Emma of Normandy Twice Queen Consort of England

Emma of Normandy (~985 – March 6, 1052) was a  Viking queen of England, married to successive English kings: the Anglo-Saxon Aethelred the Unready, then Cnut the Great. She was also the mother of King Harthacnut and King Edward the Confessor. William the Conqueror claimed the throne in part through his connection to Emma.  She was also known as Aelfgifu. Much of what we know of Emma of Normandy is from the Encomium Emmae Reginae, a writing probably commissioned by Emma and written to praise her and her accomplishments.  Other evidence comes from a few official documents of the time, and from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles and other medieval chronicles. Family Heritage Emma was one of the children of Richard I, Duke of Normandy, by his mistress Gunnora. After they married, their children were legitimized.  Gunnora had Norman and Danish heritage and Richard was the grandson of the Viking Rollo who conquered and then ruled Normandy. Marriage to Aethelred Unraed When Aethelred (known as The Unready or, in a better translation, The Ill-Advised), Anglo-Saxon king of England, was widowed and wanted a second wife, he may have considered marrying  Emma, to ensure peace with Normandy. She was a daughter of the Norman Viking rulers, from where many of the Viking raids on England were originating.  Emma arrived in England and married Aethelred in 1002.  She was given the name Aelfgifu by the Anglo-Saxons. She had three children by Aethelred, two sons and a daughter. In 1013, the Danes invaded England, led by Sweyn Forkbeard, and Emma and her three children fled to Normandy. Sweyn succeeded in toppling Aethelred, who also fled to Normandy. Sweyn died suddenly the next year, and while the Danes supported the succession of Sweyn’s son, Cnut (or Canute), the English nobility negotiated with Aethelred to return. Their agreement, setting conditions for their relationship going forward, is considered the first such between a king and his subjects. Cnut, who was also ruling Denmark and Norway, withdrew from England in 1014.  One of Emma’s stepsons, Aethelred’s heir and eldest, died in June of 1014. His brother, Edmund Ironside, rebelled against his father’s rule.  Emma allied herself with Eadric Streona, an advisor and husband of one of Emma’s stepdaughters. Edmund Ironside joined forces with Aethelred when Cnut returned in 1015.  Cnut agreed to divide the realm with Edmund after Aethelred died in April of 1016, but when Edmund died in November of that year, Cnut became sole ruler of England.  Emma continued to defend against Cnut’s forces. Second Marriage Whether Cnut forced Emma to marry him, or Emma negotiated the marriage with him, is not certain.  Cnut, on their marriage, allowed her two sons to return to Normandy. Cnut sent his first wife, a Mercian also named Aelfgifu, to Norway with their son Sweyn when he married Emma.  Cnut and Emma’s relationship seems to have developed into a respectful and even fond relationship, more than just a political convenience.  After 1020, her name begins to appear more often in official documents, implying an acceptance of her role as queen consort. They had two children together: a son, Harthacnut, and a daughter, known as Gunhilda of Denmark. In 1025, Cnut sent his daughter by Emma, Gunhilda, daughter of Emma and Cnut, to Germany to be raised, so that she could marry the king of Germany, Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor, as part of a peace treaty with the Germans over a border with Denmark. Battles of the Brothers Cnut died in 1035, and his sons contended for succession in England.  A son by his first wife, Harold Harefoot, became regent in England, as he was the only one of Cnut’s sons in England at the time of Cnut’s death.  Cnut’s son by Emma, Harthacnut, became King of Denmark; Cnut’s son Sweyn or Svein by his first wife, had ruled there from 1030 until his death around the same time as Cnut’s death. Harthacnut returned to England to challenge Harold’s rule in 1036, bringing Emma’s sons by Aethelred back to England to help consolidate his claim. (The Encomium claims Harold lured Edward and Alfred to England.)  Harthacnut was frequently absent from England, returning to Denmark, and those absences led many in England to support Harold over Harthacnut. Harold became officially the king in 1037. Harold’s forces captured and blinded Alfred Aetheling, Emma and Aethelred’s younger son, who died of his injuries.  Edward fled to Normandy, and Emma fled to Flanders. In 1036, the marriage of Gunhilda and Henry III, arranged before Cnut’s death, took place in Germany. King Harthacnut In 1040, having consolidated his power in Denmark, Harthacnut prepared for another invasion of England.  Harold died, and Harthacnut took the crown, Emma returning to England.  Edward the Confessor, Emma’s older son by Aethelred, was given control of Essex, and Emma served as regent for Edward until his return to England in 1041. Harthacnut died in June of 1042.  Magnus the Noble, an illegitimate son of Olaf II of Norway, had succeeded Cnut’s son Sweyn in Norway in 1035, and Emma backed him on Harthacnut’s over her son Edward. Magnus ruled Denmark from 1042 until his death in 1047. King Edward the Confessor   In England, Emma’s son Edward the Confessor won the crown.  He married the well-educated Edith of Wessex, a daughter of Godwin who had been created Earl of Wessex by Cnut.  (Godwin had been among those who killed Edward’s brother Alfred Aetheling.)  Edward and Edith had no children. Probably because Emma had backed Magnus over Edward, she played little part in Edward’s reign. Edward the Confessor was king of England until 1066, when Harold Godwinson, brother of Edith of Wessex, succeeded him. Shortly after, the Normans under William the Conqueror invaded, defeating and killing Harold. Death of Emma Emma of Normandy died at Winchester on March 6, 1052.  She had lived mostly at Winchester when she was in England– that is, when she was not in exile on the continent – from the time of her marriage to Aethelred in 1002. Emma’s great-nephew, William the Conqueror, asserted his right to the crown of England in part through being related to Emma. Related: Women of the 10th Century,  Aethelflaed,  Matilda of Flanders, Matilda of Scotland, the Empress Matilda,  Adela of Normandy, Countess of Blois Family Heritage: Mother: Gunnora, from a powerful Norman familyFather: Richard I of  Normandy, son of  William I of Normandy  by Sprota, a captured concubine from Brittany.Siblings included: Richard II of Normandy (grandfather of William the Conqueror), Robert II (Archbishop of Rouen), Maud (married Odo II, Count of Blois), Hawise (married Geoffrey I of Brittany) Marriage, Children: Husband: Aethelred Unraed (probably best translated â€Å"ill-advised† rather than â€Å"unready†) (married 1002; king of England )He was the son of  Aelfthryth  and King Edgar the PeaceableChildren of Aethelred and EmmaEdward the Confessor (about 1003 to January 1066)Goda of England (Godgifu, about 1004 – about 1047), married Drogo of Mantes about 1024 and had children, then Eustace II of Boulogne, without offspringAlfred Aetheling (? – 1036)Aethelred had six other sons and several daughters from his first marriage to  Aelfgifu, includingAethelstan AethelingEdmund IronsideEadgyth (Edith), married Eadric StreonaHusband: Cnut the Great, King of England, Denmark and NorwayHe was the son of Svein (Sweyn or Sven) Forkbeard and Ã…Å¡wiÄ™tosÅ‚awa (Sigrid or Gunhild).Children of Cnut and Emma:Harthacnut (about 1018 – June 8, 1042)Gunhilda of Denmark (about 1020 – July 18, 1038), married Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor, without offspringCnut had other children by his first wife, Aelfgifu, includingSvein of NorwayHarold Harefoot

Alzheimer s Disease Symptoms And Diagnosis - 3197 Words

Alzheimer’s Disease Zaven A. Ohanian San Joaquin Valley College Abstract This research report will provide a general overview of Alzheimer’s disease. This overview will include background and history of the disease dating back to its discovery by Alois Alzheimer in Germany. It will provide in-depth information on the anatomy and pathophysiology of the disease, specifically on the roles of beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles and on how they progress; what happens as they progress through the brain. Other topics that will be briefly covered include etiology, epidemiology, treatment, and prognosis. Alzheimer’s Disease Background and History Alzheimer’s disease is an acquired form of dementia that impairs the cognitive and behavioral functions of the patient. Impairment of these functions severely impacts the individual’s capacity to function in social and occupational settings. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease and its progression is long and steady. Alzheimer’s disease was first observed by a German psychiatrist named Alois Alzheimer in 1901. Having been intrigued by the behavior of a patient at the Frankfurt Asylum, 51 year old female Auguste Deter, Alois Alzheimer began monitoring her condition. Dr. Alzheimer observed a number of symptoms including reduced comprehension and memory, aphasia, disorientation, unpredictable behavior, paranoia, auditory hallucinations, and pronounced psychosocial impairment (Maurer, Gerbaldo Volk, 1997). WhenShow MoreRelatedSymptoms And Diagnosis Of Alzheimer s Disease2581 Words   |  11 PagesWord Count: 1840 â€Æ' It is estimated that currently 5.1 million Americans may have Alzheimer’s disease. [1] 60-70% of dementia cases in the elderly are caused by Alzheimer’s. [2] As the population ages a greater percentage of Americans will be impacted whereas between present time and 2050 it is estimated that 20 percent of the population will be in an age category that puts them at risk. 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(Healio.com, 2012) Nevertheless, the social and economic impacts followed by the diagnosis of theRead MoreAlzheimer s Is The Greatest Known Risk Factor For The Individuals Ages919 Words   |  4 PagesAlzheimer s is a degenerative disease of the brain that causes dementia, which is a gradual loss of memory, judgment, and ability to function. It is the most common form of dementia, and may hinder an individual s performance of daily function. Sixty to eighty percent of dementia cases are caused by Alzheimer s. This disease is considered to be the greatest known risk factor for the individuals ages sixty and older. Most of the population affected by the disease with noticeable symptoms areRead More Alzheimers Disease Essay1733 Words   |  7 Pages Alzheimers Disease Alzheimer ¡Ã‚ ¦s disease is a slow, progressive, and degenerative disease of the brain. 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Alzheimer s disease (AD), the most common type of dementia, is a progressive neurological disorder that increasingly robs individuals of cognitive, behavioral, and functional skills (Demakis, 2007). The reason for the appearance this disease is a collection of disorders in the brain due to which its cells are dying partially. In theRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease : The Neurological Thief822 Words   |  4 PagesAlzheimer’s Disease: The Neurological Thief Ashley E. Campbell Psychology 210 October 31, 2015 Malvereen Harris Alzheimer’s Disease: The Neurological Thief It is a wicked disease that slowly steals our loved ones memories, independence and eventually their lives. While no one knows the exact cause of Alzheimer’s Disease, it is the leading cause of dementia related deaths to date. It was first described in 1906 by Alois Alzheimer, a German psychologist and neurologist. Alzheimer’s Disease is a neurologicalRead MoreDealing With Dementia Essay979 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"Ted sought a diagnosis after being terminated from his job. Little did anyone know his memory and performance issues were due to a disease. (Life with ALZ)† This disease causes the loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. Dementia, is one form of this disease that gradually gets worse over time. It affects memory, thinking, and behavior. (WebMD, 1995) â€Å"Changes that take place in the brains of people. These brain changes may cause the memory loss and decline in other mental

Organizations and People for International Journal of Management

Question: Discuss the concept of a leader. Is a leader born or made? Reflect in your discussion not only on B628 course material particularly chapter 7 but also on the article in hand. Reflect in your discussion on how the author sees the leader from both theoretical and personal experience. Answer: Leaders are people given the authority and power to be in charge of either an organization, company or any institution. Leaders are either appointed by people or elected. However, people cannot really tell why they entrust some of them to be leaders. However, the leaders themselves know that they are leaders and have the ability and skills required by a leader (Griffin Moorhead, 2011, NP). In todays world, leadership has become a challenge since there are two types of leaders. Leaders who are born with leadership skills appear to be aggressive, time conscious, and understanding when it comes to leading. However, leaders who acquired leadership skills through learning seem to have a problem which cannot be easily solved. These types of leaders are most likely to lead for a particular period of time, and then leave or get demoted as a result of failure to meet the set goals or target. True leaders must have interest in leadership, and must be having the urge to lead, even in charitabl e activities such as church services. These leaders feel that they have a responsibility to carry out in this world, which is leading the people towards the right directions. Leaders born with skills know how to deal with mistakes, and therefore do not require a lot of effort to solve issues in organizations or institutions. Leaders who get leadership skills through learning are also better leaders, compared to those who stay behind when leaders are being called out. There is no way someone can prove to be a true leader, other than showing up all the time when leaders are called out. True leaders are confident, punctual and willing to be recognized whenever possible. This does not require the genius part of leadership, but instead calls out for the inner feeling, which makes up a human being (Carleton, 2011, PG 459). To differentiate a worker and a leader, one has to identify some characteristics which will show that there is a worker and a leader at their presence. In a context where there are no segregated places for leaders, it is usually difficult tom differentiate between the leaders and the rest of the people. However, there are other potential leaders in the congregation who can be able to differentiate the two groups. Such people with such kinds of talents are also leaders, and have birth leaders hip skills in them. They can therefore lead without being instructed, but through observation, interaction and practice. However, we are not saying that those in leadership classes are trying to reach an unknown destination. We are only trying to say that they are leaders by acquired leadership skills. In the world, we have leaders who have made it to the top, by acquiring skills (Pak, Paroubek, 2010, NP). However, they have become leaders after struggling for a long period of time. These include the Amazon founder; amongst others who have created interest in the field of leadership, and have lead the world in the field of invention. Leading does not only mean that one has to be the head of a certain organization which has visible people. Today, everything depends on technology, and everybody has shifted from manual work to digital and online jobs. The author says that leaders are born, and others acquire skills. On my side, leaders can either be born or can acquire skills to become leaders. Acquiring skills is a type of leadership that has been taking place in many organizations (Den Ouden, 2011 NP). This has contributed much in the leadership studies, since leaders are made. The largest percentage of leaders in the world is that of leaders who are made, compared to leaders who are born. Though I agree with the statement that leaders are born, to some extent, I will part with the other statement that leaders are made. For instance, when children are born, they cannot be called leaders. They have to learn from the surrounding where they acquire knowledge. These children learn through observation, and curiosity. All leaders pass through this process (Drucker, 2016, NP). Not only leaders do pass through this stage, but also everybody in this world passed through that stage. Potential leaders then start to be seen right away after being enrolled in school. Potential leaders show their leading skills at the school-going age. At this point, we keep age constant, and consider skills, abilities and behaviors of potential leaders. For instance teachers can just appoint someone to become a leader without consulting (Holbeche. Mayo, 2009 NP). After enquiring the willingness of the student, the student would agree without hesitating. This student can be said to have leadership qualities, and skills, and therefore born to be a leader. Therefore, leaders who are born have confidence, tolerance, and are always willing to lead whenever another leader is absent. They do not wait for events to be late, but stand to fill the gap whenever possible. Leaders by birth are good problem solvers, and do not face challenges when it comes to solving problems. They solve problems in their own way, and make sure that they come up with a genuine resolution that will not part in either side. However, according to the author recommends that leaders are 80% made, and 20% born. However, leaders who are born still acquire skills through learning, observing and experience (Scott Davis, 2015 NP). The author is correct since all leaders who have the courage to lead are leaders, and have the potential to influence other potential leaders into leadership. However, there will always be a difference when it comes to leaers who are made and leaders who are born. They will never match. Considering the number of people who are influenced to be potential leaders by leaders by birth, they are too many and therefore have the largest percentage compared to those influenced by leaders who are made. Leaders who are made will always be many compared to leaders who are born. This is because; acquiring the skill is the reason as to why most aspiring leaders go to school. Therefore, as much as leaders who are born are effective, there is no way that they will dominate the world. Though they will be recognized, they will also have to get to school to have the necessary documents, which will prove their leadership qualities. Being a leader is an on-going struggle and debate. Discuss, based on your course material, how leadership s******s can be developed. Reflect on the article in this regard. Support your answer with evidence from external reference (1000 words). Leadership skills can be developed through various ways. Even those leaders who are born with the leadership skills must develop them through education, and observation. They have to practice the skills in their lives to ensure that they are on the right track (Van Tiem, Moseley, Dessinger, 2012 NP). Therefore, these are the various ways of developing leadership skills Through observation Leaders have to be observant their young age, so as to see what leaders do. They must ask questions, and be curious on whatever leaders do. We have different types of leaders, according to the institutions they lead. A teacher can be classified in the category of a leader, but in the context where there are only students and teachers. They are role models, and therefore can be emulated by the students. In our homes, we also have leaders. Our parents are leaders since we learn from them. At any age, we consider our elders to be leaders since we emulate them. However, in as much leadership is concerned, there must be a gap between the leaders and the people they lead. The leaders tend to have an extra knowledge, courage and determination in handling and solving issues, compared to the rest of the people. However, we are not saying that other people do not have these skills. They have them but this is not their talent, or field of interest (Spears, 2010 PG 28). They have to leave it for the leaders to handle issues, since they do not have the time to handle the issues. In addition, they find it interesting when the leaders themselves handle the issues at hand since they do so with some extra knowledge that portrays understanding and skill. To some extent, everybody can be a leader. Though people fear to face the challenges faced by leaders, every field has its own challenges. Leaders therefore become leaders because they choose to bear the burdens of the people, and to be their voice. For instance, leaders do not force the people to put them into position. Instead, the people force the leaders to occupy the leadership posts, so as to represent them whenever possible (Heaphy Dutton, 2008 PG 150). In a context where there is an election to elect a leader, all leaders are given the chance to convince the people that they can make it. It is therefore the choice of the people to choose who they want, according to the way they convince them. When it comes to these type s of context, and convincing, it is usually difficult to make a choice on who to choose and who not to. Leaders with acquired leadership skills can have better convincing power, compared to leaders who are born with the skill. They might overtake, and most of the time in such elections, since they have been taught how to lead. However, the case of leaders who are born is different. These leaders are differentiated from the other leaders when they secure places in organization. They are however rare, but when they appear at some point, they work to perfection and the institution, organization or company feels proud (Diefenbach, 2009 PG 900) .everybody should be conscious enough to know that not all leaders can qualify to be genius, but all genius leaders can qualify to be leaders who are made. This can easily be elaborated, since a leader is a leader, provided that they have all the required skills, and the courage to face people, congregation and tough situations. True leaders do not run away from situations, but instead face the situations with courage. They act as role models and always do their job to perfection, so as to maintain their names (Olshansky, Hopkins, Chandrasekhar Iuchi, 2009, PG 24). They are friendly to people, and do not underrate or ignore any issue brought at hand by the people. They are the greatest problem solvers, and aim at uniting the people, and not dispersing them. However, here is where the difference between leaders who are born and leaders who are made comes in In a situation where leaders are required to lead organizations, leaders of both kinds are usually involved (Lofland, 2017 NP). For instance, leaders who are born are capable of leading organizations for long period of time, compared to leaders who are made. However, leaders who are made will be many in organizations compared to leaders who are born. In another context, when leaders are asked to solve issues, especially tough issues, leaders who are born are most likely to give better resolutions compared to leaders who are made. Although all are leaders, their differences cannot be hidden since those are born have the leadership skill in them not on paper (Bolman, Deal, 2017 NP). They do not have to refer to books when it comes to handling of tough situations. They always have something to say in public even when not alerted. They are always willing to occupy a gap if when not requested. Leaders who are born know that they are leaders and therefore aware of their responsibilities. Generally, leaders are there so that operations can run smoothly. Though the differences between the two cannot be hidden, it remains that true leaders will always be known by their actions, and not word of mouth. Those who stand with the people in times of happiness and difficulties by supporting them are the leaders. Those who solve problems and give fair judgment are the leaders. Leaders are always, understanding, loving, caring, time conscious, and willing to take risks. Therefore, either by birth or by acquiring skills, it depends on the decision of a leader on how to lead the people. References Bolman, L.G. and Deal, T.E., 2017. Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and leadership. John Wiley Sons. Carleton, K., 2011. How to motivate and retain knowledge workers in organizations: A review of the literature. International Journal of Management, 28(2), p.459. Den Ouden, E., 2011. Innovation design: Creating value for people, organizations and society. Springer Science Business Media. Diefenbach, T., 2009. New public management in public sector organizations: the dark sides of managerialistic enlightenment. Public administration, 87(4), pp.892-909. Drucker, P., 2016. The effective executive. Routledge. Griffin, R.W. and Moorhead, G., 2011. Organizational behavior. Cengage Learning. Heaphy, E.D. and Dutton, J.E., 2008. Positive social interactions and the human body at work: Linking organizations and physiology. Academy of Management Review, 33(1), pp.137-162. Holbeche, L. and Mayo, A., 2009. Motivating people in lean organizations. Taylor Francis. Lofland, J., 2017. Social movement organizations: Guide to research on insurgent realities. Routledge. Olshansky, R.B., Hopkins, L.D., Chandrasekhar, D. and Iuchi, K., 2009, June. Disaster recovery: Explaining relationships among actions, decisions, plans, organizations, and people. In Proceedings of 2009 NSF Engineering Research and Innovation Conference (pp. 22-25). Pak, A. and Paroubek, P., 2010, May. Twitter as a corpus for sentiment analysis and opinion mining. In LREc (Vol. 10, No. 2010). Scott, W.R. and Davis, G.F., 2015. Organizations and organizing: Rational, natural and open systems perspectives. Routledge. Spears, L.C., 2010. Character and servant leadership: Ten characteristics of effective, caring leaders. The Journal of Virtues Leadership, 1(1), pp.25-30. Van Tiem, D., Moseley, J.L. and Dessinger, J.C., 2012. Fundamentals of performance improvement: Optimizing results through people, process, and organizations. John Wiley Sons.

Interview With Social Media Strategist Neal Schaffer

This month we sat down with Neal Schaffer of Windmill Marketing to talk social media and how you can use your unique content with it. Read on to learn about the benefits of using social media, repurposing content for different social media sites, emerging trends and much more. CC: Neal, thanks for speaking with us today. As a social media strategist, you advocate sharing content on social media channels. Can you give our readers an example? Thanks Celeste. Sharing is as simple as retweeting content from someone that you feel is an authority or is content that you think your readers might be interested in. Twitter is a platform where this culture of sharing is deeply embedded to the point that the ReTweet is an essential part of the platform. After all, you can’t ReTweet your own tweet! CC: How did you find Constant Content? I actually found you stumbling†¦on StumbleUpon! And you know what? This is the 2nd time that I have subscribed to a new service from literally stumbling on a site via StumbleUpon. We are now living in an era where the news comes to us, whether it be from status updates on LinkedIn, the news feed from Facebook, or timelines on Twitter, or even the recommendations algorithm of StumbleUpon! CC: What is the benefit of sharing content via social media? There are many benefits of sharing content via social media, but it really comes down to your objective. On the one hand, professionals who share content via social media about job openings in their industry could be Paying It Forward just by this simple act and helping others who might be very thankful for that information. Professionals who share industry articles that they read could become â€Å"channels† that others tune into, and in doing so help establish their own professional brand. Companies can reap the same benefits and create relationships of trust that can result in greater business over the long term. We are in an era of the democratization of information, and there is no â€Å"TV Guide† for this. Should you become the â€Å"channel† that others tune into for your industry, you will reap great benefits over time. CC: How do you feel about â€Å"repurposing† content for different platforms? Just as the book publishing industry is looking at ways of splicing and dicing content for print, web, audio, and video, and then within those mediums different ways of dividing the content for different types of platforms (mobile vs. PC), repurposing your content for different platforms is a must because you have to be where your audience is and customize your content to make it easily consumed by them. CC: With so many social networking sites out there, how many should a business participate in? I think that businesses should really first try to figure out what their objective is in participating in social networking sites. Once they understand their objective, they need to understand where their audience is. It’s not a matter of being on tens or hundreds of social networking sites because each site requires an investment of time: It’s about picking a few where your audience is that you think you understand and build up your own internal success stories before expanding your efforts. CC: How do you measure a social media campaign’s effectiveness? Well, first of all, let me start by saying that social media is a commitment and not a campaign 😉 The second thing, and I hate to repeat myself, but it all depends on the objective of why the business has created a social media campaign. As for measuring the effectiveness, we need to look at what the campaign involved. Often, there are campaigns that are trying to help â€Å"spread the word† about the company, increase their social media following, or lead social media users to a landing page on a website. Direct effectiveness for each of these types of campaigns are 100% trackable and measurable, although indirect effectiveness is a bit more difficult to measure. CC: How much time should a business devote to social media? This really depends on your objective for being in social media. Once you’ve created an objective, and then your strategy, start out small and test the waters. You don’t need to hire a resource to do this: Have one of your own outward-facing employees start implementing this strategy maybe only spending 15 to 30 minutes a day. At the beginning social media will not require time because you will not have a lot of engagement. However, businesses will realize that content creation will be the place where you end up spending most of your time. CC: What type of social media content lends itself to outsourcing? As I just mentioned, businesses will quickly find that content creation will end up requiring the most time, especially when first implementing a social media strategy. While companies need to be representing their own brands by using their own employees when engaging in social media, I believe that creating some content that is resourceful to their industry could be something that is outsourced so long as the final product is â€Å"re-branded† by the company so that it is, at the end, spoken in their own words. Of course, in addition to outsourcing the creation of some content, it could also be just having industry experts or partners providing guest blog posts to give another point of view that your social media readers might enjoy and see you as more of an impartial resource for. CC: Do you have any tips for keeping a blog or social media channel focused and relevant? It all comes down to making sure your content, whether it be your own or sharing 3rd party content, passes the relevancy test: Does your target market find this information resourceful? It’s not aboutyou: It’s about them! If you have an idea for content creation, make sure that it passes this â€Å"relevancy test,† and if not, don’t get started on investing time in creating something that may not be effective in helping you reach your objective. CC: Are there specific formats that need to be followed when creating content for social media sites? I don’t think there’s any format that needs to be followed when creating content for social media, with the exception that every social media channel has its own functionality, culture, and history. Often we find ourselves making content for our blogs or YouTube channel and then sharing it in social media. In this case, as marketers we need to strive to create content that is authoritative, resourceful, and ideally â€Å"shareable.† CC: Which aspects of social media do you find difficult and time consuming? Socializing, of course! People tend to forget that it takes time to develop relationships, and this is no different online than it is offline. Professionals and businesses want to increase â€Å"engagement† in social media communities, but they don’t realize that engagement is a two-way street. Once engagement starts, you need to respond and can’t just turn it off. Yes, social media requires time, but obviously with a social media strategy in place, clear objectives, and understanding how to calculate your own ROI, it is time well invested. CC: What social media trends affect how businesses should use content? The biggest trend is that social media represents the convergence of information and communication. All of these social networks that were originally created for communication are now becoming popular sites that we go to for information. The latest political upheavals and natural disasters that have happened around the world only remind us of this. If businesses do not participate, which often involves sharing 3rd party content, as well as sharing your own content, they are completely missing out on this trend while their competitors may be exploiting the opportunity. CC: When purchasing content, is full rights the only way to go? Why or why not? I believe that purchasing full rights, which in the case of Constant Content means buying content which then you can call your own, edit, and repurpose in any way you like. The reason is that, any content that your company publishes needs to represent your company brand. Creating resourceful content often involves researching industry information and then representing it in your own way. I see no problem in sourcing resourceful content and then repurposing it in your own voice representing your own company or brand. This is only possible if full rights are purchased. CC: If you could give just one piece of advice to someone starting social media for the first time, what would it be? Listen, listen, and listen. A lot of people give the advice of simply listening for several weeks or even 3 months before doing anything in social media. I would add to that to not just listen, but find a role model that you can emulate. Look for the thought leaders in your industry and look at what they are doing on the various social media channels. How do they share content? How often do theyengage with others? If you study those that are successful in social media, you can learn a lot about how to successfully implement your own social media strategy. Neal Schaffer is recognized as a leader in helping businesses and professionals embrace and strategically leverage the potential of social media. An award-winning published authorof Windmill Networking: Maximizing LinkedIn and frequent social media conference speaker, Neal is President of Windmills Marketing, a social media strategy consulting practice that has led social media strategy creation and educational programs for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to Web 2.0 startups. How can Neal help you? This month we sat down with Neal Schaffer of Windmill Marketing to talk social media and how you can use your unique content with it. Read on to learn about the benefits of using social media, repurposing content for different social media sites, emerging trends and much more. Thanks Celeste. Sharing is as simple as retweeting content from someone that you feel is an authority or is content that you think your readers might be interested in. Twitter is a platform where this culture of sharing is deeply embedded to the point that the ReTweet is an essential part of the platform. After all, you can’t ReTweet your own tweet! CC: How did you find Constant Content? I actually found you stumbling†¦on StumbleUpon! And you know what? This is the 2nd time that I have subscribed to a new service from literally stumbling on a site via StumbleUpon. We are now living in an era where the news comes to us, whether it be from status updates on LinkedIn, the news feed from Facebook, or timelines on Twitter, or even the recommendations algorithm of StumbleUpon! CC: What is the benefit of sharing content via social media? There are many benefits of sharing content via social media, but it really comes down to your objective. On the one hand, professionals who share content via social media about job openings in their industry could be Paying It Forward just by this simple act and helping others who might be very thankful for that information. Professionals who share industry articles that they read could become â€Å"channels† that others tune into, and in doing so help establish their own professional brand. Companies can reap the same benefits and create relationships of trust that can result in greater business over the long term. We are in an era of the democratization of information, and there is no â€Å"TV Guide† for this. Should you become the â€Å"channel† that others tune into for your industry, you will reap great benefits over time. CC: How do you feel about â€Å"repurposing† content for different platforms? Just as the book publishing industry is looking at ways of splicing and dicing content for print, web, audio, and video, and then within those mediums different ways of dividing the content for different types of platforms (mobile vs. PC), repurposing your content for different platforms is a must because you have to be where your audience is and customize your content to make it easily consumed by them. CC: With so many social networking sites out there, how many should a business participate in? I think that businesses should really first try to figure out what their objective is in participating in social networking sites. Once they understand their objective, they need to understand where their audience is. It’s not a matter of being on tens or hundreds of social networking sites because each site requires an investment of time: It’s about picking a few where your audience is that you think you understand and build up your own internal success stories before expanding your efforts. CC: How do you measure a social media campaign’s effectiveness? CC: How much time should a business devote to social media? This really depends on your objective for being in social media. Once you’ve created an objective, and then your strategy, start out small and test the waters. You don’t need to hire a resource to do this: Have one of your own outward-facing employees start implementing this strategy maybe only spending 15 to 30 minutes a day. At the beginning social media will not require time because you will not have a lot of engagement. However, businesses will realize that content creation will be the place where you end up spending most of your time. CC: What type of social media content lends itself to outsourcing? As I just mentioned, businesses will quickly find that content creation will end up requiring the most time, especially when first implementing a social media strategy. While companies need to be representing their own brands by using their own employees when engaging in social media, I believe that creating some content that is resourceful to their industry could be something that is outsourced so long as the final product is â€Å"re-branded† by the company so that it is, at the end, spoken in their own words. Of course, in addition to outsourcing the creation of some content, it could also be just having industry experts or partners providing guest blog posts to give another point of view that your social media readers might enjoy and see you as more of an impartial resource for. CC: Do you have any tips for keeping a blog or social media channel focused and relevant? It all comes down to making sure your content, whether it be your own or sharing 3rd party content, passes the relevancy test: Does your target market find this information resourceful? It’s not aboutyou: It’s about them! If you have an idea for content creation, make sure that it passes this â€Å"relevancy test,† and if not, don’t get started on investing time in creating something that may not be effective in helping you reach your objective. CC: Are there specific formats that need to be followed when creating content for social media sites? I don’t think there’s any format that needs to be followed when creating content for social media, with the exception that every social media channel has its own functionality, culture, and history. Often we find ourselves making content for our blogs or YouTube channel and then sharing it in social media. In this case, as marketers we need to strive to create content that is authoritative, resourceful, and ideally â€Å"shareable.† CC: Which aspects of social media do you find difficult and time consuming? Socializing, of course! People tend to forget that it takes time to develop relationships, and this is no different online than it is offline. Professionals and businesses want to increase â€Å"engagement† in social media communities, but they don’t realize that engagement is a two-way street. Once engagement starts, you need to respond and can’t just turn it off. Yes, social media requires time, but obviously with a social media strategy in place, clear objectives, and understanding how to calculate your own ROI, it is time well invested. CC: What social media trends affect how businesses should use content? The biggest trend is that social media represents the convergence of information and communication. All of these social networks that were originally created for communication are now becoming popular sites that we go to for information. The latest political upheavals and natural disasters that have happened around the world only remind us of this. If businesses do not participate, which often involves sharing 3rd party content, as well as sharing your own content, they are completely missing out on this trend while their competitors may be exploiting the opportunity. CC: When purchasing content, is full rights the only way to go? Why or why not? I believe that purchasing full rights, which in the case of Constant Content means buying content which then you can call your own, edit, and repurpose in any way you like. The reason is that, any content that your company publishes needs to represent your company brand. Creating resourceful content often involves researching industry information and then representing it in your own way. I see no problem in sourcing resourceful content and then repurposing it in your own voice representing your own company or brand. This is only possible if full rights are purchased. CC: If you could give just one piece of advice to someone starting social media for the first time, what would it be? Listen, listen, and listen. A lot of people give the advice of simply listening for several weeks or even 3 months before doing anything in social media. I would add to that to not just listen, but find a role model that you can emulate. Look for the thought leaders in your industry and look at what they are doing on the various social media channels. How do they share content? How often do theyengage with others? If you study those that are successful in social media, you can learn a lot about how to successfully implement your own social media strategy. Neal Schaffer is recognized as a leader in helping businesses and professionals embrace and strategically leverage the potential of social media. An award-winning published authorof Windmill Networking: Maximizing LinkedIn and frequent social media conference speaker, Neal is President of Windmills Marketing, a social media strategy consulting practice that has led social media strategy creation and educational programs for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to Web 2.0 startups. How can Neal help you?

Mill And Kants Theories Essays (3238 words) - Kantianism

Mill And Kant's Theories Get Essays - Essay Search - Submit Essays - Request Essays - Essay Links - FAQ Compare Mill and Kant's ethical theories; which makes a better societal order? John Stuart Mill (1808-73) believed in an ethical theory known as utilitarianism. There are many formulation of this theory. One such is, Everyone should act in such a way to bring the largest possibly balance of good over evil for everyone involved. However, good is a relative term. What is good? Utilitarians disagreed on this subject. Mill made a distinction between happiness and sheer sensual pleasure. He defines happiness in terms of higher order pleasure (i.e. social enjoyments, intellectual). In his Utilitarianism (1861), Mill described this principle as follows:According to the Greatest Happiness Principle ? The ultimate end, end, with reference to and for the sake of which all other things are desirable (whether we are considering our own good or that of other people), is an existence exempt as far as possible from pain, and as rich as possible enjoyments.Therefore, based on this statement, three i deas may be identified: (1) The goodness of an act may be determined by the consequences of that act. (2) Consequences are determined by the amount of happiness or unhappiness caused. (3) A good man is one who considers the other man's pleasure (or pain) as equally as his own. Each person's happiness is equally important.Mill believed that a free act is not an undetermined act. It is determined by the unconstrained choice of the person performing the act. Either external or internal forces compel an unfree act. Mill also determined that every situation depends on how you address the situation and that you are only responsible for your feelings and actions. You decide how you feel about what you think you saw.Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) had an interesting ethical system. It is based on a belief that the reason is the final authority for morality. Actions of any sort, he believed, must be undertaken from a sense of duty dictated by reason, and no action performed for expediency or solel y in obedience to law or custom can be regarded as moral. A moral act is an act done for the right reasons. Kant would argue that to make a promise for the wrong reason is not moral - you might as well not make the promise. You must have a duty code inside of you or it will not come through in your actions otherwise. Our reasoning ability will always allow us to know what our duty is.Kant described two types of common commands given by reason: the hypothetical imperative, which dictates a given course of action to reach a specific end; and the categorical imperative, which dictates a course of action that must be followed because of its rightness and necessity. The categorical imperative is the basis of morality and was stated by Kant in these words: Act as if the maxim of your action were to become through your will and general natural law. Therefore, before proceeding to act, you must decide what rule you would be following if you were to act, whether you are willing for that rule to be followed by everyone all over. If you are willing to universalize the act, it must be moral; if you are not, then the act is morally impermissible. Kant believed that the welfare of each individual should properly be regarded as an end in itself, as stated in the Formula of the End in Itself:Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means but always at the same time as an end.Kant believes that moral rules are exceptionless. Therefore, it is wrong to kill in all situations, even those of self-defense. This is belief comes from the Universal Law theory. Since we would never want murder to become a universal law, then it must be not moral in all situations.So which of the two theories would make a better societal order? That is a difficult question because both theories have problems. For Kant it is described above, his rules are absolute. Killing could

Growth of Austin, TX essays

Growth of Austin, TX essays Throughout the past 20 years, the city population of Austin has nearly doubled causing an increasing demand in the needs of its residents. Due to incredible growth rate that this city endures, it is important to realize the horrific effects that can occur when a population reaches its ultimate peak. The way of living has already been threatened and may meet its untimely death in the near future if action is not taken immediately. Like the various other highly growing cities in America, Austin is seeing the expected effects of its growth. Of these are the increased numbers in crimes committed and reported throughout the city. Situations such as this are reminiscent of other larger Texas cities such as Houston and Dallas. Thanks to the urban growth in Houston, it is now recognized as one of the leading crime related cities in the country. The crimes that will be more often seen in Austin are theft, assault, and murder. No one wants to see these numbers rise in anyway. Austins beauty and uniqueness cant save it from the rising criminal action and drug traffic that would take place if the city grew too large. One reason why Austin is growing so rapidly is the availability of high-tech jobs and the diversity of cultures this city consumes. This presents itself as a highly desired place to work and live. But even the vast number of jobs cannot protect its inhabitants from unexpected hazards. The beginning of 2000 started off poorly for the city of Austin and even more poorly for the Dell Computer Company. Due to the fear of computer related failure of Y2K issues and earthquakes in foreign manufacturing countries that destroyed numerous of quantities of highly demanded hardware, the Dell Company was forced to lay off between 1000 2000 employees to compensate for their losses. This and the layoff of employees from other computer companies resulted in an increase of unemployment for Austin. When a sligh...

International Finance Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

International Finance - Case Study Example One of the ways through which persistently weak currencies can be stabilized is by use of the preexisting currency. This implies that the government can employ microeconomic policies in order to ensure that the currency regains its value. For example, central banks should ensure that money supply is closely monitored to avoid inflation. Other instruments that can be used to regulate money supply include open market operations, discount rate and reserve requirements among others. Most importantly, the interest rates should be controlled to ensure that the public do not excessively borrow an aspect that can result to increase of the money in circulation and inflation. Another way of solving the problem of persistent currency is introducing a new currency. This implies that the central banks should hire experienced economic analysts in order to study the implication of generating new currency. It is vital to note that due to dire causes of making new uncontrolled currencies including hy perinflation, it is essential that government should first use all the available microeconomic policies before embarking on introducing a new currency. Vietnamese Dong among other weaker currencies can also be stabilized by borrowing foreign currencies (Ellen, 2012). Most of the countries with weak currencies usually borrow US dollars in order to ensure that the value of their currencies is maintained at an appropriate rate. While all the three ways are important, the best approach that a government can use depends on political situation. Most importantly, the three approaches should be able create a domestic market, increase reserves and strengthen the existing institutions. By importing or exporting to a foreign country such as Thailand, Blades is able to benefit in various ways. First, the company is able to import the products that it is facing difficulties in producing. Based on the high costs of production that Blades is facing in the US market,

The Importance of Online Advertising to Hospitality and Tourism Research Proposal

The Importance of Online Advertising to Hospitality and Tourism - Research Proposal Example In what ways has the internet changed the hospitality industry? 2. What does a consumer find when they search for information regarding their travel needs? 3. What are the methods used for the hospitality industry to connect with consumers? 4. What methods used by the hospitality industry might be considered unethical when dealing with consumers searching the internet? 5. What disadvantages can be found for the consumer as they use the internet as a means to book their travel? 6. What are the advantages of the internet as a consumer looks to book travel? By using these questions to frame the inquiry, this research project will be able to focus on the internet as a source of advertising for the hospitality industry and the effect that it has had on consumer travel practices. 1.3 Theoretical Foundation The study that is being proposed is a quantitative study that is based upon a survey instrument. Quantitative study often begins by wanting to test a conceptual model of the question. Th eory allows for predictions on which phenomena will manifest (Polit and Beck 2008, p. 57). This study predicts that the outcome to the study will suggest that internet marketing is an important part of hospitality industry advertising and that consumers have changed their travel practices as a result. The following hypotheses will frame the inquiry that is intended for this paper: Hypothesis 1: The internet has changed the way in which the hospitality industry markets to consumers. Alternative Hypothesis 1: The internet has had no effect on the way in which the hospitality industry markets to consumers. Hypothesis 2: Internet advertising has changed the way in which consumers plan for holidays and travel.... This "The Importance of Online Advertising to Hospitality and Tourism" essay describes the benefits which the Internet brought into the sphere of hospitality's advertisement. The hospitality industry, like most industries, has been impacted by the tools that the internet provides for advertising. Online capacities for the hospitality industry do not only include advertising, but the potential for transactions making travel a more accessible experience. Advertising is highly competitive on the internet with someone always coming up with new ways to attract the attention of an audience that is deluged with information all coming at them at once. The hospitality industry benefits from everything from data mining techniques to websites providing specific information. Without a web based presence it is unlikely that a hospitality industry entity would have success in this globalised and interconnected world. The research questions that have been defined for this study discuss the various stakeholders in the hospitality industry and the impact that the internet advertising potentials have had on travel. The first question asks about the changes that have been made in relationship to the hospitality industry through internet advertising and will be answered through statistical inquiry as well as anecdotal information on the topic. Secondary research will provide answers as to how the hospitality industry is currently using the internet for expanding their opportunities with consumers.

The Case for Starbucks and The Body Shop Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Case for Starbucks and The Body Shop - Essay Example This brings the total locations to 12,440 worldwide. The number of weekly customers is 30 million. Starbucks’s success elucidates the fact that making a global brand is one sure way for the firm to survive and grow. The Roddicks' first Body Shop opened on March 26, 1976, in Brighton, the United Kingdom with only about 25 natural handmade products. The rights to the name of the firm were bought from a San Francisco beauty store which still remains today as The Body Time. Since then, the product portfolio has expanded to more than 600 skin and hair care solutions ranging from cosmetics, accessories, bath & body products, fragrances, hair care, products for men, and even an aromatherapy range -all containing only natural ingredients. Realizing that there is a great potential for their product in markets abroad, Roddick embarked on an aggressive semi-environmentalist campaign abroad. The Body Shop experienced rapid growth, expanding at a rate of 50 percent annually. Its stock was floated on London's Unlisted Securities Market in April 1984, opening at 95 pence. In January 1986, when it obtained a full listing on the London Stock Exchange, the stock was selling at 820 pence. By 1991 the company's market value stood at  £350 million. There are more than 1,900 outlets of The Body Shop today located in 500 countries such as Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand, Denmark, France, and Germany to name a few. The company may have continued expanding under the leadership of Roddick if it wasn’t bought by L’oreal.

Analysing The World Intellectual Property Organization Economics Essay

Analysing The World Intellectual Property Organization Economics Essay According to the  definition  of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), intellectual property now applies to creations of mind or invention; literary and artistic works; and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce. Legally, intellectual property includes patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyright. Scholars prefer an even broader view of intellectual property.   They prefer a definition that includes individual creativity and socially adopted innovations, as well as collective knowledge (Gollin, 2007). Intellectual property rights (IPR) are legal entitlements granted by governments within their respective sovereignties that provide patent, trademark, and copyright owners the exclusive right to exploit their intellectual property (IP) for a certain period. Defined another way, IPR, broadly, are rights granted to people who create and own works that are the result of human intellectual creativity. The  main  intellectual property rights are copyright, patents, trade marks, design rights, protection from passing off, and the protection of confidential information. IP is normally classified into two categories namely industrial property and copyright. Industrial property includes inventions (patents), industrial designs and trademarks and copyright comprises of musical works, literary works like novels and poems and artistic works like photography, paintings and sculptures for instance. The basic rationale for IPR protection is to provide an incentive for innovation by granting IP owners an opportunity to recover their costs of research and development (NERA Economic Consulting). COPYRIGHT As pointed out above, IP can be divided into two categories namely industrial property and copyright. Copyright assures legal protection for literary works (for example poems, books and film scripts), musical works, artistic works (such as paintings and sculptures), photography, computer software and cinematographic works. Copyright law is meant to protect authors by giving them special rights to commercialize copies of their work in whatever material form (printed publication, audio recording, film, broadcast and so on) is being used to communicate their creative expressions to the public. Even though registration is not normally necessary, it is prudent for authors to have their name put on the work. Nonetheless, legal protection includes the expression of the ideas contained, not the ideas themselves. Copyright offers owners exclusive rights, usually for the length of the authors life plus 50 years. As for audio recordings, copyright is usually bestowed for 50 years and is accessi ble to the author or company in charge for creating the recording. Authorization is probable to involve payment of royalties. These are known as moral rights and stay with the author even if the latter transfers the copyright to somebody else. Economic rights allow the rights owner to obtain financial compensation from the exploitation of his/her works by others. Copyright owners are granted rental rights in order to receive royalties for commercial rental of their works. INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY Industrial property is clearly specified in the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (Article 1 (3)): Industrial property shall be understood in the broadest sense and shall apply not only to industry and commerce proper, but likewise to agricultural and extractive industries and to all manufactured or natural products, for example, wines, grain, tobacco leaf, fruit, cattle, minerals, mineral waters, beer, flowers, and flour. Industrial property takes a wide array of forms. These consist of patents to protect inventions and industrial designs, which are visual creations establishing the appearance of industrial products. Industrial property also includes trademarks, service marks, layout-designs of integrated circuits, commercial names and designations, as well as geographical indications, and protection against unfair competition. In some of these, the aspect of intellectual creation, although existent, is less clearly defined. What matters here is that the obj ect of industrial property typically consists of signs conveying information, particularly to consumers, as regards products and services offered on the market. Protection is intended against unauthorized use of such signs likely to deceive consumers, and against deceptive practices in general. Trademarks A trademark is a sign which helps in making the distinction of the goods or services of one company from those of another. Such signs may use words, letters, numerals, pictures, shapes and colors, as well as any combination of the above. It usually consists of a distinctive design, word, or phrases, generally placed on the product label and sometimes demonstrated in advertisements. For example, LOreal is a trademark that can only be employed on products produced by the LOreal Company. A lot of countries are now allowing for the registration of less conventional forms of trademark, such as three-dimensional signs (like the Fanta bottle or Toblerone chocolate bar), audible signs (sounds, such as the roar of the lion that precedes films produced by MGM), or olfactory signs (smells, such as perfumes). But many countries have laid down perimeters as to what may be registered as a trademark, generally consenting to only signs that are visually perceptible or can be represented graphically. When utilized in association with the marketing of the goods, the sign may appear in advertisements, for example in newspapers or on television, or in the windows of the shops in which the goods are sold. Trademarks facilitate the choice to be made by the consumer when buying certain products or using certain services. The trademark helps the consumer to identify a product or service which was already familiar to him or which was advertised. The owner of a registered trademark has an exclusive right as far as his mark is concerned. It gives him the right to use the mark and to prevent unauthorized use of it. Patents Legal action can be undertaken against those who violate the patent by copying the invention or selling it without authorization from the patent owner. Patents can be bought, sold, hired, or licensed. When doing a patent application, some criteria need to be satisfied. The patent examiners should be convinced that the invention is Several types of patent may be granted (Lesser 1991, p. 14): Uses: covers a precise use only. Hence, it would cover the above drug uniquely as a cure for cancer and not for any uses that are later discovered. Products-by-process: consists of only products manufactured by the process described in the application. Therefore, it would cover the drug, but only when manufactured by a particular process. It must be noted that not all inventions that satisfy the above conditions can seek protection by patent. In many countries, medicines and genetically modified organisms cannot be patented at all. There are variations in national patent laws because each country has its own preferences when it comes to defining what inventions may be patented and these laws normally conform to the countrys perceived national interest. HISTORY OF IPR Since the first intellectual property system came into existence in the West, humanity has gone through nearly four hundred years. In the nearly four hundred years of history, intellectual property rights have completed their conversion from feudal power to peoples private rights. Today, it is irrefutable that the revolution brought by IPR has not only broadened the conventional content of property rights system, but also led the intellectual property system to become the worlds most significant property rights system, and also made a deep impact on mankind in the 21st century. However, the emergence of this new system is not a straightforward process. With the advent of new technologies and human cognitive aptitude, as an implement to balance the private rights and public interests, the intellectual property system has always stumbled upon challenges and disagreements. The IP system was first introduced in the west and was later established throughout the world. For the IPR system, Patent law is the first system to be introduced in the world. The coming out of the patent system gave birth to human intellectual property system. The United States even established the principle of protection of proprietary technology in the Constitution, made patent protection to the height to constitutional level. The history of copyrights has some strong monarchical power background. Before the beginning of the copyright system, many countries have had long-standing system of printing privileges. According to this franchise system, the king can grant a printed right to license the printer rather than the copyright owners. In 1709, Britain built the first modern copyright law the Queen Anne Act. Following this, the United Kingdom, France and Germany set up the copyright system respectively. Under the influence of these countries as a pioneer, the copyright system has been gradually acknowledged by Governments. Trademarks originated in Spain. The trademark system in the modern sense started in the 19th century. In 1857, France established the first legal system in the world to protect trademarks. Consequently, the trademark system rapidly grew in other parts of the world. Many countries accepted and implemented a variety of forms of intellectual property rights in different approach and evolution. At the same time, new types of intellectual property rights have continued to be progressively incorporated into the system of intellectual property rights. All these developments reveal that the historical development of the intellectual property system has gone through a stage of steady development. By the end of the eighties, the new trend of civil legislation began to emerge. Many countries tried to develop the Code of intellectual property or incorporate intellectual property law into the Civil Code. These activities started out a wave of codification of intellectual property rights. Since the late 19th century onwards, along with the new technological development and the extension of international trade, intellectual property transactions in the international arena have also started with the formation and development. At the same time, there was a big contradiction between international demand for intellectual property rights and regional constraints. In order to find a solution to this contradiction, some countries have signed the International Convention for the protection of intellectual property, and established a number of global or regional international organizations. A system of international protection of intellectual property rights was set up in the world. The convention of Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property(set up by France, Germany, Belgium, and 10 other countries and launched in 1883) is the first international convention in protecting IP. Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Art is the first international convention about copyright. The establishment of International Conventions specified that the intellectual property system had reached the international stage. Among them, approved under the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1993, Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement(TRIPS) succeeded to come to conclusion between developed country and developing country, which amplified the national standards of protection of intellectual property rights to a unified higher platform. More about these regulatory bodies and agreements will be discussed afterwards. In this new century, intellectual property rights system is facing new challenges. The adverse effects of intellectual property system are appearing slowly. In some developing countries, the protection of IPR has brought about the exorbitant cost of some medicines and other necessities; the price of some products with IPR is so high that it cannot meet the needs of people in difficulty. To solve these problems, developed countries have begun a new set of amendments to the legislative activities of the intellectual property system. New laws and regulations continue to be adopted, and the scope of intellectual propertys objects has continued to grow. In spite of this, the concern for IPR system has become an appealing trend. Developed countries take its monopoly of advanced scientific knowledge as an alluring weapon for technology leadership. Developing countries take the absorbing and creating knowledge as an important way to catch up with developed countries. It can be anticipated, that the next era is not only to develop and possess social substantial resources, but also to develop and possess mortal knowledge resources. Moreover, with the expansion of global economic integration, the international process of intellectual property system will definitely speed up. Protection of intellectual property rights has not only become the compulsory conditions of a country to promote economic development, but also it is considered a prerequisite so as to maintain international competitiveness. IPR IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES As a social system stimulating innovation, the intellectual property system has been established in the Western countries at first, and has later spread in the world. Walking along with its historical development, the course of intellectual property system in Western countries has gone through three main stages which called as germination stage, development and internationalization stages. Intellectual property, possibly a current phenomenon and perhaps too narrative to some, nevertheless has portrayed western economics, multi national co-operations and supported western economic colonization. As discussed previously, IPR was and still is a controversial subject. While Europe may have fared fairly well in comparison with the US, problems are rising in the EU as well. From an economic perspective, there is a need for harmonizing European administrative and legal practices in the area of IPRs while increasing the quality standards used in these system. Moreover, a new balance between the owners of rights and users of the protected subject matter needs to be found in many fields. With its Lisbon Agenda, the European Union has nurtured a future vision of a region concentrating on learning and innovation so as to sustain high levels of productivity and wealth. To attain these objectives, EU policies will need to promote innovation and encourage investments in new and more competent products, processes and organizational routines. Intellectual property plays an important part in this vision, and in several areas, the EU has embarked on a course meant to reinforce rights that foster innovation. Examples of some controversies in Europe involve the arguments on copyright and Digital Rights Management (DRM) systems, on the protection of computer software through patents and/or copyright, and the degree of patent protection for biotechnological inventions. In many jurisdictions, the rights of IPR owners have been reinforced as compared to the rights of other parties. Wholly new IPRs (such as for database protection) have been formulated. These amendments have brought about a number of policy issues. Patent systems are under strain not just in Europe, but in other countries as well. Like in the US, both patent submissions and patent grants at the EPO have increased much faster than Research and Development (RD) inputs in OECD countries. From 1990 to 2000, EPO patent applications rose from 70,955 to 145,241 (an average growth rate of 7.4 per cent per annum) while OECD RD inputs grew from $398 to $555 billion which reveals an average annual growth of 3.4 per cent. As for the actual grant rate (the share of patent applications leading to a patent grant) remained almost stable at about 65 percent for patents with application years from 1978 to 1995. There are three major obstacles to the future design of European IPR policies, the first being harmonization. If the EU wants to become a region focusing on innovation without being bothered by national barriers, there is definitely a need for coming up with truly European IPR policies and institutions. That comprises of harmonized interpretation of IPR laws, harmonized court proceedings and the setting up of legal institutions which resolve cases that have been very much controversial. A second significant criterion is the focus on balance. The naive belief that more and stronger IPRs are always excellent for innovation has been contested by scientists in empirical and theoretical work over the last decades. Balance in copyrights means that fair use of rights of consumers have to be considered seriously. Third, IPRs that are granted on the basis of an examination process should be of high quality in the sense that they create legal certainty, rather than uncertainty. European institutions, in particular the European Patent Office, should seek to grant high-quality patent rights which are based on tough standards for novelty and inventive step. Despite a complete array of rules on the protection of intellectual property, counterfeiting and piracy have continued to rise in the world because offenders have the possibility of making considerable profits without risking any serious legal consequences. In July 2005, the Commission presented a double proposal for a  directive   and a  Council framework decision     aimed at introducing criminal sanctions for IPR infringements.  The general penalty is for the court to grant damages to the patent owner, requiring the offender to pay a certain amount of money to the patent owner.   IPR IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Countries vary to a great extent concerning the protection and enforcement of IPR, with developing countries being normally associated with much lower standards for IPR protection than developed countries. This amount does not take into consideration any imitation of products manufactured and consumed in the same country or counterfeit digital products sold over the Internet. Some of the theoretical literature considers a stylized world with a technologically developed North and a less technologically developed South. These models are based on the premise set forth in Chin and Grossman (1988) where the North innovates and the South imitates the Northern technologies. The main finding of Chin and Grossman (1988) was that a persistent tension exists between the North and the South-while the North innovates, the South chooses low levels of IPR protection because it benefits from the innovative output of the North. The debate for the implementation of appropriate intellectual property rights in the developed countries is fueled since the advanced countries faced a menace to their pioneering technological and non- technological innovations and their commercialization in the developing nations. Subsequently, developing countries have long been demanded by developed nations to implement intellectual property rights. The central apprehension by the developed nations is to protect the innovations in the less developed nations from the illegal counterfeiting and copying. The discussion between both parties, that is, industrialized countries and developing countries is getting intense since the last two decades. The developing countries are parted over the debate due to their economic conditions, FDI and technological sophistication. The concern for the developing countries is the eventual economic repercussions for the implementation of such intellectual property rights in their respective countries. The case can be even harsher for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), where intellectual property rights are seen as the origin for the high technology cost and barriers for technology access to public. On the other hand however, increased technology transfer with foreign direct investment may somehow validate such regime. But such profitable offers as substitute for IPR in the developing nations, according to some developing countries, are in view of the developed countries benefits and they would be unable to heighten the economic conditions in the developing countries from their present conditions. The social benefits obtained from certain economic systems, established in the advanced nations may not affect the social systems of the developing nations as wished for. So far, different measures, particularly led by the United States have actually compelled the implementation for the intellectual property rights in the developing countries, exclusively backed by the strong business communities in the United States. REGULATORY BODIES There is a need for IPR because, without them, a piece of potentially important information would be subject to overuse, to the point that access to it is not costly, from the perspective of its development and expansion. This use would quickly exhaust the economic worth of the information, limiting incentives to produce it. The contrast between the mounting need for international exploitation of intellectual assets and the territorial (and often underdeveloped) nature of rights to do so resulted in huge pressures for general change in recent years. These pressures triggered broad bilateral, regional, and multilateral negotiations on IPRs, which engendered a significant expansion of required minimum standards, especially in developing economies and countries in transition. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is an international organization set up to ensure that the rights of creators and owners of intellectual property are respected throughout the world and that inventors and authors are thus recognized and rewarded for their ingenuity. As a specialized organization of the United Nations, WIPO exists as a forum for its Member States to create and synchronize rules and practices to protect intellectual property rights. Most advanced nations have protection systems that are centuries old. Many new and developing countries, however, are now building up their patent, trademark and copyright laws and systems. With the rapid globalization of trade during the last decade, WIPO plays an important role in helping these new systems progress through treaty negotiation, legal and technical assistance, and training in various forms, including in the area of strengthening of intellectual property rights. WIPO also caters for international registrati on systems for patents, trademarks, appellations of origin and industrial designs. These hugely simplify the process for concurrently seeking intellectual property protection in a lot of countries. Instead of having to file national applications in different languages, these systems allow applicants to file a single application, in one language, and to pay a single application fee. In the 1990s the world has shifted radically toward an international system of IPRs. Apprehensions about the piracy and forgery of intellectual property have been increasingly raised in developed countries, where much of the intellectual property is located. As a solution to these concerns, the protection of intellectual property was a major area of negotiation at the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The result of the negotiations was the founding of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to govern the GATT, the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). The TRIPS Agreement is an integral and legally binding part of the WTO that requires all member countries (142 countries as of July 2001) to 12 grant patents for inventions in all fields of technology. It requires them to protect plant varieties either by patents, by an effective sui generis system or by a combination of both. Adherence to the TRIPS agreement for most, if not all member countries, means introducing more severe intellectual property protection (IPP). This is expected to have extensive consequences on the international transfer of technology and trade relationship between the developed and developing countries, especially in agricultural research. Finally, in respect to the large and costly institutional and legal changes these provisions need in countries with restricted IPR systems, transition periods are granted. General obligations (national treatment and MFN) were to be operational immediately upon the implementation of the WTO. Developing countries and countries in transition should meet the detailed obligations within five years (that is, by January 1, 2000) and least-developed countries must meet them within eleven years (by January 1, 2006). The latter countries may, upon request to the TRIPS Council, be given extensions for an unspecified period, signifying that they have been given an opt-out procedure. Countries are free to accelerate their adherence to TRIPS. The TRIPS Agreement leads in a new global framework for IPRs. It clearly built up minimum standards for protection, moving the system closer to harmonization, and inclines the balance of economic rewards toward innovative interests and away from counterfeiting and imitation. The TRIPS Agreement provides minimum national standards for levels of protection to the creators of intellectual property. Article 27.1 of this Agreement requires members to provide for patents for all inventions, whether products or processes, in all fields of technology. BENEFIT OR DETRIMENT FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES? The net economic effect on developing nations from establishing and protecting IPR is not completely obvious. Some have insisted that strengthening IPR protection will improve economic growth and wellbeing in developing nations, and others argue that it will be unfavorable, thereby diminishing overall welfare. Among the possible costs of this type of policy are decreased incomes in industries that depend on copying the products of industrialized nations and the related increases in the prices of protected commodities. For example, increasing IPR protection in the less-developed countries can promote innovation in there. Certainly there are certain short-term costs linked with intellectual property rights for the developing nations, like higher prices for the technology and protected goods. Given this, the case for tighter intellectual property rights in these countries must rely on long term benefits like superior technology or foreign direct investment inflows and bigger incentive to national innovation. FDI inflows in a country come mostly in the form of Multinational Corporations (MCs). MCs are able to stay really competitive when they are successful in transferring IP and other intangible assets to their global locations of operations. These sources of competitive advantage can be anything from a proprietary manufacturing plan for semiconductors to a cleaning solvent formula. But before taking any decision to set up any assets in a country, multinational managerial committees should analyze whether the country where they are going to transfer their technology has appropriate IPR to protect the organization against offenders and imitators. Studying the impact of more rigid IPR protection in a less technologically developed South (developing countries) on welfare in both the North (developed countries) and the South, Diwan and Rodrik (1991) found that net-innovation consuming countries (the South) were only motivated to safeguard IPR if the type of innovation demanded was different from the type demanded in the net-innovation-producing countries (the North). Evenson (1992) refers to these middle-income countries as being in the technology draught, because they tend to focus RD efforts on adaptation, imitation, and reverse engineering. As economies become more innovative at the uppermost levels of income, patent protection tends to increase dramatically. According to World Bank Global Economic Perspective, there are certain particular reasons for advanced countries, and interestingly for the developing nations to follow the TRIPS agreement, that is, it may offer developing countries improved access to agricultural and apparel markets in prosperous nations, an expectation that tighter IPR would also promote further technology transfer and innovation. However, according to World Bank, the guarantee for durable benefits seems doubtful and costly to accomplish in many countries, especially the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Moreover, the administrative costs and tribulations with higher prices for medicines and crucial technological inputs loom large in the minds of policy makers in developing nations. Many are favoring considerable provisions in the agreement. Some developing countries also applied for the provisions in implementation for the patent protection, particularly in pharmaceutical industry. In developing countries, the lack of international IPR protection has helped in creating massive employment. India is one of the leaders in reproducing medicines and drugs manufactured by foreign companies. The reason it can do so is because Indias patent act forbids product patents for any invention intended for use or capable of being used as a food, medicine, or drug or relating to substances prepared or produced by chemical processes. This in return has negative effects on the international pharmaceutical industry. The US pharmaceutical industry is estimated to incur annual losses of $450 million due to imitation. It would prove to be very costly for these countries to adopt the IPR laws overnight in its totality. This would mean loss of job for many; inadequate access to medicines and drugs for needy people and all these could eventually lead to social unrest. Countries with weak IPR protection are well positioned to gain an immediate benefit to lower-priced goods or technologies. Countries with lack of strong IPR protection must therefore compare these benefits with the loss of international willingness to invest resources or develop products, as well as lessened innovative commodities within the country. Maskus (2000) notes three potential costs namely: 1. Higher prices for imported products and new technologies under IPR protection 2. Loss of economic activity, by the closure of imitative activities. 3. The possible abuse of protection by the patent holders, especially large foreign companies. Some countries have accepted to adhere to TRIPS in order to benefit from concessions in other (non-technological) fields of economic activity, such as more aid, freer and greater access to developed country markets for key exports and so on. Whether they really benefited in these ways stays an open question, since neither the costs nor the benefits of TRIPS associated concessions have been appropriately calculated. Nonetheless such implementation would also fuel the local innovation in the developing nations, permitting them to import the foreign technologies and have hands-on experience in learning and using the technologies. In addition, the strength and efficiency of enforcement efforts also differ with economic development stages. This reveals both a reluctance to bear the expensive administrative expenses related with enforcement and the incapacity to handle many of the complex technical and judicial matters linked with the use and infringement of IPRs. However, there is an essential tradeoff between the market power caused by stronger IPRs, which are likely to improve the ability of firms to fragment markets and limit trade, and the market-expansion impact of increasing the costs of counterfeit activity. Detractors of the TRIPs Agreement claim that the step towards more rigid IPR may harm poor

All Grown Up and No Place to Go Teenagers in Crisis

Child and adolescent development specialist David Elkind contends that today's teenager’s are struggling as the result of a shift in society to a â€Å"postmodern† period. In this period, â€Å"the needs of children and youth are often weighted less heavily than are the needs of parents and the rest of adult society† ( xiii ). Elkind believes that, as a result, â€Å"we as a society have abrogated our responsibility to young people† (xiv).Elkind explains how, in this postmodern period, adults mistakenly treat teenagers as though they were already competent and sophisticated, and therefore do not guide them from childhood into adulthood, as youth were guided in previous generations. His words sound a clear warning to teachers and other adults who tend to confuse teenager’s' physical maturity with emotional, psychological, social, intellectual, and spiritual maturity. A useful feature is his discussion of how the â€Å"growth markers† that were formerly available to guide children into adolescence and teens into adulthood are now absent.Examples include girls of all ages now being encouraged to wear makeup and sophisticated clothes, and boys of all ages being encouraged to participate in high-stakes competitive sports teams. Teen’s perception of stereotypes varies from person to person. It is interesting to know that how teens identify groups and how they decide to associate themselves with particular ones, at a time in their lives when age-mates take on a greater significance and the influence of adults diminishes.Teachers should not ignore or underestimate the power of peer influence; although we commonly think of this influence in negative terms, this article helps us recognize that peer influence can be a positive contributor to teenager’s' classroom behavior, too. The role of environment in determining behavior is considered, much greater by the intellectual descendants of Locke. More than adherents of other schools, they see humans as substantially malleable; they are convinced that children's behavior responds to the expectations expressed for it.Thus, if we believe that teenagers will be moody and rude, our children are likely to comply; if we relegate them to a social holding pattern, they will adopt the general characteristics of powerlessness. The discipline of child psychology, as well as the children it studies, is influenced by cultural assumptions seems beyond doubt. But then, what is to be made of these conflicting views about the plasticity of development? It would hardly be feasible to attempt a grand synthesis of these positions. David Elkind, a longtime observer and scholar of child development and family life, sees in the modern family a â€Å"permeable† family.He discerns in the seeming imbalances and morbidities of postmodern families the stresses hammering at children and youth in the contemporary society and a new family form emerging, a form that is bas ed on values and sentiments that prepare its members to cope with this stunning array of pressures. Three sentiments and their resulting practices are particularly heartening from his point of view. To be sure, by the teenage years, parents must exercise most of their authority by stating acceptable alternatives and sticking to them, even if that means throwing a child out of the house.In a sense, then, we are no longer talking about the kind of parental control liberationists object to, but more subtle pressures generally compatible with their stand except insofar as they think teens have a right to financial support no matter what their behavior. Teens might also insist that drinking or doing drugs should be their own choice, just as it is for adults. But the reverberations both for themselves and for those about them suggest the desirability of pressing them to limit such activities in a way that might not be appropriate for adults.David Elkind has warned against pushing children too fast in an age-inappropriate manner. Latency-age children bear much of the burden of a faster-paced society. Adults are spending more time at work than ever before; children are shuffled between activities in part due to their parents' schedules. Children's time outside of school has become more structured; they participate in extracurricular pursuits at earlier ages. Doing nothing, as in â€Å"those lazy, hazy days of summer,† previously part of the culture of a child, is no longer promoted or valued. Some children no longer just go out to play, they have â€Å"play dates.† They are infrequently left free to explore what they would do if there were nothing to do. There is no time for daydreaming. Television and computers have replaced quieter moments. Rarely do you hear a child say, â€Å"Turn off the television. I want to read now. † In this speeded-up society, adults are resigned to Elkind's concerns; there is no turning back for today's children. Parent s may rationalize and say it is a good learning experience for an eight-year-old to be home alone. Elkind's recommendation is that given the stress imposed on them, children should be taught skills to help them cope effectively with what is expected of them.For example, the â€Å"latchkey† child should be offered assistance such as phone numbers for reaching a parent, the police, and a neighbor, and instructions on what to do in case of fire. Rituals and routines are important components in the structure of the middle childhood years. As children begin to organize and classify their knowledge, they come to depend on routines to help them consciously and unconsciously deal with new issues and experiences. Birthdays, secular and religious rituals, and common developmental milestones all help them to find their place in the world.They are seeking to be connected to the larger society through attachments in school, with their peers, with their teachers, in social activities, and in their families. Ironically, because teenager’s are continually redefining their thinking about self and their own value systems, they are highly vulnerable to believing in media myths. As such, outside-in problems manufactured by the media through the power of suggestion and constant repetition become teenager’s' inside-out personal problems In short, adolescence is the stage in life when children begin to question their own thinking in light of what others think of them as well as for them.In this regard, teenager’s' sense of thinking is not wholly independent of their social sense of self. Although as parents, researchers, and teachers, we may be aware of the variable nature of the teenager’s' thinking self, we may not realize that adolescence is a relatively new stage in human development. In colonial America, teenager’s served as a source of cheap labor. With the advent of modern industrialization, longer periods of schooling have been requi red to prepare children for the workplace. This, in turn, has extended the time that children are economically dependent on their parents.As children enter the teenage culture, they are drawn away from their parents and into peer groups. In the process, teenager’s' developing social sense of self is placed into a tug of war between the norms and pressures of parents and friends. Adolescence in America is the psychological equivalent of toddlerhood. Just as toddlers move away from their parents physically, so teenager’s move away from their parents emotionally There are continuous negotiations between parents and children about distance. Children want to explore and parents want to keep them safe.And both toddlers and teenagers are outraged when their parents don't agree with them about the ideal balance of freedom and security. As teenager’s turn to their peers for validation and support, they often engage in intense experimentation, exploring a wide range of po ssibilities that often contradict parents' cherished beliefs in behavioral norms. In the process, teenagers may become the biggest enforcers and proselytizers for their own peer culture: Teenagers may punish other teenagers for failing to achieve the same impossible goals that they themselves are unable to obtain.Moreover, they may rush to set standards to ward off the imposition of others' standards on them. All the while, the content of the standards may remain variable often depending on what standards the media is marketing at a given time, from baggy pants and body piercing to tattoos and the latest neon hair styles. Teenager’s' social sense of self invariably leads to contradictions, as does their thinking sense of self. Social self-contradictions arise from teenager’s' membership in multiple groups that maintain different expectations and norms.More importantly, contradictions continually arise as teenager’s switch their loyalties from one peer group to t he next, giving rise to competing allegiances. In sum, teenager’s experience contradictions inside-out in terms of their thinking sense of self as well as outside in terms of their social sense of self. In many instances, the frustrations of these contradictions are further exacerbated by the academic sense of self that schools promote. One of the most visibly striking transformations during adolescence occurs as a girl's body changes in size and shape.Girls tend to appear rounder as their hips widen, and fat develops in the breasts, thighs, and buttocks. As these changes occur, culture tells girls that thinness is beautiful, even imperative. Not surprisingly, it is also during this period that girls become increasingly concerned with their bodies. Girls' changing bodies provide powerful stimuli to the self and others. A pertinent issue during early adolescence is that bodily changes bring about a sense of fragmentation in body image. Thus, the body is frequently depicted as a collection of individual parts, such as breasts and hips.So, for example, many girls this age worry about the size of their breasts. In the United States, bigger is generally considered better, yet not from girls' perspectives. Rather others are believed to hold that value. Because the body is often times viewed as a reflection of the self, the eroticization processes through which the body is transformed into a sexual object become a major source of conflict for many teenager girls. Teenager girls continue to suffer in multiple ways as a result of these complex social processes.Meanwhile the psychologists and psychiatrists who have historically led the study of what is known as â€Å"body image† have done so in ways that limit knowledge and understanding of girls, further contributing to the structures supporting domination and oppression of females. That is, these researchers have almost exclusively studied â€Å"body image† through quantitative measures that assum e objectivity. In the process, they have conveniently and openly ignored and dismissed contributions from social scientists and feminists who have studied the body from alternative and more hopeful perspectivesNevertheless, body image work has become influential, creating at least three problems. First, the historical study of â€Å"body image† has contributed to the objectification of the body. Second, â€Å"body image† researchers have created a logic of pathology to explain girls' problems Result of irresponsible sexual activity is substantial teenage motherhood. Yet the consequences of early childbearing are extremely damaging. Pregnancy doubles the risk that a girl will drop out of school; most such girls never return, regardless of their financial situation or ethnic background.Once the child is born, the girl is unlikely to be in a position to earn more than welfare would offer her and she has the responsibility of a child to boot. But if she chooses to go on we lfare, her sense of agency and independence is seriously damaged. If she marries instead, she is not only unlikely to finish her schooling but also faces a significantly higher probability of divorce than a woman who waits until her twenties to marry. Thus girls who engage in unprotected sex and who elect to keep their babies are at serious risk of a worse life than they could otherwise have expected.â€Å"But the damage does not stop there. The plight of their children is painful. Neither parent may take responsibility: they may be ignored by their fathers and handed to some female relative by their mothers. For the child, this may be a blessing in disguise, as the most irresponsible teens are those least likely to possess the qualities required for good childrearing. As these babies get older, however, they show the effects of their unfavorable environment. Children of teen mothers score worse on ability tests, get worse grades, and expect less in the way of education than childr en of older women.They also get less education, marry earlier, and divorce more often†. (p. 133) David Elkind questions the popular conception of parental authority Exerting parental authority doesn't mean that we can't play ball with our children or joke with them or have fun with them. Being a parent doesn't mean being an ogre or a relentless disciplinarian. Rather it means asserting ourselves as adults who have more experience, knowledge, and skill than our offspring. Children and teenagers are young and inexperienced. They very much need and want guidance and instruction from us. (205)At least three areas of concern arise from the literature about violence on television. The obvious ones are the relationship between television violence and aggression, even if the aggression is not directed against society, and the desensitization of children to pain and suffering. The less obvious one is the potential for children who are sensitive and vulnerable to become more fearful and insecure upon exposure to violence on television. â€Å"Television has brought murder into the home, where it belongs† (Elkind, p. 103). Murders and crime occur about ten times more frequently on television than in the real world.A third of all characters in television shows are committing crime or fighting it, most with guns. It becomes, therefore, a chicken-and-egg question. When one examines violence in films the trend towards increased gore and explicit horror is easily documented. Rather than reflecting the content and meaning associated with myths and fairy tales, horror films today are pure sensation with little serious content. If violence on television is controlled, children and adults will still be able to experience violence vicariously through other media such as films, books, and recordings.The contemporary challenges that have created this increase in stress among today's teenager’s, in Elkind's terms — the â€Å"perils of puberty,†  "peer shock,† and â€Å"family permutations†. Authentic parenting is an outgrowth of shared parenting but integrates unilateral and mutual authority depending on the concern at hand and the developmental stage of the child. But it is also leavened by a realization that each parent can perform their roles in ways that are true to their own temperaments, personalities, and experience. Finally, there is an emergent relationship between community and family.How well a family does is seen as partly dependent upon the ties it has with the community and the resources and assets available in the community. Community service has become a part of the required curriculum in many schools. Other neighborhoods are reaching out to isolated families or individuals and families in trouble. Some schools have become â€Å"lighted schoolsâ€Å"—twenty-four-hour family resource centers providing programs, services, and opportunities for connections to others. According to Elkind, i nterdependence is a central value and sentiment that underlies this emerging family form.â€Å"Interdependence is founded upon a sense of being both one and many, of being different from everyone else and like them at the same time† (p. 220). Traces of his longing for the modern family aside, Elkind's thesis about the new family embodies some of what we know about family resilience to this point. And it can apply in spirit to all families and caretaking relationships. It is important, as a starting point, to realize that every family, even those in the midst of gripping disorganization and bewildering turmoil, has strengths and capacities.Every angry, demanding parent has moments of caring; every confused teenagers has moments of hope and clarity; every abusive father has a twinge of doubt or regret. At some time in every family's life there have been periods of relative calm and stability. Every family has overcome hurdles, some more successfully than others. All of these ar e resources to be drawn upon, by the family members themselves or by someone who would deign to be of help to them. Works Cited Elkind David. ( 1998). All Grown Up and No Place to Go: Teenagers in Crisis. Rev. ed. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley