Monday, September 30, 2019

Song for Last years wife- essay

Explore how the writer of one of your choice from the relationship collections presents different ideas about relationships from those given in ‘song for last year's wife' The poem by Brian Pattern presents thoughts of a man who misses his wife. The man In the poem Is directly talking to his wife which plays a role in the structure of the poem. On the contrary, ‘One Flesh' by Elizabeth Jennings explores the effect of long term relationships as the poem Is written about her parents, therefore It Is quite personal.Both poems have two very different themes within the main theme of legislations, for instance, ‘One Flesh' looks at the process of long term relationships and ‘Song for last year's wife' stud's the theme of pain when relationships breakdown. Both titles of the poem have some sort of connotation behind it. One flesh is mentioned in the Bible as it refers to two people becoming one after marriage and meant to be in unity, however, the poem contradicts th e title as it depicts how they are separated from each other even though they are still married.On the other hand, ‘song for last year's wife' alludes to the fact he has another wife but makes the read want to read on to find out what has happened to her. Subsequently, presenting different Ideas about relationship, their structures both vary to fit the Idea and perspective. The rhyme scheme of One Flesh Is A, B, A, B, A, A In the first two stanzas but the last stanza does not have a rhyming couplet as these two who are my has now grown cold' shows that there was a strong relationship at the start but broke down and has shattered.Perhaps, the effect of having a rhyming couplet at the end of the first two stanzas and not the last one is that the relationship has reached a level where there isn't any hope for their love for each other but Just they have to be together for their daughter's sake. On the other hand, Pattern does not use a rhyme scheme as the man is talking to his wi fe and you wouldn't necessary talk in rhyme therefore it is more natural. Both poems use the poetic device of metaphor but in different ways to fit the theme of the poem.The metaphor in song for last year's wife ‘perhaps It Is the winter, its Isolations ghost to witness' conveys a absence of his wife with the reference to a ‘ghost' which suggests that something still haunts him and memories of her still come to him. Whereas, Jennings uses a metaphor to show how the couple's relationship was strong and stable at the start room whose fire from I came from, has now grown cold'. This shows that their relationship was full of passion and fun but slowly drowned out to nothing but separation.Here, images of heat and cold are used to reinforce how their passion is dying. Moreover, when Patter uses a alliteration at the start of the poem ‘of waking without you' the emphasis of without increases due to the consonant being sharp so we know how hurt he is feeling without his w ife which leads on the tension of what has happened to her. Similarly, the use of alliteration when saying ‘light on late' tresses how the light Is kept on and makes us as the reader wonder why it I left on late that also add a level of apprehension towards the poem.To conclude, ‘One Flesh' and ‘Song for Last Year's Wife' both present their Ideas In different ways to emphasis the certain aspect of relationships they are trying to portray. Jennings uses the structure mostly to support how the couple's relationship is unstable whereas absence of his wife. Both poets use connotations to expand on their ideas which draw the reader in therefore, becoming a more precise poem in terms of being articulate towards the theme that is being represented.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Western Union Seeks East and Central African Market

‘WESTERN UNION SHIFTING FOCUS TO TRANSACTIONS WITHIN AFRICA. ’ INTRODUCTION This article under review is taken from the outlook section of The EastAfrican newspaper as for the dates between 19th to the 25th September 2011. It is a Q&A article with Western union’s present regional director southern and East Africa, Karen Jordaan. It was chosen in line with other online articles published two weeks prior that informed of the change in strategy being adopted by the global money transfer company in terms of their operations within the African continent. ARTICLE OVERVIEW With the ever growing number of immigrants standing at around 250 million globally with 30 million of these being from Africa and better still 19 million of them being migrations within Africa and with the ever growing number people moving within the East African region for leisure, business or seeking job opportunities, it was clear that the potential number of transactions within the region was increasing and Western union identifying this decides to apply their marketing mix in terms of place or location by changing their strategy by focusing on the East African region and the African continent as a whole. To cement their operation in the region, western union has taken to invest to train more agents to reach a wider population and enhance service delivery in the region. With over 23,000 locations in 50 African countries and only 3,600 of this being in the East African region, western union is facing a challenging ‘motor and brick’ situation where they have been unable to reach the 39 million Kenyans with most adopting informal ways of money transfer coupled with low penetration of mobile transfer in rural areas. The 700 locations in Kenya coupled with differing data as provided by the local government and international bodies has left western union without proper information of where to invest and that is why they are taking charge and repositioning themselves to grow in the regional market. Besides investing in their people to reach a wider population, they are also running promotions geared to stimulate local money transfer through their formal channels. Some of this are such as changes in pricing as seen in the charges if $1. for transactions between Kenya and Uganda aimed primarily at the foreign students learning there across the other east African region. Articles implication on the economy and general business environment. The move by western unions displays a lot of marketing characteristics that are bound to affect the economy positively. Western unions newly defined market or constituency of potential customers who are willing and able to engage in exchange will drive economic deve lopment up in terms of the pace of doing business due to western union agents offering more places to access their services. This can bring about more investment in the region with the three countries recording a strong balance of trade and balance of payment statements. The economy stands to benefit from the fact that a lot of unrecorded transactions or ‘black market economy transactions’ are avoided realizing a situation where the government is able to raise more money through proper taxation of all transacted amounts. The expansion of western unions outreach will prove to provide and facilitates   inter? ersonal   transactions,   it   could   improve   the   allocation   of   savings   across   households   and   businesses   by   deepening   the   person? to? person   credit   market. This   could   increase   the   average   return   to   capital,   thereby   producing   a   feed? back   to   the   level   of   saving and by   making   transfers   across   large   distances   trivially   cheap, western uni on could   improves   the   investment   in,   and   allocation   of,   human   capital   as   well   as   physical   investment. Households   may   be   more   likely   to   send   members   to   high? aying   jobs   in   distant   locations   (e. g. ,   the   capital),   either   on   a   permanent   or   temporary   basis,   and   to   invest   in   skills   that   are   likely   to   earn   a   return   in   such   places   but   not   necessarily   at   home. Electronic funds transfer as offered   could   bring a situation that affect   the   ability   of    individuals   to   share   risk. Informal   risk? sharing   networks   have   been   found   to   be   an   important,   although   not   fully   effective,   means   by   which   individuals   spread   risk,   making   state? ontingent   transfers   among   group   members. By   expanding   the   geographic   reach   of   these   networks,   western union   may   allow   more   efficient   risk   sharing,   although   the   risk? reducing benefits   might   be   mitigated   due   to   issues   of   observability   and   moral   hazard   when   parties   are   separated   by   large  distances. Risk? related effect arises if western union facilitates timely transfer  of small amounts of money. Instead of waiting for conditions to worsen   to evels   that   cause   long   term   damage,   western unions money transfer  might  enable   support   networks to   keep   negative   shocks   manageable. For example a   household   head   with   access   to   money transfer   who   suffers   a   mild   health   shock   might receive   a   small   amount   of   money   via any western union agen t   that   allows   him   to   keep   his   children   in   school. If   this   money   was   delayed,   or   the   sender   waited   until   the   recipient   Ã¢â‚¬Å"really   needed   it†,   the   children   might   have   quit   school,   the   effects   of   which   may   be   hard   to   reverse. Money received through such electronic channels as western union might and   could most likely   conceivably   alter   bargaining   power   and   weaken   incentives   within   households   or   other   networks. Economically   weaker   family   members   might   expect   larger   and   more   regular   remittances   from   better? off   city? dwelling   relatives,   who   themselves   might   find   it   hard   to   justify   not   sending   money   home. This   could   weaken   incentives   for   rural   household   members   to   work   or   innovate,   offsetting   some   of   the   efficiency? nhancing   benefits   of   improved   geographic   labor   allocation   and   risk   sharing. Money received by certain households   could   have   the   effect   of   empowering members   who   have   traditionally   had   less   bargainin g   power,   in   particular   women. Especially   among   poorer   segments   of   the   population,   remittances   and   transfers   received   (and   sent)   via   western union are   less   visible   than   those   transmitted   by   other   means,   such   as Delivery by a friend or relative. Granted   this   information   advantage,   recipients   could   be   in   a   position   to   keep   more   of   the   funds   they   receive. Evidence   suggesting   the   spending patterns   of   women   and   men   differ   then   implies   that   the   advent   of   western union along other electronic fund transfers   could   have   real   effects   on  the   allocation   of   household    Spending. Articles implication on the market competitiveness. The article address the strong link between marketing and strategy whereby in the marketing strategic mapping of western union, after defining their marketing objectives they carried out a SWOT analysis of their current structure realizing that the potential of the growing east African market is only hindered by the lack of agents within the region. It is this that led them to the need to build competitive marketing strategies that involves segmenting, targeting and positioning themselves closer to their target market. Western union strategy has been seen to change its marketing mix within the region interms of price, place, promotion and its people (agents) though retaining most of its product offering and process. The case analysis its presence in the east African region and business position across its countries of operation though not highlighting much of its distinct competences and competitive advantage with its rival companies such as money gram and the new threat that has been brought about by mobile money transfer systems such as m-pesa and tangaza that have a close to 49% penetration rate due to the high adoption of mobile phones across the region over the last nine years. Western unions improved agent presence is a threat for moneygram which is still operating locally through banking and financial institutions as agents and with increased presence has the distinct advantage of eating into the market share of moneygram due to better presence that is key in such a service driven industry. Presence means access to more people within more regional blocks meaning more transactional volumes for the organization. In terms of whether or not it will be able to able to make a dent on a hold a share of the mobile money transfer market is a question of wait and see. This is due to the fact that the regions for penetration have not being clearly addressed to weigh such factors as to the access of mobile phones and subsequent mobile money transfer penetration, though western union distinct advantage over the regions mobile transfer market is that it can transact across boarder within the east African and central African region unlike m-pesa and the like which have had long standing operational battles on their limitations with central bank and other formal banking institutions, though all in all westerns union change of strategy to better serve the region will bring along with it changes in marketing tactics for established and potential new operators in the money transfer industry.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Compare and Contrast two different architectural structures that have Essay

Compare and Contrast two different architectural structures that have similarities and differences - Essay Example The dome covers the 3025 m2 of the base and has a height of around 35 meters. The dome is decorated with tall spires and lotus design providing a blend of Persian architecture with Hindustani decorative element (DuTemple).i The spheres of the Sydney Opera House which form the roof of the structure are the most extravagant attribute of the building. The spheres depict the earliest advancements in structural engineering as the irregular shape of each sphere was subjected to numerous asymmetrical forces (Shofner). The amazing appearance of the spheres was achieved by covering them with glossy white and matte-cream colored tiles imported from Sweden. ii Although there is an evident difference between the ways the two structures appear, but the roof designs in the form of domes and spheres have marked similarities as well; both the structures have curved roofs with a pleasant white appearance. The marble domes of Taj Mahal were constructed using the traditional Mughal construction technique with massive brick scaffolding, whereas precast concrete members were used to construct the spheres of Opera House. The exterior and much of the interior of Taj Mahal has been decorated with gemstones embedded in bronze. Large calligraphy panelsiii run from ground up to the arches and Islamic calligraphic inscriptions have been manually inscribed on the stone panels with astonishing precision.iv The magnificent arches and the intricate jalis are the other outstanding features of the interior.v Interior of Taj Mahal is an exemplary piece of work of Mughal architecture, similarly the interior of Sydney Opera House with its plain and topaz tinted glass, birch plywood and aluminum panelsvi is a perfect depiction of modern architecture in which prime importance is given to the function of the building (Murray). Wood cladding has been used in much of the interior of the Opera House in order to

Friday, September 27, 2019

Making Morality and Making Community Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Making Morality and Making Community - Essay Example Development and existence of Community in society is a bridge to human relationship and removing the notion of isolation from individuals within the community. It is only in community that the love of God and his grace can be extensively developed and experienced. There should be positive relationships to thrive in the community to enable individuals to be themselves being free to develop into what God wants us to be. Most societies promote individualism for the purpose of quick successes, but the reality is that humanity should work collaboratively to beat the fear of loneliness and isolation. There are various morals existing within the Christian community influencing its functionality in the environment. The moral system living within the Christian community has diverse influence within the community circle and the society as a whole. The Christian community morals would affect the environment by inculcating new thoughts and culture to existing lifestyles within the society. The M aking of morality and community In the making of morality within the Christian community, there is a domain of regular unlimited players in the community. The transformation of a Christian takes place through God’s love and the notion of constant faith by Christian individuals. Basic commandments guarding the members of the Christian community include loving God with all our heart, soul, and might. The idea would direct Christian community and the society around them to exercise love so that they keep the society conducive to life.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Institutional Developments of Congress Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Institutional Developments of Congress - Essay Example Following various reforms and changes, newly developed committee systems for legislation were advanced where the majority party leaders played a significant role in determining the major agenda in most of the floor seating. Majority of the party leaders had diversified advantages over the others since they enjoyed more prerogatives, and their control of issues was firm and greater. In addition to these, some of the political figures presented a great chance by shaping and expanding the committees through their personal ambitions. For instance, The House Speaker, Henry Clay emphasized in the creation of at least one committee charged with the responsibility of strategizing on the house rule reforms. They also created a domineering force in enabling the formation of these committee members. These members were to oversee on the expenditure of the executive especially with the existence of a policy-making body whose main advantage was not only to initiate their own bill proposal but also to gain more property rights over legislation.Nevertheless, the party leadership was evidenced through the sharing of interest by the party members by unifying them and institutionalizing on Reed's rule which not only focused on the alleviation of high tariffs and voting rights enforcements but also limited the house debates. It made the speaker’s prominent house powers diminish hence having a centralized party leadership in both the House and the Senate ruled by either the Democrats or the Republicans.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Laboratory Medecine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Laboratory Medecine - Essay Example Further, they stain slides and perform routine tests on the blood's tissues, fluids, and other components. Also, the work involves keeping records, cleaning and sterilizing equipments as well as the use of microscopes, computers and other lab technologies to gather data. This data is used to determine the absence or presence and/or the cause of diseases. The duties also involve handling delicate substances and experiments with utmost care, having an open mind to cater to various perspectives before arriving at a conclusion and various such aspects that have to do with serving human kind. Coming to the decision of entering the field of laboratory medicine was not an easy or clear cut call for me. The preliminary reason why I chose this field of the many career options lurking before me, was the fact that I needed to learn while helping people around me. I would like to understand how the very basic elements of our bodies work and how we can make a difference through research. It is my natural instinct to make a difference towards human kind and this kind of a role helps me learn about varied related fields like molecular virology and immunology to name a few. I feel that these reasons in part also contribute to the fact that I am well suited for this line of work. I feel I will be ready to take on any challenge and come out a more enriched person. Also, my educational background and exposure as well as basic interests lie in this field which makes me a suitable candidate for such a career choice. 3. What are your career goals My career goals in life are very simple. I would like to begin by studying in order to enter the field of laboratory medicine as it is a life long learning process. To begin with I would like to enter the medical laboratory technology program through an associate degree. From here, I would like to proceed towards becoming a student in the clinical laboratory technology program. As a medical laboratory technician, I would like to most of all work in a team and build a niche filled with competent people. As a career, I plan on using my skills in laboratory medicine for the overall betterment of mankind and towards making far reaching contributions to the field of medicine and healing in general. My career will be nothing without these

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

The Business Problem and Research Objectives Proposal

The Business Problem and Objectives - Research Proposal Example The Business Problem and Research Objectives The company has been offering supreme branded products in relation to fashion, home and beauty care markets. Moreover, the company with its rich quality products is recognised to be the oldest retailing departmental store in the global context for performing trading activities with its original name. After 175 years, the company is still renowned for its stylish and fashionable garments within the targeted consumer market. Furthermore, the company is well-known for employing some of the top designers and famous brand ambassadors like Jessica Gomes in its promotional tactics. The vision of the company has been to offer better shopping experiences to its customers each time they visit the departmental stores. Additionally, in order to flourish the business operations, the company is further required to maintain its brand through improved quality services. However, the company is observed to be involved with certain ethical issues in relation to its business operations. As a result, the company has also been recently criticised based on sexual harassment cases engaging its employees in Australia. The first case was identified as related to the promotional techniques used by the company in terms of advertisements which are considered to be unethical for eroticising as well as sexually exploiting children. In this regard, a case was filed with the Federal Court which is located in Sydney against DJs for sexualisation of children or minors in its promotional tactics. ... However, the company is observed to be involved with certain ethical issues in relation to its business operations. As a result, the company has also been recently criticised based on sexual harassment cases engaging its employees in Australia. The first case was identified as related to the promotional techniques used by the company in terms of advertisements which are considered to be unethical for eroticising as well as sexually exploiting children. In this regard, a case was filed with the Federal Court which is located in Sydney against DJs for sexualisation of children or minors in its promotional tactics. The executive director of Australia Institute also criticised the company for promoting its garment products by using sexualised images of children through ads on internet and flyers among others (Horin, 2007). There has also been a recent sexual harassment case lodged against the company by Kristy Fraser-Kirk, a 25 years old woman working as a junior publicist in DJs. She lo dged a complaint against the former chief executive officer of DJs named Mark Mclnnes for sexually harassing her. With respect to the complaint filed, she seeks to acquire 5% of the profit of DJs as well as 5% of the salary of Mclnnes which cost the company a considerable amount of expense to resolute the issue (Kontominas, 2010). 2. The Broad Problem Area The business problems which can be apparently observed with reference to the recent performances of DJs relates with its unethical business practices and management in relation to sexual harassment. It has been perceived that DJs was involved with promotional techniques or activities which included advertisements which were criticized as well as recognised to be unethical. These advertisings

Monday, September 23, 2019

Differences between Race & Gender Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Differences between Race & Gender - Essay Example This paper highlights that Stanton et al describe the way men have mistreated women in the society for so long. Man is said to have never allowed a woman to exercise her rights, deprived her voice before the law, and the woman has been denied right to own property. Stanton et al however condemn these cores of actions and suggests that only God has the sole responsibility of defining the roles and abilities of men and women in the society. â€Å"We insist that they have immediate admission to all the rights and privileges which belong to them as citizens of United States†. This paper declares that Dub Bois talks of seclusion by the society which makes you odd and feel discriminated, he talks of the problem of the twentieth century as the color line. It once dawned on him that he was different from others when a young lady refused to pick a card from him while seated amongst other people. This matter was the first hand experience of Dubois on brutality of discrimination. Meanwhile the women in America underwent lives of suffering struggling with a lot of burdens on their shoulders; â€Å"in all the roles was to seek fulfillment as wives and mothers†.  

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 12

Marketing - Essay Example But as I learnt more about the financial services organizations, I was able to figure out that the perception that I had regarding such institution was just a mere image. I was able to learn that financial institutions are not just limited to banks but include a variety of players in the market. Some of the most prominent financial services organizations that I was able to figure out includes banks (retail, corporate, investment and private); mutual funds and trusts; credit card issuers; stock exchanges; leasing companies and government and saving institutions. Thus it is one of the most important learning outcomes from this course. Communication in the Marketing of Financial Services Before study about the financial services marketing, I considered communication the least important aspect in financial services marketing. But with constant and continuous study I have made, it has made me realize that communication in the marketing of financial services is regarded as the backbone of financial services. As communication is the interchange of information between two parties, I was able to learn that financial institutions heavily rely on the use of marketing communication i.e. advertisement, public relations and direct mail. With the help of such communication, the financial services aim to attract and influence the consumers towards the use of financial services. Such study has also helped me to understand that communication not only helps the financial services to attract customers but it also helps the organization to change their perception in the minds of the consumer. Moreover, I was able to identify that financial services are intangible due to which these services are often complex and quite risky but with the help of marketing communication, financial organizations significantly reduce the risks associated with the services and helps the organization to de-complex the products and services offered by the organization. I was also able to identify that fin ancial organizations have shifted marketing communication to whole new level and media. Due to the increase in customer traffic on social websites (i.e. Facebook and Twitter) financial organization have shifted their focus from traditional media to such media where the customer traffic is ten times higher. Marketing Mix and Financial Services I was well aware of the 4P’s of marketing but the study of financial services marketing; I was able to extract the services mix that plays significant role in the success of financial services organizations. In addition to 4P’s (i.e. product, price, place and promotion) the services mix includes process, people and physical evidence which are the other 3Ps of service marketing mix. I was able to identify that marketing mix plays significant role in financial services and with the help of such mix, banks are able to accept deposits and lend money to the customers. But in order to effectively do that financial institutions are const antly in need to understand the desires of the customers through which their trust could be won. This is where financial institutions rely on services mix. With continuous learning of financial services marketing, I was able to figure out that product mix helps the financial institutions to differentiate them from others in the market. The products offered by such institutions are c

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Decoding the Jargon Essay Example for Free

Decoding the Jargon Essay Create a booklet which explain the function of hardware components and identify communication between components. The pages should include photographs and diagrams to illustrate the information you include. (P1) Components communication The following diagram shows how components communicate each other’s. CPU Also known as the processor, the CPU is the heart of the computer and has two part: Control Unit The control unit controls the flow of data through the processor. Arithmetic/Logic unit (ALU) The ALU performs mathematical, logical, and decision operations in a computer and is the final processing performed by the processor. RAM A computer can only run a program when it is in memory named RAM (Random Access Memory). List of RAM such as: Double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), Static Random access memory (SRAM) and Dynamic random access memory (DRAM). Hard drive A HHD is a data storage device that provides storage and retrieving digital information. Serial Storage Architecture (SSA) is a serial transport protocol used to attach disk drives to server computers. A solid-state drive (SSD) it contains no actual disk, it is a data storage device using integrated circuit assemblies as memory to store data. It is more quiet when it runs, more resistant to physical shock, has a lower access time and less latency. Motherboard The motherboard is the main circuit board inside a computer. A number of major hardware components are plugged into it, including the CPU, hard  drive, the BIOS memory and RAM. The most commonly found and used motherboard is ATX motherboard. It is the standard motherboard which suit to any desktop computer. Fan A computer fan is any fan inside, or attached to, a computer case used for active cooling, and may refer to fans that draw cooler air into the case from the outside, expel warm air from inside, or move air across a heat sink to cool a particular component. CPU fan: Use to cool the CPU heat sink. Graphic card Fan: The specific fan to cool down the temperature of graphic card. PSU fan: The power supply unit fan play two rules that cool down the itself and removing the warm air from the case. PSU A power supply unit converts mains AC to low-voltage regulated DC power for internal components of computer. DVD DVD is digital optical disc that can store a large amount of digital data such as text, music, image or video. b. Add a new section to the booklet to explain the purpose of TWO different Operating Systems and compare the features functions of these operating systems. (P2, M1) Window 8 is the latest vision of the Windows operating system, which was developed by Microsoft. It acts as an interface between the hardware and the user. Purpose of Windows 8 The operating system was made for personal, home or business user in the desktop, laptop, tablet and smartphone market. It makes computer easy for users to control. 1. Graphical User interface The windows operating system designed originally to replace MS-DOS, which make the computer interface more user-friendly and allows you to use your mouse to operate. Windows 8 come with a new and unique kind of use interface (UI) called Metro. 2. Accessibility. Windows 8 increase the accessibility which includes features to enable disable people to use the computer more easily, such as: Optimize visual display to allow people to see more cleanly on screen, turn on audio description for people who are blind, adjust the setting of mouse for people are using different hand. 3. Multitasking Windows 8 provided people with the ability to do multitask more easily and steady. The Graphical User Interface makes easier to navigate from different tasks. 4. A Standard Part of windows’ purpose is to create a standard for third-part software developers. All windows programs will feature in a standard format, such as the position of menu options, the way programme opened and closed down. Purpose of DOS DOS known as Disk operating system that allow people to manage the storage devices such as hard disk, solid disk, flash disk or floppy disk. DOS is the basic system that people have to using Command line prompt to communicate with computer via simple interface which is not â€Å"friendly† user interface. The DOS can’t run multitask on computer which can only load one program until it finished. But some of the features still quite useful that people still use it. Such as: 5. CHKDSK 6. GBUPDATE 7. IPCONFIG 8. PING 9. FDISK Comparison of two operating systems We can see there are many different between those two computer operating system which the Windows 8 operating system have a lots of advance features and higher performance that suit to nowadays. The DOS system usually used to be run a specific program which prevents any virus or hacker attack in the solo computer such as sale program, data base in the hospital or council data base. c. In your document explain the purpose of different software utilities which is available. Explain how software utilities can improve the performance of computer systems (P3, D1) Windows 8 Utility Virus Protection The specific program used to prevent viruses, worms and Trojans which attached in the email or website. Every computer need to install an anti-virus software and have upgrade its regular that make sure the computer more securer. Firewall The Firewall is the software that build up to prevent attack from hacker which build a protective barrier in your computer when your computer connect to the network. It controlled which software’s data can thought the network and monitored the data thought the computer. Clean-up Tools The system utility that clean up system’s rubbish to make computer running more steady and smoothly. The list of clean-up content such as: Removal of cookies Internet history Defragmentation Drive formatting Drive formatting that means to delete everything on the drive or partition to install operating system or classify your partition. You can do it from Disk management or using Formatting Command in Command prompt just like type command in the DOS OS. Utility of DOS CHKDSK Checks a disk and repair your data that might lose or corrupt from take off your disk incorrectly or your computer lost electricity when it was running. The CHKDSK help computer more secure and repair the corruption when it detects. Ping is a computer network utility that to test how quickly the host to connect to the server. This utility could help user easier to check the connectivity with network. FDISK is utility software which using on DOS to partitioning disk and manage the partition. The FDISK that formatting your disk completely that not be able to recovery and it the common tool that used in 1990s during now. Scandisk is the command to run disk-repair on the current drive. DEFRAG is Command to reorganizes files on disks to optimize performance. DEBUG is command to run Debug, a program testing and editing tool.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Influence Of Foreign Films Media Essay

Influence Of Foreign Films Media Essay Media plays an important role in our lives. Swindler claims that the accumulated experience of media exposure contributes to the cultivation of a childs values, beliefs, dreams, and expectations. He further explains that these will in-turn shape the adult identity a child will carry and modify through his or her life. These influences can be negative or positive. (Santosh K, 2009) It also confines peoples thinking capability although it generates lot of ideas and thoughts. This contaminates the audiences who are lack in experience and sometimes believe in what they are being exposed to, in another word the passive audience. This research investigates on the influence of the media specifically; film, on its audience. The films in this study refer to the foreign films with LGBT elements and the audience are Malaysian youths. Background The Malaysian community is generally conservative and to talk about matters regarding sexuality is thought to be shameful (Sears, 2005). Malaysia is one of the countries that are actively persecuting people from the LGBT community. This is due to the British colonial-era sodomy law that lasts till today. The law, though theoretically also applies to heterosexual couples, has been used unequally to persecute the LGBT community or those suspected of being part of the community and has been repeatedly used as a political tool. This was seen in the case of then finance minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The legal persecutions on the LGBT community have seeped into the minds Malaysians and this has affected their perceptions of the community and their behaviour towards them and in general it is one that is negative. Social, cultural and legal factors play a role in moulding their perceptions and behaviour but so does the media. In the regards of this research, film specifically. Gomillion and Giuliano (2011) stated that films these days have much more depictions of gay, lesbian and bisexual (GLB) characters. Gommillion and Giuliano added that as the standing of GLB figures in the media has risen, it seems likely that the medias impact on the lives of GLB individuals has also grown. For example, with more LGBT-themed films like Brokeback Mountain, Milk and Victor Victoria. Though in Malaysia these films are blocked, they are accessible via the internet. This study hopes to understand the effects of LGBT films on the lifestyles of Malaysian youths, specifically their perceptions and behaviour about the LGBT community. Literature Review Generally, discussion on sexuality in Malaysia is viewed as inappropriate. This cultural value is governed by perception of religious teaching (Wong et al.2010). Malaysians do not discuss sexual development in detail and most of the parents will not discuss sex topics with their children (Low et al. 2007; Mohammadi et al. 2006). Culturally, gayness and lesbianism is considered by many Malaysians as a product of the Western world (Baba, 1995; Junet, 1991; Rahim, 1991). One of the most important sources in sex related knowledge for youths is mass media (Davis et al. 1998; Nonoyama et al. 2005). A one year old child can replicate materials based on their observation (Mumme 2003). By 18 years old, the child will have seen 20,000 acts of violence and 40,000 murders on television, based on average viewing time (Huston 1992). Obviously, media portrayals can influence childrens developing beliefs and values. Research shows that many stereotypes based on gender, race, age, and sexual orientation are portrayed in the media (Towbin et al. 2004). Portrayals of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people in mainstream media moulds the mentality of viewers on how the gays and lesbian community live their lifestyle which inevitably arrays the general population to think that gay people are soft and sensitive with no trace of masculinity. Gays and lesbians comprised 2% of characters in the 1999-2000 television season, and most were cast in minor roles (GLAAD 1999). Ellen DeGeneres, the lead actress on her popular primetime sitcom Ellen, made television history by coming out of the closet as a lesbian. Since then, gay and lesbian characters have become increasingly prominent in the media (Gross 1994). After Ellens bold move, television shows like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Will and Grace, and The L Word, movies like Brokeback Mountain and Milk, and musical artists such as The Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge have appeared, appealing to both homosexual and heterosexual audiences. The medias influence on the lives of LGBT individuals has also increased as the prominence of GLB figures in the media rise. The purpose of the current investigation was to examine the impact of the media on LGBT identity (Gomillion Giuliano 2011). Role models in media can affect individuals personality, characteristics, and values through the process of identification. Feilitzen and Linne (1975) proposed two primary types of identification: similarity identification and wishful identification. Similarity identification is defined as finding similarities with or idealising a media figure and living vicariously through his or her activities. Where wishful identification is when an individual desires to be like a media figure due to the media figures appealing qualities such as attractiveness and fame. Matthews (2003), in an exploration of the role of the media in children and adolescents identity development, discovered that preschoolers identified intensely with television and movie characters and mimic them while playing. Adolescents peers become more influential in high school to their media-viewing choices and the media becomes an important component of their social lives. Matthews also discovered that the media provides positive role models for both children and adolescents and can be of beneficial influence on their social lives. The opposite is also true where the media can exert negative influence on children and adolescents by providing negative role models and by exposing children to traumatic material. Matthews concluded that media experiences contribute to individuals development of their sense of self and that these experiences remain significant into young adulthood and possibly beyond. Research Hypothesis This research proposes that foreign film regarding LGBT lifestyles do influence Malaysian youths lifestyles (perception and behaviour) and the type of influence is to be ascertained. Research Questions Do foreign films regarding LGBT lifestyles influence Malaysian youths? What are the influences of foreign films about the LGBT community on Malaysian youth? Does the presence of LGBT in the media encourage the Malaysian LGBT community publicly their homosexuality? How do foreign films influence the LGBT movement in Malaysia? Methodology In this research, qualitative research will be used in order to achieve the researchs objective which is to study in depth of the foreign films influence on LBGT lifestyles in Malaysia. Content analysis is a family of procedures for studying content and theme of written or transcribed text (Insch, Moore, Murphy, 1997). Content analysis will be conducted to study the foreign films, books, newspapers, laws and any form of text that relevant to the topic. Interviews will be conducted to obtain information that cannot be gain through observation and questionnaire. In this research, Bergers semi structured interview will be used in the focus group to maintain the casual and less tense environment for the interviewees. Based on Mark (2005), group dynamic in a focus group can stimulates conversation and reactions. Since LGBT issue is a taboo subject in Malaysia, focus group will be the best tool for this research. In addition, through focus group, group norms can be easily identified. As this research is limited in resources and time, focus group will be the most suitable tool to get relevant information in a short period of time. After the focus group, one to one interview will be conducted to follow up on the missing answers. Sample used will be Malaysian aged 15 to 24 as define by United Nation the age group of youth. The sample will be asked a few basic LGBT related questions to avoid the wrong sample. Summary As Malaysia develops, the support for LGBT rights among the citizen is increasing. This can be seen in an annual sexuality rights festival Seksualiti Merdeka (Sexuality Independence) since 2008. By the end of this research, besides finding the relation between foreign films and Malaysian youths lifestyle, we hope to uncover the influence source of the movement. In Malaysia, there are numbers of researches done on youth and sexuality but not specifically on LGBT, youth and the media. At the end of this research, we hope to determine the influence of foreign films regarding LGBT on the Malaysian youths lifestyles. To prospective researchers, this research can also provide a starting point in terms of the recent status of LGBT communities on Malaysian youths.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Recreational Marijuana Should NOT Be Legal Essay -- Anti Marijuana Ess

The first law that regarded marijuana in America required farmers to grow hemp in the year 1619 for clothing, rope, and other materials, but â€Å"as early as 1840, doctors recognized the medical applications of marijuana, and the drug was freely sold in pharmacies for over a century.† (Rich and Stingl). In 1937, the use and possession of marijuana was made illegal, but â€Å"before 1937 marijuana was freely bought, sold, grown, and used.†(Rich and Stingl). In 1970 the congress decided to classify marijuana as a schedule one drug, which has made the legalization more difficult, â€Å"schedule one drugs are considered dangerous, addictive, and have no medical benefits.†(Rich and Stingl). Marijuana fits the schedule one drug classification because marijuana is dangerous to people’s health, has been found to be addictive if used daily, and also has no medical benefits because marijuana can cause more health problems than it can cure. Recreational marijuana should not be legalized because of the many negative health effects it has on a person. Marijuana has a big effect on the lungs and when marijuana is smoked it can cause harm to the lungs. The smoke from marijuana has cancer causing substances in it. â€Å"Smoking marijuana can cause large air sacs, called bullae, to form. Bullae normally form in young marijuana smokers (less than 45 years old.)† (Drake and Slatore). Marijuana smoke has the same harmful chemicals that tobacco products contain, and marijuana smokers develop lung damage because of this. The fact that marijuana smokers hold the smoke in their lungs longer than tobacco smokers and there is no filters in bongs, bowls, blunts, or joints, there is no safe way to smoke marijuana. Blunts are the wrapping of a cigar filled with marijuana, a... ...re Health Effects?† WebMD, Web MD Health New, n.d. Web 2 Feb 2014. Drake, Matthew G., and Christopher G. Slatore. â€Å"Smoking Marijuana and the Lungs.† American Thoracic Society: Patient Information Series. 187. (2013) n. page.Print. â€Å"Marijuana Abuse.† National Institute on Drug Abuse: The Science of Drug abuse and Addiction. NIH, n.d. Web. 4 Feb 2014. Rich, Alex K. Stingl, Alexander. â€Å"Legalization of Marijuana: An Overview.† Points of View: Legalization of Marijuana (2013):1. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 4 Feb. 2014 United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Drugs and Human Performance Fact Sheets. Washington, DC: Washington State Wright, George Newton, Heather. â€Å"Counterpoint: There Are No Good Reasons to Legalize Marijuana.† Points of View: Legalization of Marijuana (2013): 2 Points of View Reference Center. Web. 4 Feb 2014

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

How Organism Learn: Classical And Operant Conditioning :: essays research papers fc

How Organism Learn: Classical and Operant Conditioning There are two main explanations of how organisms learn. The first explanation is known as classical conditioning. The second explanation is known as operant conditioning. These two types of learning are exhibited in our everyday lives through our home, school, and school. Classical conditioning was discovered by Iran Petrovich Pavlov. He was originally a physiologist whose main focus was the digestive system (Gazzaniga 230). His discovery was made during a study on the salivation of dogs when given food. Pavlov observed that the dogs began salivating at the sound of the scientists footsteps and at their appearance into the room (231). This led Pavlov to study the phenomenon further. The experiments that Pavlov was originally observing were based on the set of unconditioned stimulus and its unconditioned response. What is meant by conditioned is that the response is automatic and based on instinct. To compliment this name the stimulus is known as the unconditioned stimulus (Myers 260). With Pavlov's new observations a new set of stimulus and response was found. This new set is known as the conditioned stimulus and the conditioned response. What is meant by conditioned response here is that the response was learned. The stimulus begins as neutral and causes no conditioned response. However, if the neutral stimulus can be associated with another stimulus, then it becomes a conditioned stimulus. Classical conditioning can be exemplified in the home, school, and school. In the home a child could smell brownies baking in the kitchen which makes her mouth water. The brownies are the unconditioned stimulus, the smell is the conditioned stimulus, and the watering of the mouth is the conditioned response (Myers 267-68). In work a man may be waiting to be fired. When he sees his boss he begins to sweat. The unconditioned stimulus is getting fired, the conditioned stimulus is the sight of the boss, the conditioned response is the sweating. In school a boy may be in class when suddenly the fire alarm goes off at which time the boy walks to exit the building. The unconditioned stimulus is fear of a fire, the conditioned stimulus is the sound of the alarm, and the conditioned response is the exiting of the building. Operant conditioning is an organism's learning an association between how it behaves and what happens as a result of that behavior (Gazzaniga 244). There are some differences between classical and operant conditioning. First, the operant response has to occur completely spontaneously. In classical conditioning the conditioned response is drawn from an organism. In operant conditioning the response is delivered by the organism which then awaits the

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Different Sources of Energy

The U. S is the world largest energy consumer. It relies on non-renewable resources for the provision of energy ranging from petroleum, coal and natural gas. Modernization and industrialization has resulted to increased energy demand. Energy is required in important sectors like the transportation, industry as well as in the commercial sector. Industries like refineries and chemical production, in the production and processes of their products. Energy is consumed as vehicles, trains, ship and air transport people or goods from one place to another. Houses use energy to heat houses, water, lighting and other electronic appliances.Institutions and business also need energy to accomplish their day-to-day activities. The U. S oil consumption rates are increasing at a high rate that may catch up with the economic growth. U. S consumes 20. 7 million barrels or 869 million gallons daily, 25% total world consumption despite it forming 5% of the world’s population . The consumption lev el is subject to rise with increased industrialization. The over reliance in non-renewable resources will have adverse effects to the environment, political and economic aspects. The non-renewable resources result to high pollution rates.Over exploitation of the resources may result to exhaustion or depletion of the resources. Nuclear energy produces dangerous radioactive waste materials that can affect human beings’ health. Over reliance on oil affects the economy when the oil prices keep fluctuating. Since non-renewable resources can get exhausted scarcity may prevail leading to increased oil prices and inflation levels will be on the rise. A 5-10 Year Plan for Renewable Energy in America. There is urgent need for America to adopt renewable resources that will have reduced impact on the environment while providing a lasting solution to distortions caused by oil dependence.The oil rich countries can interrupt the U. S economy through the price fluctuations. (Micheal 7) The U . S should first put in place laws that will meet not only the short-term energy demands but also ensure that the long-term demands are not jeopardized. Renewable energy will ensure sustainable development. This is because it is reduces the health as well as environment risks. Renewable energy includes energy from the wind, solar and water, which can replace oil and fossil fuels. These forms of energy will reduce the over dependence on oil especially from foreign countries that make it volatile.US should diversify the sources of energy. (Eckhart 8). Encourage industries to adapt sustainable development strategies so that they do not cause health hazards to future generations. They should be environment friendly and high taxes can be imposed to those negating this strategy. The government can increase its investment on its cities so that wastage of energy is reduced. Transportation sector can be improved as an effort to conserve energy. The strategy can be faced with political challe nges whereby by lack of political will by leaders will hinder the effective implementation of the project.The congress has to approve the proposal to be successful. The government should be committed in installing solar electric, geothermal and wind power in its public institutions. Creating awareness will be a positive move in ensuring that people understand the importance of renewable sources of energy as well as the adverse implications of non-renewable sources. This move will ensure that residential energy consumption trends are changed and people adopt renewable sources of energy. For instance encouraging people to use solar electricity to heat water and warm their houses.Renewable sources of energy will reduce the greenhouse gases production and consequently global warming will be reduced. (www. epa. gov). The government will need to commit a 300 billion dollar for 10 years to support this project. It can invest in modernizing the homes of low-income earners so that they adapt energy efficient measures. This approach will help in reducing wastage of energy from the residential sector. The transportation sector currently accounts for 68% of US oil consumption. Replacing the energy wastage measures by adopting renewable and environment friendly resources will help save America.The government can spend 15 $ billion to help automakers phase out the fuel inefficient vehicles. Scientists have shown that man has been very influential in causing global warming. Global warming affects the climate and has adverse effects on man. 20% of green house gases are from vehicles. The transport sector can use electricity from renewable sources. (Houghton 155). Since less than 2% of electricity is from oil it can be used on transportation. Research shows that 30% can be implemented on transport without extra installation. Introduction of sport utility vehicles and light trucks will help improve on fuel efficiency.Government must take its role in ensuring that buildings cons tructed are energy efficient. It must also ensure that technical training is provided to relevant bodies to save energy. Adopting the renewable energy resources will be of economic benefits. U. S spends approximately 1. 4 billion $ daily on foreign oil, money that can be saved if renewable sources of energy are sought. Dissemination of information about the adverse effects of non renewable sources of energy for instance global warming will see people change their energy consumption patterns.Alternative methods of transportation can be opted to reduce the traffic jams that that lead to high wastage levels of energy. Imposing high taxes on polluters will encourage industries to adapt environmental friendly techniques. Increased investment in research will help America establish potential renewable resources that can be exploited match its energy demands. Intensified research will provide accurate information needed in implementation of this project. Research will identify viable resou rces thus reducing unnecessary costs.The government also needs to invest in training for manufacturing industries so that they adapt energy conservation strategies. The government will need to allocate more money to support ethanol refineries. Ethanol from corn is environmental friendly and should be encouraged to reduce the adverse effects brought about by over dependence on oil. Renewable energy will help America maintain its national security and its influence and options in the world will not be affected. Oil rich countries tend to be prone to constant conflicts and are undemocratic.

Monday, September 16, 2019

General Manager Person Specification Commerce Essay

My professional aim to be achieved in the following 2 old ages is to go General Manager of Grantfen Fire Security Ltd. As this function does non presently exist within the company I have researched the function of a General Manager.1.1 – General Manager Person SpecificationA General Manager has to be an enthusiastic leader with a demonstrative personality, behavior and credibleness to put, keep and transcend consistent high quality criterions commensurate with organizational outlooks. They need to hold sound analytical and computing machine accomplishments with an ability to pass on at all degrees. This individual would besides necessitate to be aim goaded – with the ability to work to, and set, timely public presentation goals/targets and clear aims with a motivational and supportive direction manner. All in all would necessitate to be a strong individualist and determination shaper with high finding to win.1.2 – General Manager Job DescriptionThe function of a General Manager would include but non be limited to the undermentioned duties Planing Administration Supplying leading Reporting on long / short term programs Research / analyse proposals for long / short term programs HR Management Recruitment Development / Training Employee Relationss Performance Management Undertaking Management Operating WIP Reports Oversee Management of Individual Projects Budget Planning Management of Sub-Contractors Application of Specifications and Standards Selling and PR Manage Ad Opportunities Oversee Content, Publication and Distribution of all Marketing and Publicity Manage Press Development Fiscal Management Provide Recommendations sing Investment / Cash Schemes Oversee Preparation of Annual Budgets. Provide Vision and Advise sing Overall Financial Health and Long Range Fiscal Planning Administrative Management Ensure Accurate Quality Control through ISO9001 Procedures / SSAIB / BAFE Oversee High Standards of Health and Safety Aid in Development of Quality Processes and Procedures to Guarantee Continuing Efficiency1.3 – Ideal General Manager CompetenciesThe function of General Manager takes duty for all countries of a concern including the gross and cost elements of the concern. I believe to be able to transport out this function efficaciously I will necessitate to posses the undermentioned accomplishments and competences. Leadership Skills – To be able to steer the company towards a united end and supply our clients with a quality service. Organizational Commitment – To be 100 % committed to the company and its ends in order to actuate the company and supply leading. Conceptual Thinking – To happen new and advanced ways to develop the concern and supply new services and experiences to clients Self Control – To help in determination devising and executive maps Developing Others – To guarantee that the company succeeds in all enterprises and strains loyal and determined staff. Energy and Passion – To drive a squad and actuate them to transport out responsibilities to the best of their ability.1.4 – Ideal General Manager CompetenciesThe makings required for the function of General Manager would be as below, this is non an thorough list but I believe that these makings and experiences are critical to transport out this function successfully. Preferably a grade in Business Management or tantamount degree of experience. A lower limit of 5 old ages concern experience. Demonstrable record of success at a senior degree within a general direction function in a comparable administration, sooner including the direction of preservation and proficient staff. Wide commercial experience, including finance, concern direction, human resources and IT. Prove IT competency in fiscal bundles i.e. Sage Strong interpersonal accomplishments, with the ability to pull off and develop staff making good squad work. Ability to develop, implement, manage and proctor effectual concern and fiscal systems and processs Experience and apprehension of human resource patterns, policies and processs Previous experience of Health and Safety policies, processs and patterns2 – Professional Competencies DevelopmentI have provided below a competences matrix that identifies countries in which I have proved I meet the needed competences for the General Manager Role. I have besides identified spreads that will necessitate attending and action before2.1 – Competence MatrixCompetenceSituation / Action / OutcomeFurther Actions RequiredLeadership Skills I have over 200 security and fire systems that require care and reactive plants. A portion of my occupation is to supervise the planning of these plants and do hourly determinations on which calls are reacted to first due to urgency. We late had a state of affairs where a edifice had been struck by lightning and this had efficaciously blown up the fire dismay system. As the edifice was a wellness Centre with 24/7 occupants this proved a wellness and safety exigency as without an operating fire system the edifice would hold to be evacuated. Checking which staff were on displacement I re-routed applied scientists over to site, this had to be completed in relay due to the length of clip it took to repair to guarantee that applied scientists did non compromise their ain wellness and safety. Completing plants like this encourages my staff to work efficaciously as a squad go forthing the site with every bit much information as possible for the following applied scientist to take over. Whil st finishing these exigency works we besides have to cover any other calls that arise throughout the twenty-four hours, so on this juncture I made the determination to use impermanent sub-contract labor to transport out plants to guarantee continuance of service. The wellness Centre fire dismay system was fixed within 24 hours with occupants of the site non being cognizant that there was of all time such an issue and other clients were dealt with expeditiously with the production of sub-contract labor. Whilst being an effectual leader I find I am still sometimes intimidated when confrontation arises with technology staff. I have put this bullying down to a limited proficient cognition and this should be improved. Organizational Committedness I late changed the manner our service section runs. We used to run applied scientists within nucleus concern hours 08:30 – 17:00, with an exigency service to cover outside these times. It became evident to me that due to the nature of the concerns we operate within that our nucleus hours needed to alter to accommodate, with applied scientists start and finish times being staggered. I spoke to my technology and office staff as this would non merely consequence the applied scientists we would besides hold to alter our office hours ( including mine ) . After explicating to everyone the nature of the sites we looked after and the operational troubles they incur I was pleased to observe that everyone was really willing to come in into treatments sing a alteration in working hours. These alterations have had positive and negative effects on the lives of my staff but I was pleased and proud to observe that they were all willing to co-operate and move in a new way with the company. Th is resulted in the company being able to accommodate to new concern and supply an drawn-out service where required. I find that there are no spreads within my organizational committedness. When employed by a company I am highly loyal and set all attempt and energy into doing the company a success. Conceptual Thinking As the companies ISO9001 internal hearer it is within my function to finish a full set of process and procedure audits every 12 months. There have been a batch of alterations within the company over the last 12 months and this has led to the re-evaluation of our company procedures. I believe that procedures and processs are implemented to help a concern in running with professionalism and quality, non a hinderance. I try to instil in the sections that I audit that these processs are non set in rock and if they do n't work for the company so we should happen something that does. With this in head I started the audit process for this twelvemonth, we looked at the current procedures and processs within the section and I sat down with the Undertaking Managers that have to work to the processs and asked them how they felt the processs aided or hindered them. They mentioned that the processs within their section worked good but the quality of information they received through from the gros s revenues section hindered them in finishing their occupation. I asked them what farther information could be provided to relieve this and we came up with a list of extra information. In this instance the best option was non to alter the processs for the installing section but to alter the processs for the gross revenues section. I created and implemented a checklist of information that the gross revenues section must finish before a occupation can be passed for contract reappraisal. In this state of affairs I understood the job the installing section had by placing forms or connexions, and addressed the cardinal implicit in issue. Conceptual thought includes the integrating of issues and factors into a conceptual model utilizing inductive logical thinking that lead to solutions or feasible options that may non be evidently related or easy identified. I feel I am comfy with this portion of my function and plume myself on seeing declarations through conceptual thought. The weakness I have at this point would be that I am rather protective of the quality system as I built and monitor it. Therefore any unfavorable judgment of the system I take personally and drop everything to measure whether the unfavorable judgment is validated or non. The quality system has been in topographic point for 5 old ages and is audited and reviewed for its effectivity every twelvemonth. Self Control The concern I work within is mostly client service based and whilst my frontline staff will cover with issues that arise ab initio if clients or applied scientists are non happy with a state of affairs so the issue gets passed to me. I was walking through the office when I heard one of the client service misss covering with a ailment. I heard the gentleman on the phone shouting down the line at the miss who was going rather upset. The miss told the client that she would set him through to her director and put the call on clasp. She informed me that the client had his system installed over 6 old ages ago and had a mistake with it. The miss told the client that she could organize an applied scientist and there would be a cost as the system was no longer under guarantee. Once the client realised that he had to pay for an applied scientist he started shouting at the miss stating her that he should n't hold to pay anything and we should repair the mistake for free. I picked up the line to the client and asked how I could assist, he informed me of the same information my staff had and told me I should repair his job for free. I brought up his inside informations from the database and saw the age of the installing and that there was no care contract in topographic point. We offer a 12 or 18 month guarantee period with any installing we provide so this installing was surely out of guarantee. As antecedently the gentleman started to shout down the line about how he expected better aftercare than he had received. I asked the gentleman to quiet down and advised that he would non obtain any declaration whilst shouting at my staff and being opprobrious. We had no duty to this client and it would hold been really easy given his mode to inquire him to travel elsewhere and decline to function him. However, I do non like clients go forthing us with a feeling of ailment will so I advised the client that there was no care contract in topographic point and if he would take out a c are contract with us I would direct an applied scientist to finish the care and expression at the mistake at the same clip which would intend no charge for the mistake. The client was happy with this result and agreed to take out the care contract, he so asked to be put back through to the client service miss and apologised for the mode in which he spoke to her. This was a state of affairs where my response to the job could hold made the state of affairs worse but by exerting a small ego control we obtained a little but long term client. I feel that this is the country in which I need to develop the most as I sometimes find it difficult to show myself with understanding and sympathy. this is chiefly with employees instead than clients and clients. Further HR consciousness would be good. Developing Others We believe in developing our staff to help them in their calling development. We take on staff as learners and develop them throughout their employment at Grantfen. For illustration, as my personal calling and preparation advancements their can non be a whole in the company, person has to be trained to finish the occupation I am presently assigned to. With this in head along with the managers we have chosen the individual to develop into my function and she spends clip alongside me larning the function and placing countries in which preparation is required. We have invested clip, attempt and money in this individual and have put her through legion NVQ ‘s. I believe that puting in people and their development helps the company from a accomplishments position but besides provides the employee with a sense of trueness towards the company Whilst at present the idea of taking over my function is rather dashing to her I am confident that one time all preparation is complete she will be a really capable director. I am sometimes uncomfortable giving employees assessments and happen myself singling out the employees that I feel are more committed to the company and will bring forth long term benefit through preparation. Energy and Passion I love the company I work for and am invariably endeavoring to guarantee that our service section is amongst the best in the state. I believe that one individuals energy and passion to work can be infective and if you have the right squad of people they can feed off of each other ‘s energy. With this in head I set myself a end for the current fiscal twelvemonth that we increase the turnover for the service section by & A ; Acirc ; & A ; lb ; 200K. This was a new country for me as my function has non been specifically gross revenues oriented in the yesteryear. If this end is reached this means the service section will necessitate another applied scientist and client service decision maker. I have communicated this end to our squad and everyone is on board and motivated to win, everyone has expressed a privation to be involved in a underdeveloped section as this creates new calling chances for everyone within the section. As we are still within the fiscal twelvemonth I can non st ate whether we have succeeded but I will province that we are decidedly on mark. Again I do non believe I require development in this country as a am really self motivated and believe in the abilities and end of the company I am employed by. I include below a soul-searching that identifies the countries in which I find myself strong and the countries which will necessitate farther attending every bit good as chances and menaces that this function will supply me with. Self Analysis Strengths Failings Opportunities Menaces Good at Working Alone or in a Team Can Become Obsessive Over Certain Tasks Wider Career Prospects Male Dominated Environment Flexible Lack of Personal Assurance New Challenges Less Experience of Business Management Excellent Communication Skills Can React Emotionally to Work Related Issues Fewer Restraints Current Staffing Requires Re-assignment Well Thought of by Stakeholders Impatient / Want Resolutions Quickly More Autonomy Multitude of Every Day Demands Passionate About the Job / Company / Goals To Learn From Others in Similar Roles Ambitious Loyal Thorough3 – Professional Knowledge DevelopmentI have been working in the Fire and Security industry for 10 old ages and have obtained an highly good working cognition of the industry including a on the job proficient cognition. Over my ten old ages I have been in legion occupation functions and have complete undertakings that did non needfully fall within my occupation function. I feel confident that I can finish most undertakings within the concern which makes me a good campaigner for the function I wish to obtain. But even with this in head I feel that I would necessitate more experience in certain countries before I felt comfy taking a General Manager function. I am on my manner to finishing a grade in Business Management and so will see whether if it would be good to go on on to obtaining an MBA. I feel that I need to obtain farther apprehension in the fiscal field and whilst I have completed the AAT Levels 2 and 3 in Accounting I would profit further from a more in depth cognition of direction accounting. I besides identified a demand for farther Human Resource preparation to enable me to cover with staff efficaciously and reasonably.4 – Professional Development PlanTo accomplish the right degree of competences and makings for the function of General Manager I have completed an action program detailing what activities I will necessitate to set about to turn to all spreads that have been identifiedAreas for DevelopmentHow Area was IdentifiedAction to be TakenTarget DatesShort Term Goals 1. To better proficient cognition Feedback from equal observation. To pass clip with applied scientists on site mistake happening July 2013 2. To go more empathetic with employees Through treatment with co-workers. Complete more staff assessments December 2013 3. To larn how to drive and actuate all squad members Through observation of managers. Through farther HR preparation December 2013 4. To derive assurance in personal accomplishments and abilities Through contemplation in my completion of PDP Through assessments and ongoing pattern of accomplishments and abilities December 2013 Long Term Goals 5. To accomplish a BA ( Hons ) in Business Management After treatments with Directors of sequence within the company To transport on in the completion of class at MMU July 2014 6. To obtain farther apprehension of direction accounting Following completion of AAT degrees 2 and 3 I identified that a farther apprehension of direction histories would be good To take finance as an option in my concluding twelvemonth December 2014 7. To set about farther Human Resources preparation We presently have a HR adviser and following treatments with him i believe farther HR preparation would be good To near the HR adviser and place any preparation available to farther enhance cognition December 2014

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Filipino Voting Pattern

THE CAMPAIGN First World techniques, Third World setting The Philippines uses state-of-the-art campaign techniques, but its elections are taking place in a political culture that is pre-modern and oriented toward the family. BY LUZ RIMBAN SATURDAY, JANUARY 3RD, 2004 | Filipino politicians use the latest campaign techniques, but still look upon voters as mendicants. | | | ADVERTISING  guru Reli German tells the story of the time he was tapped to produce commercials and jingles for then candidate Ferdinand Marcos’s 1965 presidential bid.The campaign was more of a family venture with no less than Marcos’s wife Imelda herself directing the troops. She would drop by German’s office to look over campaign materials and listen to the jingles being prepared for her husband’s campaign. â€Å"It was more of Imelda that we were dealing with directly for the campaign in 1965,† German recalls. One night Imelda summoned German and his production team to the Marc os home in San Juan, where they were led to her bedroom, which had a closet full of shoeboxes.The group, a team of professional advertising people, did not know exactly what they were doing in Imelda’s boudoir, but the mystery was soon revealed. German remembers that â€Å"she took three shoeboxes and the boxes were offered to us, and they were full of money! † With that, the campaign production team was paid, and paid handsomely. German’s story does not only provide insights on the other uses Imelda made of her shoes (or, more precisely, the boxes they had come in).It also tells us that advertising professionals had been involved in Philippine election campaigns as far back as 1965, when radio was reaching its peak and television, just beginning to make a dent in Filipinos’ consciousness. Then and now, however, professionals like German are relegated to the background, hidden members of the campaign team who are traditionally composed of the candidateâ⠂¬â„¢s trusted family members. Campaign professionals, though, have actually been around longer than that.Soon after the United States introduced elections in the Philippines, the country’s former colonizer also exported to the islands U. S. -style campaigning. This included the use of the mass media to create and manipulate public images, the hiring of public relations and advertising professionals, and later, the employment of sophisticated tools like campaign research and polling. Candidates like Manuel Quezon, Ramon Magsaysay, and Ferdinand Marcos were sold to voters partly through images crafted by experts and peddled to the public through newspapers, radio, and later, television.At least in terms of elections, the Philippines is not the laggard of Asia, but perhaps the first country in the region that has mastered the use of first-world election techniques. | The first national-level Philippine elections were held in 1907. Photo shows voters reading campaign posters iss ued for that election. | | | But it isn’t easy applying first-world election know-how to a third-world political setting. Despite what appear to be advanced campaign methods, the Philippines is still basically a feudal society where the family lords over political life.And with the weakening of political parties — alongside the weakening of other institutions in society — the family has remained the country’s basic political organization. This feudal, family-oriented base is one of the factors that stunts the growth of political-campaign professionals. Four decades after Imelda Marcos successfully steered her husband to power, Philippine campaigns are still far from being well-oiled political projects run by professionals. In the Philippine setting, a political campaign machine — especially one designed for a presidential candidate — can be a complex structure with various compartmentalized sub-groupings.The professionals would be embedded s omewhere within, a silent and unknown minority who bow to tacticians and campaign operators. These tacticians and operators, in turn, are usually members and friends of a political clan. It isn’t altogether surprising that a campaign can still look like a mom-and-pop affair with the candidate’s wife as campaign manager, the husband a fundraiser, and all sorts of hangers-on filling the backroom. There is a difference in this year’s election, however. It is the first presidential election in decades in which political advertisements will be allowed.It is the first time that the power of media in general — and television in particular — may determine who wins. At no other time in the nation’s history will candidates be sold like soap and toothpaste because 40 million voters will be relying on little more than visibility and image to make their choices. More than ever before, candidates and their campaign machineries will now need to use the med ia specialists, campaign managers, and assorted professionals to make themselves known to the public, and through whatever means available.By passing the law lifting the ban on political advertisements, â€Å"Congress was in fact saying there’s another way of winning,† says political consultant Malou Tiquia. And part of the message to candidates may be that there could be more room for the pros. For some candidates, this may be a welcome development, since it may mean more effective campaigns, i. e. more votes. But it may not necessarily be good news for the public. As U. S. political scientist Dan Nimmo points out in his book,  The Political Persuaders, hiring professionals may just mean more sophisticated manipulation. Without question,† says Nimmo, â€Å"the new technology introduces not only the possibility but indeed the likelihood of systematic deception in electoral politics. † More and more, candidates will be seen in images and settings that do not really reflect who they really are and what they are going to do once elected to office. With more professional sleight of hand at work, the public may have a harder time distinguishing fact from fiction, especially when they remain unaware that experts now have more say in the show. IN THE  so-called mature democracies of the West, there are experts for every task in a campaign.In the United States, the election industry is huge, manned by a wide range of specialists including campaign managers, political consultants, public relations people, speechwriters, audio-visual experts, and fundraisers. They operate by a set of rules and design campaign strategies based on scientifically obtained data provided by another component of that growing industry: the profession of campaign research that includes not only pollsters but also psychologists and behavioral experts. | President Quezon addresses a crowd. | | | That is not the case in the Philippines. For starters, there are very f ew such professionals in the country.For example, there are only two or three reputable independent polling agencies in the Philippines. Image specialists, political consultants, and campaign managers are also hard to find. Two years ago, an organization called the Association of Political Consultants of Asia was formed, bringing together political technicians aiming to transform political consultancy and campaigning from craft to science. Still, quips one political consultant: â€Å"It’s easier to find a cardiologist who can do open heart surgery than to find a good spin master. † That is partly why families and friends remain the captains of Philippine political campaigns.Fernando Poe Jr. ’s campaign machinery, for instance, is packed with his siblings and supporters in the entertainment world. Brother Conrad Poe handles logistics, sister Elizabeth Poe is the official scheduler, while erstwhile comedian and Senator Tito Sotto is the campaign manager. Even acto rs Rez Cortes and Richard Gomez have been assigned parts to play in the campaign, as has Poe’s swarm of stuntmen-friends who dabble as spokespersons, rallyists, and even act as Poe’s security cordon. On that point, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo isn’t far behind. Her brother Diosdado ‘Buboy’ Macapagal Jr. s her campaign manager and fundraiser. First Gentleman Mike Arroyo is in the thick of her campaign, too, even if just last year, he had gotten embroiled in a scandal that portrayed him as using an alias to stash away millions of pesos of surplus campaign funds from his wife’s 1998 vice-presidential bid. Of course, a family-run campaign does not necessarily translate into an inefficient and ineffective venture. The most politically experienced clans have even elevated political campaigning to an art, and have over time mastered how to best maximize manpower, resources, and connections.Elite families are especially skilled at this, putting the charismatic and media-savvy members at the frontlines, assigning the crafty and the cunning to the management side, and mobilizing the clan and its network for other tasks in the campaign, including recruiting campaigners, poll watchers, goons, bodyguards — even hitmen, if need be. But with this election promising more pros, campaigns are bound to be slicker than ever. There is, for instance, the advertising agency Campaigns and Grey and its stable of image specialists working for presidential candidate Raul Roco.There will also be groups like Tiquia’s Publicus Ltd. , a political consultancy firm that provides campaign services to senatorial and local candidates. There is even the television production team TAPE Productions — which puts out programs like the noontime variety show â€Å"Eat Bulaga! † — acting as image makers for Fernando Poe Jr. Most of these professionals, though, remain in the background. â€Å"It’s an underground indu stry-most of these people don’t carry calling cards, don’t introduce themselves, don’t appear at press conferences, don’t advertise their services,† says a political consultant. They get hired by referral and by word of mouth. The really good ones are overloaded with clients and forced to turn down others. † For this article, they refused to be identified. â€Å"You let the spotlight fall only on your principal,† this political consultant adds. Another one says, â€Å"The pros are often relegated to the backroom, or they don’t have the stature to face the public. † â€Å"Undocumented experts,† is how yet another political consultant describes himself and his peers. The secrecy is understandable.Most of them have day jobs, either as reporters, columnists, businessmen, advertising executives, legislative staff, or civil servants. Elections and political campaigns don’t come that often and cannot be a stable sou rce of livelihood, which is why most political professionals consider themselves â€Å"political sacadas† or sharecroppers whose work is seasonal. Besides, in the professions where they officially belong, moonlighting for politicians is an ethical taboo. Journalists working as public relations practitioners or political consultants would be violating the rules on independence, impartiality, and conflict of interest.Some advertising agencies even insist that they have no history or record of involvement in political campaigns. Yet as far back as 1965, the presidential campaign was already a battle of the ad agency executives. | Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos display their affection for each other during their heyday. | | | For that particular campaign, adman Billy Esposo writes in a recent column, Marcos hired Proctor and Gamble’s creative team, which was composed of, among others, Miniong Ordonez, now of Jimenez Basic Advertising. Reli German was part of that team.On the other side of the fence, says Esposo, Diosdado Macapagal’s â€Å"image team was headed by the late Fenny Hechanova, himself a former adman from a pioneering agency called Philprom. † When Marcos ran for reelection four years later, Esposo continues, he got Greg Garcia, who eventually headed the prominent ad agency Hemisphere-Leo Burnett. Greg Garcia, now retired but still part owner of Leo Burnett, is the chief image handler of Senator Panfilo Lacson. The reticence of many professionals in admitting their political work stems from the stigma it apparently carries. Political campaigning is often viewed as an illicit undertaking.Players are perceived to ink deals and engage in dirty tricks and special operations that can go from wooing special interest groups and thinking up a candidate’s position on issues, to peddling propaganda, buying the media, and negotiating for votes with local party leaders. But much of the bad name suffered by political professionals has also been blamed on Marcos. After he declared martial law in 1972 and abolished elections, the political pros’ skills and talents were put to use only to promote his Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (the only active political party at that time) or push his New Society.It was a situation that didn’t allow skilled political organizers to thrive and develop a profession called campaign management or political consultancy. Although the Development Academy of the Philippines and the Department of Interior and Local Government became training grounds where political managers could hone their skills managing political organizations, all their work was still for Marcos’s benefit. The only other option was to escape the system and cross over to activist organizations or the underground Left, such as the National Democratic Front (NDF) or the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).Today’s top party and campaign people, in fact, trace their roots to these diverse beginni ngs: Lakas’s Gabriel Claudio and Ronaldo Puno were products of the DILG, while Horacio ‘Boy’ Morales and Rigoberto Tiglao, came from the leftist movement. PERHAPS  the unsuspecting public should be thankful that the country still has a relatively tiny community of campaign management experts, resulting in often-chaotic campaigns that either reveal more than the candidate wants the public to know, or reveal so little that the voters are left annoyed.In truth, present Philippine campaigns are quite like those in the United States were more than 100 years ago. In The Political Persuaders, which was published in 1970, Nimmo writes, â€Å"A century ago, candidates relied on their wits, their friends, and a few trusted allies to mount a campaign for office. Few men specialized in selling political advice. The campaign specialists of that day were primarily party politicians. † | Joseph Estrada is mobbed by adoring crowds during his 1998 campaign. | | |Accordin g to Nimmo, the campaign management industry is a â€Å"direct descendant of the public-relations profession† that became popular in the 1920s. That was when U. S. capitalists were under attack by consumers who were reading in newspapers about unsavory business practices. Countering such criticism required a specialist who could proclaim the good side of U. S. industry. Thus was born the PR agent. â€Å"In the process,† Nimmo continues, these PR people â€Å"made increasingly adroit use of the means of mass communication; the result was the burgeoning field of mass advertising. It would not be long before public relations and mass advertising would cross over to the world of politics, especially with the rise of television, and give birth to a profession that proclaims the good side of political candidates. Nimmo recounts that election campaigns soon became a battle for public exposure. That battle, however, hasn’t been easily fought and won. Many other things compete for the voters’ attention, and candidates need people who are masters not only at constructing the candidate’s message and image, but also at sending these in the most effective way that will make full use of manpower, time, and limited resources.In short, campaigns need strategies. The U. S. -trained Tiquia, formerly a legislative staff member in the Philippine and U. S. Congresses, defines the ingredients that make for a good campaign strategy. These are listed in a book entitled Campaign Politics: defining the voting population being targeted, creating the message to be communicated, managing resources, timing, and tactics. Tactics include direct voter contact such as campaign events, rallies, and even door-to-door campaigning, and indirect tactics like media advertisements, billboards, and campaign paraphernalia.Having a professional campaign team to implement the strategy is another necessity. The team is supposed to put order into the traditionally topsy- turvy exercises called campaigns. In this country, however, third-world realities can get in the way. For instance, Tiquia says, there are times when a candidate hires a professional campaign team that may find itself clashing with family members, or with yet another professional team working for the same politician. Problems like these only slow down the campaign.Campaign Politics also advises politicians to plot their moves way in advance, get their hands on the best people before the competition beats them to it, and plan carefully how resources are to be spent. But there’s that manana habit of the Filipino-his penchant for not planning ahead and waiting till the last minute-which can wreak havoc on the campaign in many ways. As examples, Tiquia cites candidates who are buying TV spots only now, and are finding out that there are none available because an enterprising agency had purchased all that was left months ago.It is now selling these â€Å"on the secondary marketâ €  at much higher rates. There were, however, a few who bought spots early, and at rates that were far, far cheaper. Among the more visible swift-footed ones are presidential candidate Raul Roco and Panfilo Lacson, whose ads had been airing regularly since the campaign started, and senatorial candidate Mar Roxas. As if operating in such a third-world conditions weren’t enough, political professionals in the Philippines also have to deal with obsessive-compulsive candidates who try to control the campaign every step of the way.Among the cardinal rules for campaigns, says one of the political consultants interviewed for this piece, is that â€Å"a candidate cannot think and campaign at the same time; a candidate shouldn’t handle his or her own campaign. † But most candidates refuse to leave things to the experts. Despite the enormity of her duties as president and candidate, Gloria Arroyo still decides where her campaigns sorties will go, political consultants say. Even members of her campaign still cannot fathom why she chose to launch her presidential bid in the hills of Cavinti, Laguna.Observers could only guess that  feng shui  might have had something to do with it; taking the team to high ground probably bodes good luck, they said. But after Cavinti, the president went north, leaving observers still trying to discern a pattern in her campaigning — if there was really any at all. One consultant, though, says, â€Å"Look at the route she has taken, and you’ll see that it’s like she’s drawing the number eight on the map-she goes up, she goes down, forward, then backward. † Poe is said to be no different, at least as far as his political rallies are concerned. Remember that he’s a movie director, so he wants to have a say in how his rallies are produced,† says a political professional. But the king of Philippine movies is also a political neophyte, which has unfortunately resulted in P oe being kept in an artificial world where everything is stage-managed. Hence, every interview, every appearance has to be scripted. And having written lines for scripts, Poe tends to have a say in how his campaign is managed. â€Å"The best candidate surrenders himself to his handlers,† says another political consultant. And if there was one who embodied this, it was Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada in 1998. Erap was a good follower in the sense that when you said the schedule was like this, even if it was so hot or he was already dead tired, he would still follow the schedule to the letter,† says Lito Banayo, who was on Estrada’s 1998 campaign team, and is now on Lacson’s. â€Å"That’s why he was a joy to handle. Perhaps because he was an actor, he was used to having a call time, he had to be on the set at this certain time. He (carried that) discipline in the campaign. † But another plus factor in the Estrada campaign was its near-perfec t machinery, which was due to a generous influx of funds.Ample funds and resources make a large part of a successful campaign. Reli German even says, â€Å"The three most important things (in a campaign) are money, money, and money. † The Estrada campaign in 1998 had that in huge quantities. Recalls Banayo: â€Å"There were really a lot of people who helped in that campaign by way of cash as well as material donations. † A feature of Estrada’s campaign sorties, for instance, were the motorcades and caravans where Estrada would appear beside his showbiz friends Poe and Nora Aunor, and they would then toss candies to the crowd.Banayo says they never ran out of candies because the supplies just kept coming. Banayo explains the â€Å"symbiotic relationship† of campaign elements: â€Å"Once the perception or image of a candidate improves, the survey results become stacked in his or her favor, the numbers go up, the resources will pour in accordingly. † Making the candidate more visible, his image more winnable, translates into more campaign contributors. Traditionally, political consultants say, donors such as Filipino-Chinese businesspeople who put in large sums of money into election campaign, initially give equal amounts to all candidates.The money reportedly starts getting bigger only by April, when donors have a clearer idea who among the candidates is pulling away from the pack, and likely to lead the race. But Tiquia laments how fundraising, like the other aspects, remains a hidden but very important facet of Philippine campaigns. Candidates do not, in the course of the campaign, reveal who their funders are, and methods for raising funds are not always above board. In the United States, Tiquia notes, fundraising is a profession.Professional fundraisers’ methods include organizing events or dinners, or sending out mail asking supporters to contribute to the campaign kitty. There are limits to the amounts supporters c an donate. In this country, it is the field of contributors that is limited. The money comes mostly from Filipino-Chinese businesspeople; the bigger players are the likes of Lucio Tan and Eduardo Cojuangco, whose hearts, minds, and pocket the candidates have to compete for. In exchange, candidates promise them the moon, the stars, and even a piece of the economy.And now to lure them — and the voters — candidates are tapping political professionals. The irony is that takes a lot of money as well. Nimmo notes, â€Å"The professionals are for hire, but at very high prices. Fewer and fewer politicians can afford the costs of candidacy†¦. In an age when less affluent members of society are already disillusioned with a political arrangement which they perceive are shutting them out, it will hardly produce harmony to request that they play by the rules of an electoral game they cannot afford to enter. Source: http://pcij. org/stories/first-world-techniques-third-world-s etting/ ‘Voters Harder To Fool With Empty Promises' by Kathleen A. Martin, ABS-CBNnews. com Posted at 01/17/2013 11:22 AM | Updated as of 01/17/2013 11:22 AM MANILA, Philippines – Aspiring politicians will need more than a catchy jingle and an empty promise to capture the hearts of Filipino masses, advertisers said. Yoly Ong, group chairperson at Campaigns and Grey, said that based on various focus group discussions, Filipinos are more selective when voting for candidates. They (the masses) actually say, ‘peke yan e,' because the promises are different from what the politicians actually do,† Ong told ANC's Inside Business. â€Å"In fact, I've come to the conclusion that it's harder to fool the masses today,† Ong continued. Ong is behind President Benigno Aquino III's successful campaign in 2010, and the brains behind the catchy â€Å"Pag walang corrupt, walang mahirap† slogan. â€Å"They (Filipino voters) have very different behaviors toward c andidates. For presidential candidates, they don't want the jingles. What they want to know is what the guy is going to do to improve their quality of life,† Ong said. But for the senatorial candidates, I guess it's more of remembering who to vote for because there's 12 people you need to choose,† Ong noted. Ong believes that for the national elections, the â€Å"air war† or the television and radio will be the primary venues for warring candidates. But local candidates such as congressmen and mayors will still need to battle it out â€Å"retail-elections† style, or going from house to house. Consultant Greg Garcia concurs with Ong, but stressed the role of television in political campaigns has â€Å"dramatically† changed over the years. If you're not on TV, don't even think about running for national office because the penetration of TV is just fantastic,† Garcia said. â€Å"I always advise clients that 80% of their money should go into media , and 80% of that 80% should go to television. Television is the only way to communicate to as many people as you can in the shortest amount of time,† he added. Garcia is the man behind Vice President Jejomar Binay's successful 2010 bid. Garcia said Binay's narrative of â€Å"Ganito kami sa Makati, sana ganito din sa buong bayan† was the secret behind the vice president's win. The campaign for the vice president was really right on†¦ and I think every candidate must have a narrative to win,† Garcia said. â€Å"It's not just about name recall, what's important is recalling the candidate's narrative,† he stressed. Source: http://www. abs-cbnnews. com/-depth/01/17/13/voters-harder-fool-empty-promises Philippine Elections Will Stop Being A Sham When Voters Wisen Up By: Ilda, November 9, 2012 Poor Filipinos. We can only stand back and watch in awe at how the Americans conduct their successful Presidential election.Less than a day after the US Presidential e lection, the winner could be declared without a hitch and without much contention from the losing candidate. Months of campaigning from both candidates come to an abrupt halt as soon as the winner is announced. It is back to work for everyone in the White House. The ease with which the US election sailed by so smoothly is not even because they have a computerized voting system. For many decades, US elections have always come and gone with hardly any drama. It’s just another walk in the park for people who follow a system that works.In relative terms, there’s hardly any cheating that would cause the sorts of delays that could put entire institutions in doubt. In contrast, even the Philippines’ very first computerized election in 2010 was fraught with allegations of fraudulent activities as reported by some of the members of the local and international community who participated and observed the election. As mentioned in my previous article immediately after the 2 010 election, foreign observers concluded that there was massive cheating involved in the first ever-automated Presidential election.Apart from the problems encountered with the machines, there were other elements whose presence was questionable considering they should not have been in the polling stations in the first place. Observers witnessed a chaotic scene with strong military presence and lots of instances of intimidation in and around the polling stations. One international observer who was assigned at the Pampanga and Tarlac region even specifically mentioned that intimidation was rampant in Hacienda Luisita, the hometown of President Benigno Simeon â€Å"BS† Aquino.These were observations made by outsiders who are completely unbiased. It is incomprehensible why our public officials allow these things to happen. This is why until now there are still some people who question the legitimacy of President BS Aquino’s win. The following is a summary of their observa tion all throughout the country: Serious and systematic irregularities: – Vote buying – People lining up outside the candidate’s house waiting to receive cash or goods – There was no privacy in the polling stations – People could see what the voter is writing The ballot sheet could not be folded to cover the information – There were voters who were not stamped with indelible ink – There were voters who were stamped with ink before voting – There were people taking pictures and videos of voters for intimidation purposes – Police and military presence was strong. Despite reports of massive election fraud, majority of Filipinos don’t seem inclined to do or don’t even want to know anything about them. The Commissions on Elections (Comelec) and President BS Aquino’s media cohorts were quick to declare the election a success.They wanted everyone to think that the first automated voting system delivered as expected and that Aquino’s win was a decisive one. Unfortunately, we will never know the truth. Filipinos will always be in the dark as to what truly happened because they chose to ignore boring details. Filipinos have this tendency to just listen to what the Philippine media is telling them. The Filipino people’s preference for turning a blind eye to impropriety is what’s preventing our country from moving forward. It is turning the Philippines into a nation of cheaters.The irony is that we cry foul after a bad deed is done but we ignore the deed as it transpires. It seems we don’t want the inconvenience of having to deal with the fallout of reporting a crime in progress. We don’t even have protection for whistleblowers. Instead of commending people for their bravery in coming forward, Filipinos turn against the whistleblowers, making them look like they are making mountains out of molehills. People who are seen supporting the whistleblowers are c onsidered â€Å"sore losers†. This discourages people from doing the right thing.Vigilance against crime is what will actually foster an environment of trust in our society. If we know that illegal activities are not tolerated, we can be assured that people will be honest with their day-to-day activities. Sadly, we shun people who go out on a limb to expose corruption or any form of malpractice, but what we need to do is to help promote a society in which it is possible to speak out without reprisal about corruption, dangers to the public and environment, and other vital social issues. Until we change the way we think and do things collectively as a people, we will never have a smooth election like the Americans.Here are some of the lessons I learned during the 2010 election that could help us in the 2013 Senatorial election and even the 2016 Presidential election: 1. Campaign platforms No one comes up with a credible platform during elections because voters don’t care about platforms. They cared about Noynoy’s love life and what he does in his spare time. Voters were also smitten with the â€Å"Aquino Legacy† and are convinced that Noynoy will continue whatever it is they think that Ninoy or Cory could have achieved but for whatever reason did not. The voters don’t even have a clue what a platform is.You have to wonder now how they plan to evaluate how Noynoy sticks to his campaign promises during his term of office. Lesson learned: Most Filipino voters are star-struck ignoramuses. If you want to run for the presidency in 2016, get an image makeover or try to appear â€Å"good† and â€Å"humble†. 2. Surveys and Polling firms Some Filipinos were dumb enough to think that if a candidate is popular, it means that he should be voted in as president. The fact of the matter is, candidates with a lot funds can hire polling firms and publish reports when it is favorable to them.It was also reported that polling firms c onducting the surveys in 2010 were closely linked to the presidential candidate leading the polls. Likewise, despite the number of candidates allowed to run, people were actually just choosing between two candidates. Lesson learned: Next election, call for more transparency around poll survey questionnaires; clamor for more polling firms to conduct surveys and be vigilant and critical of Media’s interpretation of the poll results. 3. Media Bias Noynoy Aquino was given more exposure by prominent media outlets like thePhilippine Daily Inquirer  during the campaign period.It didn’t matter how trivial the news was; Noynoy Aquino was always on the front page. Broadcast networks such as ABS-CBN also helped expose Noynoy to the masa through shows that flagged the â€Å"Aquino Legacy†. Lesson learned: Media outlets owned and operated by members of the Philippine oligarchy will give more exposure to whoever presidential candidate offers concessions they can benefit fro m. 4. Religious endorsements A week before Election Day, the leader of Iglesia ni Cristo announced that they will be endorsing presidential candidate Noynoy Aquino.It has been said that this religious group actually waits for the last minute before announcing their endorsement because they want to ensure that whoever they endorse actually wins — presumably with the aim of making a few deals with the president once in office. It was also said that Noynoy’s party was secretly courting that leader’s guarantee that the INC votes will be in their favor. Lesson learned: The endorsement of religious leaders depends on which candidate is popular; religious leaders can make or break a presidential aspirant; Filipinos will vote for whoever their religious leaders instruct them to vote for. . Election Day thugs and vote buying It seems that all of the above exercise with the possible exception of item number four will have no bearing on Election Day to the majority of vote rs because of the presence of thugs in the polling stations. As previously mentioned, police and military personnel who have no business being in polling stations and who are under the payroll of candidates, hang around to intimidate voters. If the Police and the military themselves are involved in this illegal behavior, to whom can the voters report the irregularity to?The illegal activity called vote buying involves the buyer and the seller. They both are accountable for their actions. In this case, both parties won’t be willing to report each other because they both benefit from the activity. Unfortunately, the voter who sells his vote will only benefit in the short term. Lesson learned: As long as irregularities like this happens on Election Day, any efforts at educating the voters will just go down the drain. 6. Automated Machines It turns out that automated machines are not foolproof.Reports abound of machines malfunctioning, machines found kept in someone’s shed , the discrepancies in time lapsed, and allegations of malicious software installed in the machine itself. Lesson learned: Filipinos cannot be trusted with both manual and automated election. Filipinos are very resourceful at finding a way to cheat. Lastly, here is the bottom-line: Filipinos are ultimately to blame for allowing fraudulent activities to happen. Politicians will keep trying to get away with cheating but it is up to us to decide if we will let them. Source: http://getrealphilippines. om/blog/2012/11/philippine-elections-will-stop-being-a-sham-when-voters-wisen-up/ 2013 Mix-And-Match Voting By  Ramon Casiple, Mon, Jan 7, 2013 The weak political party system in the Philippines can be seen in the way voters will vote in the 2013 national and local elections. A cursory study of the voting patterns in the past elections showed that voters vote for a candidate on various grounds, among them their personal relationship to the candidate, a candidate’s popularity (not necessarily in politics), endorsement by respected persons, and, of course, what the candidate stands for in relation to voters’ own.Nowhere in this list is a voter’s recognition of the candidate’s political party platform and program. The candidate, in this sense, sells himself, not the party. A tacit recognition of this can be seen in the way candidates and political parties present themselves to the voters. In streamers and billboards, the face and name of the candidate stands out compared to the party. Even in the party-list system—where the party-list groups are the ones to be elected–it has become more advantageous to present faces of their nominees in addition to the group names.The result is mix-and-match voting by individual voters. Rarely do they vote straight for a party’s candidates. Source: http://ph. news. yahoo. com/blogs/communityvoices/2013-mix-and-match-voting-130754846. html Everything I Need To Know About Improving The Ou tcome Of Philippine Elections I Learned In Kindergarten By: benign0, February 25, 2013 Campaign platforms You’d think that the call for platforms is so new this year considering how much of the mainstream has now taken up the cudgels of beating this concept into the tiny skulls of the Filipino voters.Yet only just four years ago, the idea of demanding platforms from candidates making their pitch to voters was so exotic. So exotic it was that I  wrote a piece  back in mid-2009 outlining the basic how-to’s of developing a campaign platform. As evident in what I wrote there, â€Å"If we are to expect Filipinos to courageously rally around a serious effort to become a better country in the foreseeable future, it would help to see a leader who has it clear in his or her mind how to get us from A to B. † it is obvious that the concept back then was quite new.The call for platforms rose to a crescendo as the presidential campaign leading to the 2010 elections march ed on. But as it became more apparent that the then front-running candidate, Benigno Simeon â€Å"BS† Aquino III lacked one, had no inclination of producing one, and was happy enough to run entirely on the back of his family pedigree, many folk who had by then drank enough of BS Aquino’s Yellowist Kool Aid were loudly extolling the irrelevance of revealing clear governance platforms during an election campaign.Instead, what to them was BS Aquino’s qualification to lead the country was his  perceived  honesty, integrity, and lack of a track record of corrupt practices. Funny how the most important lessons are learnt after the disaster had already wrought havoc. BS Aquino is now President of the Philippines and the very same bozos who thought platforms were not  that  important are now parroting what we had been saying back in 2009. Voter educationIn the lead up to and then in the aftermath of the 1986 EDSA people power â€Å"revolution†, the idea t hat in â€Å"freedom† lies the singular key to Philippine prosperity became deeply-ingrained in the Filipino psyche. It was all about freedom, and a blanket of demagoguery built around this simpleton’s message descended upon and enveloped the Philippine National â€Å"Debate† in the subsequent 27 years. The Vote — the â€Å"freedom† to choose one’s leaders — guaranteed that the  right  ones would be elevated to office as the prevailing thinking went.This was, the activists insisted, the â€Å"power† that the Filipino people â€Å"regained† after the 1986 â€Å"revolution†. But then as one bozo after another got elected into office since 1986, it became quite clear that the erstwhile thought leaders of the time simply gave Filipino voters too much credit. It turns out they were really not that smart after all. Freedom in the hands of the Filipino voter was like a blowtorch in the hands of a two-year-old. And so the idea of â€Å"educating† Filipino voters came about.The thing with â€Å"voter education† is that it is really not that complicated. It comes down to something most normal people learned in kindergarten — that we are ultimately all accountable to ourselves for the decisions we made in the past. In a society renowned for a collective faculty for thinking that is stunted by amnesia and voodoo logic, â€Å"voter education† should start with a re-visit of these kindergarten basics; that being accountable as a â€Å"voter† encompasses a system of three key acts of responsibility: (a) Select the right leaders; b) Use the system to hold them accountable; and, (c) Hold ourselves accountable for the quality of the leaders we choose using the system. A lot of the focus of this year’s â€Å"voter education† activist fad is on just the first one,  selecting the right leaders. The harder part of the equation — keeping politicians on their toes  in between elections  is where the  real  deal lies. Unfortunately Filipinos are simply not up to delivering their part of the deal in between fiestas. And so politicians gravitate to the same old buffoonery†¦ Grandstanding politiciansThe reason Filipino politicians are so at liberty to make big, lofty, colourful, noisy, but  hollow  promises during election campaigns is because the Filipino voter simply drops the ball once the fiesta is over. Because Filipino voters simply fail to  use the system to hold them accountable  as a matter of routine in between elections and utterly lack an ethic of  holding themselves accountable for the quality of the leaders they choose  during those fiestas, Philippine politics is a con man’s wet dream. You only need a lousy product and a million suckers to make a lot of money in business.And Philippine politics is, indeed, good business. And so we come to†¦ The role of social media in Philippine polit ics In a recently-concluded â€Å"convention† that saw one of the current crop of â€Å"thought leaders† after another pontificate about what such a  kewwwlllthing social media is, we learned that social media is unprecedented in the way it†¦ – breaks traditional commuinication barriers; – serves as a platform for unfiltered egalitarian â€Å"dialogue†; – elevates â€Å"political discourse† by; – providing a more â€Å"inclusive† discussion community; and, – prompts — and demands — quick response from its participants.Yadda, yadda, yadda. In short (cutting through all the fad jargon), social media  transmits  andamplifies  the â€Å"voice of the people† at an unprecedented scale and efficiency so that every schmoe and her dog has a crack at the proverbial bullhorn once wielded by only the most powerful and influential people. Sounds nice —  on paper. The thing with partic ipating in social media chatter is that it is really a form of high-tech Chinese whispers. The Twitter â€Å"retweet† and the Facebook â€Å"share† functions are the 21st Century facilitators of this game — and it is now a game played on a vast scale.Communication engineers will point out that the principle of signal degradation as data is transmitted, relayed, and re-amplified a number of times as transmission distance increases over a channel is the same as the way hearsay information is perverted in a typical Chinese whispers game. Human debate unfortunately remains  analog, so the advent of social media — the  digital intermediary  in the propagation of this â€Å"debate† — merely served as a more efficient way to  accurately  spread low-quality information.With every digital factoid passing through Filipino brains in between retweets, the signal progressively  degrades  into noise. We see this degradation in  signal-to-n oise  ratios everyday — when we make photocopies  of photocopies  and make photocopies of  those  photocopies, the quality of the copy worsens as the number of copies increase. Enlarge one of these nth-generation copies and you will come up with a really bad image. In the same way, amplify and transmit a bad signal over several iterations and all you get for your trouble is a louder and even noisier signal.That is essentially what social media is doing for the Philippine National â€Å"Debate†. * * * Indeed, everything essential to practicing democracy  properly  comprises stuff most well-bred people learned as little kids. Having a plan to get where one wants to go. Acquiring relevant information and applying it shrewdly. Regarding sales pitches with a critical mind. Being respectful and prudent when communicating with other people — regardless of the communication technology being used. You don’t really need a Masters Degree in political à ¢â‚¬Å"science† to really get all that.When one understands  fundamental  problems using  common sense, we tend to have a more practical regard for some of the silver-bullet â€Å"solutions† that the savviest spin-meisters around us build buzzes around. Source: http://getrealphilippines. com/blog/2013/02/everything-i-need-to-know-about-improving-the-outcome-of-philippine-elections-i-learned-in-kindergarten/ BLOG POSTS: Policy Dialogue Series 2004 Academe Meets the Political Parties It has often been said that political parties in the Philippines are based on personalities, not on platforms and ideologies.But individuals do not aggregate demands of sectoral interests. Ideally, parties become the key venues where policies and programs are shaped. In the end, it is still the parties who can be made accountable to their constituents and to the people come post-electoral politics. While it may be true that voting patterns in the Philippines have reflected preference for personalities rather than parties, the platforms of the political parties should still be subjected to public scrutiny. Source: http://twsc. upd. edu. ph/training_PDS1. html Date: March 01, 2004 Filipino Voting PatternsBy: Reynz According to some of the articles on the Internet about Filipino voting patterns, most Filipino voters choose their candidates based on the following: 1. ) Utang na loob (Debt of gratitude) 2. ) Winnability 3. ) Charisma 4. ) Media exposure 5. ) Eloquence 6. ) Pakikisama 7. ) Ka-ching! ka-ching! In other words, Filipino voters rarely vote on the basis of the following: 1. ) Capability 2. ) Leadership skills 3. ) Knowledge of the job 4. ) Moral upbringing and, 5. ) Fortitude Source: http://www. reynaelena. com/2013/02/03/filipino-voting-patterns/ Date: February 03, 2013