Analytical Essay Sample on Internet Censorship Key Concerns

Analytical Essay Sample on Internet Censorship Key Concerns Nowadays, Internet is commonly regarded as the most widely used source and the fastest way to exchange information and knowledge all over the world. However, the freedom and democracy on Internet, being one of its greatest beauties and drawing features, is apparently abused by the population online. Pornography and hate literature are commonly used to lure Internet surfers attention and to generate profits. Representing the rights of the public and the power of a country while owning and operating the Internet, the government has the absolute responsibility to censor the internet so as to protect its own citizens from harmful and false information, thus in order to prevent any possible decay of social and moral values, though the extent of Internet censorship should be carefully measured to ensure the freedom of speaking of people. Since the invention of ARPANET in 1962 by the Department of Defenses Advanced Research Project Agency in United States, Internet has developed tremendously during the past half century with the improvement in modern technology with government sponsoring the researching program. It had formerly been made only for military and research purposes, where in 1974, the general public gets its first vague hint of how networked computers can be used in daily life as the commercial version of the ARPANET goes online. Hence it is quite obvious that without the financial investment and political support from the government, Internet, being such a new technological invention at that time would never achieve as great a success as what it has achieved by today; it is apparently wrong to say governments did not build neither did they own the Internet. As a result, being counted as partially a property of the government, Internet should absolutely under governments control. Besides to exchange information and knowledge and to facilitate communication, the most important role of Internet is to enrich people intellectually. This requires a clean and abundant source of information on the cyberspace that is provided to the public; it should be apparently free of indecency and obscenity that may cause any social problems, which eventually attributes to the decay of moral values. Human beings live in communities where easy access to indecency stimulates many people to adopt these lower moral values, as seemingly it is quite normal and perfectly okay to do so; the idea of Everybody does so and Everybody says so exerts a detrimental influence on peopleÐ ±Ã ¿s minds and that is what people are libeled to believe when the exposure to indecency becomes so common. What draws even more concerns of ours is of the children. We all know that children can easily be scarred and manipulated by all kinds of information. Parents can have some control over which books their children read as they can easily tell what the books are about; they do not have worry that their children will turn a page and be confronted with obscenities or other forms of indecency. While with the Internet, there is a whole different scenario. Anyone can flick a page and be presented with porn, denigration, discrimination, fraud and misinformation. As parenting is not only about chaining a child to a parental censor but about creating a safe environment for children to grow up in at the same time, an uncensored Internet is apparently not a safe environment for children. Due to the above reasons, it is my opinion that the flow of information should be filtered from anything that contradicts any of the abovementioned reasonable purposes. This includes filtering indecent expressions and obscene materials from access to the Internet. As a result, only the government has the power to take such actions so as to ensure the Internet is not over polluted by indecent garbage. However, it is very difficult to take modest steps in this sensitive issue of Internet censorship. Some people may say that certain information on the net, which might be viewed as obscene or indecent, are actually useful and helpful to people who are mature enough. This includes those obtained from adult sites. Though young people are not ready to get access to such information that may lead to their moral decay, mature adults certainly do not encounter the same problem. However they may be banned from acquire what they need from the net due to the possible existence of government censorship. Moreover, as community standards vary from community to community, it is not possible to find a guideline for the decisions of what is acceptable to be made upon; neither is it easy to be implemented. Furthermore, nobody is able to take full responsibility on such issues. Some people may argue that teaching children to deal with indecencies may shield them better and prepare them for the real world. And that the rights of free speak should never be violated. Yet that does not mean that we can do nothing about the existing and possibly occurring problems on net; government censorship is still necessary at this point of time and may have to go on for a certain period of time. In order to make sure desirable results can be seen, what seems to be necessary is the corporation and communication between the government and Internet surfers. General guidelines of censorship can be discussed and decided with efforts of both parties to reach a compromise. Feedback sites and forums can be set up to serve such purposes online. Eventually, the issue of Internet censorship is always controversial as the interests and concerns of different persons can never be the same as others; it can only be eased with internet surfers carrying out their social responsibilities. I think for government to step into the problem currently and help censor the accessibility of certain websites containing things such as adult materials is a modest measurement of control over Internet.

The Diet of Worms 1521, Luther and the Emperor

The Diet of Worms 1521, Luther and the Emperor When Martin Luther fell into disagreement with the Catholic hierarchy in 1517, he wasn’t simply arrested and carted to a stake (as some views of the medieval period might make you believe). There was plenty of theological discussion which soon turned into temporal, political and cultural considerations. One key part of this disagreement, which would become the Reformation and see the western church permanently split, came at the Diet of Worms in 1521. Here, an argument over theology (which still could have resulted in someone’s death), was fully turned into a secular conflict over laws, rights and political power, a vast pan-European milestone in how government and society worked, as well as how the church prayed and worshipped. What’s a Diet? Diet is a Latin term, and you might be more familiar with a different language: Reichstag. The Diet of the Holy Roman Empire was a legislature, a proto-parliament, which had limited powers but which met frequently and did affect law in the empire. When we refer to the Diet of Worms, we don’t mean a Diet that met uniquely in the city of Worms in 1521, but a system of government which was established and which, in 1521, turned its eye to the conflict Luther had begun. Luther Lights the Fire In 1517 many people were unhappy with the way the Latin Christian Church was run in Europe, and one of those was a lecturer and theologian called Martin Luther. Whereas other opponents of the church had made grand claims and rebellions, in 1517 Luther drew up a list of points for discussion, his 95 Theses, and sent them to friends and key figures. Luther wasn’t trying to break the church or start a war, which was what would happen. He was reacting to Dominican friar called Johann Tetzel selling indulgences, meaning someone could pay to have their sins forgiven. The key figures Luther sent his theses too included the Archbishop of Mainz, who Luther asked to stop Tetzel. He might also have nailed them up in public.Luther wanted an academic discussion and he wanted Tetzel stopped. What he got was a revolution. The theses proved popular enough for them to be spread around Germany and beyond by interested and / or angered thinkers, some of whom supported Luther and convinced him to write more in support of them. Some were unhappy, like Archbishop Albert of Mainz, who asked if the papacy would decide if Luther was in the wrong†¦The war of words began, and Luther battled by developing his ideas into a brave new theology at odds with the past, what would be Protestantism. Luther is Defended by Secular Power By mid 1518 the Papacy had summoned Luther to Rome to question him, and probably punish him, and this is where things began to get complex. Elector Frederick III of Saxony, a man who helped choose the Holy Roman Emperor and a figure of great power, felt he had to defend Luther, not because of any agreement with the theology, but because he was a prince, Luther was his subject, and the Pope was claiming clashing powers. Frederick arranged for Luther to avoid Rome, and instead go to the Diet meeting in Augsburg. The papacy, not normally one to concede to secular figures, needed Frederick’s support in picking the next emperor and in helping a military expedition against the Ottomans, and agreed. At Augsburg, Luther was interrogated by Cardinal Cajetan, a Dominican and a clever and well-read supporter of the church.   Luther and Cajetan argued, and after three days Cajetan issued an ultimatum; Luther returned quickly to his home of Wittenberg, because Cajetan had been sent by th e Pope with orders to arrest the trouble maker if necessary. The Papacy weren’t giving an inch, and in November 1518 issued a bull clarifying the rules on indulgences and saying Luther was wrong. Luther agreed to stop it. Luther is Pulled Back The debate was about far more than Luther now, and theologians carried on his arguments, until Luther just had to return and he ended up taking part in a public debate in June 1519 with Andreas Carlstadt against Johann Eck. Driven by Eck’s conclusions, and after several committees analysing Luther’s writings, the Papacy decided to declare Luther heretical and excommunicate him over 41 sentences. Luther has sixty days to recant; instead he wrote more and burned the bull.Normally the secular authorities would arrest and execute Luther. But the timing was perfect for something else to happen, as the new Emperor, Charles V, had pledged all his subjects should have proper legal hearings, while the papal documents were far from ordered and water tight, including blaming Luther for someone else’s writing. As such, it was proposed Luther should appear before the Diet of Works. The Papal representatives were aghast at this challenge to their power, Charles V tended to agr ee, but the situation in Germany meant Charles dare not upset the men of the Diet, who were adamant they should play their role, or the peasants. Luther was saved from immediate death by a struggle over secular power, and Luther was asked to appear in 1521. The Diet of Worms 1521 Luther made his first appearance on April 17th 1521. Having been asked to accept that the books he’d been accused of writing were his (which he did so), he was asked to reject their conclusions. He asked for time to think, and the next day conceded only that his writing might have used wrong words, saying that the subject and the conclusions were genuine and he stuck by them. Luther now discussed the situation with Frederick, and with a man working for the Emperor, but no one could make him recant over even one of the 41 statements the Papacy condemned him for.Luther left on April 26th, with the Diet still afraid condemning Luther would cause a rebellion. However, Charles signed an edict against Luther when he had gathered some support from those who remained, declared Luther and his supporters illegal, and ordered the writings burned. But Charles had calculated wrongly. The leaders of the empire who hadn’t been at the Diet, or who had already left, argued the edict did n’t have their support. Luther is Kidnapped. Sort of. As Luther fled back home, he was fake-kidnapped. He was actually taken to safety by troops working for Frederick, and he hid in Wartburg Castle for many months converting the New Testament into German. When he came out of hiding it was into a Germany where the Edict of Worms had failed, where many secular rulers acknowledged the support of Luther and his descendants were too strong to crush. Consequences of the Diet of Worms The Diet and the Edict had transformed the crisis from a theological, religious dispute into a political, legal and cultural one. Now it was princes and lords arguing over their rights as much as the finer points of church law. Luther would need to argue for many more years, his followers would divide the continent, and Charles V would retire exhausted by the world, but Worms ensured that the conflict was multi-dimensional, vastly harder to solve.   Luther was a hero to everyone who opposed the emperor, religious or not. Soon after Worms, the peasants would rebel in the German Peasant’s War, the conflict the princes had been keen to avoid, and these rebels would see Luther as a champion, on their side. Germany itself would divide into Lutheran and Catholic provinces, and later in the history of the Reformation Germany would be torn apart by the multi-faceted Thirty Years War, where secular issues would be no less important in complicating what was happening. In one sense Wor ms was a failure, as the Edict failed to stop the church dividing, in others it was a great success that has been said to have led to the modern world.

Issues in Contemporary Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Issues in Contemporary Business - Essay Example The way change is implemented and managed in an organization, such practice is known as organization change management.† (McNamara, n.d.) 1.3 Explanation Turner (2011) has explained that organizational change is generally referred to as that transformation through which a company goes as result of change in management, restructure, strategic orientation, development of new goals, merger of acquisition etc. Challenges which result from the events of organizational change have a ripple effect on the whole organization. According to Turner (2011), this happens because business units are completely integrated and therefore a change in one unit has a domino effect on the other units. Effectively managing this procedure is an art upon which a lot of consideration and expertise is provided so as to make it a new area of expertise known as Change Management. The process of change management is evolving due to changes in the preferences of customers, business landscapes, improved proces s and technologies etc. (Organizational Changes, n.d.) 1.4 Factors driving Changes and Innovations in Organizations Some primary drivers behind the process of organizational change include: Inadequate Financial Performance According to Soosay (2005), those companies which do not get able to meet their benchmarks of financial positions are compelled to examine their business processes and objectives. This is the major driver behind the organizational change. If a new competitor enters into the same industry having advanced technology or cheaper labor, companies those were formally ruling the market and enjoying prosperity can find that their market share is cannibalizing. A failure to maintain its position as a major competitor stresses the company to rethink and reformulate the resource disposition and opportunity cost of capital. (Soosay, 2005) Product Life Cycle Mecca (2004) state that when life cycle of a product comes to an end, companies are compelled to cut down the operating cost of production or prepare in order to get exit from the market. At this stage, many companies prefer in getting merged or acquired by larger companies. This leads to structural changes in which a company can either refocus on new business opportunities or maintain its profitability. Strategic Objectives Lloyd (1998) states that if a company prefers to change its strategic objectives then it also leads to change in entire organization for instance if a company plans to shift its focus from customer oriented to product oriented, then new business procedures and processes will be required to assist this re-orientation. This type of change can result in firing redundant staff and enhancing production process. Mergers and Acquisitions According to Govindarajan (2011), significant re-engineering and cost cutting is required when firms plan to consolidate its operations or getting merged with some other company. Significant challenges are developed when the companies integrate. These c hallenges force to streamline the operation of both the companies. (Govindarajan, 2011) New Technology Lloyd (1998) further states that significant driver of organization change can be the adoption of new technology. Consider an example of internet

Mechanical orientation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mechanical orientation - Essay Example III (2009), he averred that â€Å"according to HomeDoctor.net, a roofing nail has a diamond-shaped sharp tip to help it nail through decking without splitting it. That is why it is important to use roofing nails when doing a roofing job. Roofing nails are made of galvanized steel to protect them from the elements. When installing roofing nails always make sure the nail is flush to the shingle. A countersunk nail will rip the shingle, and a nail that is not completely nailed down will eventually work its way out† (par. 6). There are different lengths of nails to use depending on the roofing materials one is working on. For asphalt shingles, Root III indicated that â€Å"when installing asphalt shingles on felt only to any grade decking you should use 1-inch long roofing nails. When installing dimensional shingles to felt only, Roofhelp.com recommends you use 1 1/4-inch nails. If you are putting a layer of asphalt shingles over an existing layer of asphalt shingles on to a 3/4-inch deck or a plank deck then you should be using 1 1/2-inch nails. If your decking is less than 3/4 inch then a 1 1/2-inch nail will suffice. For dimensional shingles being installed over a layer of existing dimensional shingles you should always use a 1 1/2-inch roofing nail† (Root III, pars. 4 & 5). A rubber mallet is â€Å"a hammerlike tool with a head commonly of wood but occasionally of rawhide, plastic, etc., used for driving any tool with a wooden handle, as a chisel, or for striking a surface† (Dictionary.com, par. 1). Wallender identified the following uses of a rubber mallet, to wit: â€Å"for ceramic tile, it helps gently tap tile into place; laminate flooring: great for this brittle material; tap carpeting onto tacking strips; a â€Å"sounding device† if you need to hear what is behind a wall or in a pipe; PVC pipe work; and two tight-fitting sections of drywall† (Wallender, par.1), among others. According to needs, the rubber mallet come in different types and prices, such as the

Aristotle Virtue Ethics Essay Example for Free

Aristotle Virtue Ethics Essay One basic notion in Aristotelian ethics that occupies a central significance is Aristotle’s belief in the role of man’s activities in order for one to acquire ethical knowledge. That is, for one to become virtuous or to obtain virtues one should not merely confine himself to mere studying of these virtues but rather one should, more importantly, actualize this knowledge of the virtues. Thus, for one to become good, one should do good. Aristotle further stretches his ideas by proposing the doctrine of the mean. The essence of this doctrine dwells on the basic precept that one ought to avoid the extremes and, instead, settle for the â€Å"mean†. The actions of men, more specifically, ought to be framed upon the â€Å"mean† which is the virtue. For example, the virtue of courage rests on the mean between two extremes: cowardice or the â€Å"lack† of courage, and rashness or the â€Å"excess† in courage. It can easily be observed that Aristotle suggests that one should live a life that does not border on the things that are on the â€Å"most† and the â€Å"least† levels. For example, if I were to follow Aristotle’s ethics I should always see to it that I should consistently draw myself towards the middle value and avoid slanting towards cowardice and excess. All this could have been very well except for one small thing that I cannot seem to fully comprehend. How is it possible for one to ascertain that one is actually taking the middle path? Or how is it possible for one to know that this or that is the middle value or is the virtuous action? Perhaps the key in having an understanding to the notion of the â€Å"mean† is that one should act. That is, as I continually have these ideas as to what I must do when faced with an ethical situation or, at the least, an ordinary situation, I should nonetheless take the course of action so that I will be able to obtain a qualitative understanding that what I am doing is the â€Å"excess†. On the other hand, I will be having quite a rough time in acquiring the understanding as to whether the action that I am doing is virtuous if all that I do is to theorize and never let my theory be put into practice. Aristotle’s virtue ethics reminds me of Plato’s conception of ethics. For the most part of the Republic, Plato attempts to arrive at a conception of a just life by centering on the notion that the just life or that which is good is better than living a life molded on an evil framework and one which prompts individuals to act in an evil manner. At the onset of the Republic’s Book II, a conception of the idea of â€Å"justice† is advanced as the working of an individual in accordance to the role in which one is best suited as well as the belief for non-interference in the activities of others. In essence, this principle is closely related to Plato’s perspective on acting in accordance to one’s nature or intrinsic being which results to the state or condition of being â€Å"just† or acting justly once the individual acts in line to his very nature. Otherwise, if one begins to act beyond what his nature prescribes, then the individual begins to act in an unjust manner thereby resulting to â€Å"evil† actions (Plato and Kamtekar). While Aristotle insists that one should put into action the thought that one may have so as to have an understanding of the middle value that should be taken, Plato, on the other hand, suggests that one should simply go by with one’s nature so as not to be â€Å"evil†. If I were to choose which ethical precept would be better or would fit me best, I would rather be inclined to adopt Aristotle’s virtue ethics over the other because it offers me a chance to actualize myself through my actions and be guided accordingly. Whereas for Plato, what I am seeing is that I should get to know my self first before I act so that I can be good. But this cannot be met easily essentially because I find it quite difficult to know myself if I would not act first. In the light, if all the students in a certain class would build up a virtue like that of Aristotle’s point of view, the achievement of an environment which is formidably that built on the concept of philosophical and tremendously beneficial notions in life, the attainment of the virtue of goodness is towering in the highest hopes—although it eventually does not also undermine the concept of realism. Apparently, many may not stick on this kind of perception and ought to think that it is certainly not possible to achieve a life which is way beyond the bounds of a â€Å"not-so-good† life for that instance, but with the maximum height of human rationality, such may be given enough credit for the philosophers who believed in a life where â€Å"goodness comes in deeds† (Lannstrom). Work Cited Lannstrom, Anna. Loving the Fine: Virtue and Happiness in Aristotles Ethics. Indiana USA: University of Notre Dame Press, 2006. Plato, and R. Kamtekar. The Conventional View of Justice Developed. Trans. D. Lee. The Republic. 2 ed: Penguin Classics, 2003. 8-14.

Television Violence :: essays research papers

Television Violence The article â€Å"Television Violence: The Power and the Peril† is an article written by George Gerbner in 1994 that covers information about television violence over a period of twenty one years. Gerbner’s purpose in this article is to address the audience about the problems that exist in television today. This article covers a very big controversy that has brewed up in our society. The controversy is that there is way too much violence on television, and therefore it could be affecting the way that we think and act on a regular basis. In this article Gerbner presents the audience with poll results and statistics about what we actually see on television.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I thought Gerbner’s article was a very affective piece about television violence. Although I thought this article seemed to a little repetitive and confusing at times, I think Gerbner does a good job in presenting the audience with bunches of facts about what we are actually watching on our television. The most appealing thing about this article in my opinion is the fact that the study in this article was a study that took over twenty years. In twenty one years of research, someone can get a real feeling of what is actually happening. Gerbner is real effective in getting his point across about the abundance of violence on television. Cherry 2  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   First, I think Gerbner is most affective in this article with the facts and evidence from the Cultural Indicators project (CI), which began in 1967. This shows that â€Å"by 1994 its computer archive contained observations on 2,816 programs and 34,882 characters coded according to many thematic, demographic and action categories† (Gerbner 15). From this study they were able to break down characters in shows from their behavior, their ethnic background, or even their social status. This study shows that â€Å"average viewer of prime time television drama sees in a typical week an average of 21 criminals arrayed against an army of 41 public and private law enforcers. There are 14 doctors, 6 nurses, 6 lawyers, and 2 judges to handle them† (Gerbner 16). To go with these characters, there is â€Å"an average of 150 acts of violence and about 15 murders† (Gerbner 16) that happen every week.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gerbner’s article is also affective because he does not fail to leave anything out. Every counter argument that could be derived from this article, I think is covered by Gerbner. Television Violence :: essays research papers Television Violence The article â€Å"Television Violence: The Power and the Peril† is an article written by George Gerbner in 1994 that covers information about television violence over a period of twenty one years. Gerbner’s purpose in this article is to address the audience about the problems that exist in television today. This article covers a very big controversy that has brewed up in our society. The controversy is that there is way too much violence on television, and therefore it could be affecting the way that we think and act on a regular basis. In this article Gerbner presents the audience with poll results and statistics about what we actually see on television.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I thought Gerbner’s article was a very affective piece about television violence. Although I thought this article seemed to a little repetitive and confusing at times, I think Gerbner does a good job in presenting the audience with bunches of facts about what we are actually watching on our television. The most appealing thing about this article in my opinion is the fact that the study in this article was a study that took over twenty years. In twenty one years of research, someone can get a real feeling of what is actually happening. Gerbner is real effective in getting his point across about the abundance of violence on television. Cherry 2  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   First, I think Gerbner is most affective in this article with the facts and evidence from the Cultural Indicators project (CI), which began in 1967. This shows that â€Å"by 1994 its computer archive contained observations on 2,816 programs and 34,882 characters coded according to many thematic, demographic and action categories† (Gerbner 15). From this study they were able to break down characters in shows from their behavior, their ethnic background, or even their social status. This study shows that â€Å"average viewer of prime time television drama sees in a typical week an average of 21 criminals arrayed against an army of 41 public and private law enforcers. There are 14 doctors, 6 nurses, 6 lawyers, and 2 judges to handle them† (Gerbner 16). To go with these characters, there is â€Å"an average of 150 acts of violence and about 15 murders† (Gerbner 16) that happen every week.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gerbner’s article is also affective because he does not fail to leave anything out. Every counter argument that could be derived from this article, I think is covered by Gerbner.

Dell Computer Corporation Performance Metrics Essay

Every component of a corporate sustainability model should be associated with performance indicators such as inputs, processes, outputs, and outcomes. By determining the appropriate performance measures needed for each component of the sustainability model, companies can evaluate the performance and financial benefits of the sustainability initiatives. Dell Computer Corporation knew that balance is especially important in performance measurement and wanted to make a change to improve their reputation and also their consumer sales. The performance metrics that are most valuable to Dell from the inputs are mostly from the business context performance measures which include number and size of competition, diversity from competition, market size, and their competitive position within the industry should be the most important to them since they have so much competition in the industry (Epstein, 2008, p. 169). One way that I found through research that Dell has come up with to stay unique and making them competitive with their competition was by creating â€Å"the Dell Precision T5500 and T7500 which deliver up to 90 percent better multi-threaded digital content creation application performance versus previous generation systems† (Bolen, 2009). â€Å"The new systems are purpose-engineered for professionals in engineering, media, entertainment, biosciences, exploration, economic modeling and risk analysis† (Bolen, 2009). Dell feels that this will put them a step ahead of competition in the professional field. This is a great way for them to get ahead of technology and to be innovative. Having a sustainability strategy in place is a good step towards becoming a strong competitive organized company. Measuring the sustainability process is the next step to develop. Performance measures that I feel that Dell should be using are becoming a green office, having diversity in the workplace, costs for employees, inventory on hand and also creating on-going projects that entice employees causing a reduction in lost workdays (Epstein, 2008, p. 70). This combination of metrics is important to the value of any company. Dell also must control their performance measures that are tied into their outputs of their suitability performance. Some ideas that I feel that they should pay attention too are the number of plant closures they have, how they can generate business locally to support the community, how they use recycled materials, and how they can better their company though better sustainability issues protecting the environment (Epstein, 2008, p. 72). This is a main goal nowadays of any major organization. The outcomes of Dells suitability plans are the goal of long-term corporate financial performance using performance measures such as income and percentage of sales from green products, income from recycled products and recycled waste materials, costs from savings in energy costs, pollution costs and debt, as well as their return on investment form products they make (Epstein, 2008, p. 76). Thomas Meredith, former CFO for Dell, stated that â€Å"The balance between profitable growth and liquidity management is all about velocity (Meredith, 1998, para. 6). † He determined a formula using performance measures to determine the cash conversion cycle for Dell to use to be the most profitable. When Dell reduces the costs relative to the performance measures stated in the above paragraphs, they will result in higher profitability. The survival of Dell is making sure that they know how to navigate these performance measures using inputs, processes, outputs, and outcomes of their sustainability model. Dell must make sure that they continue to improve their goals and keep coming up with innovative and new suitability ideas while still benchmarking and measuring what works and doesn’t work for them in order to be able to change for success. Dell must continue to surpass the competition by continuing to develop new products that work well and provide a service to consumers that focus on the consumers and what they need and want. Dell will continue to perfect its sustainability systems, programs, and actions to succeed in the industry. They will continue to tailor their business in the direction of goals and train their employees to give the attention they must give customers to keep them coming back.

The Story of the Next Hour

It was Richards who had conversed with the doctors and, in veiled hints that revealed in half concealing, informed the others as to the heartbreaking truth of the tragedy. It was he too who dealt with the necessary arrangements for the body whilst the remainder of the house was engulfed in a storm of grief. With a paralysed inability to accept its significance, Brently sunk into the depths of the roomy armchair that stood facing the open window. With his face masked by his cupped hands he remained there, screening from the view of Josephine the vast sea of tears that overwhelmed his face, lest it distressed her further. Richards feeling for the vast loss of his dear friend, put his arm about his shoulder as if to try and ease away the pain that had woven itself to him. However he was instructed by Brently of his need to be left in solitude and with that he retired from the room. Pressed down with physical exhaustion, he hauled his burden away up the stairs towards the only room in the house where Louise's presence lived on as strong as ever. On seeing this, Josephine also took to her feet and fled from the house with a sudden wild abandonment after being caught up in the event of the last two hours. Louise had once been an elixir of life to Brently. He had lived for her and had idolised her every move with admiration. As he passed her body on his way to their room, his sanctuary, he was struck dumb with how life like her delicate body looked. Her cheeks still bloomed as they had done the day she had agreed to marry him, blushing with the same tint of cherry just as when white lilies are crowded with roses and take on their red. Her eyes too, such deep green, as green as all the oceans of Neptune, still bore her soul and it opened the door to his heart and melted it. As he reached the door of the bedroom he and Louise had shared together for what seemed only a few moments in the vastness of eternity, he was reminded of her sweet nature by the delicious breath of her sweet perfume that lingered in the air and as he passed across the room he was sure he heard her voice somewhere in the distance proclaiming the love she felt. There stood, facing the open window, he reminisced on times forgone, his face, whose lines now bespoke repression, wet with tears. And as he gazed out of the window upon the world carrying on around him he could see the leaves falling from the trees, amber, brown, gold, signifying the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new. Just at that moment a faint tapping was heard at the door and Brently heard Josephine imploring for admission. â€Å"Brently, Richards will go with Louise if you wish. Its time to say your farewells† Traversing the staircase down to the open door Brently collected himself. It was only yesterday that he had felt like Louise and him were falling apart and had begun to detach the bond they once had shared. He then thought to the future for the first time since the incident and with a shock revelation and the realisation that he was now free to venture forward on whatever path he so did choose, he composed himself for his life to come. Peering out of the doorway, Brently now became conscious of the reality that stood before him; this would be the final opportunity to gaze upon his wife. Having been hit by this sudden awareness of the situation, his sight became focused towards the horse drawn cart preparing to draw away. Within a moment however, overcome with grief at this pivotal point in his life, he remained content with sharing in her presence alone and was left with a less desirous wish to fix his eyes upon her fragile body lest the pain be overbearing. To see her lying there, motionless and with her lifeblood drained from within would have been too shattering and the thought of letting her go too unbearable for contemplation. Having collected himself once more for the events, which were to follow, with a word of thanks to Richards for his assistance in the affairs of the day, he embraced the companion whom he valued so dearly, the companion who had relieved the ache that was trapped within his heart. â€Å"Take care of her for me† † I would do nothing less† With this Richards picked up his gripsack and boarded the cart. Silence surrounded them as the cart pulled away and grief tortured those who would carry the burden around with them forever, but within the cart Richards and Louise rejoiced in the happiness that lay before them and with minimal thought for the grief they had left behind they turned the corner, both in the road and in the winding passage of life.

Discuss the pathogenesis of measles virus infection The WritePass Journal

Discuss the pathogenesis of measles virus infection Conclusion Discuss the pathogenesis of measles virus infection IntroductionInfection and SpreadSymptomsSubacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE)VaccinationConclusionRelated Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Introduction Measles virus (MV) is a member of the paramyxovirus family and has a single stranded RNA genome.   The viral genome encodes for six structural proteins: Haemagglutin (H), Fusion (F), Nucleoprotein (N), Phosphoprotein (P), Large (L) polymerase protein, and Matrix (M) protein and two non-structural proteins: C and V (Griffin,   2010). The structure of the virus is shown below.  Ã‚   Fig 1.   The structure of the Measles virus Ref:microbiologybytes.com/virology/Paramyxoviruses.html The majority of measles cases occur in children and in those who are fit and healthy, results in life long immunity without complications.   Measles virus has been eliminated in the western world since 2000 through an efficient vaccine programme, however, it is a different scenario in developing countries were deaths arise due to lack of vaccine administration and malnourishment of children (Fontana et al, 2008).  Ã‚   For example in 2008, 164 000 people died from measles virus of these 95% were in low-income countries (www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286/en/).   Although infection with MV produces an efficient immune response that is maintained for the rest of the individuals life, it also results in a transient state of immunosuppression that can last for several weeks.   This leaves the patient susceptible to secondary infections by opportunistic pathogens which account for the majority of measles associated deaths (Sevet-Delprat   et al, 2000).  Ã‚   The exact me chanism of the immunosuppression is still unknown however many theories have been suggested. Infection and Spread The MV is spread through aerosol transmission in the cough or sneeze of an infected person.   The virus is extremely contagious and can remain in the air or on a surface for up to two hours (Stalkup, 2002).   The route of entry for the virus is through the respiratory tract and once infected, the virus will incubate for an average of 10-12 days before any symptoms are seen.   Infection is initiated by the attachment of the H protein to the host cell receptors, which results in the fusion of the envelope of the virus with the host cell membrane.   This fusion of membranes causes the release of viral RNA into the host cell cytoplasm.   After the RNA has replicated, using host cell machinery, new virus particles are assembled using the M protein and bud from the host cell membrane to infect other susceptible cells (Swart, 2008).   The host cell receptors for the measles virus are CD46, a complement regulatory protein that is found on all nucleated cells and the Signalling Ly mphocytic Activation Molecule (SLAM/CD150) which is found on the surface of both T and B lymphocytes as well as macrophages and mature Dendritic cells (DC) (Yanagi et al, 2006).   In vitro studies have found that vaccine strains of the measles virus use CD46 and SLAM as their receptor however wild-type MV only recognizes CD150 (Ferreira et al, 2010).   There has been some debate over the exact cell that is involved in the initial infection with MV.   It had previously been thought that the virus infected epithelial cells lining the nasopharynx (Stalkup   et al, 2002) however more recent studies have shown that these cells do not bear the MV receptors SLAM which facilitate wild-type viral infection therefore further studies are required to identify this unknown receptor .   It has been suggested that alveolar macrophages and DC lining the respiratory tract are the initial cells involved in measles infection.  Ã‚   This was demonstrated in a study using mice that expressed humanized SLAM.   These mice were infected intranasally with wild type measles virus expressing green fluorescent protein.   The nasal associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) was then extracted from these mice at different time points (1,2 or 3 days).   Results showed that alveolar macrophages were the first cells to be infected by the measles virus and not the epithelial cells (Ferreira et al, 2010). DC’s are the main antigen presenting cells of the immune system and are used by other viruses to infect lymphocytes for (example the HIV virus) (Witte et al, 2008).   Therefore DC may provide an important route of transport for MV to secondary lymphoid tissue.   The role of DCs in measles infection is further indicated by the identification of DC-SIGN which is an accessory receptor that has been identified on MV susceptible cells and is thought to assist MV infection of CD150 expressing DCs (Yanagi, 2006).   Furthermore, large numbers of DC-SIGN positive DCs have been found to be present in the epithelium of the respiratory tract which demonstrates their potential primary role in MV infection of (Ludlow et al, 2010 ; Witte et al, 2008). An alternative theory is that epithelial cells are infected in the latter stages of infection by lymphoid cells facilitating viral spread by the respiratory route.   This would mean that epithelial cells are infected at the basolateral cell surface rather than the apical surface.   This was demonstrated by a study that looked at mutated MV strains that could not bind to the as yet unidentified Epithelial Cell receptor (EpR) but could still recognise the SLAM receptor.   Results showed that the macaques developed the rash but could not shed the virus which suggests that the EpR is a basolaterally expressed protein that is important for the spread of the virus at the infective stage (Leonard, et al, 2008).   A study by Ludlow (2010) supported these findings by showing that wild type MV could not infect primary columnar epithelial cells by the apical surface further demonstrating the potential role of epithelial cells in latter stages of infection rather than initial stages as p reviously thought. In response to viral infection the innate immune system responds by producing inflammatory cytokines to protect cells from viral infection.   These cytokines include type 1 interferons (IFN) such as   IFNÃŽ ± and ÃŽ ² which are induced in response to RNA viruses.   IFNs induce an anti-viral state in neighbouring cells and increase the expression of class 1 Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules on the infected cell surface which will present the viral antigens to CD8+ T cells.   CD8+ T cells clear the infection by cytotoxic T cell mediated killing of the infected cell (Abbas Ltchtman, 2005).   To overcome these host cell defences, viruses have ways to evade the immune system.   MV virus protein V and C have been shown to downregulate IFN production in vitro and this includes both attenuated and wild type strains (Fontana et al, 2008).   Through the inhibition of the proinflammatory cytokines MV can infect more host cells.   MV may also use the innate immune system to enhance viral spread and pathogenesis by using Toll like receptors (TLRs) which are found on the surfaces of cells that activate the immune system by recognising bacterial and viral pathogens.   The binding of TRL2 on human monocytes by MV H protein has been shown to induce production of interleukin 6 (IL-6) which upregulates expression of SLAM the primary receptor for MV (Beiback et al, 2002). Once the virus is picked up by antigen presenting cells it is carried to the secondary lymphatic tissue were it can replicate in T cell, B cells and activated monocytes with lymphocytes being the main target cell of MV infection (de Swart et al, 2007).   These infected cells can be seen in the blood 7-9 days after infection (Griffin, 2010).   It is thought that through these infected lymphoid cells that the virus is able to infect epithelial and endothelial cells lining organs including the liver, brain and skin (Moench et al, 1988).   In order for MV to infect these organs it must overcome these endothelial cell barriers.  Ã‚   It has been shown in cell culture that wild type MV infection may infect endothelial cells by increasing the expression and activation of leukocyte integrins which bring infected T cells into close contact with these cells leading to their infection (Dittmar et al, 2008). Symptoms The initial symptoms of MV are very similar to those of the flu including runny nose, conjunctivitis and cough which is accompanied by a fever of 104-1050F that lasts up to 4 days (Stalkup, 2002).   The characteristic feature of MV is the red rash that appears beginning on the face and behind the ears, which spreads to the rest of the body (please see Fig 2 below).   During this time the person is highly contagious and remains so until the rash disappears (www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/download/meas.pdf). Fig 2 shows a child with an extensive rash caused by the Measles virus. Ref: vaccineinformation.org/measles/photos.asp Small white spots known as Koplik spots may also be seen in the inside the mouth which is a diagnostic indicator of measles and appear one day before the rash (Perry Halsey, 2004). The appearance of the rash is due to the immune systems attack of the systemic infection of epithelial cells and biopsies of the rash have shown infiltration of CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes in the rhesus monkey (Permur et al, 2003). An individual who in infected with measles virus will recover within about 10-14 days but may remain vulnerable to secondary infections including pneumonia and diarrhoea for a few weeks.  Ã‚   This was first noted by von Pirquet who noticed that individuals recently infected with the MV failed to respond to the tuberculin skin test and this has led to many studies into the reasons for this immune suppression (Griffin et al, 1994). One reason for the immunosuppression seen after a measles infection is the switch from a T helper 1 (Th1) CD4 response to a T helper 2 (Th2) CD4 response.   Initial MV infection results in the production of a Th1 response which is necessary to eliminate the pathogen and is marked by increased production of IFNÃŽ ³ however as the rash is cleared this changes to a Th2 response which is important in the production of measles specific antibodies (Moss et al, 2004).   Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 have been shown to be elevated for weeks in those who have had MV (Moss et al, 2002).   IL-10 suppresses the immune system by inhibiting lymphocyte proliferation and macrophage activation therefore may have a key role in failure to generate a Th1 response after MV infection (Sato et al, 2008). IL-12 is primarily produced by activated macrophages and DCs and has a pivotal role in the generation of a cell mediated immune response as well as directing CD4+ T cells to differentiate into Th1 cells (Abbas Lichtman, 2005).   Studies have shown that MV infection of DCs inhibits IL-12 production which would lead to an environment favouring a Th2 cell response (Servert-Delprat et al, 2000).   Furthermore peripheral blood monocytic cells taken from patients with measles have been shown to have a prolonged decrease in IL-12 (Atabani et al, 2001).   Stimulation of DCs through TLR4 also results in inhibition of IL-12 in mice expressing human SLAM receptor (Hahm et al, 2007). As lymphocytes are the main targets for MV infection and replication the immunosuppression seen after infection may be due to as decrease in circulating lymphocytes.   However, studies have shown that lymphocyte numbers quickly return to normal levels and therefore cannot account for the immune suppression seen weeks after infection (Griffin, 2010). Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE) SSPE is a rare neurological complication of MV infection that affects 1 in a million measles cases although there is an increased risk with children infected with the measles virus before age 2 and males more than females (Norrby Kristensson, 1997).   The characteristic symptoms of SSPE are deterioration of mental and motor functions as a result of destruction of brain tissue.   These symptoms typically begin to manifest 7-10 years after primary viral infection and ultimately result in death within 2 years (Stalkup, 2002).   Patients with SSPE have high levels of measles specific antibody circulating in their blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) yet the virus is not eliminated (Barrero et al, 2003).   It is thought that the virus mutates inside the neurons which allows it to evade the immune system however these mutations may alter the host cells leading to the generation of the immune response (Gutierrez et al, 2010).   However the mechanism by which neurons are infected i s still unknown as no receptors have been identified.   There is no cure for SSPE although treatment of individuals with Interferon ÃŽ ± and Isoprinosine has been shown to slow down the progression of symptoms in some individuals (Gascon et al, 1993). Vaccination The first MV vaccine was produced in the 1960s which was formalin-inactivated with alum.   This vaccine produced a condition known as atypical measles which resulted in some individuals experiencing symptoms which were often worse than wild-type measles, when they came into contact with someone who had measles (deSwart, 2008).   In 1963, Enders measles vaccine was developed which was a live attenuated vaccine (Stalkup, 2002).   This vaccine is grown in cell culture fibroblasts from chicken embryos and is unable to produce its full pathogenic effect but induces an adequate life long immune response (PÏ‹tz et al, 2003).   The measles vaccine has resulted in a 99% fall in the number of measles cases that were previously seen annually in the United States (Stalkup, 2002).   MV could potentially be irradicated but this is dependent on high vaccine coverage.   The World Health Organization (WHO) has a policy in place which has set a goal of reducing the death rate from MV in children under 5 by 2015 (who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286).   MV infection can also lead to blindness in children who are Vitamin A deficient and the WHO have recommended that all children with measles are given vitamin A supplementation to combat blindness (Semba and Bloem, 2004). The measles vaccine is part of the Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine that is given in two doses.   The vaccine is administered intramuscularly and the first injection is given to children around 13 months (nhs.uk/conditions/mmr/Pages/Introduction.aspx).   The vaccine is not given before this age because these children will have maternal antibodies which would interfere with the vaccine and not generate an appropriately high enough immune response (Moss et al, 2004).   A second dose of the MMR vaccine is given to preschool children as a booster as 2-5% of individuals fail to produce an appropriate protective immunity to the first inoculation (cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/combo-vaccines/mmr/faqs-mmr-hcp.htm).   New methods of delivery of MMR vaccine have been investigated such as the use of aerosol vaccine which would mimic natural measles infection and the use of DNA vaccine administration.   Aerosol vaccine has been found to generate an effective immune response that is equal to that of the currently used vaccine and may also overcome the interference from maternal antibodies however clinical trials are still in progress (Heno-Restrepo et al, 2009). Furthermore, trials into the use of DNA vaccines have proposed a potential to vaccinate children as young as four months (Pasetti et al, 2009). The MMR vaccine has been in the public eye for many years as a result of a paper by Wakefield and colleagues in 1998 which claimed that there was a link between the administration of the MMR vaccine and the development of autism (Farrington et al, 2001).   Many studies have been carried out to either prove or disprove this study as these claims led to fear amongst parents regarding vaccination of their children and uptake fell to 80% between 2003 and 2004 as a result of this (Bedford Ellimen, 2010).   As stated in the introduction MV is so contagious even a minor drop in vaccine coverage can lead to a large number of cases.   In 2010 after an extensive investigation by the General Medical council it was finally confirmed that the paper by Wakefield was unfounded (Godlee et al, 2001). Conclusion Although cases of MV are rarely seen in this country it results in the death of many children in the developing countries.   Currently vaccination is given at 13 months of age however many studies are ongoing that could potentially provide a vaccine that could be administered earlier resulting in children being protected earlier and limiting hosts for the virus.   Furthermore, malnutrition is one of the major contributing factors in the deaths from measles virus, tackling this problem would also decrease the mortality rate.   As stated above MV poses a problem in that infection generates a life long immune response but also leaves the host susceptible to secondary infections. The exact mechanism for this is not yet known therefore more work is needed to answer this problem and potentially combat this immune suppression. /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;}

Biography of Frances Willard, Temperance Leader

Biography of Frances Willard, Temperance Leader Frances Willard (September 28, 1839–February 17, 1898) was one of the best-known and most influential women of her day and headed  the Womens Christian Temperance Union from 1879 to 1898. She was also the first dean of women at Northwestern University.  Her image  appeared on a 1940 postage stamp and she was the  first woman represented in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol Building. Fast Facts: Frances Willard Known For: Womens rights and temperance leaderAlso Known As: Frances Elizabeth Caroline Willard, St. FrancesBorn: September 28, 1839 in Churchville, New YorkParents: Josiah Flint Willard, Mary Thompson Hill WillardDied: February 17, 1898 in New York CityEducation: Northwestern Female CollegePublished Works:  Woman and temperance, or the work and workers of the Womans Christian Temperance Union, Glimpses of fifty years: The autobiography of an American woman, Do everything: A handbook for the worlds white ribboners, How to Win: A Book for Girls, Woman in the Pulpit, A Wheel within a Wheel: How I Learned to Ride the BicycleAwards and Honors:  Namesake for many schools and organizations; named to the National Womens Hall of FameNotable Quote: If women can organize missionary societies, temperance societies, and every kind of charitable organization...why not permit them to be ordained to preach the Gospel and administer the sacraments of the Church? Early Life Frances Willard was born on September 28, 1839, in Churchville, New York, a farming community. When she was 3, the family moved to Oberlin, Ohio, so that her father could study for the ministry at Oberlin College. In 1846 the family moved again, this time to Janesville, Wisconsin, for her fathers health. Wisconsin became a state in 1848, and Josiah Flint Willard, Frances father, was a member of the legislature. There, while Frances lived on a family farm in the West, her brother was her playmate and companion. Frances Willard dressed as a boy and was known to friends as Frank. She preferred to avoid womens work such as housework, preferring more active play. Frances Willards mother had also been educated at Oberlin College, in a time when few women studied at the college level. Frances mother educated her children at home until the town of Janesville established its own schoolhouse in 1883. Frances, in her turn, enrolled in the Milwaukee Seminary, a respected school for women teachers. Her father wanted her to transfer to a Methodist school, so Frances and her sister Mary went to Evanston College for Ladies in Illinois. Her brother studied at Garrett Biblical Institute in Evanston, preparing for the Methodist ministry. Her entire family moved at that time to Evanston.  Frances graduated in 1859 as valedictorian.   Romance? In 1861, Frances got engaged to Charles H. Fowler, then a divinity student, but she broke off the engagement the next year despite pressure from her parents and brother.  She wrote later in her autobiography, referring to her own journal notes at the time of the breaking of the engagement, In 1861 to 62, for three-quarters of a year I wore a ring and acknowledged an allegiance based on the supposition that an intellectual comradeship was sure to deepen into a unity of heart. How grieved I was over the discovery of my mistake the journals of that epoch could reveal.  She was, she said in her journal at the time, afraid of her future if she did not marry, and she was unsure shed find another man to marry. Her autobiography reveals that there was a real romance of my life, saying that she would be glad to have it known only after her death, for I believe it might contribute to a better understanding between good men and women.  It may be that her romantic interest was in a teacher who she describes in her journals; if so, the relationship may have been broken up by the jealousy of a female friend. Teaching Career Frances Willard taught at a variety of institutions for almost 10 years, while her diary records her thinking about womens rights and what role she could play in the world in making a difference for women. Frances Willard went on a world tour with her friend Kate Jackson in 1868 and returned to Evanston to become head of Northwestern Female College, her alma mater under its new name. After that school merged into Northwestern University as the Womans College of that university, Frances Willard was appointed Dean of Women of the Womans College in 1871 and a professor of Aesthetics in the Universitys Liberal Arts college. In 1873, she attended the National Womens Congress and made connections with many womens rights activists on the East Coast. Womens Christian Temperance Union By 1874, Willards ideas had clashed with those of the university president, Charles H. Fowler, the same man to whom she had been engaged in 1861. The conflicts escalated, and in March 1874, Frances Willard chose to leave the university.  She had become involved in temperance work and accepted the job of president of the Chicago Womens Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). She became the corresponding secretary of the Illinois WCTU in October of that year. The following month while attending the national WCTU convention as a Chicago delegate, she became the corresponding secretary of the national WCTU, a position that required frequent travel and speaking. From 1876, she also headed up the WCTU publications committee. Willard was also associated briefly with evangelist Dwight Moody, although she was disappointed when she realized he only wanted her to speak to women. In 1877, she resigned as president of the Chicago organization. Willard had come into some conflict with national WCTU president Annie Wittenmyer over Willards push to get the organization to endorse woman suffrage as well as temperance, and so Willard also resigned from her positions with the national WCTU. Willard began lecturing for woman suffrage. In 1878, Willard won the presidency of the Illinois WCTU, and the next year, she became president of the national WCTU, following Annie Wittenmyer. Willard remained president of the national WCTU until her death. In 1883, Frances Willard was one of the founders of the Worlds WCTU. She supported herself with lecturing until 1886, when the WCTU granted her a salary. Frances Willard also participated in the founding of the National Council of Women in 1888 and served one year as its first president. Organizing Women As head of the first national organization in America for women, Frances Willard endorsed the idea that the organization should do everything. That meant to work not only for temperance, but also for womens suffrage, social purity (protecting young girls and other women sexually by raising the age of consent, establishing rape laws, holding male customers equally responsible for prostitution violations, etc.), and other social reforms. In fighting for temperance, she depicted the liquor industry as ridden with crime and corruption. She described men who drank alcohol as victims for succumbing to the temptations of liquor. Women, who had few legal rights to divorce, child custody, and financial stability, were described as the ultimate victims of liquor. But Willard did not see women primarily as victims. While coming from a separate spheres vision of society and valuing womens contributions as homemakers and child educators as equal to mens in the public sphere, she also promoted womens right to choose to participate in the public sphere. She endorsed womens right to become ministers and preachers as well. Frances Willard remained a staunch Christian, rooting her reform ideas in her faith. She disagreed with the criticism of religion and the Bible by other suffragists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, though Willard continued to work with such critics on other issues. Racism Controversy In the 1890s, Willard tried to gain support in the white community for temperance by raising fears that alcohol and black mobs were a threat to white womanhood.  Ida B. Wells, the great anti-lynching advocate, had shown by documentation that most lynchings were defended by such myths of attacks on white women, while the motivations were usually instead economic competition. Lynch denounced Willards comments as racist and debated her on a trip to England in 1894. Significant Friendships Lady Somerset of England was a close friend of Frances Willard, and Willard spent time at her home resting from her work. Anna Gordon was Willards private secretary and her living and traveling companion for her last 22 years. Gordon succeeded to the presidency of the Worlds WCTU when Frances died. She mentions a secret love in her diaries, but it was never revealed who the person was. Death While preparing to leave for New England in New York City, Willard contracted influenza and died on February 17, 1898. (Some sources point to pernicious anemia, the source of several years of ill health.) Her death was met with national mourning: flags in New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago were flown at half-staff, and thousands attended services where the train with her remains stopped on its way back to Chicago and her burial in Rosehill Cemetery. Legacy A rumor for many years was that Frances Willards letters had been destroyed by her companion Anna Gordon at or before Willards death.  But her diaries, though lost for many years, were rediscovered in the 1980s in a cupboard at the Frances E. Willard Memorial Library at the Evanston headquarters of the NWCTU.  Also found there were letters and many scrapbooks that had not been known until then.  Her journals and diaries number 40 volumes, which has provided a wealth of primary resource material for biographers.  The journals cover her younger years (age 16 to 31) and two of her later years (ages 54 and 57). Sources â€Å"Biography.†Ã‚  Frances Willard House Museum Archives.The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. â€Å"Frances Willard.†Ã‚  Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, 14 Feb. 2019.

PEST Analysis of Pizza Hut Inc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

PEST Analysis of Pizza Hut Inc - Essay Example A PEST analysis has been conducted to assess the international marketing environment of the firm. The next section covers the international promotional decisions the firm makes to be a global brand. Pizza Hut’s international market entry strategies are covered in the next portion which illustrates how it assesses the market before it enters it so that it can modify itself accordingly. The international segmentation strategies are then highlighted to show how the firm segments its international market. Lastly, the market research methods of the firm are discussed to show how the firm understands the market it enters and survives in. Pizza Hut and other fast-food chains like McDonald's have been accused of causing obesity due to their calorie contained products which are making nations fat and it seems like the issue will be a national issue and concern (BBC, 2007). Legal actions have been taken against competitors like McDonald's, however, Pizza Hut has been saved from the nega tive image building for now, however, it will have its trickle-down effect and soon legal actions would be taken against the brand too(Dev and Don, 2005). To avoid this, the firm is incorporating healthier meals in its menu which are less in calories but it has not been able to do it on a large scale. However, for now, governments have not been involved to put legal restrictions on fast-food chains but this is becoming increasingly likely and the firm should take action to protect itself. The strategy of introducing healthy meal options should be applied globally so that the firm can be proactive and be saved from government restrictions and legal involvements (BBC, 2007).