Musical Characterization For Othello s Othello - 997 Words

Musical Characterization for Othello In Verdi’s Othello, the music is used by Verdi to characterize each character in the opera. It is the music who describes the audience the personality traits of each character. Moreover, music accompanies every scene in the opera. In many cases, we can know what is happening or what the character is feeling through the music the orchestra is playing. This is an innovative way to characterize the characters in an opera used by Verdi that do not fit into the traditional ways of Italian opera. This paper intends to describe Verdi’s textual and musical characterization of Othello. Othello is a Moor, general of the Venetian republic. He has passed his fortieth years. He presents the brave, loyal figure of a man of arms. Simply in his bearing and in his gestures, imperious in his commands, cool in his judgement. The scene that follows the duet in Act I should suffice to reveal these gifts of temperaments. This act shows him in all his strength, in all his glory, in all his r adiance. His first words proclaim victory in a voice of thunder amid the tempest. His last words exhale a sigh of love upon a kiss. First, we should see the hero, then the lover, and we must perceive the hero in all his greatness to understand how worthy he is of love, and how great his capacity for passionate devotion. Then from that prodigious love a fearful jealousy will be born through the cunning agency of Iago. Reason and justice govern Othello’s actions up to theShow MoreRelatedOthello s Influence On The World Of Opera1295 Words   |  6 PagesVerdi’s Othello has had a profound influence on the world of opera, and considered by many critics to be his best work. Othello has been performed throughout the world, debuting in over 25 countries within the first fifty years of its creation (Stanford). It has been performed all over the globe by world-renowned operettists, in theatres such as the Lincoln Center in New York, the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, and the Bol shoi in Russia. Othello is about a general who is led to believe his wife isRead More William Shakespeares Use of Song in the Early Comedies3188 Words   |  13 PagesShakespeares Use of Song in the Early Comedies Undertaken to determine what features make a song germane to the story in successful musical theater, this study outlines some characteristics of Shakespeares use of song. Chosen from the plays with which the present author is most familiar-the early comedies-are three substantial pieces (each headed in the play by either Song or sing, and each with at least two stanzas and refrain): You Spotted Snakes, Sigh No More, and Under the GreenwoodRead MoreAmerican Literature11652 Words   |  47 PagesChristian utopia Genre/Style: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · sermons, diaries personal narratives captivity narratives jeremiads written in plain style Effect: ï‚ · ï‚ · instructive reinforces authority of the Bible and church Historical Context: ï‚ · ï‚ · a person s fate is determined by God all people are corrupt and must be saved by Christ Rationalism / Age of Enlightenment period of American Literature - 1750-1800 Content: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · national mission and American character democratic utopia use of reasonRead MoreLangston Hughes Research Paper25309 Words   |  102 Pagesexperienced similar symptoms as a teenager during his miserable summer in Mexico, Hughes knew he needed a fresh environment. At Rose Valley, Pennsylvania, the Hedgerow Players had a repertory theater in an old mill. There he watched productions of Othello by Shakespeare, The Emperor Jones by Eugene ONeill, and The Devils Disciple by George Bernard Shaw. Hughes wrote, Im getting a sort of inside slant on the theatre, watching the rehearsals and plays every night. Later, he became assistant to Jasper

Inhumane Factory Farms Should Be Treated With Compassion...

Inhumane Factory Farms All animals should be treated with compassion and protected from suffering, throughout their lives. Sadly billions of factory farm animals lack the basic protections under the law. A factory farm is a large-scale industrial operation where thousands of animals are retained for food. Factory farms, or industrialized facilities, maximize profits by treating animals as production units rather than sentimental creatures. The facility threatens them with antibiotics and hormones to maximize and prevent disease their growth and food output. The antibiotics fed to the animals on a consistent basis cause many humans to lose some of their ability to fight strains of certain bacteria. The farm also forces animals to breed and produce young at accelerated unnatural rates that cause stress and exhaustion. Animals raised for food are jam-packed onto trucks and transported to the slaughterhouse without food or water, when they have finally grown large enough. Those who survive the punitive expedit ion are often conscious while their throats are split. The problem with the farm is so many animals being confined in one place creates an environmental hazards, such as land, water, and air pollutions. Factory farms are inhumane and contribute to many health problems for humans, and animals. The science behind global warming is complex. The major cause of global warming is greenhouse gas pollution the main contributors are tar sand, natural gas, and coal plants. In

Lean Free Essays

string(109) " ensure that manufacturing cycle time is decreased and labour is also decreased while increasing the output\." Introduction Lean manufacturing is the systematic elimination of waste from all aspects of an organization’s operations. In this case waste material is seen as anything that does not add value to the products being manufactured. Lean manufacturing is therefore explained as the production of goods while using less waste, less human effort and less inventory. We will write a custom essay sample on Lean or any similar topic only for you Order Now Lean improvement techniques have accomplished a traditional of mass production of products in massive. Lean productions can detect through the entire production system because the entire products are set of mutual coupled techniques. Lean focuses on using less human and machinery effort, less manufacturing space and les time to produce and develop new products while producing less waste material. Lean productions are usually perceived at a very practical level and theoretical, but the relevant of practitioners view point is to implement new products in a new environment, since the practices can only be applied to construction. The main aim of lean production is to improve the quality of products and production time and also cost reduction. Lean production is attributed to improve its techniques by implementing the level of technology, skills and motivation to activate the performance and efficiency of flow of activities through which the conversion activities are bound together. Lean techniques are concepts designed to reduce waste products and achieve an efficient production system. Lean techniques help industries to improve performers, productivity, reduce cost and improve the value of the company. A lean manufacturing system requires the use of correct resources and tools to attain the main goals of lean production. Lean techniques are designed in a product aligned manner where production is based on a one piece flow system in which production is in a continuous flow. Lean techniques require a continuous improvement of processes services and products over a period of time with the aim of reducing waste, improving product performance and customers’ satisfaction. Lean Techniques Lean techniques are set of tools used in the identification and elimination of waste while improving the quality of products and reducing production time and cost incurred. For lean techniques to be effective the industries must define the value of products to meet the customer’s views. They must ensure that the products meet the customer’s needs at specified time and price. Identifying the value in lean manufacturing requires that, one must understand that all the activities required producing certain products and processing them according to the customers view. This way the industry is able to eliminate all non-value added activities from their production process. A continuous improvement process should be practiced by industries so as to achieve this goal. Lean production techniques are driven by five concepts which include cost, quality of products, delivery, safety and morale. One of the common techniques used is the quick and easy Kaizen. Quick and easy Kaizen is a technique which helps in reducing and eliminating waste while promoting person and profession growth of the employees and the companies. At the same time it provides guidance to the employees. (Dennis, 2002). 5s usually can be translated into sort, set in order, shine, standardize and sustain. Sort refers to remove unnecessary tools and items from the workplace and identifying the most needed tools to perform the tasks. Set in order, ensures that tools and materials are arranged in a manner which is easier for the employees to access. Finally sustain ensures that 5s method is assimilated in the organization culture. To ensure this is adhered to by all employees, their performance is measured and they are informed of their progress routinely. The main benefit of this method is that it keeps the workplace orderly and clean. As a result, efficiency is improved by reducing time take to search for tools by reducing inventory and cycle of production time. Total productive maintenance (TPM) is a lean technique which focuses on incorporating all functions and categories of an organization so as to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their production process. Its main aim is to reduce accidents and mistake made during operation and production. It is a technique which aims at preventing maintenance breakdowns, eliminating product defects and designing tools and materials which require less maintenance. Cellular manufacturing also referred to as one-piece flow system, supports a smooth flow of materials, where equipments are arranged in an aligned procedure so as to reduce transport delays. By using this technique, the production capacity of an industry can be increased by adding more production units. Another common technique used is the canon production system which eliminating 9 waste. The objectives of this technique are to manufacture high quality products at reduced cost and deliver them fast to the customers. Lean techniques help in stigma so as to maintenance tools, materials and personnel in a proper manner so as to minimize waste and to increase speed. The lean six stigma techniques are also provided for improvement of the information technology, and human resource department of the company. In this method, company practices such as having and framing new employees can be minimize when speeding is increased and non value adding activities are removed and also when waste is eliminated. (Field, 2001). The lean six methods assist in keeping the focus of the industry on the two goals. Through this commercialization process of the company is made efficient by delivering within the shortest time new capable products and services to the market. The concept that lean has on economic aspirations of developing and developed countries Lean manufacturing involves three basic elements which include waste elimination, continuous one piece workflow and customers pull. Developing countries should focus on integrating these elements in the areas of cost, quality delivery so as to form the lean production system. Once the developing countries adopt the lean production system they are able to reduce waste materials by almost 80%.when waste is reduced the production cost is also reduced consequently. Removal of non value added activities ensure that manufacturing cycle time is decreased and labour is also decreased while increasing the output. You read "Lean" in category "Essay examples" By doing this industrial and developing countries are assured of high quality product, high customers’ satisfaction and as a result they reap high profit. Lean techniques provide a higher system flexible which ensures that industries can react to changes required for improvement. Developing countries have discovered lean manufacturing techniques are effective in reducing costs and waste by increasing their workforce, so as to have a one piece flow system. These countries must reduce costs at all levels by challenging all their activities to establish whether the activities add value to the customers. This way, they can eliminate business processes which do not add value to the customer or benefit the industry. By identifying activities which provide more value to the customer, companies will be able to reduce costs, reduce the time required to achieve a product and also improve the quality of their products. Use of lean manufacturing in developing countries ensures flexibility and one- piece flow production which leads to production of goods which are best suited for the customers needs by meeting the delivery time at a reduced cost. This enables the countries to expand their internal market by reducing costs. Lean implementation’s main goal is to get the right things at the appropriate place, at the required time in the correct quantity so as to attain good products while reducing wastes. Lean techniques are implemented to make work easier to understand and to perform.   They should focus their attention more by determining why a certain operation must be used. Preventing production defects is more profitable than fixing it. Therefore, removing all non-value added activities is more beneficial to the company, and in the long run, improves the economy of these countries. Finally by achieving this, these industries get to enjoy improved cash flow through increased customers demand. Lean manufacturing therefore has contributed a great deal in improving the economy of developing developed countries. Lean techniques can be applied not only the manufacturing industries but also in the service industries and environment. Developing countries should use lean techniques in all production system, whether manufacturing service or products, to analyze system, reduce waste and focus on the customers concerns. Applying these techniques in all type of industries will lead to production of high quality productions and hence more profit. (Taghizadegan, 2006). Physical and socio economic impacts of lean on resources and pollution Lean manufacturing is a concept which focuses on creating a continuous improvement process which engages employees in reducing waste, reducing time and reducing the cost necessary. While the main focus of lean manufacturing is to eliminate non- value added activities and reduce waste, it also leads to improvement of environment performance. Industries are directing their attention to lean manufacturing so as to reduce cost and production requirement resource, to improve their product quality and enhance customer satisfaction and responsiveness so as to boost the company’s profits. The main goal of lean technique is to eliminate waste in every aspect of production including factory management, product designs and supplier system. Incorporation of less human effort and less time to develop the products has led to achieve this goal. (Hobbs, 2003). Industries engage in lean techniques which focus more on production efficiency and improving production of resources. Doing this result to, using less material, using less energy, and in effect, producing less waste. This culture in turn benefits the environment, in the sense that industries train their employees to focus on environmental friendly practices so as to reduce waste production and prevent pollution. Lean methods have established continual improvement based waste elimination techniques which lead to improvement in environmental performance. Research studies have shown that lean techniques focus on environmental management tools which include, life –cycle and tools implemented to reduce the environmental risks and pollution. Decreasing the material used during production especially water, chemicals, energy and other inputs, reduces chance of producing more waste during manufacturing and thus less waste is channeled into the environment. The continual improvement techniques used by industries enables them to identify and remove waste materials during the production process. (Conner, 2001). Conclusion Lean techniques are implemented to make work easier to understand and to perform. The concept of lean production that the products produced must meet the customer needs at the specific time by understand the activities required and optimizing them to complete the process from the customers view. The aim of lean manufacturing is to eliminate waste material in all aspects of production which includes factory management, customer relations and design in this concept, waste material is considered as anything that the customer is unwilling to pay for. Lean techniques are concepts designed to reduce waste products and achieve an efficient production system. Lean manufacturing focuses on using less human and machinery effort, less manufacturing space and less time to produce and develop new products while producing less waste material.   The concept of lean manufacturing focuses on three major aspects which include improvement of quality of products and production time and also cost reduction. Other aspects of lean manufacturing have been established which emphasize on improving the smoothness of work and in effect leading to waste reduction. Lean implementation’s main goal is to get the right things at the appropriate place, at the required time in the correct quantity so as to attain good products while reducing wastes. For lean techniques to be effective the industries must define the value of products to meet the customer’s views. They must ensure that the products meet the customer’s needs at specified time and price. Identifying the value in lean manufacturing requires that, one must understand that all the activities required producing certain products and processing them according to the customers view. This way the industry is able to eliminate all non-value added activities from their production process. A continuous improvement process should be practiced by industries so as to achieve this goal. Lean production techniques are driven by five concepts which include cost, quality of products, delivery, safety and morale. References Conner, G. (2001). Lean Manufacturing for the Small Shop. SME. Dennis, P. (2002). Lean Production Simplified. Productivity Press. Field, W. M. (2001). Lean Manufacturing. CRC Press. Hobbs, D. P. (2003). Lean Manufacturing Implementation. J. Ross Publishing. Taghizadegan, S. (2006). Essentials of Lean Six Sigma. Academic Press. How to cite Lean, Essay examples Lean Free Essays As trained industrial engineers, it seems pretty basic to us. Its simplicity is what makes it work. While the Japanese are rightfully given credit for re-vitiating the concept of lean, its roots really go back to Frederick Winslow Taylor of Bethlehem Steel in the asses and asses. We will write a custom essay sample on Lean or any similar topic only for you Order Now Then it was called â€Å"Scientific Management. † The Taylor approach starts with a clean slate – it designs the process to, as much as possible, only include steps that create value in the product. It is well suited for new plants, new products or new processes. The Japanese approach addresses existing plants, products and processes. It is focused on eliminating â€Å"waste† (anything that is not adding value). As waste is reduced, quality improves, production times are reduced and cost is minimized. Various methodologies are used as tools to achieve this including Value Stream Mapping, AS, Kanata (pull systems) and error-proofing. Our view is that starting with Tailor’s approach lets you establish the perfect world as a base line. Using the Japanese approach then helps you work toward the perfect world. Let’s use a casting example. A typical process might be to cast, clean, finish, re-clean, machine and ship. Why do we clean, finish and machine? We now these processes often can’t be eliminated but why not try? If the casting can be produced as-cast either by achieving best practice methods or changing casting methods (investment casting and lost foam often achieve as-cast parts), machining can be eliminated or minimized. If you don’t put the stock on you don’t have to take it off. Why is finishing (or at least why is so much) required? We know a state-of-the-art MEMO producing iron castings in green sand that require almost no finishing. Are you grinding/trimming parting lines? Then your patterns or molds may need attention. Are you grinding rough casting surfaces? Then your sand is not right or your die casting practices need improvement. Grinding gates? Can they be relocated to areas where they can be left untouched and minimized using knife gating? Are you welding? If you are not Joining parts in welding all you are doing is fixing mistakes. Why do you clean before finishing? Good sand and shake-out practices should produce castings that are clean enough for finishing. Just clean one time after finishing. What’s your scrap level? If you’re not under 3% total scrap, no matter what casting method you use, you are not achieving best practice. That’s without welding and other salvage operations by the way. There are metal casters achieving these levels every day. How do they do it? They share a lot of common traits. First, they understand what best practice is for the process they are using. That includes melting, molding, sand preparation, finishing or what-ever process they are using. They know the best practice way to do everything. You would be surprised at how many metal casters we visit who don’t know what can be done. Next, they are fanatic about doing it the right way. That means equipment 2009 The Folk Group, Adolescent, PA, 18901. 1. 215. 340. 9072 www. Foolproof. Com Page 2 of 8 s well maintained, systems are defined, documented and implemented the same way every time and everyone is well trained and does their Job right. After that they focus on problem Jobs – ones that require re-design, special gating, handling or other steps to insure they are scrap free. Finally, they document all scrap and attack issues. There are other lean practices to implement. If production flows perfectly, there is no inventory waiting to be worked on. Metal casters have helped minimize work-in-process by installing conveyor lines to keep castings moving right through to finished goods storage. This eliminated putting the castings in totes and the added handling. One low to medium volume gray/ductile iron Jobbing foundry (casting weights under 50 pounds) we know now ships 30% of its production the same day and believes they can achieve 70% same day shipment. These standards aren’t Just for the high volume or dedicated metal casting companies any more. â€Å"Automation† or â€Å"smart automation† is a part of lean manufacturing as well. Automation refers to automating the process so humans can focus on what humans do best. The objective here is to design the machine so it knows when it is working abnormally and alerts human. The human no longer has to monitor normal production but can focus on abnormal or fault conditions. Removing routine and repetitive activity reduces the chance for error. Lean manufacturing is focused on doing the right tasks, at the right place, at the right time, in the right quantity to achieve perfect work flow while eliminating waste (scrap) and with the ability and flexibility to change. Implementing lean manufacturing often requires a cultural change in all levels of the organization. Once management is committed, a program needs to be started that begins with small successes and grows to include the entire organization. The Toyota Production System (TAPS) focuses on murk and mud. Murk focuses on the preparation and planning of the process, or what work can be eliminated in the design process. Mud are those waste steps and processes that add cost. Murk is used in new product design and mud is used to improve existing operations. TAPS identifies 7 key mud*. They are: 0 Transportation (moving products that is not actually required to perform the processing) 0 Inventory (all components, work-unprocessed and finished stock not being processed) 0 Motion (people or equipment moving or walking more than is required to perform he processing) 0 Waiting (waiting for the next production step) 0 Overproduction (production ahead of demand) 0 Over Processing (due to poor tool or product design creating activity) 0 Defects (the effort involved in inspecting for and fixing/scrapping defects) *From â€Å"Lean Thinking†, Woman, James P. ND Jones, Daniel T. , Free press, 2003, p. 352 What are the steps to developing a lean culture? 1 . Senior management needs to agree on a lean vision. Page 3 of 8 2. Identify the project leader and set objectives for the leader. 3. Communicate the plan and vision to the workforce 4. Solicit volunteers to form the Lean Implementation Team. Five to seven people with varied backgrounds seems to work best. 5. Appoint the Lean Manufacturing Implementation Team 6. Train the team in various lean tools. AS is often a good starting point. 7. Select pilot project implementation. . Implement the pilot. Evaluate the results, review and learn from mistakes made. 9. Roll out the next project(s). 10. Train supervisors how to teach and train their employees. 11. Continue adding and training in additional lean manufacturing tools. Page 4 of 8 FIVE S Companies frequently select AS as a method to start their lean manufacturing program. Five S is a manageable process that is relatively easy for people to understand and get their arms around. Five S is a reference to five Japanese words that have been transliterated and translated into English. The technique is characterized, incorrectly, â€Å"standardized cleanup. † It is more than that. Five S is a method to organize and manage the workspace and work flow with the intent of improving efficiency by eliminating waste, improving work flow and reducing process inefficiencies. The ass’s are: Sort (Series), Straighten (Sexton), Sweep (Skies), Standardize (Quickest) and Sustain (Skittish). Sort – This means going through the work area and making sure only essential items are present. This is eliminating tools, materials, fixtures or any other items not used in the process. Everything else is stored or, preferably, discarded. Straighten – Straighten focuses on setting the workplace in order to focus on efficiency. This is more than Just arranging the tools and equipment where they will be used and in the sequence they will be used. It is â€Å"straightening† the work path for materials, tools and the work process. Of all the steps this is the one that typically produces the greatest cost reductions. Straightening the work process can include changes in dies or tooling that reduces finishing labor, for example. It may include interaction with the customer to implement design changes that result in cost reduction or quality improvement. It is also the step that bears the most repeat visits to implement continual improvement. Sweep – This is Just what it says: keeping the workplace clean as well as neat. At the end of the shift, the work area is cleaned and everything is restored to its proper place. In straighten, the workplace is clearly marked where things go and gives confidence in the ability to find hat is needed when it is needed. The key point here is that cleanliness is a regular part of the daily work effort, not an effort initiated when the workplace gets too messy. Standardize – Standardizing the work practices means operating in a consistent and standardized fashion. Everyone knows their role and exactly what his or her responsibilities are. Actions are taken the same way – the right way – every time. Sustain – This means more than Just maintaining what has been established. Five S becomes a way of life and a new way to operate. It is important that management does not allow a gradual cline back to the old ways of operating. Sustain also means that when an issue arises – a suggested improvement, a new tool becomes available, or a new output requirement – the process is reviewed improvement. Page 5 of 8 At times a sixth S – for Safety – is added. Five S purists argue that implementation of the AS protocols will result in safety. Implementation of the AS program usually starts with a manageable project. These tend to be in limited work areas or warehouse locations. Once implemented, the results are publicized and the concept is expanded to other areas. The strength of AS is the ease of understanding and implementing the concept. How to cite Lean, Papers

Globalisation And CSR In an Organisation †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Globalisation And CSR In an Organisation. Answer: Corporate Social Responsibility, Background Corporate social responsibility is an initiative of a business organisation to examine and take responsibility for the effects made by the firm on the social and environmental wellbeing. It is also known as corporate citizenship. It involves experiencing short-term costs, which do not offer an instant economic benefit to the firm. However, it makes positive change to the environment and the society(Tai Chuang, 2014). There is a long history behind the concept of corporate social responsibility that is linked with the way it affects organisational behaviour. The history of CSR highlights how the scholars and business leaders have struggled to outline and theorise CSR(Suliman, Al-Khatib, Thomas, 2016). After the World War II, the concern related to business and future of the economic system increased(Cebcglobal.org, 2017). The fundamental theme of the CSR concept is that the social accountabilities are social forces functioning in all society-making businesses to perform in a positive way. This is true irrespective of whether it is an industrial or a communalist society because the social forces are always present there. Based on the on-going environmental and social problems, CSR has been encouraged by the national and global bodies to obtain values of sustainable development at the organisational level(Turker, 2015). CSR issues in pharmaceutical industry The features of pharmaceutical industry imply a greater risk of dishonesty with a notable mutilation for the industry, the society, and the healthcare system. The pharmaceutical sector has a vital role for a comprehensive salvage of efficiency in the healthcare sector. A number of international institutions interfered with models of moral code that denote the minimum ethical values the companies should reverence to reach decent ethical goals. At present, most of the pharmaceutical firms have a well-managed ethical code of conduct. However, it often seems not to indulge in corporate actions ethically or precisely sharing urgencies in the triple bottom line(Salvioni Gennari, 2015). CSR of the pharmaceutical industry is quite distinct from the CSR in other sectors, as the main product, medicine and drugs are important for the welfare of the society. With the increasing pressure of the civil society, it has become essential for the pharmaceutical firms to act responsibly in the rapidly changing globalised world. Therefore, many of the firms are expanding or reforming their CSR strategies to avoid ethical issues(Droppert, 2015). Like any other major businesses, the pharmaceutical business is also in continuous inspection of the method it deploys to conduct its activities. Most of the companies face the issue of not meeting the ethical standards set by the law. Medicines manufactured by the pharmaceutical companies are an important part of the effective healthcare service delivery system. Media often reveals the negative or ineffective activities of the industry that ruins their public image and trust. Unfair and unfavourable headlines have become unavoidable for the pharmaceutical companies. Therefore, its efforts to counter the problems must be a higher importance for the industry. The industry faces issue in ignoring the perception of the public, as good healthcare is an important obligation the government and the pharmaceutical industries owe the society and judgment of people directly affect the policies of the government. For instance, the US pensioners team AARP suspected certain pharmaceutical firms o f exploiting front groups, which supposed to show the aging and released posts that preferred the viewpoint of the diligence on issues like pricing. Such kind of rights often receives foremost attention in the media. Thus, it leads to damaging the image of the pharmaceutical industry highly among the public(Chan, Cheah, Montanheiro, 2016). It is often alleged that the pharmaceutical industry is using CSR for popularizing their products, brand, and increase their profits, which is also an important issue faced by the company(Pharmiweb.com, 2017). Pricing is one of the major issues faced by the pharmaceutical industry. In Australia, 71% pharmaceutical companies think that the price disclosure calculation of the government has become more transparent than 2012. However, there is a need of self-governing corroboration of calculations. Some firms believe that no more price reduction can be maintained and their market share will be battered under the simplified price disclosure(Pwc.com.au, 2017). Poor scientific production is another important CSR issue that has an impact on the health of the service users. The industry has persisted at the same level for the past years. Utilisation of the same discovering and progress processes has made it growth and productivity slower(PwC., 2017). Implication of CSR issues The damaged image of the pharmaceutical industry in the media often overshadows the vital role played by the industry in research and development for discovering new medicines. Many of the chronic diseases that had a devastating impact on the society previously, are now controlled well. Here, the credit goes to the pharmaceutical industrys effort. This effort is being taken for granted because of the CSR issues faced by the industry(Pharmiweb.com, 2017). One of the greatest condemnations beside CSR is pharmaceutical firms are only concerned with CSR for enhancing their marketing image. Issues related to CSR create notable business risks. Customers and firms tend to avoid companies that grow an unscrupulous reputation. Moreover, firms that are not concerned with their moral duties are more expected to submit into ethical problems like, accounting outrages, mass exploitation and so on(Business.time.com, 2017). An example of the CSR issue faced by the pharmaceutical industry is the issues faced by Martin Shkreli, who is known for Turing Pharmaceuticals, Retrophin. Martin Shkreli was accused for several number of guilt and fraud related to securities. One of the CSR issues he faced in 2015, when he increased the price of lifesaving drugs by above 5000%. He had to give $5million bail for avoiding 20years of imprisonment(Mangan, 2017). Recommendation In a pharmaceutical firm, staffs are also consumers on the outside of the company and they seek for medicines that are available at an affordable price. Therefore, they are interested in the global issues related to CSR in the pharmaceutical industry. They have their own point of view on operational process of the firm in a global context. It provides greater opportunity to the people who are involved in making CSR strategies for the pharmaceutical companies to identify the important CSR issues. In order to increase the visibility of a firm, it is important to involve in social works, fulfil the responsibilities toward the society by improving access to life-saving medicines, and providing training to the communities regarding the precautions of some diseases like HIV, Dengue, and others(Brewer, 2014). Pharmaceutical companies must take a more noticeable development on global issues. The companies can join with the non-profit and charitable health and social care organisations for supporting their actions related to the welfare of the community. At present day, companies cannot avoid their CSR responsibilities and therefore, they must implement effective CSR strategies that fulfil both the commercial and social objectives. It can be done by increasing involvement of the community and the stakeholders in organisational decision-making. They must demonstrate that the pharmaceutical companies are an important part of the health care system and they play a vital role in the welfare and development of the global healthcare system. References Brewer, K. M. (2014). Corporate social responsibility in the pharmaceutical industryWhy it matters from business, bioethical and social perspectives. North Carolina: Wake Forest University. Business.time.com. (2017). Retrieved September 13 , 2017, from Why Companies Can No Longer Afford to Ignore Their Social Responsibilities | TIME.com.: https://business.time.com/2012/05/28/why-companies-can-no-longer-afford-to-ignore-their-social-responsibilities/ Cebcglobal.org. (2017). Retrieved September 13, 2017, from Cebcglobal.org: https://www.cebcglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/CSR-The_Shape_of_a_History.pdf Droppert, H. . (2015). Corporate social responsibility in global health: An exploratory study of multinational pharmaceutical firms. Globalization and health, 11 (1), 15. Mangan, D. (2017). Cnbc.com. Retrieved September 13, 2017, from Pharma bro' Martin Shkreli found guilty of 3 of 8 charges, including securities fraud. CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/04/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-convicted-in-federal-fraud-case.html Pharmiweb.com. (2017). Retrieved September 13, 2017, from Why corporate social responsibility is healthy for pharma - Feature | PharmiWeb.com.: https://www.pharmiweb.com/features/feature.asp?ROW_ID=630#.WbmBEciGPIU Salvioni, D. M., Gennari, F. . (2015). Corporate responsibility and ethical culture in pharmaceutical industry. Turker, D. (2015). An analysis of corporate social responsibility in the Turkish business context. In Corporate Social Responsibility in Europe . Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof Essays (141 words) - Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, written by Tennessee Williams is a brilliant play about a dysfunctional family that is forces to deal with hidden deceptions and hypocrisy. The issues that this play revolves around transcend time and region; Williams uses his craft to entertain, enlighten and bares men's soul. Also, what sets the first production of Williams's play apart from his earlier works is the fact that the play's foundation is based on conversations the characters have that appear to be real, vital as well as entertaining. They do not preach and condescend. An audience can recognize elements of the characters in friends, family and in themselves. Williams appears to have creatively evolved as a playwright in his quest to unmask man's illusions Interpretation of A Doll's House Bibliography tennesee williams cat on anhot tin roof 1953 English Essays

George Frideric Handel essays

George Frideric Handel essays George Frideric Handel was born one month before J.S. Bach on February 23, 1685 in Halle, Germany. He was a master of Italian opera and English oratorio. Being the son of a barber-surgeon, who wanted him to study law he did not come from a family of musicians. However, Handel showed great musical talent at an early age. At the age of seven he was a skillful performer on the harpsichord and organ. His father recognized his amazing talent and allowed him to study with a local organist and composer. By the age of nine he began to compose music. In 1702, he obeyed his fathers wishes and began to study law at the University of Halle, but it did not last very long. He at the young age of eighteen left for Hamburg where he accepted a position as a violinist and harpsichordist in the orchestra of the opera house. The opera house in Hamburg was where his first opera Almira was successfully produced in early 1705. Handels second opera Nero was also produced there. In 1707, Handel w ent to Italy where he continued to perfect his operatic style. In 1710, he returned to Germany where he became Kapellmeister for Elector Georg Ludwig of Hanover. He then took a leave of absence to to London where his opera Rinaldo was being produced. Rinaldo was a success, and he returned to Hanover for a short time. He again took a leave of absence to go to London and settled there in 1712. In 1714 the royal patron that he had left behind in Hanover followed him to London where he reigned as George I, as the first Hanoverian king. Handel wrote Water Music for his former employer. He continued to write Italian style operas and became a favorite among England. In 1720-1728 he was the director of the Royal Academy of Music and a partner in the management of the Kings Theatre in 1729-1734. The Royal Academy of Music eventually folded and inspired him to form his own company to produce his own works. He los ...

Marketing Plan for RedBull Chewing Gum Research Proposal

Marketing Plan for RedBull Chewing Gum - Research Proposal Example So the company will follow a strategic marketing plan for advertisement and to reach to the target audience. They will show the products in print and television advertisement. The detailed plan has covered everything like POS to competitive environment. If we talk about the brand awareness of Red Bull, then it is interesting to know that it is a very lucrative energy drink which is very famous all around the world. Red Bull is at number 2 in the market of energy drinks and is continuously trying to become the leader, that's the major reason behind introducing the Red Bull Chewing gum. As its really important to reach the target markets with appropriate levels of frequency and credibility. We will use both push or pull strategy or exclusive distribution in some conditions. Usually the well known brands are successful of developing a pull strategy with their loyal customers. So if we face any sort of constraint then we will ask our distributors to use exclusive distribution strategy to sell the chewing gum; so that the consumer might want to break the suspense, 'why is it only available in few outlets'. The product is placed in the outlet and the shop is using the brand equityto develop his reliability of the shop name and is also associating with an existing brand name to introduce a new product orproduct line will also attract the target audience. Red-Bull... Situation Analysis If we talk about the brand awareness of Red Bull, then it is interesting to know that it is a very lucrative energy drink which is very famous all around the world. Red Bull is at number 2 in the market of energy drinks and is continuously trying to become the leader, that's the major reason behind introducing the Red Bull Chewing gum. As its really important to reach the target markets with appropriate levels of frequency and credibility. We will use both push or pull strategy or exclusive distribution in some conditions. Usually the well known brands are successful of developing a pull strategy with their loyal customers. So if we face any sort of constraint then we will ask our distributors to use exclusive distribution strategy to sell the chewing gum; so that the consumer might want to break the suspense, 'why is it only available in few outlets'. The market of Red Bull drink is already has good stead so the chewing gum with the same effect will be a total suspense in the consumers of the drink, leaving no doubt that they will buy it. The product is placed in the outlet and the shop is using the brand equityto develop his reliability of the shop name and is also associating with an existing brand name to introduce a new product orproduct line will also attract the target audience. PESTLE Analysis Political: Red-Bull is a well known product in UK. There will be no political restriction against a really similar product. This product will be a really innovative product as there is no chewing gum with the energy boost. Economics: Red Bull chewing gum is a extension of lucrative red bull energy drink. There are no particular expends that will make this extensive project.New employees will be hiring for this product

Mitochandria Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Mitochandria - Dissertation Example Mitochondria are structured in a way that they contain two membranes. The first membrane being the inner membrane contains numerous folds that create a layer known as cristae. The outer membrane, on the other hand, acts as a protective layer that covers the mitochondria. Mitochondria also contain a fluid known as matrix. Inside the matrix are DNA and ribosomes. Ribosomes are protein builders of the cell. Other structures known as granules are also contained in the matrix.The main function of mitochondria is to generate energy for the cell through breaking down nutrients. Through the help of proteins or enzymes found in the matrix, organic molecules are digested. Consequently, oxygen and glucose are released to aid in the production of water and carbon dioxide hence controlling the amount of oxygen. It is also through the mitochondria that the cell can store and control the concentration of calcium ions. It also aids in the transportation of electrons throughout the cell. The processe s of hormonal signaling, as well as the synthesis of steroids, are also made possible through the mitochondria. The endosymbiotic theory explains the presence of mitochondria in cells. According to the theory, mitochondria gained a survival advantage through a symbiotic relationship between bacteria and other cells. With time, the cells lost their cell walls, and the flexible membranes began folding to form membranes. Eventually, the relationship became permanent leading to the formation of mitochondria.

Research on Using handphone to activate and deactivate the car camera Paper

On Using handphone to activate and deactivate the car camera - Research Paper Example This paper analyses the usage of hand phone to activate and deactivate the car camera. â€Å"Camera security systems usually incorporate a central computer or storage device to record video. Most can also be hooked up to monitors for immediate viewing. In recent years, wireless technology has made it possible to eliminate cumbersome wires and make camera security systems more versatile. These wireless cameras can integrate with a personal computer, and some can even be monitored by cell phone. Wireless cameras transmit to a wireless receiver that can translate the signal back into analogue video or simply send it to a digital storage device, such as a DVR† [8] Car cameras can be used as an electronically controlled security guard robot to the cars. Car cameras or electronic surveillance system excels where the manual security measures fail. Car cameras can be used to photograph robbery or intrusion or destruction of the vehicle using remote control. It can be controlled using a hand phone as well. Car camera has various features like remote control, motion sens or to automatically activate the Mobile Cam, photo documentation of vandalism, theft, and altercations, ability to take and store up to 680 digital images, view playback on home TV and monitors, record images on any VCR, displays date and time, ability to capture images at night or in very low light, easy to adjust and install. [1]. It is easy for the vehicle owners or the police force to track the activities of the intruders using the combinational services of car cam and hand phone. In â€Å"Normal† mode, the car camera begins taking pictures as soon as it is switched on.   The camera function is so designed that when the memory becomes full it can overwrite on the pictures starting from first. It is possible to switch off the overwrite mode if needed. As per the United States law, as long as the

Contemporary Issues In Health And Social Care Health Essay

Contemporary Issues In Health And Social Care Health Essay The NHS provides a vision of service that combines health care that is universal, comprehensive and free at the point of delivery to all in need. The NHS provides a vision of service that combines health care that is universal, comprehensive and free at the point of delivery to all in need. Critically evaluate this statement in light of current NHS policy. The founding principles of the NHS were to create a model of health care that met the needs of the population, whilst wiping out the inequality that occurred between the middle and poorer classes, that were highlighted by the Beveridge report in 1942 (Beveridge 1942). The Beveridge report was commissioned by the Conservative Labour coalition government, formed one year in to WW11 in 1940, to survey the existing national schemes of social insurance, and to make recommendations (Beveridge 1942). The report identified the 5 giant evils of society being; squalor, ignorance, want, idleness and disease, which lead to Beveridges guiding principles that social security must be achieved by co-operation between the State and the individual'(Beveridge 1942), whereby the State will establish and provide a national minimum. Although no recommendations were made at that time with regards to a National Health Service, Beveridge concluded that such a scheme was essential to a satisfactory system of social security (Beveridge 1942). This report could be seen as the catalyst for change in the welfare system that was the basis for the creation of the NHS. In 1943 Winston Churchill released a speech entitled After the War, describing the implementation of measures including a national compulsory insurance for all classes for all purposes from the cradle to the grave (BMJ 1995). This was met by opposition from the Labour party who were in favour of a state run National Health Service as opposed to local health centres and district hospitals (Beveridge 1953). The Coalition governments were agreed however, on not implementing any measures until after the war. Post war, in 1945, Labour won the general election, beginning the social collectivist era. With the country already used to state intervention during the war era with rationing and directed employment, a Keynesian economic model was adopted during post war economic expansion, increasing state intervention in social affairs and forming the basis of the Welfare State. The Welfare State was formed on several acts of parliament including 1946 national insurance act; 1946 National Health Service act (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1965/51). Ahead of these in 1945 Bevan presented the Cabinet with a slightly altered NHS framework the Tripartite Administration, in favour of the nationalisation of hospitals, with no responsibility filtering down below central government level (Ryan, M. 1972). On July 5th 1948 the National Health Service came into being, and although to the general public there were no noticeable changes, no new hospitals etc, services were now free at the point of access. Being financed solely from taxation, and reflecting Beveridges recommendations for the state to provide a national minimum of health and social care, the NHS addressed inequalities in the rich/poor healthcare divide through the rich contributing more than the poor for the same healthcare benefits. (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cabinetpapers.htm). This consensus between Left and Right secured the ethos, and future of the NHS, with both Conservative and Labour parties acknowledging the necessity for a national health service, making it Britains most successful nationalised undertaking (Hart 2006). In 1949 this changed however with the introduction of the Amending Act, which allowed prescriptions to be charged for. On 1 June 1952, charges were introduced for the first time and continued until their abolition on 1 February 1965. Prescription charges were reinstated in 10 June 1968 (http://www.bma.org.uk/health_promotion_ethics/drugs_prescribing/FundingPrescriptionCharges.jsp), more than likely due to prescription costs rising to a staggering 19 million per month in 1951(http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cabinetpapers.htm). This was the first major deviation from the founding principles of the NHS, followed by charges for Dental and Optical care in 1988, as patients were expected to pay upfront for non emergency medication. Despite the Guillebaud report of 1956 showing the NHS cost efficiency and that any decrease in funding would lead to a less comprehensive, reduced service NHS (Guillebaud 1956), the cost of running the NHS continued to rise. Politically, the Conservative party were prioritising a decrease in public taxation, however with NHS costs continuously rising, and direct charging deemed politically unacceptable (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cabinetpapers), the Conservatives passed the National Health Insurance act of 1957, doubling national insurance contributions in an attempt to not be seen to be raising income tax (Hall 2003). Doing this was the only way to ensure the future of the NHS, and maintain a service that is both comprehensive and free at point of access. This rising cost of the NHS was at odds with the Beveridge report projection that as people became healthier, the cost of running the NHS would decrease. In the 1962 Porritt Report, the medical profession whilst believing the philosophy and concept of a National Health System was sound, it was not encompassing, with the separation of the NHS into hospitals, general practice and local health authorities, and began the debate on the structure of the NHS (Porritt 1962). It could be argued that by keeping the areas of care separate, the government paved the way for the privatization of services and independent contractors that may increase costs and exploit the NHS (Pollock 2006). In 1964 Labour regained power. Prescription charges were initially abolished, but reinstated only a year later. In order to address the potential inequality in access to medicines for the poor means testing and certain exemptions had been introduced. Prescription charges were waived for certain chronic conditions, pregnant women, children under 16, adults over 60, and those on means tested benefits such as income support, jobseekers allowance, and the NHS low income scheme (http://www.bma.org.uk/health_promotion_ethics/drugs_prescribing/FundingPrescriptionCharges.jsp) thus leveling any disadvantage those in most need may face and continuing a universal service. 1979 saw the entrance of Thatcher and the Right Wing government. This period of Thatcherism held a strongly anti-collectivist view, encouraging healthcare autonomy, however even they never openly handed it over to corporate business (Hart 2006). The Griffiths report in 1984 suggested the restructuring of the NHS, with managers put in place to manage budgets without any training in public health or the principles of health care delivery (Pollock 2006), which began the decline into the business paradigm of the NHS, and the privatization of services. Between 1999 and 2003, Millburn the then Secretary of State for Health invited a bidding war between private firms to take over NHS clinical services, with the idea being to drive down costs and increase efficiency. A few years later junior minister John Hutton would argue that only by introducing competition and choice could Britain secure the values on which the Welfare State was founded (Hart 2006). However, with hospital fund holders now having to buy in external services, the same levels of care are not universally available, with patients now only having access to certain care if there was a contract in place for it. Some health authorities brought in limits to the amounts of available care and differences were made between health care and social care, the latter being charged directly to the patient for (Pollock 2006), and expensive conditions, those chronic or some transplants became increasingly unavailable. This defies the original principles of the NHS by being neither free at point of access, nor not included in what is supposed to be a comprehensive service. By allowing services to be bought and sold, Pollock believes that they accelerating erosion within the NHS and removing the right to healthcare, the basis on which the NHS was created (Pollock 2006). A potential turning point in health care came in 1980 with the Black report, which identified that for healthcare to be universal it was necessary to not only look at a medicinal model of health. Such a Cartesian view of the body will be reflected in the services provided, such that the health care services will give priority to such matters as surgery, the immunological response to transplanted organs, chemotherapy and the chemical basis of inheritance (Black 1980), and it is in fact necessary to evidence of a wide variety of health conditions and their social, environmental and psychological as well as physiological significance (Black 1980). Black placed increasing importance not just on the provision of medicines, but also on social strata, pay, living standards, levels of unemployment and education when considering the health of a nation. It became clear that even 40 years after Beveridges report there was still demonstrable deprivation occurring in Britain (Hills 1994). In 2008 health secretary Alan Johnson commissioned another report, which echoed the previous findings of Black in 1980, that healthcare will not be universal and comprehensive until the social gradients have been addressed by actions that must be universal, but with a scale and intensity that is proportionate to the level of disadvantage (Marmot 2010). The report recommended these 6 actions as ways of addressing the social gradient; Give every child the best start in life. Enable all children young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives. Create fair employment and good work for all. Ensure healthy standard of living for all. Create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities. Strengthen the role and impact of ill health prevention. (Marmot 2010). However, 30 years on from the Black report, these social inequalities remain a problem, suggesting that whilst the awareness of these social factors exists, they have still not been overcome. As we can see from this graph, updated in 2009, there are still enormous gradients in health, with males from manual working backgrounds twice as likely to die as those from professional ones. http://www.poverty.org.uk/60/index.shtml These social gradients can be small or large scale, for example, government derivatives in Scotland and Wales have most recently deviated to a more encompassing service allowing free prescriptions to all, not just those in most need, making the service universal and comprehensive regardless of social classification, employment and pay. However by doing so, they have increased the difference in universal access between location, as it is now easier and cheaper to receive non emergency health care in Scotland and Wales but not for the population residing in England. Whilst this may be an ideal to aim for, it may not be the most feasible model of healthcare, due to the ever increasing percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that the NHS takes up, which currently stands at 8.5%, reaching an astounding 120 billion pounds (Harker 2011). In 1997 New Labour won the election mainly on the premise of their healthcare policy, advocating a social health model, with increased funding for better quality of services. In 1999 they opened NHS walk in centres where anyone could go for non emergency health care. This increased the universality of the health care system, as patients could now be seen same day, without an appointment, and without being placed on a waiting list. However, this could be seen as a response to the current governments cutting of any benefits for those purchasing private medical insurance (tax relief for the over 60s and employers exemption from National Insurance contributions), creating a fall of 440,000 in coverage, and thereby potentially increasing demand on the NHS (Emmerson 2001). This was most likely to hit the poorest areas of the country hardest, as data shows that, although private medical insurance was more common amongst the richer classes, they were also more likely to have an employer pay for it, so the changes in taxation affected them the least. Geography can play a vital role in access to care, as demonstrated by Gubb in 2007. There are real variations in the time waited by patients both geographically and across medical specialities. For example, just 25% of orthopaedic patients are seen within 18 weeks, compared with 79% of those receiving thoracic medicine; and just 33% of patients in the South East Coast SHA are treated within the target compared with 60% in the East Midlands SHA Gubb 2007. However, this is one target the Labour government at this time was aiming to reduce, as by decreasing waiting periods across the board the equality of the service was increased, thereby making it more universal in its nature. This was achieved, and by 2007, nearly 100% of patients were offered a GP appointment with 48 hours, compared to the 75% in 2002 (http://www.civitas.org.uk/nhs/download/waitingtimes.pdf). In 2009 the Department of Health released their 2nd quarter statistics, again showing a huge variation in appointed care between the different Strategic Health Authorities. In London, over 160,000 patients were waiting for a first outpatient appointment, with nearly 1,400 having waited a period of 12 weeks, in comparison, the North East SHA showed the lowest statistics with 46,000 patients waiting in total, but only 48 having waited for a period of 12 weeks. In terms of waiting times however, the West Midlands showed the highest proportion in length of waiting time, with 193 patients still not receiving an appointment at the 17 week plus mark. (http://www.performance.doh.gov.uk/waitingtimes/index.htm). It could be postulated that the patients in those areas waiting the longest for treatment, are not receiving the same level of service as those with faster access to services and treatment. The services provided are still comprehensive, but are not universal by nature if different areas of the country are receiving different standards of care. In addition, the 2008/9 NHS Atlas of Variation identified a distinct variation between the comprehensiveness of the service being offered. It showed up to a 50 fold variation in the levels of care in different Strategic Health Authorities (http://www.rightcare.nhs.uk/atlas/qipp_nhsAtlas-LOW_261110c.pdf). Whilst talk of post code lotteries remains something of an anathema, it is clear from this report that there is a huge variation in the quality and standard of care being offered between trusts. More importantly, however, it would seem that patients are not receiving the same basic care all round. For example, the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence recommend all persons with diabetes to have a 9 key care process to assess the progression of their condition, and its impact upon their nervous system, central and peripheries, by monitoring weight, blood pressure, blood glucose and other checks, the treatment of which has been shown to reduce diabetic complications. How ever, there is a 35 fold variation between SHAs offering this basic standard of care. Taking this one step further, the lack of basic care increases the patients likelihood of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and limb amputation, and yet there is a two-fold variation amongst the SHAs in the incidence of major amputations per 1000 patients with diabetes, due to a lack of a specialized Multi Disciplinary Diabetic Team (MDT) in some authorities (http://www.rightcare.nhs.uk/atlas/qipp_nhsAtlas-LOW_261110c.pdf). In conclusion, the current NHS offers a service that is still free at point of access, and still comprehensive albeit not immediately nor to all locations. However it would be fair to say that the current arrangement provides the most promising way of promoting distributional equity (Bevan 1989). A continuum of care is still provided, covering patients from the cradle to the grave, and thus fulfilling the original philosophy, however, until the factors underlying social deprivation (class stratification, employment, education etc) are fully resolved the NHS cannot be completely universal. The WHO commission states that social injustice is killing on a grand scale (W 2008), and yet it seems to be the main factor standing between our vision of an ideological NHS, and the current reality.

Down To Who? :: essays research papers

Down To Who?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Does the magic of young love ever stand a chance? Down to You tells the story of two college students who fall madly in love with one another after meeting in a crowded, college bar. Throughout their relationship, there are the usual ups and downs of first love. Trust, loyalty, and friendship are all big factors between Al (Freddie Prinze, Jr.) and Imogen (Julia Stiles). Their relationship matures over the years and their love is tested by time and temptation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Al plays an unbelievably sympathetic role. He’s portrays the â€Å"perfect† boyfriend. He’s very cute, sensitive, caring and he’ll do just about anything for Imogen. Al is an aspiring chef. He has a good family background. Both of his parents are very loving and extremely supportive of his goal for being a chef. They also love Imogen. Imogen is very sympathetic in the beginning of the movie. She and Al hit it off from the moment they laid eyes on each other in that bar. She is a cheery, enthusiastic freshman that is out to have a good time. She is very into art and painting. Al is particularly impressed with Imogen’s artistic talent. She gets scared of their commitment after a summer vacation in France and their relationship gets a little rocky after that. The two have quite an array of interesting friends that give the plot more depth. Monk (Zak Orth) is a good friend of Al’s. He is a porn star that has lost all faith in love. He gives the movie somewhat of a comical twist. After he becomes famous with his adult entertainment career, he develops a Shakespearian way of talking. It sounds very archaic and much more educated. Since he doesn’t really believe in love, he tries to convince Al that love is simply illusion. Al’s other friend Hicks (Shawn Hatosy) is much less complex. He is an average college guy that is pretty much out to get girls. He says and does a lot of comical things throughout the movie. One of my favorite parts is when he is working out, and he has a new hairstyle called a â€Å"mullet†. That’s when hair is short on the top and sides, but long in the back. Al and Imogen’s love is constantly tested in the movie. Cyrus (Selma Blair) is one of Monk’s co-stars in his adult movies. She tried to seduce Al numerous times throughout the movie, but he was strong and persistent about telling Cyrus that he was in love with Imogen.