Outline and Evaluate One Biological Therapy for Schizophrenia

The main form of biological therapy for schizophrenia is drug therapy. Some drugs are more effective at reducing the positive symptoms such as delusions and hallucination than negative symptoms such as lack of motivation and social withdrawal. There are two main categories of drugs, neuroleptic drugs and atypical drugs. Neuroleptic drugs such as Prolixin are conventional drugs that reduce psychotic symptoms but produce some of the symptoms of neurological diseases. These drugs block the activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine within 48 hours and their effect on dopamine are believed to be very important in therapy.However it takes several weeks of drug therapy before schizophrenic symptoms show substantial reduction. These drugs are more effective in reducing positive symptoms than negative symptoms. This is supported by Birchwood and Jackson 2001 whose conclusion was the same. These drugs appear to be a more effective treatment for schizophrenia than any of the other approaches us ed alone. (Comer 2001) Researches have shown that patients can get independent to drugs which means they might not be able to stop taking them otherwise they might have to face serious problems. Neuroleptic drugs also have side effects.Windgassen 1992 found 50% of patients with schizophrenia who take neuroleptic drugs reported grogginess or sedation, 18% reported problems with concentration, and 16% had blurred vision. In addition many patients developed symptoms closely resembling those of Parkinson’s disease such as muscle rigidity, tremors and foot shuffling. Also it was found that more than 20% of patients who take neuroleptic drugs for over a year develop the symptoms of tardive dyskinesia. These symptoms include involuntary sucking and chewing and writhing movements of the mouth or face.Atypical antipsychotic drugs (such as clozapine) also combat positive symptoms of schizophrenia but there are claims that they also have beneficial effects on negative symptoms as well. These antipsychotics also act on the dopamine system but are thought to block serotonin receptors in the brain as well. They help by only temporarily occupying the dopamine receptors and then rapidly dissociating to allow normal dopamine transmission. Atypical drugs have several advantages over neuroleptic drugs. Firstly they have fewer side effects than neuroleptic drugs.Secondly they benefit 85% of patients with schizophrenia, compared with 65% given neuroleptic drugs. However, the atypical drugs can produce serious side effects. For example, schizophrenic patients who take clozapine have a 1-2% risk of developing agranulocytosis. This involves reduction in white blood cells, and the condition can be life threatening. Although the use of antipsychotic drugs is crucial in the treatment of schizophrenia, many people do not experience the benefits they offer, normally due to their side effects.As a result, additional psychological treatments are used. The cognitive behavioural therap y (CBT) follows the assumption that people often have distorted beliefs which influence their behaviour in maladaptive ways. In this therapy, patients are encouraged to trace back the origins of their symptoms in order to get a better idea of how the symptoms might have developed. As well as this, they are also encouraged to evaluate the content of their delusions to consider ways in which they might test the validity of their faulty beliefs.Next the patients would be given behavioural assignments with the aim of improving their general level of functioning. The learning of maladaptive responses to life's problems is often the result of distorted thinking by the schizophrenic. Researches over time suggest that CBT has a significant effect on improving the symptoms of patients with schizophrenia, however the majority of studies of the effectiveness of CBT have used schizophrenics who are also taking antipsychotic drugs. This leaves the question, how much of the improvement is due to CBT alone?Also, CBT for schizophrenia works by trying to generate less distressing explanations of psychotic experiences, rather than trying to eliminate them completely. The negative symptoms shown by a schizophrenic may well serve a useful function for the person and so can be understood as safety behaviours and could cause potential damage. Lastly, it has been found that CBT doesn't actually work for all Schizophrenics, Kingdon and Kirschen found that many patients were not deemed suitable for CBT because psychiatrists believed that they would not fully engage with the therapy.

Management Problem in Health Care Essay

Management Problem in Health Care Worldwide health care organizations are faced with problems everyday. Motivation is one of the many management problems in health care organizations today. Health care organizations are always working together to come up with ideas and strategies to make their organizations more successful and better for everyone to work in as well. Problem solving is an on going process in health care organizations, which have been bringing positive results for everyone working in the health care organizations. Motivation is a state of feeling or thinking in which one is energized or aroused to perform a task or engage in a particular behavior. This definition focuses on motivation as an emotional or cognitive state that is independent of action. This focus clearly distinguishes motivation from the performance of a task and its consequences. Notice, too, that motivation can be a state of either feeling or thinking, or a combination of the two. For some individuals, motivation is more a matter of feeling than thinking, while, for others, the reverse is true† (Shortell & Kaluzny, 2006). Motivating the people who are working under management can be a difficult task at times. Everyone is unique, none of us are the exact same and each person needs something different to become motivated and that is where the challenge comes in for the managers, finding the right motivator for the right employee. Knowing and caring about the employees needs, will help managers know what type of rewards to offer as a way to motivate their employees. Management Problem 3 The success of any organization, especially health care organizations solely depends on the skills of managers and how they present the work environment for their employees. When employees are motivated they tend to be more satisfied with their jobs and will stay with the organization much longer as a result of their satisfaction. According to a recent survey from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society offers some ideas on how to keep them happy. â€Å"First, pay a decent salary, â€Å"that came through loud and clear in the survey†, says Linda Hodges, executive vice president of search firm Hersher Associates, which conducted the survey with HIMSS. Salary was identified by the survey’s 361 respondents as one of the main factors they use to evaluate job satisfaction or a job offer. Forty percent of those surveyed said they don’t believe they are paid market value† (Greene, 2002). According to Lynn, â€Å"if your program examination indicates that you have done everything right but the results were not there, it is time to talk with people one-on-one. Ask each employee why the program did not have the impact you were looking for. They may have been trying as hard as they could, but only delivering a marginal performance. It is possible they are battling obstacles you cannot see. To find out what is getting in their way, ask them how you can help them improve† (Lynn, 2001). Asking these questions are important when it comes to keeping your employees involved in everything, always getting their opinions on how they think it should be done and work together as a team to come up with the best solutions. This is what a good manager is made of, including his employees in everything that has to do with the job. Management Problem 4 Maslow’s theory was unique because he believed that each person had five needs and each need had to be met before they could go on to the next need. As the process went on, each old need lost motivational value as the new need was met. According to Shortell and Kaluzny, â€Å"Maslow’s hierarchy of needs assumes there are five need levels that must be satisfied sequentially. 1. The physiological needs, these needs include things like air, water, food, warmth, shelter, and sex, the basic survival needs. 2. The security needs include a secure physical and emotional environment, examples include the need to be free from worry about money and job security. 3. Belongingness needs involve social processes, they include the need for love and affection and the need to be accepted by one’s peers. 4. Esteem needs are actually composed of two different set of needs: the need for a positive self-image or self-respect and the need for recognition and respect from others. 5. Self-actualization needs, at the top of the hierarchy, involve realizing one’s potential for continued growth and individual development† (Shortell ; Kaluzny, 2006). Although, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory seems too simple for the human body, which is very complex, this is the perfect theory of motivation for us. This theory touches every aspect of our lives and how one feels about themselves and their surroundings. People who are in management positions will be wise to use this theory when it comes to motivating their employees, in any industry health care or otherwise. It does not matter which theory you think may be best to follow, interesting work and employee pay are the two biggest motivators. Management Problem 5 After identifying the motivation problems with the employees, managers need to start right away working on a plan to overcome these problems. They can start with talking with each individual employee and ask them questions. Making the employees feel like they have a part in finding the solution is a big part in motivation too. Everyone needs to feel like they are helping in some way or another. In conclusion, even though motivating your employees is a difficult task, it must be done in order to keep them happy and to keep things running smoothly. Keeping your employees happy can only bring success to their organization. The employees will love doing their jobs and they will do them well, they will come to work everyday and this will result in a cost effective organization, because the turnover rates will be less in each organization and the organizations will not have to worry about training new employees.

Minnesota Rag Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Minnesota Rag - Essay Example Johan Morrison began to publish the Rip-Saw, this was published weekly which exposed the illegal uses and other vice, which according to Morrison were carried out directly or indirectly by the municipal authorities. Of the targets of the newspapers were the two legislators who weren't satisfied with route to ordinary defamation laws. With the help of the press established as Minnesota they sketched the Public Nuisance Law 1925 which allowed the permanent judge to direct the newspapers from publishing upon a finding that is "customarily or regularly" published "defamatory, malicious and scandalous" material. The defense was a truth given that the intention behind were good for justified ends. This was passed with little or no fame and press didn't show up an opposition, but before Duluth representatives, in order to shut down the Rip-Saw with the help of gag law, Morrison died. (P.14-27) Apart from the above another crisis rose of the whiskey trade from Canada, when Jay Near and an associate started the publication of the scandal sheet of their own called Saturday Press. While the conventional press often soft-pedaled its reporting on vice and corruption, the Press held nothing sacred. Sometimes trustfully but always recklessly, it accused law enforcement and political figures of seizing every available illicit opportunity. Unlike, Morrison, the publishers of the Press were scandalmongers without redeeming moral zeal, and they were frequently accused of using their paper as an instrument of blackmail (p. 32-35). In May 1928, the Minnesota Supreme Court unanimously upheld the law's constitutionality, finding the Press to be a nuisance to public comfort and repose akin to noxious weeds, dogs and houses of prostitution. The court had no difficulty distinguishing "nuisances" like Near's rag from the "the sincere and honest voice of the press," which had no need to fear the statute (p 61). The constitutional guarantee, the court insisted, extends only to the boundaries of propriety; "licentiousness" is unprotected (p. 61-62). Consequently, the court found that "there is no constitutional right to publish a fact merely because it is true" p62. And when the fledgling American Civil Liberties Union announced that it would undertake an appeal to the Supreme Court on Near's behalf (p. .63-64), the Minneapolis Evening Tibune's editorial echoed the court's emphasis on the need to protect only "responsible" journalism: "The Civil Liberties Union will no doubt make a great pother about the freedom of the press, but the legitimate newspapers will be rather bored than excited about it" (p.64-65). Enter Colonel Robert R. McCormick and his Chicago Tribune. Obsessed by government hostility to press freedoms McCormick nudged out the ACLU and assumed the financial burden and strategic control of the case. He believed that Near's accusation about local politicians probably were true (p. 70), and he feared in any event that, unless stamped out quickly, Minnesota technique for suppressing newspapers would spread to other states (p. 78). Client and patron soon developed divergent interest; while Near bridled at delays in resuming his tawdry livelihood, McCormick and his law firm were intent on gaining a constitutional victory at the highest level (p. 77, 84-87). In the end, McCormick had his way. At oral argument before the Supreme Court, Weymouth

Answer six questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Answer six questions - Essay Example According to BBC News, the basic reason for its decline is the decrease in male industrial unskilled workers and more female workers in the tertiary sector. Changes in economy have led to this employment structure. Other than that, changes in the labour market such as increased part time work, more females in the workplace and also more self-employed people has also led to a decline in trade union memberships (BBC News, 2000) Other than this, BBC reports that because the UK economy is shifting to the services sector from the manufacturing sector, it is growing. Despite this growth, jobs are being lost in the manufacturing sector because of which membership is decreasing (BBC News, 2000). Another important reason for this decline is Government policy. In 1979, during the 'Winter of Discontent', an opinion poll showed that 82% of the UK population thought that the unions had a lot of power (Ruysseveldt & Visser, 1996). It was almost a threat. To take down this power of the unions, the Government introduced legislations that ultimately resulted in theTrade Union Reform and Employment Rights Acts 1993. Due to this, till 1992, membership density fell by a significant percentage. I think that trade union membership will decline further because like earlier reasons, the labour market structure keeps changing its shape. ... This sounds unpleasant and is likely to cause damage to management-employee relations and also has in the past. Employees need to feel secure in their jobs. This is expected to increase their motivation and commitment to the organisation. And when this commitment is threatened (due to redundancies) and when employees are scared of losing jobs, they must be talked to using the best possible medium. Today, because of technology, managers use media such as email or text messaging to fire people (Gennard, J., Judge, G., 2005). Stunts like these cause damage to the employment relationship. Redundancies are usually made because they are crucial to the profitability and hence, the success of an organisation. However, when it happens, the employees that already work in the organisation feel insecure. To avoid any damage to the employment relationship of these employees, they must be told exactly why the redundancy had to be made, what its result for the organisation will be and how it will benefit the employees that work in that organisation. In other words, proper communication has to take place in a situation like this and that too, through face-to-face. And not through some text message that would threaten workers even more and make them feel alienated. Even workers that are being fired must be explained properly why the action is compulsory for the firm. Any compensation that can be made must be made by the management and if employees need appropriate assistance in the future, they will be given it . Employees should be assured of this. A redundancy program that is inadequately managed leaves the organisation to costly employment board claims and they can damage this organisation's reputation in the business society. A badly reputed

How Culture Affects the Spread Of HIV In the United States Essay

How Culture Affects the Spread Of HIV In the United States - Essay Example It is estimated that over 1 million individuals are living with the virus; despite the aggressive prevention and education efforts that are underway to try and curb the spread of this virus. The socio-cultural norms that surround most communities need to be addressed so as to ensure that every individual is well-versed on the issue (Organista 43). This paper will examine the extent to which culture is affecting the spread of this virus, and what is being done to ensure that its spread is curbed before it is too late for all those affected or infected. Issue of concern There is a saying that arises whenever there is the mention of the HIV virus that goes; one is either infected or affected by this strain of infection. It is true to assume that one can be close to someone that has acquired the virus, or one could also be a victim. Among the Latino and African American communities, the spread of the virus is said to be higher than that experienced in other communities in the U.S. This i s especially among the young people who are constantly engaging in risky sexual activities (Organista 52). The unawareness of their status could be one of the main reasons why the spread is much higher in these communities. The spread of this virus is on the rise due to a range of factors, for example; denial, lack of proper medical care, poverty, and even stigma. All these are factors that restrict the prevention efforts aimed at addressing the scourge. Culture, in most ethnic minority groups, plays a major role in the response of the HIV strain among individuals. The diversity that most people of ethnic groups exhibit makes it harder for prevention efforts to have a foothold in most ethnic communities (Dayer-Berenson 76). It is this diversity that makes them engage in behavioral risk factors that differ, hence; increasing the possibility of acquiring the virus. The attitude behind sex and sexual activity among ethnic minority groups is probably one of the main reasons that may lea d to the progression of the virus. The concept surrounding sex and traditional roles in these communities makes the prevention of HIV a complicated topic in countless households. Factors of the problem The problem involved with culture is the fact that people are afraid of talking about sex. This is with either their partners, families, or even their children. In many cases, it is considered as being embarrassing to all the parties involved. This makes it harder for young men and women to understand the importance of communication when it comes to sexual activity with their partners as they grow up, which only works to increase the prevalence rate among these communities (Ray 118). In some instances, the perception that a ‘good’ woman is not supposed to know about sex is the essence that surrounds most homes. Women are, therefore, reduced to remaining ignorant when it comes to sex and their sexuality, which increases the dangers that this virus plays in their lives. Cul ture also plays a vital role in the traditional roles of gender in the U.S. In some minority ethnic groups, for example; the Latino, the men are supposed to be highly sexual individuals. To most of them, abstaining from engaging in sexual activity is an impossible task, and according to some, may even be unhealthy. Such attitudes lead to double standards among these groups, which then allow men to stray from their marriages. In other instances, the role of the man is

Brand management for Rolex (a case of study) Essay

Brand management for Rolex (a case of study) - Essay Example The case study will explain the brand management strategy developed by Rolex in the international market. Rolex has followed certain branding strategies to maintain its good image in the international market and enhanced its brand value significantly. This case will analyse the strategies that has made Rolex a famous brand. It is a descriptive case study. In this case study, qualitative method has been followed. The data that is used in this case study is secondary data and it has been collected through websites and books. The case study consists of six chapters. The first chapter describes the brief overview about the overall case study. The second chapter is the literature review. In this chapter, the details about the research topic have been explained to generate in-depth understanding of the research problem. The third chapter consists of statement of research problem and the research methods where the main research problem has been identified and the methods of conducting the c ase study have been stated. The fourth chapter will describe the research process i.e. what has been done to perform the case study analysis. In the fifth chapter, the secondary data will be analysed with regard to the research problem and the literature review. The final chapter is the conclusion where the actual findings of the research will be described on the basis of analysis of the findings. The basis of the case study is brand management of Rolex. Literature Review Rolex is one of the dominating deluxe wristwatch manufacturing companies. It is a multinational company which operates their business in excess of 100 countries. Rolex is renowned for its good business performance and high status (Rolex, n.d.). Brand Management Brand management is about developing an image of a brand and also maintaining it. Brand management helps a company to define any product, position the product, and deliver it to the customer. It is an ability to generate and sustain the brand. A strong brand is an asset for a company which discriminates any product from other alternative products. It can set an additional image to the product of the company (Management Study Guide, 2011). Brand Positioning of Rolex With regard to establishing brand image, Rolex always prefers to use certain traveller or singer or other stylish person for advertisement purposes. Rolex seeks selective media for advertising their products which can help to form the image of the brand as well as control the advertisement cost. Rolex is extremely elegant to accomplish multiple factors while spending least amount of money which can help to maintain the balance between optimal cost and profit. Through their good marketing skills, Rolex successfully increases their fans and earn the honour and faith of Rolex users (Fairy, 2010). Brand Awareness of Rolex From early 1930s, Rolex focuses on product quality. The advertisement of Rolex was limited to just product level and made by using verbal statements and graphi cs.

Moral Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Moral Philosophy - Essay Example Brock sees no difference between theses two, and I would say I have to agree. Does it really matter who is doing the killing if in fact there is killing taking place Either way the outcome is the same, I don't think it really matters who is holding the needle or who is administering the dosage. There is plenty of relevance in this debate as well to the other debate over the distinction between killing and letting die. Is there really a difference between killing somebody or simply standing by and watching or letting them die I like to think it depend on the scenario, for if you try to help them out then you are really not letting them die so to speak. But people will often try to use their belief that there is a distinction between them to try to work against the legislation of these types of programs. People will use the argument that there is a huge difference between them and that killing somebody is ethically wrong compared to letting their natural time come and letting them die. They will try to use this to block any measures to give people the choice of these types of death methods, and there may be some merit in their ideas. On t

Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 60

Essay Example Without printing, it would be too difficult to document the knowledge. Printing also improved the efficiency of writers, and thus more literature review in good shape was available to the researchers to develop the technology. Referencing played the role of a catalyst in the development of the information’s history as it encouraged scholars to conduct research as they would be remembered for their positive contributions towards the creation of knowledge in the times to come. Development of the history of information as well as all factors like writing, literacy, printing, and referencing, can fundamentally be attributed to the development of science because scientific knowledge was used to develop the tools and equipments need for printing, and writing etc. Public contributed to the development of information’s history by being the prime player in the field. Humans developed technology for personal, social, and political gains using all of the elements discussed above. For example, technology was developed to win the wars (Heilbroner

Voip Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Voip - Research Proposal Example It is used for call initiation, call teardown and other call related data sent during a VoIP conversation. SIP is a text based application level protocol. It depends majorly on other protocols such as IP and UDP for transport. VoIP implementations with SIP mostly use a SIP proxy server to which the login credentials of users are authenticated. The proxy server also routes call and signaling data. Clients can establish a communication link between each and forward SIP messages via the proxy. Communications using SIP are also used for changing call parameters or other features such as integrating more callers into a conference session. SIP registrars are used as additional servers to locate other users. VoIP technology is likely to be misused by criminals as it often does not require verification of any details to start using the service. The security of making such calls may also attract criminals, as many implementations use strong encryption to secure both the voice payload and control messages. Skype uses 256 bit AES encryption while Google Talk does not encrypt its payload (but will support encryption in the future). As an example, an organized crime ring may decide to use Skype software that allows ring members to communicate anonymously. Criminals could use laptops running Skype, create profiles like a regular user and communicate when necessary.

Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Journal - Essay Example Is it truly desirable to be free from the social bonds and obligations of a community? I am not convinced. I would argue that money, more than any good or service, has been commoditized in our economic system and created alienation. The last three decades have seen an explosion of money, commodity markets and communications which now beginning to bear the consequences. Whatever else this period of ‘globalization’ brings about, it represents a rapid society extension to a more comprehensive level than the 20th century norm which categorized society with a nation-state. So as to live in this world together, we must devise new ways of executing things for each other which go beyond our attempts on achieving local self-sufficiency (Holmes 13). I term this historical process ‘commoditization’. In history, commoditization has been closely related to the social extension by means of money and markets. Money is unique because its value is not inherent but ascribed. In a barter system absent of money there is obvious and immediate benefit for both parties in an exchange. When utilization of a fiat currency is employed, it means that benefits are not immediate (they are at least one step removed) and assumes that the currency will be recognized by future trading partners. In this system, money should function as a means to an end and be perceived as a proxy for goods and services. All value to money is ascribed – once a currency is no longer recognized as valid, it is useless or literally â€Å"not worth the paper it’s printed on† (Holmes 46). Since money must be widely recognized as legitimate in order to be useful, it also functions as a form of social control. The issuer of money implicitly offers a contract to users wherein the latter will follow the rules of the former. Participation in a nation’s economy is dependent on an individual’s willingness to use that nation’s form of currency. A few of my own journal works tie into this theme. The first pertains to the differences in lending that I have observed in my personal life and comes from a journal entry I wrote on September 24th. Specifically, if one friend lends another a good or service of relatively low value, there is no expectation of reimbursement. However, if the same value amount of money were to be exchanged between friends, an expectation of reimbursement would exist. This is an example of the commoditizing and alienating effects of money that Hyde discusses. It begs the question: why is the exchange of money an alienating and impersonal interaction? I believe part of the answer lies in the fact that money is not available for immediate consumption. It is instead a credit, or â€Å"IOU† that can be redeemed in a later transaction. Related to this is the fact that in the United States it is considered impolite to give money as a gift. Another journal entry was about an interesting news story I read on October 18th. The story, â€Å"Seizure of Ship From Argentina Forces Shake-Up,† by Emily Schmall, came from the New York Times. It was about a US hedge fund, Elliot Capital Management, which seized an Argentine ship that had docked in Ghana. The fund is owed $370 million by the Argentine government as a result of its 2001 default. I was struck by the fact that a private enterprise such as a hedge fund could find backing from courts in the US and Ghana to seize a government asset. Though Argentina is appealing their case to the

Frida Kahlo Essay Example for Free

Frida Kahlo Essay The â€Å"Henry Ford Hospital† (The Flying Bed) completed in 1932, created by the artist Frida Kahlo was her first painting on tin. The painting contains all components of â€Å"Frida Style† ex-voto (retablo); which is small in size, painted on tin, portrays a tragic event and an inscription. The style used for this painting is Surrealism. This work is made by Oil on Metal. The dimensions of the work are 12  ¼Ã¢â‚¬  x 15  ½Ã¢â‚¬  In a shape of a Rectangle. Frida used rich colors to express strong feelings. This artwork was made during the Modern Art period. Frida Kahlo was the creator of the â€Å"Henry Ford Hospital† (The Flying Bed) 1932 painting. This is one of her most painful self-portraits that she had ever painted. Frida created this artwork of herself during one of her most painful times in her life. She was suffering her second miscarriage, and she was also was also realizing that she would not ever be able to carry a pregnancy to term. She experienced this situation in a foreign city that she did not like, the city of Detroit, Michigan. They were in the city of Detroit because her husband Diego was creating his famous Detroit Industry frescoes (frescoes, is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid lime plaster) at the Detroit Institute of Arts. In the background of the painting Frida included the Ford family’s factories because they dominated the skyline from the hospitals view. In Henry Ford Hospital Frida lies naked in her bed. Frida has a large tear falls from her left eye. The sheet beneath her is bloody, because she is had a miscarriage. Her stomach is still swollen from pregnancy. The bed frame bears the inscription Henry Ford Hospital Detroit, but the bed and Frida floats or flies in an abstract space circled by a series of six floating objects around her bed that are symbolic of her emotions at the time of her miscarriage. They are attached with festive bows; the ends of red ribbons I suggest are veins or umbilical chords that she holds against her stomach with her left hand. There is a side view of the female anatomy, a fetus, a snail, a machine, an orchid and an image of a pelvis. The main object or image is a perfectly formed male fetus; the little Diego Frida had hoped to have. The others refer to aspects of childbearing. The snail Frida explained refers to the slowness of her miscarriage. At the bottom of the painting is the broken pelvis that prevented Frida from having children. The large lavender orchid looks like an extracted uterus, Diego had given it to Frida in the hospital. When she painted the orchid, she had the sexual thing mixed with the sentimental. The female torso is to explain the inside of the female. The machine at lower left symbolizes the mechanical part of the whole business. This works meaning and the feelings involved are expressed openly. The objects are much larger than her actual body, symbolizing how her fears and tragedies are overtaking her life. The fact that she lies alone in her bed, with no one around her except the sky, shows that she feels alone. This shows the feeling of loneliness, abandonment and helplessness. It also illustrates the fragility of her body and therefore shows that she is in a weak, painful, grieving and depressing point in her life.

Media And Childhood Obesity

Media And Childhood Obesity Obesity is among one of the many global epidemics. Its impact affects all age groups. The attention of international and national foci has been sparked by the reported rising of prevalence of child and adolescent obesity for preventative and management action. (Bromfield, 2009). Childhood obesity is a major public health problem. A main contributing factor to childhood obesity has been identified as food advertising during childrens television programs (Udell Mehta, 2008). Media is present to inform the public and present them with arguments that support or oppose solutions to childhood obesity. Obesity affects approximately 20% of the youth in America and this number is always rising. The media can define public perceptions on issues by choosing what to present and how this information is presented. This technique is called framing and can define what problems are perceived to be important and what the causes and solutions might be. It is hypothesized that media has a negative infl uence on the obesity of children. Past research will further help investigate this problem. In an article by Harris, Bargh, and Brownell (2009), it is hypothesized that food advertising on television triggers children to automatically snack on whatever food is available. It is stated that advertisements for high calorie, low nutrient foods are common contributors to the obesity epidemic. Obesity is the fastest growing cause of disease and death in America. (Harris, Bargh, and Brownell). The trend is increasing among young people. Snacking at non-meal times occurred in 58% of food ads during childrens programming. Food advertising to children portrayed unhealthy eating behaviors with positive outcomes. An important source of priming influences is the media, including television programs and advertisements. Food and beverage advertisements convey extremely powerful food consumption cues, including images of attractive models eating, snacking at non-meal times and positive emotions linked to food consumption (Harris, Bargh, and Brownell). The messages presented in television f ood advertising have the potential to act as real world primes and lead to equivalent eating behaviors. The article predicted that food advertising that conveys snacking and fun will automatically prompt eating behavior among adults as well as children. Experiment 1 in this study proved that snacking while watching commercial TV with food advertisements for 30 min. per day would lead to a weight gain of almost 10 pounds per year. Childrens behavior was consistent with what they saw on television, thus an automatic connection between what they saw and how they reacted due to the effect of food advertisements. In Experiment 2, it was predicted that food advertising would also prime eating behavior among an adult sample, and whether effects of eating behavior are due to exposure to images. It was hypothesized that watching food advertising that promoted snacking, fun, and excitement will cause people to eat more of snack foods than advertising that has nutrition benefits. The experimen t supported the direct influence of the snack advertising on consumption. The experiments presented in this article were highly consistent with the hypothesis. Food advertising that promoted snacking, fun, happiness, and excitement contributed to increased food intake. A limitation found in this study is that real world exposure to food advertising occurs in many situations, and it is not definite that other situational factors could not have moderated the advertising effects (Harris, Bargh, and Brownell). Reactivity was minimized and external and internal validity were enhanced when the experimenters mocked TV-viewing conditions in a natural setting. Another limitation is that the specific advertising features that affected eating behaviors can not exactly be pinpointed. More research is needed to make certain that priming snacking versus nutrition benefits and not other features of the advertisements caused the effects on consumption behaviors (Harris, Bargh, and Brownell). In an article by Udell and Mehta (2008), it was hypothesized that the main causes of childhood obesity were advertisements of unhealthy foods, no physical activity, increased time in front of the television, and busy parents. Policy changes to food advertising, encouraging environments for physical activity, better environments for healthy eating and healthy eating strategies were presented as solutions (Udell Mehta). This study found one hundred and sixty-six newspaper articles published that reported on restricting television food advertising to children as a solution to childhood obesity. Young children were found to be vulnerable to manipulation of these food advertisements. This study suggested that children need to be protected from high exposure to advertisements by encouraging them to eat foods with high energy and low nutrients (Udell Mehta). The article found that childhood obesity was caused by advertising of junk foods and a lack of physical activity due to the amount o f television watched. The media often links unhealthy foods with something catchy. For example, McDonalds shows viewers that if a happy meal is purchased, the child will receive a toy. This gives a misperception to children that they will be rewarded when consuming unhealthy foods. Most of the food advertising for children was for high fat content low-nutrient foods, and this was giving children the wrong idea of what is healthy. A positive correlation was found between a childs weight and the amount of time children spent on focusing their attention on media. This study emphasized the role of the media in advertising to children as a factor in childhood obesity. The articles that were analyzed were from July 1st, 2002 to July 1st, 2005, which was a time period where obesity was becoming an outbreak. The articles were 150 words or less and the main themes throughout these articles were concerning restrictions on food advertising to reduce obesity among children. Most of the results were constant with the idea that there should be restrictions on advertising. However, many articles suggested that television advertising had no effect on children and that the inactive lifestyle of a child was the main reason for their weight. The findings of this article were limited because there were only 166 articles selected and there could have been more data to support the hypothesis. The time period was also a limitation in this study because it was only within a 3 year span of time. During those years, obesity had just come to the publics attention so little was known of the actual cause. A study by Bromfield (2009) summarizes the negative physical and nonphysical outcomes for obese children compared with their non-obese peers. Obesity has been identified as a major risk factor for the development of common chronic and disabling conditions. Obese children have an increased risk of psychosocial and mental problems that can continue into adulthood. (Bromfield) Low self-esteem was presented in this article as the most common consequence of obesity. Other studies linked obesity to disordered eating, unhealthy weight control behaviors, bulimia, body esteem, and distorted body image. Obesity can become a child protection concern. Over-feeding of children by adults can be observed as producing extensive harm. Studies found that obese children with low levels of self-esteem engaged more in high-risk behaviors like smoking or alcohol consumption. (Bromfield) Research suggested that children who were overweight would encounter bullying as a consequence of their weight. It was a lso said that levels of education seem to be inversely correlated with body weight. A study in China found lower IQ scores in cases where children were severely obese compared to average weight peers. A survey was conducted for overweight children who rated their school performance and educational future lower than their non-overweight peers. Obese children often blamed their weight as a reason for having few friends and being left out from social activities. Weight bias and stigma in this article refers to weight-related attitudes that are displayed as stereotypes, stigma, rejection, and prejudice towards children because they are overweight or fat. (Bromfield) Current detrimental beliefs in the Western World include fat, ugly, awkward, overeaters, lazy, stupid, and worthless. Treatment for childhood obesity has been considered, including diet changes, exercise, surgery, medication and psychotherapeutic interventions. Parental involvement has been believed to be a main factor for t he most effective intervention. Limitations in this study could be location, as US studies dominated the UK studies. Also, even though research has shown that obese and overweight children are the targets of stigma, more evidence would be needed to understand its nature and impact and how outside factors such as age, race, weight status, and disability act as mediators or moderators (Bromfield). Media influence on childhood obesity is talked about more in research led by Harris and Bargh (2009). Investigation shows that childrens food preferences are acquired through learning processes which have long-lasting effects on diet. It was hypothesized that a specific type of food gains higher taste rating if it was advertised rather than it not being advertised. It was also predicted that there is a correlation between the time spent watching television at a young age and an unhealthy diet later on in their life. This is partially due to television advertising of food products which may influence ones perceived taste of the unhealthy food. It is debated in this article who is to blame for the overweight children: the food industry or the parents. Research has shown the crucial role of parents in early learning of food preferences, as they start to develop early in children. Peers, social institutions, the media, and culture are all considered to play a role in the spread of food p references (Harris Bargh). Children learn about their social world openly through observation of the media. Children learn while watching television that foods filled with calories and are high in fat and sugar taste great and are rewarding to eat. Food products make up the most highly advertised category on television that children watch most, 98% of the foods consisting of low nutritional value. The average child watches 15 television food ads per day, promoting unhealthy food products and thus promoting that eating fatty foods is fun, happy, and cool. (Harris Bargh) Research also shows television viewing and unhealthy eating habits are linked. Effects of television food advertising include greater recollection, preferences and requests to parents for the advertised products. Planned solutions to protect children from the unhealthy influence of television and food advertising included public service media campaigns, parent-child communication, and reductions in exposure to unhea lthy messages on television (Harris Bargh). In this article, it was predicted that preceding television exposure would be related to greater perceived taste and enjoyment of unhealthy, highly advertised foods. Parental interventions were hypothesized to moderate the unhealthy influence of television exposure on diet, which depended on how parents conveyed the message to their children. To test these predictions researchers conducted a study on college students at a private university and a state college; 90 from the public university and 116 from the private university (a total of 206 students). These participants were asked to complete a 30-min online survey of childhood memories of their parents rules and television viewing. The results were constant with the predictions of the experimenter, as perceived taste was associated with consumption. Healthy food consumption was associated with higher taste ratings for healthy foods, and lower taste ratings for unhealthy foods. From the collected data, results indicate that as predicted, healthy food consumption was correlated with higher taste ratings for healthy foods and lower taste ratings for unhealthy foods (Harris Bargh). These findings supported the hypothesis that healthy and unhealthy diets are directly related to the perceived taste of healthy and unhealthy foods. The hypothesis that the relationship between early television viewing and unhealthy eating with children and adolescents continues into early childhood proved to be true with the results. Evidence consistently supports that children who watch more television simply like the taste of unhealthy foods more, especially those which have been highly advertised. Limitations of the data include the discrepancy of self reports. Participants could exhibit self-deception or biases which could lead to results that do not accurately represent participants actual behaviors and beliefs (Harris Bargh). A survey was conducted with college students, however a student population was examined that may not be truly representative of all young adults and college students. Results represent relationships between variables and cannot determine causation. In the final article, Moore and Rideout (2007) explain the importance of marketing communication tools and how it is being used by advertisers to target children. The article discussed how food marketing is impacting children and how it may be linked to obesity. It was explained that internet, specifically, is being used as a marketing communications tool to target children. The focus of this research was on the online marketing practices by advertisers and how their practices affect children. It was hypothesized that exposure to the media, especially online advertisements, influences dietary habits among children and alters their perception on foods (Moore Rideout). The study was conducted on major food advertisers by analyzing their Web sites from the summer to the fall of 2005 and 96 brands of food were used as candidates. There were three parts to the study: the features of the site, the specifics of the brand and how it was presented on the site, and games online. Results indic ated that 85% of the brands had content on their Web site that had content for children. It was estimated that there were around 49 million views by children aged 2-11 per year on Web sites. Of those sites viewed by children, an astounding 73% of them contained one food brand while 27% contained up to 41 brands. It was also observed that of the many food brands on the Web sites, most of them advertised unhealthy foods, like candy, salty snacks, and sugary drinks. The researchers established that the advertisements online influenced childrens perceptions on what to eat. Because children spend so much time online playing games or socializing, they are constantly being exposed to persuasive food advertisements and its leading to the assumption that children are becoming obese because of the lack of physical activities and that their perceptions of food were being altered. Given the right programming, television can be a prevailing tool of entertainment and education for children. Studies have been presented in this paper that television and media has very negative influences. Television is a destructive force through images and advertisements which can influence viewers to make poor food choices or to overeat. Excessive television watching can result in inactivity which leads to weight gain and poor levels of fitness. Children are especially targets of food advertisements and have been proven to be more vulnerable than adults to their influence. Results indicate that media indeed does play a crucial role in the prevalence of obesity among children. (Bargh Brownell, 2009; Bargh Harris, 2009; Moore Rideout, 2007; Udell Mehta, 2007). Evidence shows that advertisements have a strong impact on the way children distinguish what is healthy and what is unhealthy. Also assumed in the previous studies is that advertising companies are capable of persuading children very easily to consume their products and that the amount of advertising should be limited to solve the problem of obesity in America. These articles have provided significant insight on how media influences childrens eating habits. Obesity has become a rapid growing epidemic in this country and it is vital to understand the degree of the dangers of this disease. To further investigate the relationship between the influence of media and childhood obesity, it would be helpful to directly study childrens diets and the amount of time engaged in television and internet. The first step to solving this epidemic is by attacking the problem that has likely caused it-the media.

The Implementation Of Change Management In Maxis Information Technology Essay

The Implementation Of Change Management In Maxis Information Technology Essay Maxis are Malaysias leading telecommunications company and market leader with a total mobile phone subscriber base of more than seven million, as at 31 December 2005. Maxis continue to enhance how people communicate and live with an impressive array of innovative products and services. Maxis were the first to launch 3G Connect Card, PC Webmail, Video Mail and 3G prepaid. They are having significantly increased the 3G service coverage since its launch in July 2005, catering to more than 740 sites across Malaysia. The case study of Maxis was about the company taking a generation shifts at the top management (management team) to meet the challenges of the competitors and the unpredictable demands of the global competitors in a rapid changing and hostile environment. The study aims to analyze the implementation of change in Maxis and making a shift to update telecommunication technology from 2G to 3G. This was initiative taken by Maxis implementation of a generational shift in order to be competitive in global market is still questionable as the highly competitive market is indeed a tough to overcome. This study discussed: (a) The importance of change and the demand to be competitive. (b) The success of implementing the change process in Maxis (adopting and adapting the new technology) (c) Importance of organizational change in Maxis The Wireless Industry felt that inventing 3G network was critical in order to offer high-bandwidth services to their customers, or risk losing out to their competitors. Third generation mobile phones (3G) are at the introduction stage and a lucrative trend. Maxis were able to achieve market leadership because its constant efforts towards developing a corporate culture which fostered innovation. It wasnt easy for Maxis to maintain market leadership in the ever-changing telecommunications industry. The vision and dedication of its key personnel allowed Maxis to have a clear advantage over its competitors. Success and winning only comes naturally when the right people initiate and lead the charge to victory. The vision and mission of Maxis played a very important role in fostering innovation for a company that aspires to be the best based on a set of values that serves as a guiding principle in all its relationships, internally and externally, unifies and motivates its staff, provides clarity in its decision making, defines the way it conduct business to the community (Maxis website, 2004). 2.0 Change Management as a competitive advantage in Maxis To excel in todays business climate, organizations must continually deliver a varied range of products and services that provide high business value. Even the most successful enterprises can experience failure because they unsuccessfully manage change in software development. With more demand than ever for IT (Information Technology) to quickly and accurately achieve and support corporate objectives, IT organizations must cope with a continuous barrage of changes-changes in product requirements, technology, development processes, and deployment environments. As a result, telecommunication companies can only successfully deliver newer technology assets and applications to their current customers and attract new customer base through proactive management of change. The single, most constant factor in telecommunication companies is change (Becher, 1989). Telecommunication providing organizations and project teams must deal with rapidly changing business and product requirements, development methodologies, delivery technologies, and application architectures. For Maxis, there are compelling reasons to believe that 3G network will work around the skepticisms surrounding the technology and succeed. The 3-G network is broadband and 6 times faster than GPRS and three times faster than EDGE (Maxis Website). With its abilities to deliver video-based services, it opens the door to a brand new communications medium whereby the mobile experience is made more diverse, more interactive and more enjoyable than its technological predecessors. With launch of 3G in maxis, the telecom users will be able to talk to each other as well as to see each other face-to-face and share special moments as they happen. We get access to content; especially live TV and video streaming that is more diverse, richer and a lot more engaging and also very enhancing for the users. Adopting 3G, user can easy access to broadband connectivity on your mobile device and your laptop, anytime, anywhere and you dont have to look for Internet cables or phone lines ever again. The great advantage of 3G at this point is due to the low broadband service penetration currently. Above all, for mobile operators, 3G provides growth as the market for voice telephony matures. Data is set to rule the communications industry of the future and thus, 3G network would be a service to look forward to by customer in future. The major benefits that Maxis will be reaping by the proposed change management would be: 2.1 The need to reinvent the business as the business environment changes As the competitive pressures increase, the company needs to rethink its business strategy and position in the value chain by contributing both to differentiation and cost leader strategies is to simplify the value chain and move closer to customers through mobile services. 2.2 The need to be able to focus on the most differentiating activities Most operators still want to differentiate with new mobile services, content and portals. Extensive efforts are required to develop, launch and market with increasing time-to-market pressures and by being able to focus on these most differentiating activities is a significant benefit in view of a more complex technological environment in the future. 2.3 The need to improve operational efficiency After usual process optimization and competence development, the main source for cost efficiency is economies of scale. There is a need to increase the cost efficiency of basic technical operations irrespective of the operators competitive strategy. For very large operators and international operator groups, it is possible to gain significant economies of scale in-house. Small and medium sized operators should consider a managed service provider that could deliver benefits for their business by creating higher economies of scale on their behalf. 2.4 The need to improve quality of services and operations If Maxis manages the operations and network well with necessary capacity increases and modernization, the quality of service will be meeting the customers expectations. However, the quality is unlikely to be a differentiating factor as all the operators can deliver the same product. The new mobile services and applications provide excellent possibilities for quality differentiation and grabbing market share in a certain time window. The operators should make the most out of this with the chosen help of the experienced managed service provider. 2.5 The need to manage technology and operational challenges In traditional operator-vendor relationships, the operator has responsibility for deploying mobile services network technologies, billing and customer care readiness. This integration responsibility involved risk and managed services contract can be set up in a way to reduce this technology and operational risk by linking service providers incentives to operators business objectives. These drivers differ from one operator to another and each of these drivers needs to be considered carefully. Since outsourcing of technical operations is such a major change, it should be based on the correct and well considered reasons. 3.0 Fostering successful change management in Maxis Successful management improvement efforts require the active involvement of managers and staff throughout the organization to provide ideas for improvements and supply the energy and expertise needed to implement changes. Employees at all levels of high-performing organizations participate in and have a stake in improving operational and program performance to achieve results. High-performing organizations use a number of strategies and techniques to effectively involve employees, ie (1) Fostering a performance oriented culture, (2) Working to develop a consensus with unions on goals and strategies, (3) Providing the training that staff need to work effectively, and (4) Devolving authority while focusing accountability on results. Employees in high-performing organizations understand the importance of and the connection between their performance and the organizations success. The failure to constructively involve staff in an organizations improvement efforts means running the risk that the changes will be more difficult and protracted than necessary (Becher, 1989). The various steps for a successful organizational change in Maxis were: 3.1 Form the coalition. Once we create the commitment of what we want to our vision to be, the second step is to form a coalition of all stakeholders as well as both internal and external members of the organization. Its not only the senior management, but it is everyone that is involved with the company as well. 3.2 Envision the future (Implementation of 3G Pilot Launch) Envisioning the future is about painting a picture of what the firm is going to look like when this journey and transformation are complete. Many individuals who are part of the team will have difficulty understanding what the changes that are attempted to incorporate into the business really mean. They are going to ask how the change is going to affect the company and, more importantly, each individual within the company. This explained the pilot launch in Klang valley during the 3rd quarter of 2004. (The Star-In Tech, 22 June 2004). According to the news, Maxis Communications Bhd will initially roll out its 3G (third generation) mobile services in populated areas of the Klang Valley in the first 18 months to two years following its commercial launch by the end of 2004. Maxis revealed how, by offering these services, they would be able to grow significantly faster while providing the clients with a much higher value service, and this would create more opportunities for each of the stakeholders. At the same time, if they didnt change, they were going to fall behind in the industry, leaving fewer opportunities for employees, becoming a less important partner in the financial advisors growth, and not doing all that they could in assisting the investors to achieve their financial goals. It was not a very tough decision for the stakeholders once they had the information and time to confirm the vision. 3.3 Begin the transformation. Successful change is a real challenge because no one reacts well to change except the person that is driving it. When change comes, we all tend to immediately put our hands up and try to figure out how to avoid it. Behaviorists tell us that 80 percent of us are reactive thinkers who will do anything to avoid change. Twenty percent of us are creative thinkers, meaning we initially try to avoid the change, but then examine and judge whether its a good change or a bad change. If we think it is a good change we will incorporate it into our lives. If creative thinkers believe it is a change for the worse, they will just figure out ways to go around it. The only way to ensure that change occurs smoothly is to have a road map that outlines the process that will be incorporate into your firm to make it work for mutual benefit. 3.4 Embed it in the culture. Everything that was doing should be consistent with the commitment. For example, Maxis was constantly promoting 3G network advantage to their valuable customer over the country during the initial launch. This creates a sense of commitment for all the employees that they are undergoing change and it is therefore real and it creates a new culture. 3.5 Accelerate the pace. Maxis helped everyone see the increased competition and the need to differentiate it from all the other firms. Maxis understand the likely outcome if you dont make the changes. They know that it will be fine to be uncomfortable with change but that the winner in business will always be the one who most effectively adapts to the new environment. 3.6 Collaboration with other organizations According to Mobilecomms-technology.com, Maxis realized that the success of any 3G network relies on the availability of 3G handsets in the marketplace. A joint venture between Sony and Ericsson has been contracted by Maxis to provide 300,000 3G enabled handsets in a contract worth RM20 million for the period 2004-05. Maxis also intend to continue its close relationship with both Motorola and Siemens, and 3G handsets from these companies will also be available. Maxis also collaborated with Astro, especially in streaming live telecasts. Taken from the same article; Maxis mobile subscribers are also set to get video streaming services before the 3G network goes live, as Astro are to provide program clips, running at 64kbps and 24 frames per second, to the existing Maxis 2G GPRS Network. In addition, Motorola is installing its new push-to-talk over cellular service on the Maxis 2G network that will allow a single subscriber to connect with one or many users at one time via the single push of a button on their handset (this should see most use in the corporate market place for the easy arrangement of conference calls). 3.7 Continuously reinvent yourself High-performing organizations seek to involve and engage employees by devolving authority to lower levels of the organization. Employees are more likely to support changes when they have the necessary amount of authority and flexibilityalong with commensurate accountability and incentivesto advance the agencys goals and improve performance. Allowing employees to bring their expertise and judgment to bear in meeting their responsibilities can help agencies capitalize on their employees talents, leading to more effective and efficient operations and improved customer service. To continue usage of video streaming and video calls, Maxis has lowered the cost of 3G network charge toward their customer to increase the usage of it. The excerpt blow was taken from the article Maxis lowers cost of 3G adoption published on August 7, 2006. We are seeing a healthy uptake on 3G services with people coming on board at an incremental increase of 30% every month. We believe free video calling will further accelerate 3G adoption in Malaysia, said Maxis Head of Products and New Businesses, Dr. Nikolai Dobberstein. At the of end July, Maxis has 256,000 customers with 3G mobile phones in its base, of which 150,000 are active 3G users. By removing the cost barrier, Maxis hopes to drive up usage among 3G handset owners in its base and counter the prevalent notion of 3G being expensive. With Maxis continual low pricing strategy, we are turning that around and proving that Maxis 3G is as affordable as 2G, said Dobberstein. 4.0 Comments and Suggestions The success of the change implementation was due to the fact that it was an initiative from top management and it was clearly seen that the shift is urgent with the competitors in the market coming up with new invention. (It is an internal change and the change agent is the top management). This was congruent with one of the Organanizational Development principle, which stated that the Change Management should start from the top. According to Rothwell et al (2010), Organizational Development works best when it is supported by top managers. This is because top managers are traditionally the chief power brokers and change agents in the organization; they often control an organizations resources and reward system. The expertise of the staff was recognized and their ideas were discussed during meetings therefore capitalizing on their talents will enhance the operations and allow a smooth revolution of change. The staffs were committed to change and they were aware that there is pressure from the environment and Maxis have to differentiate from other firms and the change was necessary and the change is directed to positive results so there was no resistance to change. There is a need for change that was understood by employees. The management also has created the awareness of change. Change is inevitable, and this message was disseminated throughout the organization. This ensure low level of resistance to change. The collaboration with Sony, Ericson, Motorola and Astro has strengthen the change as companies supporting each other in terms of sharing of network, video streaming has led to a win -win situation in the corporate market. However, the change process in Maxis was a success but the future has yet to be seen in this era of companies coming up with new intervention and innovation to have the competitive advantage but the war is not over yet for Maxis as further strategies to combat the competitions need to be planned ahead of time so as to meet the demands of the future market in the era of globalization. The group view that other strategies such as new design and more practical models may be able to penetrate the market apart from technology which is the main area of competitiveness as customers of today do not only value the update of technology but the design has cosmetic value and it influence the user in the trendy world of today. 5.0 Conclusion The telecommunication industry felt it was not practical and risky to launch 3G network in the market because it final result is quite unpredictable. It could be said that the industry as well as stakeholders still felt sceptical even though the pilot plant was considered a success. However after the implementation, Maxis has proved that it had been successful in term of change management. This was proved by statistics from The Mobile World that noted Maxis ended Q1 06 with some 8.2 million customers giving them a market share of 42.5%. The country has a population penetration rate of 80%. Even though this could be directly linked to 3G, but it is not to be denied that 3G contributed a major part in the increase of market share. This notion was strengthen by the fact that Maxis has the most extensive integrated 3G network coverage in all major cities in the country. The Klang Valley, Penang, Johor Bahru, Kuantan, Alor Setar, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and other cities are now with 3G connectivity. Today, Maxis have over 300 buildings with Maxis 3G/2G transmitters, and also over 350 Maxis Utopia and Airzà «d WLAN hotspots.   After the tremendous success in Malaysia, Maxis planned to penetrate 3G in Indonesia (end of year 2006) using the same change management plan. Thus, the well planned change can bring the expected result in the end. The change plan is very important to make a company to be market leader or sustain in the market.

California Youth Authority :: essays research papers

The California Youth Authority or the CYA as it is more commonly known, is an institution which provides a range of education, treatment, and training services for youthful offenders committed by courts. This system has been plagued by multitudes of problems for many years that need to be fixed. â€Å"The California Youth Authority is responsible for the protection of society form the criminal and delinquent behavior of young people(Hill, Legislative Analyst).† This is reached mainly through custodial control of these juveniles and the implementation of vocational, education, health, and mental health treatment services. As of now, CYA uses large, remote, high-security facilities. They may be called "schools," but with about 400 kids in each one, they are more like warehouses, storing wards until they are ready for release. For decades, experts and officials have dismissed this model as incapable of meeting the juvenile justice system’s goal of rehabilitating youth. The CYA is clearly not working the way the way that it was designed to run. For instance, three out of four wards who end up in the California Youth Authority are arrested on new criminal charges within three years of their release, which proves the institution's failure to rehabilitate the state's most troubled juvenile offenders. Experts say the high number does not address how much California could gain from approaches used in other states (like Mississippi) such as housing wards in smaller facilities, providing intensive treatment programs, and offering more supervision and assistance after a ward is released. â€Å"In smaller, rehabilitation centers, youth would be under the supervision of trained social workers and mental health experts – not prison guards.(LAO Report, pg. 7).† This would allow the offenders to be in closer contact with their families, as well as a variety of services. The average age of a CYA institution is 43 years old. This means the there are many maintenance and repair needs and, at some point, many buildings will have to be replaced. Also, the population that many of the institutions were designed for 40 or 50 years ago is different than today’s youthful offender. â€Å"Finally, the ward population has decreased from a high of over 10,000 in 1996 to its current level of 4,300. This decline has resulted in overcapacity and presents an opportunity to consider closure(Lao Report, pg. 11).† Closing some institutions would save the state money, and enable the state to implement programs to lower recidivism rates.

The Regrets of a Time Gone By :: essays research papers fc

The Regrets of a Time Gone By Poetry is a language of understanding. The reader must be able to comprehend the various known connotations for words as well as be able to pick up on the uncommon and unknown meanings of words. Poets are masters of language. They constantly manipulate words to make a specific connotation fit the ideas and scenarios that they choose to describe. Therefore, poetry is a language that requires a reader to closely read and pay attention to certain aspects in order for he or she to understand the poet’s message. The poet, Robert Frost, takes the idea of a harvest and uses it as a metaphor to expound upon different aspects of life. In the poem, â€Å"After Apple-Picking,† Frost uses imagery, figurative language, and a reminiscent tone to demonstrate to the reader the various emotions and complications of life. What at first glance from the title seems to be a poem about picking apples is really a metaphor about retirement. The first idea the poem illustrates is that the speaker has no true desire to depart from his work. His â€Å"long two-pointed† ladder that still rest upon the same tree â€Å"toward heaven still† is a metaphor symbolizing his reluctance to leave and accept that the day is coming to an end (line 1)(line 2). He becomes unable to fulfill his last day’s work as though the completion of the task would make the finalization too real. He mentions the â€Å"barrel the [he] didn’t fill† and refers to â€Å"some apples that [he] didn’t pick† that still hang from â€Å"some bough† as though he is leaving something behind that he truly cares about or some matter of unfinished business (line 5). The speaker struggles between feelings of regret and feelings of satisfaction as he ponders his accomplishments and the opportunities that he let pass him by in life. His emotions run the gamut from lament to fulfillment as he slightly regrets the fact that he is â€Å"done with apple-picking now (line 6).† He mentions an â€Å"essence of winter sleep† present in the air which is easily interpreted as a sense of hibernation or a long restful and peaceful slumber that is sure to come very soon (line 7). Grounding this poem in reality reassures the fact that it is after a long day, or era, and the speaker is reflecting on all that has passed him by in that time.

The US Capitol Building Essay -- United States Capitol American Histor

The US Capitol Building Our nation's revolution was a great achievement in U.S History. With the dawn of a new nation, there would have to be a central location to make the new decisions of our country. Our capitol has stood as the heart of our country since the late 1700s. The United States capitol is among the most architecturally impressive and symbolically important buildings in the world. For almost two centuries it has housed the meeting chambers of the senate and the House of Representatives. Begun in 1793, the capitol building has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored. Today our capitol stands as a monument to the American people and their government. (AOC.gov) "Where to put a nation's capitol?" was the exact question that irritated George Washington and a man by the name of Pierre L'Enfant, city planner and engineer. "The District of Columbia is a perfect site; its in the middle of the 14 states, halfway between Massachusetts and Georgia," exclaimed Washington. Being near to the ocean so that many people can get to it easily. In 1790, Congress passed the "Residence Act," which provides that the federal government will be located in a permanent site on the Potomac River by 1800. Pierre Charles L'Enfant develops plan for capital city; he and President Washington select site for "Congress House" on Jenkins Heights. With a location chosen the only task now is to design the capitol building. (Prolman, 5) "Five hundred dollars will be the reward for the architect who sets forth the plans for our nations new capitol building." Thomas Jefferson stated. He was also included in the long list of contestants who submitted thier construction designs. Three months after the contest ended, a man by the name of Dr .William Thorton submitted his designs of the capital. (Prolman, 5) His design was a Neo-classical plan that followed the classical style of ancient Greece and Rome. He drew a building that consists of two wings that extended north and south of a centural section. A huge cast-iron dome rests on the central section of the building.(World, 196) President Washington was very pleased with Dr. Thorton's plans and he was awarded first prize. Now it was time for Washington to lay the cornerstone on September 18, 1793.(National Park) Construction was a very labor intensive and time-consuming process. The sandstone... ...at about 10 million people come to visit this monument every year. Tours every thirty minutes of the capitol building are open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. everyday. For recorded information regarding tours of the Capitol, call 202-225-6827. (AOC.gov) Since the building of Congress was built it has been through many stages. Being the meeting house for the bodies that govern our land of the free since 1793. The United States Capitol is one of the greatest structures in the world also serving as a symbol to the people of our nation. It will forever be the heart of our nation.(New Book, 420) Bibliography Aikman, Lowell. "US. Captol, Citidel of Democracy" The National Geographic; August, 1952:147-162 AOC.Gov- The United States Capitol, http://www.aoc.gov National Park Science- US Capritol Building, Wed. May 17, 2000. http://www.cr.nps.govNR/travel/wash/dc76.htm New Book of Knowledge, The. "Capitol,US" Deluxe Library Edition, copyright 1999, vol. 3Cp. 420 Prolman, Marilyn. The Story of the Capitol. copyright 1969, p. 5-9 World Book Encyclopedia, "Capitol, US" Vol. 3, Ch. C, Copyright 1996, p. 196

Prosecuting Argument Essay

Prosecuting Argument Paper In presenting its case against, Mr. Stu Dent involving the deceased victim, Uma Opee, the prosecution intends to show the elements of crime are present in each of the charges lodged against the defendant, Stu Dents. Members of the team will provide a specific law for each charge which may be found in one of the following states; Indiana, Minnesota, and Texas. However, the prosecution team has decided that it will pursue this particular case in the great State of Texas, as it feels that it will receive a greater chance of achieving its goal of the severest punishment in the matter. Argument The prosecution’s argument is that the defendant is not only guilty of the charges brought against him in the matter of State v. Stu Dents but is liable as well because he knowingly and purposefully committed the crimes on the victim, Uma Opee. All three elements, mens rea, actus reus, and concurrence were present at the time. Mr. Dents was very detailed and meticulous in the manner in which he went about, as he penned in fulfilling his destiny in the journal found by officers in his home. This is considered premeditated. Probable cause has been established in connecting the defendant tothe crime through DNA testing. Officers found mor than 300 photographs stapled to a wall in a locked room located in the back of the defendant’s home. Three counts of possession will be sought for the MDMA also known as ecstasy, cocaine, and methamphetamine drugs found in the defendant’s home. Kidnapping as the victim was taken by force from her place of residence. Signs of cuts a nd bruises on the victim’s shows Uma put up a struggle. The victim’s hands and feet were tied with rope; particles of which were found in the victim’s home along with blood spots. The victim’s jewelry, specifically an inscribed ring, was found among the defendant’s possession. Lastly, the defendant intentionally assaulted a law enforcement officer when he punched Officer T. Chur in the face during his apprehension. Homicide Mr. Dents murdered the victim with malice and forethought. During the search of the defendant’s home, a journal was found. In the journal, Mr. Dents gives the details of how he purchased ropes, rags, and a sharp hunting knife. These items were purchased to fulfill the defendant’s destiny. The act of purchasing the supplies is premeditated and warrants the charge of capital murder. Capital murder is found under Sec. 19.03.of the Texas penal code. The part that applies to this case is section 19.02 (b) (1) along with number 2 of section 19.03. Section 19.03 number 2 of the Texas penal code (2011) states, â€Å"the person intentionally commits the murder in the course of committing or attempting to commit kidnapping, burglary, robbery, aggravated sexual assault, arson, obstruction or retaliation, or terroristic threat under Section 22.07(a)(1), (3), (4), (5), or (6).† Mr. Dents committed two of the offenses mentioned – kidnapping and burglary. Assault Moreover, on October 21st at 8:45 p.m., Stu Dents was arrested for numerous charges. One of which is the arrest by Officer T. Chur. Mr. Dents appeared agitated, irrational, and combative in his behavior. Mr. Dents then punched the officer while screaming obscenities. The defendant intentionally, knowingly or recklessly caused bodily injury to the victim. In the State of Minnesota there are no classifications for its felonies; they are instead broken into categories with punishments (StateLaws, n.d.). . In this matter, Mr. Dents assaulted a police officer which is a willful attempt or willful threat to inflict injury on another person. It may also include the act of intentionally frightening another person into fearing immediate bodily harm (Schmalleger, Hall, & Dolatowski, 2010, p.227). The victim was in fact a law enforcement officer on duty at the time of the offense. In the State of Minnesota 609.2231Assaul in the Fourth Degree. Subdivision 1. Peace officers. Whoever physically as saults a peace officer licensed under section 626.845, subdivision 1, when that officer is effecting a lawful arrest or executing any other duty imposed by law is guilty of a gross misdemeanor and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both. If the assault inflicts demonstrable bodily harm or the person intentionally throws or otherwise transfers bodily fluids or feces at or onto the officer, the person is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than three years or to payment of a fine of not more than $6,000, or both (Revisor of Statutes, 2012). Stu Dents felt no obligation to be placed in hand cuffs, therefore acted out and inflicted bodily pain towards Officer T. Chur. Kidnapping Mr. Dents has been charged with kidnapping in the crimes committed against the victim, Uma Opee. Indiana Code (IC) 35-42-3-2 Version b Kidnapping Sec. 2 (b) A person who knowingly or intentionally removes another person, by fraud, enticement, force, or threat of force, from one place to another (Indiana Codes, n.d.). This a Class A Felony in the State of Indiana and carries penalty if convicted and a fine of up to $10,000 (Thomas, 2013). Some examples of a Class A felony include the following: Rape, Kidnapping, Child Molesting, Dealing in Cocaine, a Narcotic Drug of Methamphetamine in an amount over three (3) grams, and Armed Robbery resulting in injury. As we know, there was evidence of a struggle, blood spots, and particles from the rope found on the carpeting of the victim’s home. The coroner has determined that Uma bled to death from the stab wounds inflicted. Since, there were signs of bleeding in the victim’s home, yet her body was transported to another place whe re she was later discovered with her hands and feet bound; we are seeking a charge of kidnapping. Burglary Burglary is breaking or entering into a dwelling or structure with the intent to commit a crime. In the case of the State v. Stu Dents two eyewitnesses saw Mr. Stu Dent walks through the Broadway apartments to Ms. Uma Opee’s apartment 156, and goes inside. There were no signs of forced entry or if Mr. Stu Dent had a key. During an investigation of the defendant’s home, jewelry was found belonging to the victim. It was an inscribed ring with the victim’s name. The ring was later identified by coworkers as a ring the victim wore on a daily basis, including the day of her disappearance. The state of Indiana is charging Mr. Stu Dent with Burglary IC 35-43-2-1which is â€Å"a â€Å"class â€Å"B† Felony that carries a penalty upon conviction of a fixed term between six (6) and twenty (20) years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.00 (Thomas, 2013)†. The State of Indiana will prosecute Mr. Stu Dent, because there is enough evidence in the case with the two witnesses and the evidence from the victim apartment to support the fact that Mr. Stu Dent was at the crime scene and involved in the crime. Possession of drugs When arrested, the defendant had no illegal drugs in his system. However, the illegal drugs found in the defendant’s possession are ecstasy, cocaine, and methamphetamine was found in the possessions of the defendant. Cocaine powder residue was found on the defendant’s coffee table in the defendant’s living room. This is a perfect place to bag the product. Ecstasy with a â€Å"thumbs-up† imprint was found under a table in the victim’s living room. The victim had no drugs in her system, and had completed court-ordered rehabilitation two months before her death. There is only one possible conclusion. Mr. Dent was in possession of said drugs. Possession or Delivery of Drug Paraphernalia (using or possessing with intent to use) [Tex. Health & Safety Code  § 481.125(a), (d)]. In the State of Texas it depends on the amount, weight and classification of the drugs in determining the sentence. Conclusion The prosecution is prepared to produce all the evidence in this case to show the jury that in the case of the State v. Stu Dent that Mr. Stu Dent is guilty of homicide, assault of a police officer, kidnapping, burglary, and crimes related to drugs. The prosecution will take this case step by step to show the jury all the elements are present for a conviction in this case. The actus reus shows in the evidence that Ms. Uma Opee the victim was repeatedly stabbed 13 times and tied up. The mens rea shows that there was a guilty mind and a criminal intent, because Mr. Stu Dent wall was completely covered with photographs of the victim in various locations and situations. It did not appear that the victim knew her picture was being taken. The police found over 300 photographs of the victim stapled to his wall. Insomuch, his journal detailed his first meeting with the victim up to the night she was murdered. The entries discussed purchasing rope, rags, and a sharp hunting knife. The prosecut ion will also show that Mr. Stu Dent assaulted a police officer, kidnapped, burglarized, and drugs were found in his apartment. We are seeking justice not only for the victim Ms. Uma Opee, but also her family. Mr. Stu Dent is being charged with five crimes and we are asking the jury to find him guilty on all counts. References Minnesota Statutes (2012). The Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved from: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=609.2231 Penal Code Title 5, (2011) Offenses against the Person, Chapter 19; Criminal Homicide, Retrieved from: http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/PE/htm/PE.19.htm on 9/11/2013 Punishment Range (2012) Penal Code Offenses. Retrieved from: https://www.oag.state.tx.us/AG_Publications/pdfs/penalcode.pdf on 9/11/2013 Thomas, R. G. (2013). Classes of offenses in Indiana. Retrieved from: http://www.defenselawyerindiana.com/levels.html Schmalleger, F., Hall, D. E., & Dolatowski, J. J. (2010). Criminal Law Today (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall State laws. Retrieved from: http://statelaws.net/Minnesota-Felony.php http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title35/ar42/ch3.html

A Classical Story, a Baroque Interpretation, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini Essay

When told his son would surpass him in artistic brilliance, Pietro Bernini of Florence simply responded, â€Å"†¦remember, that in this game the loser wins† (Fagiolo 9). A conversation held in the distant past, there was no way for Pietro to know that his son, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, would come to be known as one of the most talented artists the world has ever seen. Fully immersed in the art world at a young age, Gian Lorenzo Bernini catapulted to artistic prominence soon after his initial commissions within the papacy. One of his earliest works, Bernini’s sculpture of Pluto and Proserpina not only illuminates Bernini’s astonishing skill in marble craft, but also serves as a perfect manifestation of Baroque ideals while simultaneously solidifying Bernini as a key artist of the Baroque art period which began its sweep across Europe during his lifetime. Gian Lorenzo Bernini was born on December 7th, 1598, in the city of Naples, Italy (Fagiolo 3). His father, Pietro Bernini, was a gifted Florentine sculptor who moved his family to Rome in 1606, the city in which Bernini would live until his death. In his youth, Bernini spent a great majority of his time and training in his father’s workshop; it was here that Pietro taught his son â€Å"to exercise hand and eye continually in his craft† (Fagiolo 3). After moving to Rome, his father worked for several years in the service of the Borghese Pope Paul V (Wittkower 3). Through his father’s fortunate connection with the papacy, the young and extremely gifted Gian Lorenzo caught the eye of the Pope and his nephew, Cardinal Scipione Borghese (Wittkower 3). This initial discovery launched Bernini into his lifelong successful artistic career. From 1618 onwards, Bernini was consistently employed, creating incredible and awe-inspiring artworks in the city of Rome: â€Å"For more than half a century he was sculptor-architect to eight popes, all of them†¦so respectful of Bernini’s genius that they gave him the richest commissions any artist has ever received† (Wallace 10). Following years of countless commissions—including what some might call his most prominent and well known, the architectural design of St. Peter’s Square outside of the Vatican—Bernini died on November 28th, 1680 at the age of 81, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy which is still pertinent in present day Italy: â€Å"†¦only the Romans had a greater influence on Rome than Gianlorenzo Bernini† (Bent). The story behind Bernini’s Pluto and Proserpina stakes its origins in ancient Greek mythology. Copied from the Greeks by the Romans, â€Å"The Rape of Persephone†Ã¢â‚¬â€daughter of the Greek goddess of the harvest, Demeter—was written in order to explain the forming of the four earthly seasons: fall, summer, spring, and winter (Fairbanks 176-178). In the story, Persephone is in a meadow, picking flowers as she walks, when she spies a narcissus flower that is â€Å"finer than the rest† (Fairbanks 178). As she stoops to claim it for her bouquet, the ground opens up and Hades, god of the dead, on his ghastly chariot, abducts Persephone and drags her to the underworld against her will (Fairbanks 178). Demeter, who discovers her daughter’s fate from Apollo, pleads with Zeus to return Persephone to her. (Fairbanks 179). To Demeter’s dismay, Persephone had ignorantly eaten pomegranate seeds of the underworld, and was therefore obliged to remain with Hades (Fairbanks 179). However, an agreement was made in which Persephone may spend half of a year in the underworld with her king, and the other half on Earth with her mother (Fairbanks 179). In the spring, when Persephone returns to the earthly realm, Demeter causes the flowers to grow in order to welcome her daughter home (Fairbanks 179). When Persephone must return to the underworld, Demeter mourns her daughter’s leaving, causing the leaves to wither and fall off the trees—and thus, the seasons were formed (Fairbanks 179). One of Bernini’s earlier works, the sculpture of Pluto and Proserpina is truly a wonder to behold. Completed in 1622 when Bernini was a mere twenty-three years old, the marble sculpture is larger than life and currently presides in the Borghese Gallery in Rome (â€Å"Pluto†). The sculpture, named for the Roman characters of myth, captures the very moment in which Pluto (Hades) has snatched his soon-to-be bride, Proserpina (Persephone), and drags her to his deathly realm. This is made apparent in the presence of Cerberus, the three-headed dog guardian of the underworld, who snarls ferociously under Proserpina’s writhing form. Pluto, with his firm grip, clasps Proserpina as she tries to flee from her somber king. However, Proserpina’s efforts are futile as Pluto is already successfully grounded in the underworld, and knows she cannot escape his clutches or a life spent in his shadowy kingdom. Pluto and Proserpina, as an artwork, serves as a pinnacle of Baroque values. The Baroque period, which began approximately around the year 1600—two years after Bernini’s birth—marked a severe transition in European artistic ideals: â€Å"In comparison with the art of the High Renaissance, Baroque art is†¦more colorful, higher-pitched, and ‘theatrical. ’ Baroque art makes a direct appeal to the emotions of the viewer† (Wallace 11). In this regard, Pluto and Proserpina is dead on—as Proserpina strains against the force that is Pluto, the emotion portrayed via the body language and faces of both is a clear example of Baroque style. â€Å"Bernini interpreted this†¦as a conflict between brutal lust and desperate anguish,† a notion which is made clear in movement of the sculpture (Wittkower 4). As Proserpina struggles with all of her might, she pushes her left hand against Pluto in a feeble attempt at escape, all the while marble tears roll down her cheeks, an expression of anxiety and sadness written clearly on her face. Pluto, whose taut, muscular legs and firm grip on Proserpina’s thigh and stomach, has won his prize and intends to claim it—he looks on the struggling form of Proserpina with a hint of a smirk and nothing but desire in his eyes. The expressions Bernini gave the two only emphasize his influence on fundamental Baroque elements: â€Å"Baroque gestures in†¦sculpture are vividly dramatic†¦Facial expressions†¦are so explicitly rendered that they verge on caricature† (Wallace 11). The scene that Bernini portrays in Pluto and Proserpina is nothing short of emotive, dramatic, theatrical, steeped in movement, and utterly Baroque. Depicting a quintessential classical tale, Bernini’s sculpture of Pluto and Proserpina was created shortly after the conclusion of the High Renaissance, an art period in which â€Å"ancient celebrations of the human figure, together with the optimistic spirit of the early sixteenth century, fostered an unprecedented interest in the figure as art† (Wood 138). Artists practicing within the Baroque period took this appreciation of the human figure and aimed to embellish it with drama, movement, and sensation. Bernini’s Pluto and Proserpina does exactly that—maintaining the High Renaissance’s desire for classicism and appreciation of the individual, Bernini expertly crafts idyllic human forms while simultaneously adding Baroque flourish to the work. The rippling, muscular form of Pluto reflects attention to the male figure similar in quality to that of Michelangelo’s David, yet differs severely in Pluto’s movement versus David’s stagnant pose (Michelangelo’s). As Pluto lunges into the underworld with his fleshy prize, there is distinct sense of mobility and, in essence, story-telling within the work. David, on the other hand, is found lacking in both action and drama—in a relaxed stance, David has his slingshot casually slung over his left shoulder, holding the stone listlessly in his right hand. Despite the fact that David is wearing an expression of what seems to be concentration or concern, Michelangelo’s work is a far cry from the emotional drama present in Pluto and Proserpina. Through Bernini’s portrayal of the contrasting feelings of Pluto and Proserpina in such an exaggerated and dramatic way, the audience is caught up in the moment of the story as if they are actually experiencing it. Static statues such as Michelangelo’s David, however, leave the viewer rooted in time and place, contemplating what the work has potential to do, without actually witnessing it. Despite the truly amazing artistic prowess behind Pluto and Prosperpina, not to mention the fact that the work was created almost four hundred years ago, Bernini’s massive portfolio of work has only recently been circulating the art world in terms of its analysis and critique. â€Å"Bernini himself predicted that his reputation would diminish after his death; his art is much concerned with emotion and faith, and†¦he sensed†¦these qualities would not be the most admired in the age of reason† (Wallace 10). Praised for years by eight different papacies, Bernini’s remarkable artwork fell by the wayside, and was even slandered by English art critic John Ruskin who believed it was â€Å"impossible for false taste and base feeling to sink lower† than Bernini’s work (Wittkower 1). However, although his reputation as an artist hit an all-time low in the Victorian era due to Ruskin’s harsh critique, Bernini is finally beginning to receive the recognition he deserves. With transportation more readily accessible than ever before in combination with he notion â€Å"†¦that citizens of the late 20th century, having seen what a botch men of reason have made of the world, are increasingly open-minded toward men of feeling,† Bernini’s work is only now, within the last one hundred years or so, being considered by art historians, as implausible as it may seem (Wittkower 12). Pluto and Proserpina, though an exceptional work of art, is one of Bernini’s lesser-studied sculptures—it is next to impossible to find any sort of analysis of the work. Yet, even though it is not considered to be his best work—if even considered at all—those who have had the chance to observe and contemplate it recognize Bernini’s sheer technical expertise as exhibited in Pluto and Proserpina. In an article from The North American Review, Bernini is considered â€Å"the soul of his age† in that he provided â€Å"a solid, emotional core† to â€Å"a theatrical style like Baroque† (Bent). The article praises Bernini as â€Å"a master of detail who always built his figures around a single, dramatically potent gesture. His ‘Pluto Abducting Proserpina’ is a case in point† (Bent). More praise for Bernini comes from author John Wallace, who, in his book, The World of Bernini, describes the sculpture of Pluto and Proserpina as â€Å"†¦one of the most remarkable in carved†¦sculpture† in terms of its astounding physical and psychological realism (Wallace 18). As â€Å"†¦an artist whose influence on his time is without parallel in history,† Bernini was undoubtedly a crucial artist in the foundation of the Baroque movement (Wallace 9). Born two years prior to the dated beginning of the Baroque period, Bernini spent his entire life creating works of art steeped in Baroque ideals—works of movement, drama, and emotion. The sculpture of Pluto and Proserpina does nothing but emphasize this notion of Bernini’s reign as a leading Baroque artist in Rome. Despite the fact that his reputation as an incredibly accomplished artist diminished drastically in the years following his death in 1680, Bernini is without a doubt one of the most skilled artists to have ever lived. Without Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s considerable contributions, the Eternal City of Rome would be found lacking in the majority of its artistic grandeur, and the Baroque period would be missing an absolutely essential founding father.