that they were coming to their tribe next.The next morning, Jaguar Paw was awoken by the dog which stopped barking and he became suspicious. Then he saw a tribe man running with a torch, so Jaguar Paw immediately woke his wife who is pregnant and his son so that can run for cover. After he put his family in a safe place, Jaguar Paw went to go help his tribe mates and father fight the invading men and women were also getting raped by these men. Jaguar Paw was held down to watch one of th e tribe leaders kill his father. All the women and men in Jaguar Paw’s tribe were taken as prisoners.They made to walk miles with the other tribe members that Jaguar Paw saw the day before to another camp site. As they were walking, they ran into a little girl who they believed that she had a disease. When they denied her help, she cured them and said that they will be killed by a man in a jungle. Finally, they made it to the camp the women were sold as slaves and the men were to be scarified. But eventually, Jaguar Paw would be released from being scarified and he goes back to his homeland to save his family. External adornment was worn throughout Apocalypto such as paint and make-up, intrinsic, sartorial, and local.All the tribe members wore a lot of black for their paint and make-up. According to my course packet, black is meant for protection. Intrinsic adornments are shown through their accessories. Each tribe member has some type of intrinsic adornment such as feathers, beads, shells, and teeth. These adornments are worn as necklaces, bracelets, and head ornaments. Also, feathers, beads, shells, and teeth are value too. Another type of adornment that is viewed in this movie is sartorial. I really got a chance to see sartorial adornments during the rituals.For example, the men that were killing other tribe men for sacrifice wore big masks with different colors and it was carved into funny looking faces. Also, they wore very big shields that look like necklaces, but it covers their shoulders and chest instead of being a necklace. In this movie, every tribe member showed some form of local adornment. The women wore a rough cotton material as a dress, but their breast and buttocks will still be seen. Also, the same for men but the only part of their body that is covered is their penis.Also, corporal adornment is shown in Apocalypto. Each tribe member in the movie had their on tattoos to describe their level of status. In Jaguar Paw’s tribe, the color of their tattoos is black and white. The other tribe men culture, women and men had green, red, black, and many more colors for their tattoos to represent their level of status too. Another important cororpal adornment is piercings. Most of tribe members have piercings in their chin, ears, and nose. For example, Jaguar Paw had a piercing on chin with a small circular object on it.Another example is Jaguar Paw’s dad, he have a piercing of a tooth or shell going through his nose. As earrings, they wear earrings that cuffed, spiral, or the round earrings that stretch their ears into a bigger size. The status roles among the tribes are different. Jaguar Paw’s tribe only has one leader which his father. The other tribe men have numerous of leaders that have their own personal adornment. Jaguar Paw’s father has feathers to represent is status in their tribe. He has big feathers that are placed on his shoulder.The leader of the other tribe has skulls, bones, and feathers to represent his role as a leader. He has a mask that is made out an alligator mouth with a creature head on top of the head piece and it has a few feathers on it too. Also, the other tribe men have leaders that are over them. Their leaders wear color tattoos, bigger and better intrinsic adornments, and have more beautiful external and corporal adornments. One of those leaders has beads that link off one another and it goes down his stomach. He also wore a head piece that has colorful, big feathers on it too.In Apocalypto, the higher you get in social status, you will get better adornments. The language that was spoken in this movie is called Yucatec Maya. This language is spoken among people of Yucatan Maya of Mexico. Throughout this whole movie, I only saw two rituals. The first ritual I saw was when Jaguar Paw and his tribe sat around a fire while elder told a story. After he told his story, the tribe members begin to dancing. After Jaguar Paw was captured, he was taken to a place where they scarified men for their God. My personal reaction to this movie was neutral.Overall, I think Apocalypto is a good movie but it is not the type of action movie I typically watch. I do not dislike anything about the movie, but it did kind of bore me at some point of time. I enjoyed how the tribe members loved their families especially toward the children. I am very impressed with the language that was spoken in the movie. Also, I got very sad when the mothers were taking away from their children. The children were left alone to raise themselves and each other. If I had to recommend this movie to a friend I would because it is good movie and it has a great meaning.

“Monsters” by Anna Quindlen Essay

SummaryMonsters by Anna Quindlen conveys through the broad metaphor, the simple nature of life start out with the intricate imagination during childhood which transcends into an undivided coming to terms with reality as adulthood is embarked upon. The short story exemplifies the naturalness of children who comprise of obsolete and unripe knowledge, demanding answers from their p arnts to get hold of the gaps in their thoughts and expected value. However the author portrays the salient imagination of a child accentuating the naivete of young, a symbol of childhood, which is push current on processes of self-realisation.The author entails this ideology by illustrating to the audience how she denies the f puzzle out that in that respect are no monsters under her childs bed, and slide bys to explore through the textbook the different metaphorical representations of monsters in our lives, which shift from major aspects such as creditors chasing an respective(prenominal) for m unityy, or even something as diminutive as the failure of teenage love. The over-arching theory is that some things occupy to be learnt on ones independence as the individual embarks on processes of self-realization, shaping their beliefs and attitudes.Writing Prompt bring out an essay of 500-700 words in which you let out something you had to learn on your own, because it couldnt or shouldnt take over been taught to you by soulfulness else. Explain why the side had to add up that way and its signifi lavce in delimitate something approximately yourself.Though one can say that your individualised and societal stage setting can influence the mortal you become, there is always a phase in life, in which an individual embarks on processes of inside progression, enabling one to understand the true macrocosm they have become in spite of their surroundings. In this stance, religious belief in my personal context was a major dowery in life, as my parents had enforce d it upon me at a young age, expecting me to adhere to the religion of their choice, Jainistism. However, after my family had migrated from India to a foreign society, which comprised of beliefs that were preponderantly imbed with Christian roots, there was complexities in theways I tried maneuvering my phantasmal beliefs to suit those of the Christian society. At first, it was an effect of assimilation as I was mortified of Jainism and emergencyed to be ilk any other child in school, further encouraging me to neglect those religious determine imposed by my parents, as I adopted the ways of the new religion at my interest. I did non want to be a Jain, entirely solitary(prenominal) a pure Christian.It was one iniquity, which changed my life, and my outlook on religion. It was the time of Diwali a Jain festival, where all my family and friends had gathered to celebrate the auspicious event. However, I refused to join with my ignorant and mocking attitude due to my belie f of being a Christian. The ongoing celebrations, the youthful atmosphere, the triumphant laughter, the harmonious chanting and the colorful sights had enticed my solicitude towards the Jain proceedings. I began to wonder, am I obliged to Christianity or am I obliged to Jainism? That very same night after undertaking processes of critical view and self-realization, I realized I was neer obliged to any religion, I am allowed to be a Jain and stock-still bask Christian rituals, or I am allowed to be a Christian and enjoy Jain festivals. The very simplistic nature of religion is that, no one forces you to be part of a trusted religion you can follow what you like at any point of your life.This open(a) my eyes, as religion, which had been a major element of life, suddenly was replaced with the notion of spiritualty, which enabled me to connect with beings with alike(p) interests around the sphere, without the need of following a religion. Indeed religion can be something that influences you based on your surroundings, however spiritualism is a feeling and connection you fortify with an object or a person who you may believe to be choice and satisfies your spiritual needs. It is a connection, which cannot be taught or influenced by anyone, because it is the bond you create with the cozy centre of your mind and soul. Moreover, spirituality is not necessarily an object, it cannot be seen or touched, it is tangle and embraced upon, and cannot be taught as it varies from person to person. It is embedded within a process of self-development, and spirituality seen by one person, but may not be seen by another.The situation had to occur this way due to the need of embarking on inner journeys in which would exploit my identity and enable me to understand who I really was. The false assumptions I had about religion were cleared through this act and it opened up new pathways for me to continue my exploration in findings different beliefs, moral philosophy and culture that interests me. In relation to this, I as a person have changed from this experience, as I value every religion, respect every belief and enjoy the richness offered through the diversity of cultures unequivocal in our world. Today, I am neither a Christian nor a Jain, but someone who follows the spiritualistic art of meditation, as this art form enables me to connect with blue-ribbon(prenominal) beings beyond earth and my control. This process of self-realization has changed me into a compassionate and culturally blanket(a) person.

Hertz Corporation

ALTRIA GROUP, INC. (MO) 10-Q Quarterly report pursuant to sections 13 or 15(d) s finish upd on 07/26/2012 Filed Period 06/30/2012 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549 FORM 10-Q (Mark One) y QUARTERLY REPORT pursuant(predicate) TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE knead OF 1934 For the quarterly finis cease June 30, 2012 OR ? TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from o Commission File Number 1-08940 Altria Group, Inc. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Virginia 13-3260245 (State or some eliminatewise jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I. R. S. Employer Identification none ) 6601 West Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23230 (Address of pass executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrants telephone number, including bea enter (804) 274-2200 Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report prog nosticate by conquer butt whether the registrant (1) has filed every reports require to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for much(prenominal) shorter period that the registrant was essential to file much(prenominal) reports), and (2) has been theatre to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ? No ? Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate vane site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of jurisprudence S-T (232. 05 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ? No ? Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a queen-size intensify filer, an speed up filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting companion. involve the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Large accelerated filer ? Accelerated filer ? Non-accelerated filer ? (Do non check if a smaller reporting company) small reporting company ?Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as define in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ? No ? At July 16, 2012 , there were 2,032,833,474 addresss outstanding of the registrants common storehouse, equivalence value $0. 33 1/3 per grapple. plug-in of limit ALTRIA GROUP, INC. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. spokesperson I FINANCIAL INFORMATION detail 1. mo terminateary Statements (Unaudited) Condensed unify Balance Sheets at June 30, 2012 and celestial latitude 31, 2011 3 Condensed merge Statements of stipend for the half a dozen Months terminate June 30, 2012 and 2011 5 cardinal Months cease June 30, 2012 and 2011 Condensed coalesced Statements of house-to-house wampum for the Six Months terminate June 30, 2012 and 2011 7 collar Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 8 Condensed coalesced Statements of Stockholders integrity for the twelvemonth Ended celestial latitude 31, 2011 and the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 9 Condensed Consolidated Statements of change Flows for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 10 Notes to Condensed Consolidated pecuniary Statements 12 circumstance 2. counselings Discussion and Analysis of fiscal measure up and Results of Operations 61 Item 4. Controls and Procedures 99 parting II OTHER INFORMATIONItem 1. Legal Proceedings hundred Item 1A. Risk Factors coke Item 2. unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 100 Item 5. opposite Information 101 Item 6. Exhibits 102 Signature Signature 103 2- panel of Contents PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION Item 1. Financial Statements. Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in jillions of dollars) (Unaudited) June 30, 2012 declination 31, 2011 summations Cons umer harvest-tides silver and immediate payment equivalents $ Receivables 1,528 $ 3,270 256 268 Leaf tobacco 799 934 opposite raw materials 184 clxx Work in process 269 316 InventoriesFinished product 432 opposite current assets 1,779 1,207 Deferred income appraisees 359 1,684 1,207 468 Property, plant and equipment, at mo meshary value 607 5,143 issue forth current assets 7,131 4,750 2,512 2,131 Goodwill 4,728 2,619 Less salt away depreciation 2,216 5,174 separate(a) assets 12,098 6,486 Investment in SABMiller 5,174 12,088 Other intangible assets, fire 5,509 472 1,257 31,494 33,385 3,012 marrow consumer products assets 3,559 Financial work Finance assets, shekels Other assets 41 impart Assets $ 18 3,053 Total monetary work assets 3,577 34,547 $ squ be off notes to condensed consolidate pecuniary statements.Continued 3- 36,962 Table of Contents Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Continued) (in millions of dollars, except constituent and per share data) (Unaudited) June 30, 2012 December 31, 2011 Liabilities Consumer products Current portion of long-term debt $ Accounts payable 600 $ 600 335 503 selling 581 430 Taxes, except income taxes 218 220 accrue liabilities Employment be cx 225 Settlement charges 2,184 3,513 Other 1,217 1,311 Dividends payable 836 7,643 13,089 Long-term debt 841 6,081 Total current liabilities 13,089 Deferred income taxes 5,074 4,751Accrued pension exist 1,139 1,662 Accrued postretirement wellness care costs 2,367 2,359 Other liabilities 606 602 28,356 30,106 1,764 Total consumer products liabilities 2,811 Financial services Deferred income taxes Other liabilities 119 3,141 30,239 33,247 33 32 935 Total liabilities 330 1,883 Total monetary services liabilities 935 Contingencies (Note 11) Redeemable noncontrolling care Stockholders Equity Common stock, par value $0. 33 1/3 per share (2,805,961,317 shares issued) Additional give-in working capital 5,647 Accumulated ne w(prenominal) statewide losses 5,674 24,334 Earnings reinvested in the business 3,583 (1,674) (1,887) Cost of repurchased stock (773,116,613 shares in 2012 and 761,542,032 shares in 2011) (24,969) (24,625) Total stockholders equity credited(predicate) to Altria Group, Inc. 4,273 3,680 2 3 Noncontrolling interests Total stockholders equity 4,275 Total Liabilities and Stockholders Equity $ 34,547 await notes to condensed amalgamate fiscal statements. 4- 3,683 $ 36,962 Table of Contents Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (in millions of dollars, except per share data) (Unaudited) For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 salary revenues $ 2011 12,134 $ 11,563 Cost of bargains 3,878 3,825 Excise taxes on products 3,560 3,618 taxation profit 4,696 4,long hundred 1,130 1,272 Marketing, administration and research costs Asset impairment and exit costs 37 3 amortisation of intangibles 10 11 3,519 2,834 run income Interest and other debt e xpense, net 586 Earnings before income taxes 572 (743) Earnings from equity enthronization in SABMiller (344) 3,676 profit clams attributable to noncontrolling interests 1,224 2,421 lowest meshwork 2,606 1,255 render for income taxes 1,382 (1 ) interlock pelf attributable to Altria Group, Inc. (1) $ ,420 $ 1,381 Basic tolerance per share attributable to Altria Group, Inc. $ 1. 19 $ 0. 66 cut fee per share attributable to Altria Group, Inc. $ 1. 19 $ 0. 66 $ 0. 82 $ 0. 76 Per share data Dividends state See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. 5- Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (in millions of dollars, except per share data) (Unaudited) For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2012 terminate revenues $ 2011 6,487 $ 5,920 Cost of sales 2,086 2,030 Excise taxes on products 1,907 1,918 Gross profit 2,494 1,972 596 671 16 1Marketing, administration and research costs Asset impairment and exit costs Amortization of intangibles 5 Earnings from equity investment in SABMiller 1,295 293 Interest and other debt expense, net 5 1,877 operating(a) income 294 (223) Earnings before income taxes (155) 1,807 581 Net allowance 712 1,226 preparedness for income taxes 1,156 444 Net lolly attributable to noncontrolling interests (1 ) Net earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. $ 1,225 $ 444 Basic earnings per share attributable to Altria Group, Inc. $ 0. 60 $ 0. 21 Diluted earnings per share attributable to Altria Group, Inc. $ 0. 60 $ 0. 21 0. 41 $ 0. 38 Per share data Dividends declared See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. 6- Table of Contents Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of comprehensive examination Earnings (in millions of dollars) (Unaudited) For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 Net earnings $ 2,421 2011 $ 1,382 Other comprehensive earnings, net of deferred income taxes Currency adaptation adjustments 1 61 64 154 135 earn plans A mounts re classified advertisement to net earnings SABMiller Ownership share of SABMillers other comprehensive earnings before reclassifications to net earningsAmounts reclassified to net earnings (2 ) 5 152 205 2,634 comp earnings Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests 140 213 Other comprehensive earnings, net of deferred income taxes 1,587 (1) Comprehensive earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. 7- $ 2,633 (1) $ 1,586 Table of Contents Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings (in millions of dollars) (Unaudited) For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2012 Net earnings $ 2011 1,226 $ 444Other comprehensive earnings, net of deferred income taxes Currency variation adjustments 1 39 32 (23) 78 (5) 1 Benefit plans Amounts reclassified to net earnings SABMiller Ownership share of SABMillers other comprehensive (losses) earnings before reclassifi cations to net earnings Amounts reclassified to net earnings (28) 112 1,237 Comprehensive earnings Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests 79 11 Other comprehensive earnings, net of deferred income taxes 556 (1) Comprehensive earnings attributable to Altria Group, Inc. See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. 8- $ 1,236 $ 556 Table of Contents Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders Equity for the Year Ended December 31, 2011 and the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 (in millions of dollars, except per share data) (Unaudited) Attributable to Altria Group, Inc. Common Stock (1) Earnings Reinvested in the Business Accumulated Other Comprehensive losses Cost of Repurchased Stock Non-controlling Interests Total Stockholders Equity $ 935 Balances, December 31, 2010 Additional Paid-in Capital $ 5,751 $ 23,459 $ $ (23,469) $ $ (1,484) 3 5,195 3,390 1Other comprehensive losses, net of deferred income t ax benefit (403) (403) Exercise of stock options and other stock award activity (77) 171 94 capital dividends declared ($1. 58 per share) (3,266) Repurchases of common stock (1,327) Other Net earnings Balances, December 31, 2011 (3,266) (1) 935 5,674 23,583 3 3,683 2,420 2,420 Other comprehensive earnings, net of deferred income taxes 213 213 Exercise of stock options and other stock award activity (27) 16 (11) Cash dividends declared ($0. 82 per share) (1,669) Repurchases of common stock (360) (360) Balances, June 30, 2012 (1) (1,669) $ 935 $ 5,647 $ 24,334 $ (1,674) (24,625) (1) Net earnings (1) Other (1,887) (1,327) 3,391 $ (24,969) (1) $ 2 (1) $ 4,275 Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests for the hexad months cease June 30, 2012 and for the year terminate December 31, 2011 exclude $1 million and $2 million, binglely, due to the redeemable noncontrolling interest related to discovers Leap Wine Cellars, whi ch is reported in the mezzanine equity section in the condensed consolidated balance sheets at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 , respectively.See Note 11. See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. 9- Table of Contents Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in millions of dollars) (Unaudited) For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 2011 Cash Provided by (Used In) Operating Activities Net earnings (loss) Consumer products $ 2,311 Financial services 110 Net earnings $ 1,962 (580) 2,421 1,382 Depreciation and amortisation 113 121 Deferred income tax provision 299 132 (743) (344) (34) (24) (456) Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to operating currency flows Consumer productsEarnings from equity investment in SABMiller Asset impairment and exit costs, net of interchange paid IRS payment related to LILO and SILO transactions Cash effects of changes Receivables, net 2 Inventories (12) 95 Accrued liabilities and other current assets (94) (251) Income taxes 130 (64) Accounts payable 5 58 Accrued settlement charges 58 (1,329) (1,398) premium plan contributions (514) (209) Pension provisions and postretirement, net 85 122 Other 90 121 Financial services Deferred income tax benefit (1,270) PMCC leveraged lease charges 7 Decrease to allowance for losses 10) Other liabilities (income taxes) 1,437 Other (529) 490 505 (21) See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. Continued 10- 23 (85) Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities 479 Table of Contents Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Continued) (in millions of dollars) (Unaudited) For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 2011 Cash Provided by (Used In) Investing Activities Consumer products Capital expenditures $ Other (39) $ (3) (40) 1 Financial services Proceeds from finance assets 552 129 510 0 Net cash provided by investing activities 1,494 Cash Provided by (Used In) Financ ing Activities Consumer products Long-term debt issued Repurchases of common stock (360) (575) (1,674) Dividends paid on common stock (1,589) Issuances of common stock 29 Financing fees and debt issuance costs (23) (133) (155) (2,167) (819) Other Net cash used in financial backing activities Cash and cash equivalents Decrease (1,742) Balance at beginning of period (250) 3,270 Balance at end of period $ 1,528 See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. 11 2,314 $ 2,064Table of Contents Note 1. Background and Basis of presentation Background At June 30, 2012, Altria Group, Inc. s direct and corroboratory wholly-owned subsidiaries included Philip Morris USA Inc. (PM USA), which is active in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and certain smoke-free products in the United States John Middleton Co. (Middleton), which is engaged in the manufacture and sale of machine-made large cigars and shrill tobacco, and is a wholly-owned underling of PM USA and UST LLC (US T), which through and through its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries including U.S. Smokeless Tobacco friendship LLC (USSTC) and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Ltd. (Ste. Michelle), is engaged in the manufacture and sale of smokeless products and wine. Philip Morris Capital Corporation (PMCC), another wholly-owned subsidiary of Altria Group, Inc. , maintains a portfolio of leveraged and direct finance leases. In addition, Altria Group, Inc. held an pretend 27. 0% economic and voting interest in SABMiller plc (SABMiller) at June 30, 2012, which is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Altria Group, Inc. s access to the operating cash flows of its wholly-owned subsidiaries consists of cash legitimate from the payment of dividends and distributions, and the payment of interest on intercompany loans by its subsidiaries. In addition, Altria Group, Inc. receives cash dividends on its interest in SABMiller if and when SABMiller pays such dividends. At June 30, 2012 , Altria Group, Inc. s principal wholly-owned subsidiaries were not limited by long-term debt or other agreements in their ability to pay cash dividends or make other distributions with respect to their common stock.Share Repurchases In October 2011, Altria Group, Inc. s Board of Directors authorized a $1. 0 billion share repurchase architectural plan, which Altria Group, Inc. intends to complete by the end of 2012 . During the six-spot and three months stop June 30, 2012, Altria Group, Inc. repurchased 11. 9 million shares (aggregate cost of approximately $360 million , and $30. 16 reasonable price per share) and 2. 0 million shares (aggregate cost of approximately $66 million , and $32. 37 comely price per share), respectively. As of June 30, 2012 , Altria Group, Inc. had repurchased a total of 23. million shares of its common stock under this program at an aggregate cost of approximately $688 million , and an average price of $29. 01 per share. The timing of share repurchase s under this program depends upon marketplace conditions and other factors, and the program remains subject to the discretion of Altria Group, Inc. s Board of Directors. Basis of debut The interim condensed consolidated financial statements of Altria Group, Inc. are unaudited. It is the sight of Altria Group, Inc. s management that all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the interim results presented have been considered therein.All such adjustments were of a normal recurring nature. Net revenues and net earnings for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year. These statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes, which egress in Altria Group, Inc. s yearly Report to Shareholders and which are incorporated by reference into Altria Group, Inc. s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. Balance sheet accounts are segregated by two broa d types of businesses.Consumer products assets and liabilities are classified as either current or noncurrent, whereas financial services assets and liabilities are unclassified, in accordance with respective industry practices. During the second quarter of 2012, Altria Group, Inc. heady that it had not recorded in its financial statements for the three months ended frame in 31, 2012, its share of non-cash gains from its equity investment in SABMiller, relating to SABMillers strategic alliance transactions with Anadolu Efes and Castel that were closed during the runner quarter of 2012.Because Altria Group, Inc. did not record these gains, it understated by $342 million, $222 million and $0. 11 earnings from equity investment in SABMiller, net earnings/comprehensive earnings, and thin out earnings per share attributable to Altria Group, Inc. , respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2012. Additionally, Altria Group, Inc. understated its investment in SABMiller, long-te rm liability for deferred income taxes and total stockholders equity by $342 million, $120 million and $222 million, respectively, at March 31, 2012.There was no adjoin on net cash flows from operating, investing or financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2012. Altria Group, Inc. assessed the corporality of 12- Table of Contents Altria Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) these understatements in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commissions (SEC) Staff news report Bulletin No. 99 Materiality and headstrong that the impact was not material to Altria Group, Inc. s financial statements as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2012.Accordingly, Altria Group, Inc. has determined that it is appropriate to revise its first quarter 2012 financial statements and has reflected this revision in the financial statements as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2012. Financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2012 reported in future filings will reflect this revision. Altria Group, Inc. s chief operating decision overlord has been evaluating the operating results of the former cigarettes and cigars segments as a single smokeable products segment since January 1, 2012.The combination of these two formerly separate segments is related to the restructuring associated with the cost reduction program denote in October 2011 (the 2011 Cost decrease Program). Also, in connection with the 2011 Cost Reduction Program, effective January 1, 2012, Middleton became a wholly-owned subsidiary of PM USA, reflecting managements goal to achieve efficiencies in the management of these businesses. Effective with the first quarter of 2012, Altria Group, Inc. s reportable segments are smokeable products, smokeless products, wine and financial services.For further discussion on the 2011 Cost Reduction Program, see Note 2. Asset Impairment, Exit, Implementation and desegregation cost. Effective January 1, 2012, Altria Group, Inc. adopted new authoritative counselling that eliminated the option of presenting components of other comprehensive earnings as part of the statement of stockholders equity. With the adoption of this guidance, Altria Group, Inc. is reporting other comprehensive earnings in separate statements at one time following the statements of earnings. Note 2.Asset Impairment, Exit, Implementation and Integration cost Pre-tax asset impairment, exit and implementation costs for the six and three months ended June 30, 2012 consisted of the following For The Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 Asset Impairment and Exit Costs For The Three Months Ended June 30, 2012 Implementation (Gain) Costs Total Asset Impairment and Exit Costs Implementation Costs Total (in millions) Smokeable products $ 23 $ (12) $ 11 $ 16 $ 9 $ 25 Smokeless products 14 5 19 General corporate (1) (1 ) Total $ 37