International Game Technology IGT Essay Example for Free

International Game Technology IGT Essay International Game Technology (IGT) Introduction            The short term and long-term debt for International Game Technology as at 31st March 2014 stand at $ 1,426,400 and $ 1,760,500 respectively. The total liabilities for the company sum up to 3,186,900. This information is generated from the company quarterly report. The market value of equity of IGT is $ 3.98B and the outstanding share is $ 24M.            The debt ratio helps a company compare its total debt to total liability and equity. This ratio is used by the company to have the general notion as to the value of leverage being applied by a company. A lower value implies that the business is less reliable on borrowed funds. The less the ratio or leverage the business is applying, the stronger is the equity position of the company (Tamari, 1978). On the other hand, the bigger the ratio the higher the risk the business considered to have invested on. Debt to equity ratio is less the same as debt ratio. This is another gearing ratio that compares the business liabilities to its outstanding shareholders’ equity (Tamari, 1978). The same case with debt ratio, a lower value implies that the business is applying less borrowed fund and the better is its equity stand.            Therefore, in both case I consider these ratios too large for the IGT Company. It implies that the company is highly exposed to risk such as creditors’ lack of confidence with the company and increase in interest rates. IGT Company should consider paying off its debt. It can raise capital for paying debt by issuing more stock.            Among the three companies, IGT Company has the highest debt to equity ratio. The company may have opted for this approach in order to benefit from deductible interest tax and build the credit for the business. This approach will also ensure maintaining completely ownership of the company. The challenges with issuing large amount of stock means those shares outstanding of the company become more diluted and the current investors earn smaller ownership fraction with every extra share issued (Wiehle, 2005).            On the other hand, Multimedia Games Holdings has the lowest debt to equity ratio. It might have opted for this option in order to enables it investors raise capital without facing debt. This will allow the company owners to concentrate on making their outputs more profitable instead of paying back to lenders. Multimedia Games Holdings may have also opted for this approach to allow the company owners and investors to create a long-term association throughout the lifetime of the business. According to Wiehle (2005), the cash flow for the company will be utilized on investments instead of paying interest and outstanding debts. Moreover, this compare can be termed as a small company if you compare it with the other two companies; hence, it might have opted for this method for the fear that it will face liquidity issues and fail to pay its outstanding debts (Wiehle, 2005). References Tamari, M. (1978). Financial ratios: analysis and prediction. London: P. Elek. Wiehle, U. (2005). 100 IFRS financial ratios (1. ed.). Wiesbaden: Cometis AG. Source document

Prejudice and Racial Segregation on Campus Essays -- Sociology Racism

Racial Segregation on Campus      Ã‚  Ã‚   The practice of ethnic separation and segregation is common on every college and university campus. Since this practice has happened through history, it is remarkable that this has only been recognized recently as a true problem (Jacobs, 2). Segregation has hampered America as long as it has existed. Ethnicity and segregation was nearly the cause of this country splitting apart during the Civil War. Since then reformation and hard work has attempted to bring unity to this country. Though today, college students have regressed, university pupils are "standing by" their own and are not branching out to those who are unlike them in ethnicity. People in general, but more specifically college students are segregated in their lives ( Kramer, 12). From the way they act, what they do or do not do, the type of people they socialize with, to where people sit - students are split. College students group together as a result of ethnicity at events and establishments or locations on university campuses.    Let me explain where I am coming from,so you may understand my aim in writing this article. In order for people to understand or realize the issue at hand, I first wanted to explain the explain the problem. Because these happenings effect you the reader along with most people in our society. Then I would like to give you examples of the issue in ways you can relate to it. I wanted to put the issue on a real level for you, which I initially attempted in the opening paragraph. Following that I will attempt to illustrate why this subject is relevant to our society and important to you. This is a topic in which I feel very deeply about, so what I am writing is real, worth reading, and is for you. ... ...: McGraw - hill, 1997. * Higher Learning. Videocassette. John Singleton. Columbia Pictures, VHS. 120 min., 1994. * Howe, Jeff. " Race Divides...". Link, The College Magazine. New York : College Television Network., pg 18-25. 1998. * Jacobs, Jerry A. "Gender, Race, and Ethnic Segregation Between and within Colleges." Pennsylvania : University of Pennsylvania, Department of Sociology, 1996. Available: http://av.yahoo.com/bin/query?p=ethnic+segregation+in+colleges&b=21&hsO * Kramer, Martin, and stephen S. Weiner. Dialogues for diversity : community and ethnicity on campus. Phoenix, Ariz. : Oryx Press, 1994. * Orfield, Gary. Dismantling desegregation : the quit reversal of Brown vs. Board of Education. New York: W.W. norton & Company, 1996. * Myers, Samuel L. Desegregation in higher education. Washington, D.C. : University Press of America, 1988.

McDonald’s Corporation (MCD) Essay

Introduction McDonald’s Corporation (MCD) is the world’s largest chain of fast food restaurants, serving nearly 47 million customers daily. McDonald’s primarily sells hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken products, french fries, breakfast items, soft drinks, milkshakes and desserts. More recently, it has begun to offer salads, wraps and fruit. Many McDonald’s restaurants have included a playground for children and advertising geared toward children, and some have been redesigned in a more ‘natural’ style, with a particular emphasis on comfort: introducing lounge areas and fireplaces, and eliminating hard plastic chairs and tables. Each McDonald’s restaurant is operated by a franchisee, an affiliate, or the corporation itself. The corporations’ revenues come from the rent, royalties and fees paid by the franchisees, as well as sales in company operated restaurants. McDonald’s revenues grew 27% over the three years ending in 2007 to $22.8 billion, and 9% growth in operating income to $3.9 billion. McDonalds’s success is the result of superior products, high standards of performance, distinctive competitive strategies and the high integrity of our people. Approximately 85% of McDonald’s restaurant businesses world-wide are owned and operated by franchisees .All franchisees are independent, full-time operators. McDonalds Vision Mission Statement and Values * Vision: To be the best & leading fast food providers around the globe. * Mission: To be the world’s best quick service restaurant experience. Being the best means providing outstanding quality, service, cleanliness, and value, so that we make every customer in every restaurant smile.† * Values: Our values summarized in â€Å"Q.S.C & V†. Provide good quality, services to customer . Have cleanliness environment when customer enjoys their meal .The value of food product makes every customer is smiling. Management structure Managing Director Head of MarketingDirector of FinanceHuman Resource head Accounts Manager Senior marketing executiveFinance managerEmployees Marketing executive Brand ManageResearch & Development officer Assistant Brand Manager Customer service managerProduct Development Sales managerMarket research TeamCompensation officer Branch managerRecruitment & Selection Training & Development Branch employees Porters Five Forces(in reference to McDonalds) Competitive rivalry According to Porter’s Five Forces Model, if entry into a market is easy then rivalry is likely to be high. Considering McDonald’s competitive rivalry, there is intense competition in fast food industry that many small fast food businesses fight with each other to improve their customer base. This makes a competition the major focus between businesses. Although, McDonald’s, with more than 32,000 local restaurants serving more than 60 million people in 117 countries each day, has a number of fast food outlet competitors across the countries such as Burger King, Taco Bell, KFC, Wendy’s, it is currently the leader of the industry in market capitalization with a cap of $39.31 billion. The Threat of new entrants The threat of new entrants in the fast food industry is high because there are no legal barriers which would keep them from entering the industry. The economies of scale and the access of the distribution are the major barriers that firms face in the industry. Firms must spend a large amount of capital on advertising and marketing in order to enjoy successful existence and long life of a fast food outlet. Large established companies with strong brand names such as McDonald’s make it more difficult to enter the market because new entrants are faced with price competition from existing chain restaurants. Thus, it takes a pretty much time for a new business to establish in the fast food industry. Supplier bargaining power The bargaining power of suppliers of McDonald’s is high because McDonald’s restaurants use the same products from the same suppliers and it doesn’t matter if you are in Rochester, MN or Beijing, China you can get the same Big Mac everywhere. This is a feature McDonald’s want to keep going on by encouraging consistency among its restaurants. Supplying these products to McDonald’s across the globe is the whole business for the suppliers and, however, if McDonald’s would lose even one supplier it would have to change one or more of its product lines and perhaps the whole menu what the McDonald’s customers were used to. This gives the suppliers of McDonald’s a high bargaining power. Buyer bargaining power Bargaining power of customers of McDonald’s is low because of low customer switching costs which are nearly zero; however, for example, one-fifth of the USA population eats in a fast food restaurant every day. Thus, fast food industry does not worry about customers’ loyalty. Fast food products industry is differentiated which are usually or almost always promoted by advertising – that is because of a vast competition between fast food firms Furthermore, if the fast food industry does not match the demands of the buyers and the general consumer trends, then the buyers can choose not to buy their product and convince others to do the same. A good example of this is the movie ‘Super Size Me’. It is a movie showing an ordinary consumer trying to live of McDonalds fast food, and the purpose of the movie was to see what the traditional fast food from McDonalds could do to your health if you were to eat their products for every meal. This movie shows what the buyers possible reactions could be if not satisfied or not being pleased. The reactions from the whole market were a large change in consumer preferences and brand preferences. The Threat of Substitutes With so many firms in the fast food industry with low switching costs, vide variety of similar products that people can chose, and healthier alternatives, the threat of substitutes is very high.As there is intense competition between rival sellers in the fast food industry, the competition between firms selling substitute products is intense as well. One very important issue is that the customer always tends to find another product comparable or better in terms of the quality of fast food products. Another thing is that fast food industry is unhealthy to its customers’ health. The majority of the public think that fast food restaurants primarily serve high in fat content foods which are unhealthy and as a consequence they tend to look elsewhere for healthier alternatives. While fast food products are not always associated with health and quality, fast food restaurants keeps a major advantage over other firms selling substitute products through the lower prices of their products and a quick, convenient service. Competitive Profile Matrix The above matrix re-establishes McDonald’s supremacy in the fast food market. * Pricing: McDonalds certainly gets an edge on the pricing front. Its competitors like Wendy’s are rapidly proliferating high-quality burger chains like Five Guys. Wendy’s has more premium products on its menu and therefore is relatively highly priced. The line â€Å"apke zamane mein baap ke zamane kaa daam† reinforces pricing edge enjoyed by McDonalds. They follow the value based pricing strategy * Financial Position: Wendy’s sales as in 2011 was 8.5 billion dollars closely competing with Burger King at 8.4 billion dollars. However McDonalds total sales were 27 billion dollars that is more than three times of its competitors. * Advertisement : McDonalds spends on an average 6 percent of its sales on advertisement. Slogans like â€Å"I am loving it† are really catchy and every McDonalds customer can associate with it. Also McDonalds can be seen using a marketing mixture by being there as a sponsor for Olympics to TV advertisement. However McDonalds generally doesn’t use print media. * Market Share: McDonalds market share is much more than its competitors and all the above factors such as pricing, quality, marketing strategy have played their role in this. * Global Expansion: McDonalds high sales are a result of its global expansion. McDonalds has its presence in 119 countries and serves 68 million customers daily which is way more than any of its competitors. Since its inception, McDonalds has consistently emphasized on restaurant operations procedures, service, quality and cleanliness. Here are a few milestones which the firm accomplished: 1. Hamburger University: It is a training facility which was designed to instruct personnel employed by McDonald’s in the various aspects of restaurant management. More than 80,000 restaurant managers, mid-managers and owner/operators have graduated from this facility. It is also located in Shanghai, China. 2. The Big Mac: The Big Mac was created by Jim Delligatti, who was operating several restaurants in the Pittsburgh area.It was introduced in 1967. The sandwich was so popular that it was added to the menu of all the U.S restaurants by 1968. 3. Happy Meal: A Happy Meal is a form of kids’ meal specifically marketed at childrensince June 1979. A toy is typically included with the food, both of which are usually contained in a box or paper bag with the McDonald’s logo. Frequently, the packaging and toy are part of a marketing tie-in to a popular film, TV show, or toy-line. 4. Drive-Thru: The first McDonald’s drive-through was created in 1975 in Arizona on a military base to serve soldiers who weren’t permitted to get out of their cars while wearing fatigues.McDonald’s drive-through service is called McDrive. 5. McDonaldization: McDonaldization is a term used by a sociologist, George Ritzer. It occurs when a culture possesses the characteristics of a fast-food restaurant. McDonaldization is a reconceptualization of rationalization, or moving from traditional to rational modes of thought, and scientific management. Its five components are Efficiency, Calculability, Predictability, Control and Culture. 6. Plan to Win Strategy This strategy was adopted in 2003 with its strategic focus on being better and not just bigger. The 4 P’s of this strategy were People, Place, Price and Product. SWOT Analysis Strength * McDonalds holds a very strong brand name worldwide.. * It is said that McDonalds was the first food outlet to provide its customers with nutritional facts. Nutrition information is printed on all packaging and more recently added to the McDonald’s Internet site. McDonalds offers salads, fruit, roasted chicken, bottled water and other low fat and calorie conscious alternatives. * McDonald’s uses only 100% pure USDA inspected beef, no fillers or additives. Additionally the produce is farm fresh. McDonald’s serves 100% farm raised chicken no fillers or additives and only grade-A eggs. McDonald’s foods are purchased from only certified and inspected suppliers. McDonalds works closely with ranchers, growers and suppliers to ensure food quality and freshness. * Loyal employees and management and customers is their biggest strength * McDonalds makes sure that cultural and regional barriers are kept in mind while providing food to different countries. * Clean environment and play areas for children where they can enjoy their time. Weakness * The weakness that hits the list is the employee turnover rate. Every year many of their employees are fired out of the restaurant * Health conscious people seldom complain that they do not provide us with the organic and healthy food. This becomes their weakness when they get in the complaints. Opportunities * Discounts given on every food item may help them gain more customers. * In today’s health conscious societies the introduction of a healthy hamburger is a great opportunity. They would be the first QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) to have FDA approval on marketing a low fat low calorie hamburger with low calorie combo alternatives. Currently McDonald’s and its competition health choice items do not include hamburgers. * In order to be environment friendly, they can use packing material which can be recycled later or material that does not create pollution. Threats * Emerging competition of similar outlets is becoming a problem for McDonalds. They have a threat of local food outlets in different countries. * As it is a multinational food outlet, fluctuations in the currency of other countries becomes a problem for such companies * Political factors Political Factors The international operations of McDonald’s are extremely under influence of a policy of the separate state put into practice by each government. For example, there are certain groups in Europe and the United States, which demand the acts of governmental power concerning medical values of meal of fast food. They have specified that harmful elements as cholesterol and negative influences as fatness are concerning consumption of products of fast food. Economic factors The organizations in the fast food industry aren’t excused from any disputes and problems. Definitely, they really have the separate problems involving business factors. Branches and privileges of networks of the enterprises of fast service as McDonald’s has a tendency to experience difficulty in cases where the economy of the corresponding states is amazed by inflation and changes in exchange rates. Clients hence face a survey stalemate through their separate budgets, whether they should spend more on these foreign networks of the enterprises of fast food. Hence, to these chains, possibly, it is necessary to take out problems of effects of economic environment. Especially, their problem depends on the answer of consumers to these main principles and how it could influence their general sales. In an estimation of operations of the company, food chains as McDonald’s tend to import the biggest part of the raw materials to certain territory if there is a delivery lack. Exchange rate fluctuations will also play an essential role in company’s operations. The company’s international supply as well as the existing exchange rates is merely a part of the overall components needed to guarantee success for the foreign operations of McDonald’s. It is besides obligatory, that the company has been informed on the existing tax requirements needed by the separate governments on which they operate. It basically guarantees smooth operations of McDonald’s privileges. In the same relation the company should consider also a state economic situation on which they influence. Level at which the economy of special state grows, defines purchasing capacity of consumers in that country. Hence, if the privilege works in the especially economically weak state, then their products should cost above than other existing products in the market, these privileges should take certain regulators to support economy at the expense of manufacture growth. Social The main reason is the consumers’ worries had greatly increased with health fears so customers now opted for healthier options like subway, which offered more of a variety for health conscious customers. Social Considerations: To ease customers concern about health issues, McDonald’s has made changes to the following; McDonalds changed its image vastly by evaluating the current menu and making changes to it from using organic products to revising the whole menu entirely by offering salads and vegetarian burgers. McDonald’s serves a range of high-quality foods that can fit into a balanced diet. The accurate and accessible nutrition information help guests make informed menu choices. Social Considerations Emphasis on food safety: McDonald’s suppliers have food safety management systems in place, including Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), a verified Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan and crisis management, food security and other applicabl e programs Technology Technological Advantages McDonald’s has taken advantage of technology to streamline their processes and improve efficiency. Through technology enhancements such as FPI’s Help Desk Service, network and application consolidation, and other technology implementations, operations of the company are greatly improved. Technological Advantages: * Technological Advantages Touch Order Allows You To Place Order At McDonald’s Via handset. * T The customers can place their order directly from their tables, dubbed as â€Å"Touch Order†. It’s the first self-ordering system in the world to use RFID* Technology Spotlight. * McDonald’s has also implemented technology to improve supply chain management, and allows customers to access this information to make more informed decisions about what they eat. Supply Chain They strive to ensure that every step of the McDonald’s supply chain contributes positively to the safety, quality and availability of their final products. They also want their product ingredients to be produced in ways that contribute positively to the development of sustainable agricultural and food manufacturing practices. Since McDonald’s does not actually produce any of the food they ultimately serve their customers, it’s essential that they work with suppliers who share our values, and we do. They have a large number of direct suppliers – companies that make or deliver final products for their restaurants as well as an even larger number of indirect suppliers companies and farms that grow or process the ingredients that are eventually delivered to their direct suppliers. They work closely with their direct suppliers to continuously improve the practices that impact their employees, their communities, the environment, their own suppliers and, of course, McDonald’s customers. Profit Pyramid Model The key is to get customers to buy at a low price, low price, entry point and move them upto high price and high margin products where the company makes its profit. For example McDonalds uses products like Mc Aloo Tikki to get the customer inside the restaurant. Once the customer establishes a taste for its products his focus is shifted to products belonging to the higher strung of the ladder such as Mc Paneer Spicy, Chicken Maharaja Wrap etc. This is where it makes it profit. Thus McDonalds follows a Profit Pyramid Model. Corporate strategy Corporate level strategy fundamentally is concerned with the selection of businesses in which the company should compete and with the development and coordination of that portfolio of businesses. McDonald’s is engaged in. Mc Donald’s only deals in the restaurant business, so its corporate strategy is a single business unit strategy, likely of growth. Business strategy: A strategic business unit may be a division, product line, or other profit center that can be planned independently from the other business units of the firm.McDonald’s has pursued two strategies since 2003. To keep up with rapidly changing consumer preferences, demographics, and spending patterns, McDonald’s has introduced new items (Premium Chicken sandwiches and the Angus Beef Burger) and campaigns to create more healthy foods (Premium Salads). The strategy reflects the philosophy that novelty, as opposed to loyalty to traditional products, is the key determinant of sales in the fast food industry. McDonald’s has also focused on increasing sales at existing restaurants instead of opening new ones. To do so, McDonald’s has remodelled many restaurants, kept stores open longer, and increased menu options. Marketing Strategy McDonalds uses marketing mixture by using the different sources of media to reach the consumer: * Medium: Marketing medium of McDonalds ranges from TV advertisement to sponsoring the Olympics.It normally doesn’t use the print media for advertisement. * Branding: When someone says McDonald’s things like the golden arches ,Ronald McDonald Big Mac, etc come automatically comes to our mind. McDonald’s is loaded with brand images that are embedded into our souls from a very early age, and the company’s influence has been profound. * They Speak to the Children: McDonalds has established strong relationships in their brand by marketing directly to children, and giving them the products they want—little meals with lots of color, happy faces, and a toy (hence, Happy Meal). Core Competency The only core competency that Mc Donalds has is developing localized products. We can explain this with the example of the products that were provided to their French customers. They included beer in their menu. All their hamburgers also included a tinge of mustard to it since the French are extremely fond of mustard sauce. To overcome their unhealthy image they also began to include salads in their menu. In Thailand some of their dishes also included rice since all their meals have rice. To cater to the taste buds of Indians they have started dishes like Paneer McSpicy. McDonalds also focuses mostly on children by providing Happy Meals and toys along with it which attract the kids. There no other fast food brand which has customized its product to such an extent and therefore it is a core competency for McDonalds. Distinctive Competency The distinctive competencies of McDonalds are as follows: * Price * Standardized products * Quick service VRIO Analysis * Value: McDonalds provides value to the customer’s because of its competitive pricing. There are not many brands which can match the same prcing, standardized product, quality which McDonalds provides therefore it does provide value to the customer’s. * Rareness: McDonald’s approach towards children is very rare and no other competitor has the same to this extent. Also localizing their products is one more rare feature of this brand. * Imitability: Designing a business model which has been successful in 119 countries with annual sales of 27 billion dollars and with so much brand recognition is definitely not easy to imitate. * Organization: They exploit their resources because they cater to the local customers in an extremely efficient manner.

Health Promotion Essay

The World Health Organization delineated health as â€Å"a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity† (WHO, 1946). Scientists define health promotion as the course of action taken to facilitate people to have power over and to enhance their health generally. To carry on and augment wellbeing some practices such as restraining from smoking, exercising at least three times a week to sustain fitness, reducing contact to radiation and toxic components, eating adequate amount of nutrients and minerals seem essential. In nursing practice, health promotion exists through education to facilitate inhabitants to create choices to keep them in good physical shape. According to the American Journal of Health, â€Å"Health Promotion is the science and the art of helping people change their lifestyles to move toward an optimal health.† Other factors that can encourage reaching out the purpose of health promotion are n ursing roles and responsibilities, implementation methods that covers all areas of nursing, and the levels of health support. The World Health Organization (WHO) created a movement named Healthy people 2010 to make all Americans cognizant of a variety of ways to prevent diseases and improve their health. The association placed nurses in the forefront by giving them the lead of the action due to the fact of their constant contact with individuals, families, and communities because they can help them make the right decision to promote health (WHO, 2000.) In addition, they acquire skills through evidence-based practice in critical moments of life to implement essential interventions through education after assessing, using a diagnosis, developing a plan the care of patients; a thorough evaluation of chosen activities always follows to assure a contented turning point. Nurses assist to promote health by helping groups of people in different settings to cultivate healthy lifestyle. The Institute of Medicine has a new research that clarifies responsibilities by stating the important role nurses play to implement and evaluate actions to promote health in the population. As advocate for the sick, the nurse-client interrelationship should take place for health promotion in order to teach people good habits in the choice of adequate diet to avoid obesity, to stop polluting the environment by quitting smoking for instance and access to clean water seem indispensable; moreover, inhabitants must not permit damaging social conditions that wipe out health to continue as they convey unhealthy states (Sullivan, 2000). Health promotion movements are meant to guard and advance health, and to avoid illness. These activities are grouped into three subsequent levels. The foremost and initial level of health promotion prevention is intended to stop diseases from starting or a trauma from happening. Diseases or trauma to prevent include immunization, household hazards, abstinence from smoking, measures that decrease the risk for stroke, educating and counseling regarding the use of vehicle passenger restraints and bicycle hat. The primary prevention averts the beginning of an aimed condition. It targets the greatest number of people in a community who might become at risk for a specific health dilemma like asthma which happened to be one of the most frequent respiratory diseases in modern countries. Furthermore, the secondary avoidance measures are those that spot and care for asymptomatic people at risk but in whom the provision is not clinically obvious. Activities of secondary escaping involve early case findings of disease without any sign that occurs and has major risk for harmful result exclusive of cure. Screening tests to detect hyperlipidemia, hypertension, breast and prostate cancer are model of secondary prevention actions. Lastly, when the disease has already started its course of action, tertiary prevention care is given to patient, attempts are made to re-establish highest function and stop sickness-related complications. Health is a store for everyday life that includes physical, mental, social comfort; consequently, health promotion activities will empower individuals and communities to raise their control over decisions that affect their health. With the possession of interpersonal skills, nurses contribute to encourage patients through teaching to make constructive changes that will keep them in good physical shape throughout life. The three levels of health promotion are supported through education. Within their scope of practice, nurses can allow individuals and communities to gain greater control over the determinants of their wellbeing to achieve the purpose of Health promotion. . References Edelman, C., & Mandle, C. L. (2010). Health promotion throughout the life spans (7th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby. Eisenberg & Neighbors, (2007). National Research Council and Institute of Medicine [NAS-IOM], (2009). A national study by Kessler et al. (2005) According to a report from Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council (IOM and NAS) National Prevention, Health Pro Nola J. Pender, Carolyn L. Murdaugh, and Mary Ann Parsons. Motion, and Public Health Council. (2011). Annual status report [Internet]. Washington (DC): The Council; 2011 Jun 30 [cited 2011 Sep 30]. Available from: http://www.healthcare.gov/ prevention/nphpphc/2011-annualstatus- report-nphpphc.pdf Nola J. Pender, Carolyn L. Murdaugh, & Mary Ann Parsons. (2006). Health Promotion in Nursing Practice (5th ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education INC

Important Cities in African-American History

Important Cities in African-American History African Americans have contributed tremendously to the culture of the United States. First brought to America hundreds of years ago to work as slaves, blacks won their freedom after the 19th century Civil War. However, many blacks remained very poor and moved throughout the country seeking better economic opportunities. Unfortunately, even after the Civil War, many white people still discriminated against blacks. Blacks and whites were segregated, and the education and living conditions of black people suffered. However, after several historic, sometimes tragic events, black people decided to no longer tolerate these injustices. Here are some of the most important cities in African-American history. Montgomery, Alabama In 1955, Rosa Parks, a seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama, refused to obey her bus driver’s order to surrender her seat to a white man. Parks was arrested for disorderly conduct. Martin Luther King Jr. led a boycott of the city bus system, which desegregated in 1956 when segregated buses were deemed unconstitutional. Rosa Parks became one of the most influential and famous female civil rights activists, and the Rosa Parks Library and Museum in Montgomery now displays her story. Little Rock, Arkansas In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that segregated schools were unconstitutional and that schools should soon integrate. However, in 1957, the governor of Arkansas ordered troops to forcibly prevent nine African American students from entering Little Rock Central High School. President Dwight Eisenhower learned of the harassment the students experienced and sent National Guard troops to aid the students. Several of the â€Å"Little Rock Nine† eventually graduated from high school.   Birmingham, Alabama Several important civil rights events occurred in 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama. In April, Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested and wrote his â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail.† King argued that citizens have the moral duty to disobey unjust laws such as segregation and inequality. In May, law enforcement officers released police dogs and sprayed fire hoses on a crowd of peaceful protesters in Kelly Ingram Park. Images of the violence were displayed on television and shocked viewers. In September, the Ku Klux Klan bombed the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church and killed four innocent black girls. This particularly heinous crime incited riots across the country. Today, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute explains these events and other civil and human rights issues. Selma, Alabama Selma, Alabama is located about sixty miles west of Montgomery. On March 7, 1965, six hundred African American residents decided to march to Montgomery to peacefully protest voting registration rights. When they tried to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge, law enforcement officers stopped them and abused them with clubs and tear gas. The incident on â€Å"Bloody Sunday† enraged President Lyndon Johnson, who ordered National Guard troops to protect the marchers as they successfully marched to Montgomery a few weeks later. President Johnson then signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Today, the National Voting Rights Museum is located in Selma, and the path of the marchers from Selma to Montgomery is a National Historic Trail. Greensboro, North Carolina On February 1, 1960, four African-American college students sat down at the â€Å"whites-only† restaurant counter of Woolworth’s Department Store in Greensboro, North Carolina. They were refused service, but for six months, despite harassment, the boys regularly returned to the restaurant and sat at the counter. This peaceful form of protest became known as a â€Å"sit-in.† Other people boycotted the restaurant and sales dropped. The restaurant was desegregated that summer and the students were finally served. The International Civil Rights Center and Museum is now located in Greensboro.   Memphis, Tennessee Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Memphis in 1968 to try to improve the working conditions of sanitation workers. On April 4, 1968, King stood on a balcony at the Lorraine Motel and was hit by a bullet fired by James Earl Ray. He died that night at the age of thirty-nine and is buried in Atlanta. The motel is now the home of the National Civil Rights Museum. Washington, D.C. Several crucial civil rights demonstrations have occurred in the capital of the United States. The best-known demonstration was probably the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in August 1963, when 300,000 people heard Martin Luther King give his I Have a Dream speech. Other Important Cities in Black History African-American culture and history are also displayed in countless more cities across the country. Harlem is a significant black community in New York City, the largest city in America. In the Midwest, blacks were influential in the history and culture of Detroit and Chicago. Black musicians such as Louis Armstrong helped make New Orleans famous for jazz music. Struggle for Racial Equality The civil rights movement of the 20th century awakened all Americans to the inhumane belief systems of racism and segregation. African-Americans continued to work hard, and many have become enormously successful. Colin Powell served as the United States Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005, and Barack Obama became the 44th US President in 2009. America’s most important African-American cities will forever honor the courageous civil rights leaders who fought for respect and better lives for their families and neighbors.

4 Things I Wish I Knew Before Sending My Resume to a Recruiter

4 Things I Wish I Knew Before Sending My Resume to a Recruiter A resume is much more than a piece of paper that displays your abilities and qualifications. The biggest culprit behind unsuccessful resumes is failing to understand them as they are – a crucial instrument for employment. Does it often happen to you – to get rejected even though your qualifications are the perfect fit for the position? Is your resume the reason why you get rejected when applying for a job?Many have been where you stand and learned this the hard way – without a professional resume, an application does not stand a chance with a hiring manager. Therefore, you must make sure that the resume is absolutely perfect.Why Do You Need a Professional Resume?A bad resume is one of the following: hard to read, covered in errors, confusing or completely unrelated to the job in question. If your resume has one of these disadvantages, it goes in the trash right away.I did not know this in the past, which lead me to make many mistakes and miss dozens of job opport unities I could have gotten only if I had a good resume. To help you avoid the same mistakes, I decided to make a list of things I wish someone taught me before I lost my shot at the jobs I wanted:1. My Resume Looked Like Everyone Else’sHiring managers will get dozens to hundreds of resumes that look just like yours. Therefore, you do not only need a professional resume – you need a resume that stands out. Even if you have worked hard to make sure that the language and lists fit what the employer is looking for, you will never leave a good impression if the resume does not shine among others.People often look for resume samples online or copy generated forms and fill them with the information before adding them to the application. The problem lies exactly here – you are following the same path as dozens of other candidates. The common employee is not the ideal employee. There are hundreds of such applicants in every job offer.2. It Focused on Responsibility inst ead of ResultsExplaining what you did and when you did it is a bad move. I used to write down my certificates, job experience and things I accomplished, expecting the hiring manager to be amazed by only reading it.This is the biggest mistake you can make. Employers are not interested in your duties and responsibilities. They want to know what you can do to improve your company, not what you have done to improve yourself.So, put on your results cap. Turn your accomplishments into reasons to believe that you are better than anyone else who applied for the job. Employers want to hear how and when you made a difference, so think of things you did that make you the best candidate for the job.3. Your Resume Was Not Polished EnoughA resume is not a one-person job. The best thing you can do for your resume is get a second pair of eyes to take a look at it.When you write a resume about yourself and your accomplishments, you are certainly connected to them, which makes you unable to see thing s objectively.Do not leave this important task to your friends and family. They can help, but they will hardly know the best ways to impress a hiring manager. My recommendation is pinpointing the top resume services and leave the polishing to them.4. It Did Not Represent MeYou probably think – how can my resume represent someone else?Believe it or not, this is the exact reason why I failed to get the jobs – the resumes I sent were not a true representation of me. In order to be successful, a resume must line up with your attitude, energy, and tone. You cannot deliver a regal resume if you are an extrovert, or use jokes if you are a serious person.It is not just about style. You must be realistic. Paint yourself as a team player if you do not possess the qualities of a leader. If you want to change jobs often, do not say you are looking for permanent employment.Get real. This is your opportunity, to be honest.There you have it – the four mistakes I did when writi ng my resume. Is there any lesson you want to share with us?About the author:Stephanie Proper is a career strategist and blogger. She likes writing useful tips regarding a career and help job seekers pass through an application process smoothly. She can be reached out on properresumes.com,   Facebook and Twitter

Story Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Story - Essay Example Zax has gone through a lot of psychological trauma in the last six years since when his body started to transform from a child’s to an adult’s. It was the start of teenage when he started to notice his chest grow larger than it should. His class fellows and friends called him everything from a girl to an aunt. The condition has negatively affected Zax’s self-esteem. This is the prime reason he has had a very small circle of friends ever since the onset of his teenage. Zax wants to change the condition and is ready to do whatever it takes to come out of the web he has concocted around himself out of the sheer consciousness of his chest. Zax is too shy to visit a doctor with his family to discuss the condition. While his manboobs are a big concern for the people outside his home, they seem to be invisible to his immediate family. Zax really has nobody to be psychologically counseled from. He searches the condition over the Internet and learns that this is a condition called ‘gynecomastia’. Contrary to his expectations, he finds that gynecomastia is increasingly becoming a major concern among men, and many men suffer from the condition at least at some point in their life. Zax explores the causes of and details about gynecomastia and learns that having gynecomastia makes an individual no less of a man biologically than the men who do not have gynecomastia. He finds out that there are no major causes of gynecomastia and that it can be acquired by any man, though certain factors like consuming steroids can optimize its chances of occurrence. Zax also finds out that the condition is treatable through liposuction or surgery and once treated, it never comes back. Now that he has learned the biology of the condition, Zax feels confident about sharing the problem with his parents. He convinces his parents to let him undertake a surgery. The family visits a surgeon, and the surgeon recommends liposuction to treat Zax’s gynecomastia. The whole