How are social relations expressed in consumption practices Use Essay

How are social relations expressed in consumption practices Use detailed ethnographic examples in your answer - Essay Example They get socially attached to other people by doing these activities. The understanding level of relation between consumption practices and social relationship is complex because it has become a very common part in the society. People do not bother to remember the experiences that are gained through real life activities. Acknowledgement is a powerful mode of communication and it creates positive relationship among human beings in society. Many anthropologists have observed the change in human nature from the past era to recent contemporary era. They share knowledge to the society regarding socio-culture, archaeology and biological anthropology based on the relevant observations. In the modern world, consumers not only make decisions based on service or product attributes but also based on several emotional elements, such as joy, anxiety, fear and feelings. This essay explains how social relations are expressed in consumption practices with the help of case-studies and ethnographic ex amples. In the modern world, it is believed that betterment of a society or country is directly proportional to the enhancement of consumption process. Though it might seem that it is only based on economic perspective but there are scenarios, where it has been observed that consumption processes have integrated the social relationship within human society. Human experiences are valuable and exchange of knowledge is possible only by communication processes. People communicate with each other in general contexts and it helps them to enhance their own knowledge and skills. For an example, according to Kabyle of Algeria in the ‘Outline of a Theory of Practice’ there is an important significance that provides the understanding of a social anthropological study. According to the study, social influence is imposed on an individual through education and socialization and is expressed through cultural practices, such as consumption (Barnard, 2001, p.570). Knowledge about anything is

Rosemarie Zagarri, A Woman's Dilemma Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Rosemarie Zagarri, A Woman's Dilemma - Essay Example The term was first used in the US, and it was referred to as measures that were to be taken to conquer discrimination across the state. In the Woman’s Dilemma by Zagarri, the affirmative actions were practiced to promote equality and fight the dilemma, to promote their representation in the government institution. The position of women in the government institution has been questionable in the past centuries. However, in the 18 centuries factors such as enlightenment ideas towards women came up. Furthermore, issue of equality, the women’s natural rights, women voting and involvement in politics challenged the assumption. We notice that the women abilities in the political field are being reviewed in a positive way. Women received insufficient support to be part of the formal political world. Indeed, this has been a dilemma to women, most nations across the globe have been committed to equality and yet women have been excluded from the government position in the politica l field (165). However, ensuring that women are empowered in field of political will give the community an opportunity to learn and make every person to be responsible in ensuring democracy. In addition, these questions are not only raised in the current century but they were also asked during war time as countries were fighting for independent. Women were majorly expected to be involved in domestic matters as well as material responsibility in their homes. Furthermore women were prevented from voting as a result of their mental deficiency, â€Å"deficiency in their mental power†. This is not the case to have mental deficient but because of their mode of life that prevents them from being in contact with the outside world. This cannot be a factor to consider that women can make it in the political fields (165). Women being given an opportunity to explore the world they are usually productive in the field. Across the globe positions held by women in the political field have be en productive compared to their male counterparts. When mental characteristic are taken as tools to determine that an individual has political capabilities rather than body features then women are not to be excluded from taking part in the political field. For instance Mrs. Catre in Zagarri (67) stated that sexes difference are minor and they should not be a tool to hinder women from participation in government positions â€Å"mere â€Å"sex†. Seeing it as a situation it is physical and has a minor essential for it to influence the caprice of civil position on the degree of an individual and in the leadership position. Education was doubtless to explain that women will expand their horizon and have a desire of being involved in the political field. In the year 1828, politicization in women was seen as a liability, women were viewed as weak and they cannot demonstrate leadership because of how they have been handled in the society since time in memorial. Women were not seen a s assets, and they were not able to contribute to the political climate which was divisive. However, this is not the case, enlightening women has brought them to get to understand the political environment and how to manage it. In the past society women were seen as inferior and could only manage an environment such as handling domestic chores. According to the writer, she tries to bring the context where the women were being defended from being involved in a harsh environment such as a political climate

Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome: Causes and Treatment

Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome: Causes and Treatment Overview In a normal heart, the electrical impulses that signal the heart to beat only flow in one pathway, which begins in the sinoatrial node, or SA node, located in the right atrium. When the SA node fires, the single is spread through the right and left atria causing the chambers to contract. The impulses then travel through the atrioventricular node, AV node, which is the bridge that allows the impulses to flow from atria to the ventricles. The AV node slows down the electrical signal before sending it to the ventricles. This slight delay allows the ventricles to fill with blood. When electrical impulses reach the muscles of the ventricles, they contract, causing them to pump blood either to the lungs or to the rest of the body. When the electrical signal reaches the ventricles, the chamber them to contract. In wolf-Parkinson-white syndrome, also known as WPW, an extra conduction pathway to the ventricles reaches the chambers quicker the normal. This is because impulses travel through the extra pathway as well as the normal AV node system. The impulses travel in a circular pattern. This circular pattern causing the heart to beat unusually beating patterns called arrhythmia. The arrhythmias are conserved an electrical abnormalities called pre-excitation syndromes, and they are in many forms. In Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, the most common form of arrhythmia is known as paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. Many people with WPW also experience atrial fibrillation, an irregular rapid heart rhythm. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is present at birth, but the first symptoms often first appear in teens. WPW is one of the most common causes of fast heart rate in infants and children. The syndrome affects about 1 to 3 people in 1,000 people worldwide, but many do not everyone experience symptoms. IN China 70 percent of cases of abnormal heart, rhythm is due to WPW. The extra electrical pathway in the heart doesnt necessarily cause a fast heartbeat. However, this condition makes it possible for other processes to increase the heartbeat, including: Looped electrical impulses, Disorganized electrical impulses Looped electrical impulses. The problem with a fast heartbeat usually occurs in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome because electrical impulses travel down one pathway and up the other one, creating a loop of signals. This condition, called AV reentrant tachycardia, sends impulses to the ventricles at a very rapid rate. The ventricles, as a result, pump very quickly. Disorganized electrical impulses. If electrical impulses dont begin correctly in the right atrium, they may travel across the atria in a disorganized way, causing them to beat very quickly and out of step with each other. This condition is called atrial fibrillation. These disorganized signals also increase the pumping rate of the ventricles to some extent. If theres an extra electrical pathway, as with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, the ventricles can beat even faster. The ventricles dont have time to fill up with blood and dont pump enough blood to the body. This less common condition can be life-threatening. History In 1930, Wolff, Parkinson and White described a distinct electrocardiograph (ECG) pattern in healthy young people with short bursts of tachycardia. In 1933, other doctors noted the reason for this irregular rhythm was a faster passage of impulses traveling through the ventricles. In 1944, doctors confirmed the presence of extra pathways. Causes The extra electrical pathway of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is present at birth. Little known to why the extra pathway delopes, but can be caused by sporadic occurrence, and is linked abnormal gene and inheritance, which accounts for a small a small percentage of cases. In most cases, the cause of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is unknown. Most of WPW occurs randomly in the general population, occurring in about 0.1 to 3.1 per 1,000 persons. men have a higher incidence of WPW than women do, for uknown reasons A small percentage of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is caused by a mutation of the PRKAG2 gene. The mutation of the gene is also linked to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a form of heart disease that enlarges and weakens the cardiac muscle of the left ventricle. The PRKAG2 gene codes for a protein that is part of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) enzyme. AMPK is believed to be involved in the development of the heart before birth, as well helps mangae the energy demands within the heart. Researchers are uncertain how PRKAG2 mutations lead to the development of WPW, but is due to the altered activity of AMP-activated protein kinase in the heart. It is unclear if the changes cause overactivate enzyme or reduce enyme activity. It is know though that the AMPK mutation allows glycogen to build up abnormally within cardiac muscle, as well as being related to changes in the regulation ion channels in the heart, which play critical roles in maintaining the hearts normal rhythm. Most cases of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome occur in people with no apparent family history of the condition, and accounts for only a small percentage of all cases of this condition. The inheritory disorder typically has an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. Some cases of WPW are inherited. Parents who have accessory pathways may pass them on to their children. Research has indicated that incidence of preexcitation in first-degree relatives could be as high as 5.5 per 1,000 persons. About 7 to 20 percent of patients with WPW also have congenital defects within the heart. Symptoms The extra connection in the heart, called an accessory pathway, that allows electrical signals to bypass the atrioventricular node and move from the atria to the ventricles faster than usual. The accessory pathway also can transmit electrical impulses abnormally from the ventricles back to the atria, causing an additional contraction of the atria, leading to an abnormally fast heartbeat, called tachycardia and other arrhythmias. About 80 percent of people with symptoms first have them between the ages of 11 and 50. Complications of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome can occur at any age, although some individuals born with an accessory pathway in the heart never experience any health problems associated with the condition. Resulting symptoms of the arrhythmias are dizziness, a sensation of fluttering or pounding in the chest called palpitations, shortness of breath, fainting, and rarely associated with cardiac arrest and sudden death. Some people have WPW without any symptoms at all. The most common arrhythmia associated with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is called paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. A person experiencin an tachycardia episode will have heart rate greater than 230 beats per minute and normal blood pressure. An episode of a tachycardia begin suddenly and last for a few seconds or several hours, and often happen during exercise. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome often occurs with other structural abnormalities of the heart or underlying heart disease. The most common heart defect associated with the condition is Ebstein anomaly, which affects the valve that allows blood to flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle (the tricuspid valve). Additionally, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome can be a component of several other genetic syndromes, including hypokalemic periodic paralysis (a condition that causes episodes of extreme muscle weakness), Pompe disease (a disorder characterized by the storage of excess glycogen), and tuberous sclerosis (a condition that results in the growth of noncancerous tumors in many parts of the body). Treatments Treatments for WPW depends on the type , frequency, and associated symptoms of the arrhythmias experienced. tachycardia may correct itself, but often needs treatment. The goal of treatments for Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is to slow a fast heart rate when it occurs and prevent future episodes. Ways to slow your heartbeat include: Vagal maneuvers. Medications, and surgerys. Whether a person will be treated with medication or with an ablation procedure depends on several factors. These include the severity and frequency of symptoms, risk for future arrhythmias and patient preference. Vagal maneuvers affect the vagus nerve, which is the same nerve that regulate heartbeats, and is usally the first treatment tried. Vagal maneuvers, which include coughing, bearing down as if you are having a bowel movement, and putting an icepack on your face, are often performed during an episode of a fast heartbeat. These actions sometimes resulting in slowed conduction of electrical impulses through the AV node. If vagal maneuvers do not stop the fast heartbeat, often medicine is needed. Often an injection of an anti-arrhythmic medication, such as adenosine, or pill versions of drugs, such as flecainide (Tambocor) or propafenone (Rythmol), may be percribed to be taken in response to episode of a fast heartbeat that doesnt respond to vagal maneuvers. Anti-arrhythmic medications may prevent a fast heart rate all together when taken regularly. Medications are usually given to people who experience frequent arrhythmias who cannot, or do not want to undergo surgery. In people with WPW, whose heart rate can not be controlled with medications, ablation can improve symptoms and cure the abnormal arrhythmias. The most common procedure used to interrupt the abnormal pathway is radiofrequency, also known as or catheter ablation. This procedure involves inserting a catheter in an incision in the groin area and running the catheter to the heart area. Electrodes at the catheter tips are heated to damage (ablate) the extra electrical pathway and prevent it from sending electrical signals. When the catheter reaches the heart, the extra electrical pathway is destroyed using radiofrequency. This procedure is highly effective with a success rate for the procedure ranges between 85 95%, and complications which can include heart injury or infection are uncommon. Successful ablation ends the need for medication. Another procedure done to elevate the symptoms of Wolff-parkinson-white syndrome is cardioversion. cardioversion is a procedure where a shock is delivered to your heart through paddles or patches on your chest. The current affects the electrical impulses in your heart and restores a normal rhythm. Its typically used when maneuvers and medications arent effective. When all other forms of treatments have not worked open-heart surgery is almost 100 percent. However, because radiofrequency catheter ablation is almost as effective and less invasive, surgery for Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is now rare. However, surgery is usually done only if the patient must have surgery for other reasons. Social implications A person with WPW have several Social implications they must deal with. Since Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome often occurs with other structural abnormalities of the heart or underlying heart disease, a person monitor there heart health carefully. In Addition to this several other genetic syndromes, including hypokalemic periodic paralysis (a condition that causes episodes of extreme muscle weakness), Pompe disease (a disorder characterized by the storage of excess glycogen), and tuberous sclerosis (a condition that results in the growth of noncancerous tumors in many parts of the body) must be monitored. Common day substances of Caffeine, Tobacco, Alcohol, and Pseudoephedrine which can contribute tachycardia episoides. This makes the person monitor there exposure to these substances and avoid places of smoking if tobacco causes symptoms. With the relatively new ohio smoking ban helps eliminate this social issue with smoking. References http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4785 http://www.medicinenet.com/wolff-parkinson-white_syndrome/page2.htm http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000151.htm http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/disorders/electric/wpw.aspx http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/wolff-parkinson-white-syndrome/ds00923

Prayer In Public Schools :: Religion in Public Schools

Should a Catholic school be reimbursed by the state for school supplies? Should there be time set aside in school for kids to pray? These are some of the many questions the U.S. Supreme Court asks themselves when they are confronted with cases involving religion in school. Although there are some sound supporting arguments for prayer in school, the opposing arguments more than justify the non-religious atmosphere of public school. Supporting arguments for In School Prayer have little validity. For instance one argument is that the framers of the constitution were religious, so they didn’t mean to prohibit all government sponsored prayer or acknowledgment of â€Å"GOD.† This is assuming one way just to be in favor of the In School Prayer idea. Pro-Prayer activists also believe that it is VERY important for the nation’s children to have religious values instilled in them. I strongly disagree with this statement solely because they are assuming that someone without a religion has lower or no values as compared to a religious person. Valid arguments on this side of the issue are rare, but they do exist. One example is that in public polls, seventy-eight percent of the nations thinks prayer in public schools is a good idea. This logical at first, but the truth is many polls convey the notion that voluntary prayer before, after, and during school is forbidden. Another argument addresses the fact that religion is already everywhere anyway. It is on our currency, our leaders are sworn into office with reference to â€Å"GOD,† and our flag salute also contains religious statements. These are good points to address, however, I believe they are wrong as well. †Two wrongs don’t make a right.† Opposing arguments are a lot more convincing than the supporting points. First of all, students have the right to conduct religious practices on school property, so there is no need to set aside specific time in the curriculum

Death of Salesman Analysis Essay

Women assume various roles in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. Mainly we find them in the home, or the â€Å"workplace†. For us, they serve as windows to observe and formulate an opinion of the main character, Willy Loman and his boys Happy and Biff. For reference, the women include, Linda Loman (Willy’s wife) the boy’s childhood and current girls/women, â€Å"The Woman† (Willy’s mistress), and Jenny (Charley’s secretary). Notably, there are several aspects that unify these women. First, they are subordinate to the men; second, they are emotionally or materially dependent; third, the men are mutually dependent on the women for emotional or physical needs; and fourth, they serve as male ego supporters. Moreover, the women are portrayed as weak. Granted, societal views of women’s roles have drastically changed over the past seven decades, the women’s characters in Death of Salesman have not. Miller skillfully navigates us through the past and present in order to capture a complete image of Willy’s life. I will attempt to do the same with Linda Loman. I selected her because of her distinctive propensity to be overly protective of Willy. My intention is not to understate the relevance of the other women. Yet, my focus on Linda is based on my opinion that she is the central female figure and best ambassador to reveal Willy’s dynamic nature. Willy: â€Å"You’re my foundation and support, Linda.† (1216) We are introduced to Linda in the present. For the time and even for today, she is the ideal American wife. Caring, nurturing, supportive, and loyal to her husband and children. Yet, today, one may say overly supportive. A captive of the time period, she is limited; and therefore, emotionally and financially dependent on her husband. While here, we are able to feel her comforting and sheltering nature. She selflessly protects Willy from his insecure thoughts, his children, and acknowledging his financial failures. Yet, she cannot guard him from his depression and suicidal attempts and ideations. The scene opens with Willy prematurely returning from a sales trip. He is explaining to Linda that he could not maintain mental focus and that the car kept veering off onto the shoulder of the road. As we will come to know, she is well aware that Willy’s mental status is declining. She deflects the blame by saying, â€Å"Oh. Maybe it was the steering again. I don’t think Angelo knows the Studebaker.† (1213) Willy accepts responsibility, â€Å"No, it’s me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1214) Nonetheless, she continues to divert the cause by saying, â€Å"Maybe it’s your glasses†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (1214) Her well-intended effort to be supportive is unfortunately enabling Willy’s serious â€Å"nervous breakdown† to be ignored. In the literary sense, it is an example of situational irony. Her intention to be helpful is not actually helping. For us, it is in this moment with Linda, that we immediately realize that Willy is undergoing serious internal and exter nal stress. It is manifesting into depression, mumbling, mental and physical wandering, and severe depression. It will proliferate throughout the play, and tragically, be the cause of his final decision. During their conversation we are also introduced to the adult boys, Biff and Happy. Linda informs Willy that the boys are both sleeping, and that, â€Å"Happy took Biff on a date tonight.† (1214) The report automatically generates interest in Willy. Which, we can translate to mean, Willy is in favor of his boys being in the company of women. As the conversation continues we are made aware of the tension that exists between Willy and his oldest son, Biff. As well, Linda let’s us know that Willy has a temper. She tells him, â€Å"You shouldn’t have criticized him, Willy, especially after he just got off the train. You mustn’t lose your temper with him.† (1215) For me, his temper is validated by his response, â€Å"When the hell did I lose my temper?† (1215) Typically, a non-temperamental person would not respond in that manner. As they continue on the topic of Biff, we get the first glimpse of Willy’s contradictory nature. At one moment Willy says, â€Å"Biff is a lazy bum!† (1215) While in a follow up comment he says, â€Å"Biff Loman is lost. In the greatest country in the world a young man with such—personal attractiveness, gets lost. And such a hard worker. There’s one thing about Biff—he’s not lazy.† (1215) Well, which is it? Is Biff lazy, or not? Willy’s contradictory tendency will be further exemplified. I find a touch of comical irony, when prior to going to the kitchen, for a glass of milk, he asks, â€Å"Why am I always being contradicted? (1215) While in the kitchen, we go back in time with Linda and Willy. We see that her support of Willy has endured the test of time, as have his inconsistencies. The younger Linda asks, â€Å"Did you sell anything?† (1224) At first Willy says, â€Å"I did five hundred gross in Providence and seven hundred gross in Boston.† (1224) Linda wants to tabulate his commission so she retrieves a pencil and paper from her apron pocket. She â€Å"number-crunches† and replies, â€Å"Two hundred—my God! Two hundred and twelve dollars!† (1225) Once he realizes that there will be an expectation to produce that money, he back-peddles and says, â€Å"Well, I didn’t figure it yet, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1225) She is persistent, â€Å"How much did you do?† Then a more realistic figure emerges, â€Å"Well, I—I did—about a hundred and eighty gross in Providence. Well, no—it came to—roughly two hundred gross on the whole trip.† (1225) As easily as Linda can do the math, so can we. Willy’s original report claims approximately 1,200 gross. When realistically his entire trip probably netted 200 gross. If we are inclined to believe that estimate as honest, he has overinflated his sales by six times the actual amount. After realizing that the actual commission amount is not enough to cover the monthly expenses, a dialogue ensues that reveals another incongruence and his insecurity. Willy states, â€Å"Oh, I’ll knock them dead next week. I’ll go to Hartford. I’m very well liked in Hartford. You know, the trouble is Linda, people don’t seem to take to me.† (1225) Again, in the same sentence he contradicts himself. I think we can all relate to feeling â€Å"less than† at some point in our lives. Since, I know I can, his previous and following statement elicits empathy on my part. He claims that people are laughing at him when he goes to his sales calls. He doesn’t know the reason, he is just aware. Linda’s perpetual support of Willy continues, â€Å"Oh, don’t be foolish† and â€Å"Why? Why would they laugh at you? Don’t talk that way, Willy†. (1225) She continues to console him and coddles his fragile ego by replying, â€Å"But you’re doing wonderful, dear. You’re making seventy to a hundred dollars a week.† (1225) There is something to admire about her positive outlook. Willy continues to share his feelings about his diminished sense of self-worth. This time, it comes from his critique of his physical image, â€Å"I’m fat. I’m very foolish to look at, Linda. I didn’t tell you, but Christmas time I happened to be calling on F.H. Stewarts, and a salesman I know, as I was going in to see the buyer, I heard him say something about—walrus. And I—I cracked him right across the face. I won’t take that. I simply will not take that. But they do laugh at me. I know that†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1226) I would like to draw your attention to the opening scene where Linda cautions Willy about his temper. We are now in the past, and we have a tangible example of Willy’s temper. In this case, it has even erupted into violence. Linda doesn’t even bat an eye when he tells her that he hit someone. Instead, she is the constant pillar that supports his ego, â€Å"Willy, darling, you’re the handsomest man in the worl d—† (1226) Really, Linda? I can’t imagine my husband telling me he hit someone and not be compelled to probe him further about the incident. Through Willy’s reminiscent daydreams, we hear the laughter of a woman, who will later be revealed as â€Å"The Woman†, his mistress. (1226) Willy has just added another criteria to analyze him against. He is unfaithful to his committed and loving wife. Until now, I could sympathize with Willy’s insecurities, even understand his need to overinflate his earnings and maybe even relate to his temper. But, positioned against my own moral standards, I don’t care for a womanizer. Nor would I make an exception if the roles were reversed. He pulls away from the memory and declares, â€Å"You’re the best there is, Linda, you’re a pal, you know that?Ã'  On the road—on the road I want to grab you sometimes and just kiss the life outa you.† (1226) Anyone who understands simple psychology realizes that it is guilt that moves him to profess affection for his wife. Yet, a key term he uses provides insight to how he actually views her, â€Å" you’re a pal†. These words cannot be misconstrued to mean: I love you, you mean the world to me, and I can’t wait to rush home to you. As a matter of fact, he retreats into his memories and we spend time with â€Å"The Woman†. In this brief moment we can conclude that his mistress provides an outlet when he’s on the road, she fuels his ego, and she suits his purpose by being able to send him directly into the buyers. In return, he fulfills her material need for stockings. (1227) Back from his memory of â€Å"The Woman†, we are still in the past where he is remembering a scene of Linda mending her stockings. He commands her to throw them away. Although we already know Biff and Happy from their own earlier dialogues and Willy’s memories (which I did not address), it is here that Linda provides insight into younger Biff. She tells Willy that Biff must return a football that he stole from the school, and that he is also too rough with the neighborhood girls. (1227) Willy is annoyed with Biff and he explodes at Linda when she urges him to do something about Biff’s behavior. (1228). It is important to know, all of Willy’s past memories and mumblings have occurred while he went down to the kitchen for that glass of milk. Finally, we arrive at the kitchen, in the present. This part does not include Linda. Yet, I find it important to include because this exchange contains a missed opportunity. Not that there weren’t several others. Happy comes down to check on Willy. He finds his father mumbling, and out of concern and sadness, Happy tells him that he will financially provide for the rest of Willy’s life. In expressing his frustration with Happy’s claim to â€Å"retire† him for life, Willy makes an explicit cry for help, â€Å"You’ll retire me for life on seventy goddam dollars a week? And your women and your car and your apartment, and you’ll retire me for life! Christ’s sake, I couldn’t get past Yonkers today! Where are you guys, where are you? The woods are burning! I can’t drive a car!† (1228) And there it is! A desperate, agonizing plea for attention, ‘Where are you guys? The woods are burning!’. He realizes his condition, he is begging to be acknowledged, begging for attention, and begging for help! He feels alone in his suffering. I could imagine his desperation, and we would not be human if we too did not feel his pain. The neighbor, Charley enters, and Happy is sent away. In the interest of focusing on Linda, we will fast forward through this part. Yet, during Charley’s visit and through Willy’s memories, we meet an influential character in Willy’s life (his successful brother Ben). Charley leaves after a heated round of cards. Yet, we remain in the kitchen while Willy heads outside. Linda comes looking for Willy in the kitchen. Both boys come down to discuss their father’s apparent troubling condition. Instead of addressing it, she scolds them both for being judgmental of their father. Happy transfers his anger onto Biff and blames his father’s condition on Biff’s failures. This scene foreshadows the underlying trouble between Biff and his father. Linda asks Biff, â€Å"Why are you so hateful to each other? Why is that?† (1235) Biff is reluctant to admit that he is resentful towards his father. She cautions that one day the boys will try to come home and there will be strangers in the house. Biff replies, â€Å"What are you talking about? You’re not even sixty, Mom.† She reminds him that his father is not doing well and goes on to say, â€Å"Biff, dear, if you don’t have any feeling for him, then you can’t have any feeling for me.† (1235) This is an endearing symbol that all families are interconnected, and we each play an integral role. In a passionate plea she proclaims, â€Å"You can’t just come to see me, because I love him.† She goes on to acknowledge Willy’s character flaw, â€Å"I know he’s not easy to get along with—nobody knows that better than me—but†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (1235) Willy enters the kitchen and he is delighted to see Biff. His erratic behavior is puzzling, and Biff asks, â€Å"What the hell is the matter with him?† Linda defends Willy, as if from a physical threat, â€Å"Don’t—don’t go near him!† Out of disgust, Biff snaps, â€Å"Stop making excuses for him! He always, always wiped the floor with you. Never had an ounce of respect for you.† (1235) This is a loaded, emotional and hurtful comment. But, we will easily unpack why Biff feels that his father has not cherished his mother. Another scene, that does not directly involve Linda, is a mandatory addition. Nearing the end, we come to know that the younger Biff caught his father with â€Å"The Woman† in a hotel, while his father was on a business trip. (1267) The experience grants Biff a moment of clarity, it also permanently shatters his image of his father. Ultimately, she is the measure that Biff judges his father by. In that hotel room, the reality of his father’s pretentious persona crystallizes. He calls him a liar, and a fake. (1268) We will come to understand that this pivotal moment created a fissure that could never be filled. Inevitably, it altered the chain of events in Biff and Willy’s lives, not to mention Linda’s. They remain distant from that moment forward. Poor Linda is never directly told about the affair, which is the sole reason of why Biff resents his father, and the ultimate reason that has caused Willy to be so depressed. The most important detail I have saved for last. As I first claimed, I found Linda to be the most important woman that brings Willy into perspective for us. Early on, Linda confesses to her boys that Willy has deliberately smashed the car on two separate occasions, (1237) and that she has found a hose in the basement that he intended to connect to a gas line. Just prior she delivers a very heartfelt command to her boys. For us, Linda sums Willy up, â€Å"Willy Loman never made a lot of money. His name was never in the paper. He’s not the finest character that ever lived. But he’s a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him. So attention must be paid. He’s not to be allowed to fall into his grave like an old dog. Attention, attention must be finally paid to such a person.† (1236) There we have it, Willy has attempted suicide and continues to be tormented with his ideations. Unfortunately, his final suicide attempt is successful. What a strange word, ‘successful’ can be when used to describe death by suicide. But, in Willy’s mind, through death he could attain financial success, make a lasting impression with his sons (mainly Biff) another form of success to Willy, leave 20K for Linda (huge success), and have everyone acknowledge him with a big â€Å"send off† (success in the form of recognition). As we know, in the end, it did not play out that way. The few people in attendance did not view his death as a success. What he left behind was pain.

Ford Focus and Ford Motor Company Essay

When Alan Mulally took over as Chief Executive Officer at Ford Motor Company in 2006 the organization was losing billions of dollars. According to Tony Schwartz (2010), â€Å"It had just come off reporting a $14. 6 billion loss for 2008, its fourth losing year in a row† (para. 1). The article Alan Mulally-Making Ford a Model for the Future illustrates the progress of Alan Mulally and the four simple principles that are making the company become profitable. Principles are important in any organization and an employee needs to feel important and motivated to come to work. These are a few of the principles that Alan Mulally have implemented since 2006: Stand for something beyond profit. Rally your employees around a shared mission. Practice a realistic optimism. Tell the truth without fear (Schwartz, 2010). The turnaround at Ford Motor Company was not overnight. He invested in the vision â€Å"One Ford† which has the idea of creating vehicles that will appeal to both American and European consumers by utilizing a common design theme that would move beyond the three-bar infatuation of the United States (Lavrinc, 2007). The transformation of the American icon was due to the One Ford vision and one year after 2008, Ford Motor Company reported a profit of $2. 7 billion. This transformation would not have happened if Alan Mulally did not take over in 2006. The ethical behavior by Ford Motor Company’s Chief Executive Officer has shown to be a true testament to future CEO’s in the global market. When the company raised $23. 5 billion to finance the restructuring and accelerate the investment in new products it shows great leadership during the Great Recession (Bartiromo, 2011). This American icon is 110 years old and recently had the strongest third quarter profit in history in 2012. This would not have happened without Alan Mulally reducing the brands of Aston Martin, Jaguar, Mazda, Land Rover, and Volvo into the two main components that a person would vision on the road today Ford and Lincoln. The leadership is beyond extraordinary and models like the Ford Focus is now one of the country’s best selling cars (Schwartz, 2010). The business environment is multifaceted with enormous challenges that face the global market. By focusing attention on a vision, the leader operates on the emotional and spiritual resources of the organization, on its values, commitment, and aspirations. The manager, by contrast, operates on the physical resources of the organization, on its capital, human skills, raw materials, and technology. The results that an individual observes currently are in direct correlation of the actions over the last five years. Ford has now paid back the $23. 5 billion that was taken out in 2006 to finance the restructuring and investment of new products. The company has started to hire and bring jobs back to the United States. According to Schwartz (2010), â€Å"Mulally is taking an old-school industrial company and turning it into a model of how modern company ought to be run† (para. 3). Using the PESTEL Analysis to capture macro-environmental forces and including part of the Ansoff Product/Market Opportunity Matrix Ford Motor Company can thrive on market penetration strategies. The following PESTEL Analysis shows the six factors that are the biggest weaknesses and strengths perceived to be the primary data in the next five years for the automotive giant.